Enrichment & Service
EXTRA-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES
We believe that the two years spent in Sixth Form should be a chance for students to achieve and develop in a wide range of different ways beyond the academic. There are lots of different opportunities to get involved and we hope that students will take advantage of these so that they may continue to grow as individuals and enrich their last two years in school. The old adage ‘the more you put in the more you will get out’ is absolutely true of Sixth Form and we hope that students will decide to throw themselves into the life of the school, continue with an existing activity or take up a new opportunity or skill. Extra-curricular activities help students to learn about themselves and develop and use their skills and knowledge in different contexts to help them to prepare for their next steps after school.
Major team sports are popular with our students, many of whom go on to represent the District and County. All Sixth Form students participate in Wednesday afternoon sport sessions when they can take part in a range of recreational sporting activities or train with our teams in competitive sport. Sixth Form students take a lead role in drama and music activities with some of them taking responsibility for leading groups of younger school students in activities. Many students continue with instrumental and singing lessons and as part of our Elective Programme students can complete their Gold and Silver Arts award.
Students are offered a wide variety of opportunities to extend their learning through visits and trips. Some of these are field trips associated with courses such as Biology, History, English Literature and Geography, some are whole school activities open to Sixth Formers such as the Music and Sports Tours and Language exchanges, and many others are cross-curricular such as our biannual visits to New York and Washington DC and to Rome and Sorrento.
Each year we have a Year 12 visit to London; students are encouraged to plan their own itinerary for the day to pursue their different interests, in recent years this has included a range of museums, the zoo, the London Eye, a West End show, as well as other sight-seeing and of course shopping. The students also have an annual visit in December to the German Christmas Markets in Birmingham.
Over the last few years we have also encouraged our students to form teams to enter a range of competitions including the Kinsley Napley Legal Apprentice, Student Investor Challenge, Girls Get Set Challenge, the National Trade Academy Programme Competition, Young Enterprise and Vex Robotics Competition.
Sixth Formers are regularly involved with charity work, taking on the major positions of responsibility in our Interact Club. Every year students take responsibility for organising a range of events including staff v student competitions, Drop the Mic, the Spring Show, bake sales and numerous other fundraising activities. Some Sixth Formers take part in work placements with the elderly or in local Middle and First Schools and through our well-established Student Mentor programme they can assist in lessons for years 9-11, helping pupils with work and pastoral matters.
Students are also encouraged to take a leadership role across the school; we have a team of Ambassadors, led by our Senior Ambassadors, and we look to our senior students to involve themselves in the life of the school. They assist with Parents’ and Carers’ Evenings, Open Evenings and with visitors to the school as well leading activities across the whole school, mentoring GCSE students and working with year 9 tutor groups. Our Head and Deputy Head Students represent the school at both our school events and also as Ambassadors within the local community.
Year 12 students are elected as House Leaders to take a leading role in House Activities, organising events and motivating, supporting and encouraging the students in their House; they also sit on our House and Diversity Council. In Year 13 students are also appointed as Subject Champions to promote individual subjects across the school and at Open Evenings.
The Elective and Service Programme
Every student in Year 12 is offered the chance to do three or more hours of Elective and Service activities. Some activities offer students the opportunity to gain additional qualifications. The others can offer worthwhile experience in the school and wider community or simply relaxation and enjoyment. Students in Year 13 can continue with their Elective and Service activities into Year 13 or start a new activity if they wish. If they have enjoyed working with students in Years 9 – 11 as Maths Buddies or Literacy and Learning Support assistants then this can also continue in Year 13.
Specific Electives vary from year to year but these activities are generally offered:
- Gold and Silver Arts Award
- AS Thinking Skills
- Extended Project Qualification
- Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award
- Core Maths Qualification
- Getting Into Teaching
- Getting into Healthcare
- Book Club
- Fitness Suite Hour
- Literacy and Learning Support Mentors
- Sustainable Jewellery making
- Public Speaking
- Latin
- Creative Writing
- Musical Theatre
- Enterprise
- French Conversation
- Yoga
- Food Preparation Skills
- Pilates
- Gazette Editorial Committee
- Interact Charity Committee
- Dressmaking
- Additional Sport
- Astronomy
- Gardening
- Crochet
- Printmaking
Interested in our Sixth Form?
If you are interested in applying to our Sixth Form, please see our Sixth Form admissions page for more information on how to apply and our entry requirements.
You must be logged in to post a comment.