News

It’s been a busy and exciting first term in the Sixth Form. I would like to congratulate the Lower Sixth on navigating the considerable step up from GCSE to A Level. I know the Upper Sixth have also felt the considerable demands of balancing curriculum content, NEAs and university/apprenticeship applications. Congratulations to everyone who has already received uni offers. A number of our Early Applicants (Oxbridge, Veterinary Science, Dentistry and Medicine) are also in the thick of the interview process - we wish all of you the very best of luck with this demanding part of the application process.

Alongside academic commitments, our Sixth Form have been ambassadors for the school in a number of areas. A huge thank you to our Senior and Lower Sixth Prefects for their outstanding commitment at our open days, parents’ evenings and touring new pupils around the school site. The feedback from prospective pupils and their families has been so positive. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the huge number of Sixth Formers who run clubs, support productions, music events and mentor younger pupils in a variety of subjects. The Wellbeing Prefects also play a vital role in supporting pupils who may be struggling - these contributions are invaluable, making a genuine difference to others. 

SIXTH FORM CABARET

Our talented Sixth Form raised over £700 for Nova Children's Project at our annual Sixth Form Cabaret, an event that showcases the varied talents of our Lower and Upper Sixth pupils to an enthusiastic audience of parents, pupils and staff (many of whom dress for the occasion, complete with sequins and feathers!) Our presenters for the evening (Bea, Amelia, Heidi and Holly) did a fantastic job of introducing all 25 acts, never missing the opportunity to share lesser known/fun facts about our performers! I would like to mention Candela and Olive (featured in the photos), both of whom were incredibly generous with their time and talent, leading by example by delivering a number of stunning musical pieces. The variety of different music was really noticeable this year with pupils selecting folk, rock and musical theatre pieces. Some of our braver members of staff also took part - thank you to Dr Ridley, Mr Humphrey, Mrs Brown, Miss Patman, Mr Bicknell and Mr Black for your valuable contributions. Mr Black actually performed with his very talented wife (who happens to be a professional musician!) stunning the audience with an impressive duet. Thank you to everyone who took part, making this a truly inclusive and celebratory Sixth Form event.

LEGACY PROJECT 

Hot on the heels of winning our Feminista Award last year, the Legacy Project continues to grow in popularity. Working alongside the Head Boy Team from Skinners’, our Head Girl Team has facilitated two joint workshops since September. The most recent workshop took place at Skinners’, accommodating 100 Sixth Formers across both schools. The theme of the workshop was 'Intersectionality', looking at gender alongside other intersectional aspects of identity (race/ethnicity, disability, socioeconomic background, religion/beliefs, education, sexuality). Pupils came together to watch the Ted Talk 'The Urgency of Intersectionality' by Kimberlie Crenshaw, which was used as a springboard to discuss feminism within a wider understanding of EDI. Saksia, Elana and Abby worked closely with facilitators from TWGGS and Skinners', creating a safe and dynamic space to debate important issues, affecting all of our pupils. 

Our Legacy Project Classroom has also been an active space with pupils sharing reading material, articles and Ted Talks on a range of feminist topics. Articles on the male gaze, 'why nations that fail women fail' and the notion of increasing your visibility if you are a woman of colour, proved particularly popular talking points at a fortnightly Legacy Project meeting - a space just for Sixth Form pupils to come together and talk about feminism. 

PSHE

We were delighted to welcome a representative from the University of Sheffield for a return visit this term, talking to our Upper Sixth about managing their money at university. Whilst not all of our pupils will choose to go into further education, this talk was transferable to a number of different pathways - we hope this session was helpful in preparing our young people for the future. 

We also welcomed TV Presenter and Performance Coach, Sally Gray, to deliver an active session on confident communication. This workshop was invaluable for our Upper Sixth, exploring the idea of leaning into their authentic 'brand'. Pupils volunteered to experience a live coaching session in which Sally interviewed them, providing valuable feedback to boost confidence and presentation skills, essential for success at A Level and in the wider world. It is no surprise that Sally has been awarded an MBE for her contribution to society and her work with young people. We owe Sally a huge thank you for taking time out of her incredibly busy schedule to be with us. 

It just remains for me to wish you all a very merry Christmas and I look forward to seeing you in the new year.

Mrs M Davis, Head of Sixth Form