Sixth Form Life

Sixth Formers do not wear uniform and formal rules are kept to a minimum - in keeping with the student ethos at this stage of school life. The students have their own base in Ryan House, a purpose-built Sixth Form centre. There is a spacious common room, a well-equipped kitchen with a drinks and snack machine, seminar rooms and a Sixth Form study area equipped with computers and individual study desks. In addition there is a bright and airy Sixth Form library in the main school building. The Sixth Form even has its own garden adjacent to Ryan House.

Extension Studies

Sixth Form studies tend to be very specialised but, to get the best out of life and the opportunities it offers, you need to have a breadth of knowledge and experience that goes beyond your academic work. We provide a programme of Extension Studies for both Lower and Upper Sixth. The course includes a wide variety of topics to choose from, e.g. Psychology, Film Studies, Film Making, Music Technology, Law, Politics, Cookery for Students, Hot Debates, Photography, Self Defence, Sign Language for the Deaf, Car Maintenance, Astronomy, Ethics, Relaxation Techniques and First Aid. In addition, the Extension Studies programme integrates talks by a number of eminent external speakers on a variety of topics from politics to poetry.

Extra-Curricular Activities

As a member of the Sixth Form, you will have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities outside your study timetable. Tuesday afternoons are timetabled for some of these activities. You can take part in others at lunchtime, after school or at weekends.

At school you can run clubs for younger pupils, gain management experience in a Young Enterprise Company, test yourself to the limit as part of a Ten Tors team, train as a peer supporter for younger pupils, edit the Upper Sixth Year Book, take part in drama productions and musical activities and participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. You can join school teams for hockey, indoor hockey, netball, basketball, tennis or swimming. Opportunities also exist for you to get involved in activities outside school: for example, some of our girls are currently involved in a hugely rewarding music project for Alzheimer's sufferers. You may well be surprised at how much you enjoy and gain from helping others, passing on your skills, organising or taking responsibility.

Young Enterprise

Young Enterprise is a national scheme which members of the Lower Sixth may join. Any girl can take part, whatever her AS subjects. Meetings take place after school one day a week. The participants (or Achievers) set up a company with the help of Advisers from local business; they raise finance through shares and then use it to develop their chosen products. Hopefully these sell well and they make a profit.

Young Enterprise is a challenging commitment. Problems arise — and have to be solved. Deadlines are set — and have to be met. Decisions have to be taken — and then justified. All the learning which results from Young Enterprise is applicable to the real world and this is why many employers now see Achievers as having had valuable work experience.