At the start of each academic year, I enjoy welcoming boys into the sixth form. An added dimension to this in recent years has been being able to do this in our new sixth form centre.
To my mind, sixth form is one of the most enjoyable stages of any student’s educational journey. They are able to enjoy a good deal more independence, although, of course, with this comes additional responsibility. They are able to focus on the subjects that interest and motivate them and in many cases with an eye towards university or a future career.
Since we opened our new sixth form centre in September 2017, our boys have enjoyed its common room and social facilities. It has also brought about a further improvement in academic results underlining the importance of the right environment for our boys to study in.
Although currently close to being full to its capacity of 100 students, our sixth form is a relatively small one in which, as in other parts of the School, boys are really well known both as learners and as individuals. Nevertheless, our curriculum is unique in offering not just a broad range of A Level courses – enhanced by our partnership with neighbouring independent girls school, Westfield – but also a number of more practical and vocational courses on which boys have also been very successful. Matching boys to the right courses is a key aspect of sixth form success.
To prepare our sixth formers for life after school, we put a great deal of emphasis on making their experience as relevant as possible. As well as building character, we encourage them to be outward-looking and to develop a wide portfolio of skills and experiences that will support them at university and in employment.
I look to our sixth formers to carry a great deal of responsibility. There are a number of formal positions to which they can be appointed: prefects, head boys, deputy head boys, heads of houses, team captains that all provide valuable opportunities to develop character and skills.
I also remind all of our sixth formers that whether or not they are appointed to specific positions, they are all leaders and role models in the example they set to the younger boys. This carries inherent expectation for their conduct.
If you would like to find out more about the excellent opportunities our sixth form offers for academic progress and character development, we are holding a live open event online on Thursday 12th November at 6pm. You will be able to register and find out more on our website at www.newcastleschool.co.uk