Life in our Sixth Form

At Waldegrave Sixth Form, you will be able to choose from a wide array of 23 different A Level courses, allowing you to create a programme of study that is tailored to your skills, interests and aspirations. For each subject, you will have 9 hour long lessons per fortnight. You will find these lessons to be varied, engaging and interactive, providing ample opportunity for enquiry and discovery. This is a time to immerse yourself in the areas of learning you are passionate about, supported by exceptional teachers who are specialists in their subject.

We believe that emotional wellbeing and community cohesion are the foundation of academic success. For that reason, you will be part of a tutor group, led by a dedicated form tutor. You will start every day with a 20 minute tutor time, providing an opportunity to build social connections with students outside of the subjects you study and reinforce a positive relationship with your form tutor, who will be your first point of contact for guidance and support throughout your time with us. These sessions follow a structured programme of activities that sits alongside the academic curriculum, helping you to develop important transferable skills, engage with current affairs, explore your personal aspirations and prepare for your next steps, as well as finding time for fun!

A Levels are designed on the assumption that you will complete a similar amount of work outside of the classroom as you do within your timetables lessons. This independent learning is a crucial component of your future success. This might involve preparing for lessons, consolidating your learning after class, revising content as you go along or completing practice exam questions. In recognition of your increased maturity, you will have the freedom to determine how best to structure your private study. Our extended opening hours for sixth form students means you may choose to come in early or stay beyond the normal school day. We Alternatively, you may choose to use the privilege of being able to come and go from the school site during your work periods to study from home. This enables you to balance your schoolwork and other commitments in a way that best suits you.

We believe that regular and rigorous assessment is vital to preparing you for success in your A Level exams. Whether it is class tests or more formal mock exams, these assessments will help you to build resilience, refine your exam technique and develop effective revision strategies. They will also provide both you and your teachers with important information that can be used to support your future progress. Evidence from these assessments will also be used to inform the creation of progress reports, which will be shared with you and your parents or carers at regular intervals throughout your studies. This ensures that you are always aware of how you are progressing and allows us to work in partnership with you and your family towards our common goal of helping you to excel in your final exams.

Our dedicated Sixth Form Building sits at the heart of the school site and provides space for lessons, private study and socialising. It is a community within a community, allowing you to experience the increased trust and independence awarded to sixth form students, whilst also remaining connected to the whole school and its nurturing ethos. Within the Sixth Form Building, the Study Base offers space to both relax and work collaboratively. It also features a popular cafe, exclusively for the use of sixth form students. For more focused independent learning, the Sixth Form Learning Centre provides a dedicated silent study area. For the creative and performing arts, there are specialised practical spaces located around the school that enable you to be immersed in a creative atmosphere, where you can exercise your imagination and refine your technical skills.

As well as a strong academic focus, we also believe that sixth form is a time for personal growth and development. We want to prepare you for life beyond school, ensuring you leave us as a well-rounded, confident and reflective individual, with all of the attributes required to prosper and thrive in the adult world. To support this ambition, we have a varied and exciting enrichment programme, which you will be encouraged to take maximum advantage of. This includes a wide array of trips that will bring to life your learning, as well as an exciting roster of guest speakers who will offer you a valuable first-hand insight to the many careers open to you after sixth form. There is a strong focus on helping you to explore your post-18 options and we work closely with our partner universities to ensure you receive the support necessary to submit competitive applications to the institutions of your choice. However, our enrichment offering is not just about the practical benefits. Our clubs, societies, events and activities also  provide ample opportunity for enjoyment, ensuring you leave us not only with an open door to your future, but also with lots of happy memories and friendships to last a lifetime.