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To mark the end of a long and demanding fortnight of mock exams, Year 11 was rewarded with a Sixth Form Taster Day - a chance to trade our revision guides for a first-hand look at what lies ahead in September.

The day started with an assembly that immediately signalled a shift in tone. We were introduced to the 'Sixth Form way of life', including the updated dress code and, most excitingly, the new rules regarding leaving the school site during study periods. It was a clear sign that with the increased workload of A Levels comes a much-welcomed increase in independence and responsibility. With the logistics covered, we headed off to our first lessons. For many of us, this was the first opportunity to explore subjects that aren’t available at GCSE level. Psychology and Sociology were easily two of the most popular choices, with many students eager to explore these new academic avenues.

In Psychology, we were given a comprehensive overview of the A Level course before diving straight into a fascinating case study. We applied different psychological theories to the Columbine school shootings, analysing the various behavioural and social factors that might explain such an event. It was a gripping introduction to how the subject seeks to understand the complexities of the human mind.

For those of us more artistically inclined, the Music and Drama tasters offered very different experiences. I only participated in Music (as I’m already set on taking Drama, though I am less sure on my other subjects). Unlike the larger classes in Psychology or Sociology, the Music group was much smaller. This provided a perfect insight into the tighter knit experience of the Music department at a higher level. We spent time comparing the A Level curriculum to our current GCSE specs, realising that while the jump is significant, it is similar to what we had been doing, just a step up! We also had the chance to listen to samples of the set works we’ll be studying, a great chance to get a head start on familiarising ourselves with them!

Similarly, Sociology offered a broad look at the 'big questions' that define the subject. We focused particularly on the role of gender in society, sparking some great discussions that gave us a real flavour of the analytical, debate-heavy nature of the social sciences.

Taster Day was exactly what we needed after the stress of mocks. It replaced our exam nerves with a sense of excitement and motivation to keep revising, to make the grades we need to continue at TWGGS with our first choice subjects! Transitioning to Sixth Form feels less like a daunting 'next step' now and more like a fresh start where we can finally specialise in the subjects we are truly passionate about.

Charlie R, 11I