Extra curricular activities
We offer a range of enriching academic courses to support students’ post-16 aspirations. These include A Level General Studies, AS Critical Thinking, the Extended Project Qualification, the statistics module of the AS Application of Mathematics and a Young Enterprise qualification.
There are also many opportunities to enjoy activities beyond purely academic study and all students are expected to take advantage of these. Many students take part in a paired reading scheme where they meet regularly with a younger pupil to support their literacy skills, or act as Peer mentors to younger students. We run a Young Leaders of Learning programme where sixth form students deliver lessons to younger students. Some of our Sixth Formers arrange to help in Homes for the Elderly or for disabled people. Others support in local Primary Schools or in after school clubs. We welcome students taking the initiative in other Community Projects.
We have a range of visiting speakers throughout the year, during our enrichment block and also during Assemblies. One popular visit is that of a theatre group who provide a lively yet thought provoking session on the perils of careless driving. Other regular visits include the Driving Standards Agency, the Magistrates and various representatives from Higher Education. This year external speakers have ranged from Cambridge University professors to renowned Home Office scientists.
Students also have the opportunity to take part in externally recognised schemes such as the Sports Leaders Award. We have an active Debating Society for budding politicians and anyone who wants have their voice heard. Sixth-formers also run the school section of Amnesty International, campaigning on behalf of human rights throughout the world.
We offer the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award for students in Years 12 and 13. It is an internationally recognised award which values independent learning, community spirit and personal and social development through a programme designed to be supportive, flexible and above all, enjoyable. Students are asked to commit to voluntary work, learning a skill and developing sport or physical abilities. In addition, all students partake in two expeditions which take them hiking and camping around the countryside and surviving on their own skills, knowledge and cooking! The award takes between 6 months and a year to complete.
As befits a school with a proud musical tradition, many or our sixth-formers are leading players in many of the school’s bands and ensembles. Sixth-formers are also heavily represented on the annual Music Tour, travelling to play at venues across Europe and the UK. Every year we also have a Senior school drama production; recent extravaganzas have included ‘We Will Rock You’, the amazing ‘Les Miserables’, Gilbert and Sullivan’s swashbuckling ‘Pirates of Penzance’ and Marjory Blackman’s thought-provoking ‘Noughts and Crosses’.
One expectation we have of all of our Sixth Formers is to run a lunch-time club for younger pupils. This requires time (one lunch-time per week) and commitment but the pay-off in terms of pleasure and appreciation from the younger pupils is immeasurable. As a Media Arts School, many of you will have the opportunity to use the Media facilities both in and out of lesson time. Sixth-formers run our in-school radio station, ‘Sounds Just Like’ as well as producing the half-termly school podcast. Some Sixth formers help run a very successful lunch-time film club. Others have been involved in making short films of life around the school.
