We consider personal development and enrichment activities to be critical to the development of every student as they prepare for their next step at university, an apprenticeship or employment.
All subjects encourage subject enrichment to enable students to develop their passion for their chosen areas. This can include extra reading recommendations, journals, lectures, Moocs, trips and visits.
Outside of their studies, Sixth Form students enjoy substantial freedom and opportunities to participate in many extra-curricular activities. For some of the opportunities on offer please see below:
Each year, there is a large group of students who take their Duke of Edinburgh Award. This is a fantastic opportunity and is highly successful in developing critical skills in leadership, team work and initiative, and is invaluable in building confidence and experience for life after school.
With an abundance of societies and clubs to join, students can pursue their interests in dance, music, sport and other areas while making new friends. We also actively encourage our students to launch and lead their own societies, which include a debate club, film society and maths problem solving group. Thespians can audition for the annual whole school performance and we have highly successful senior sports teams in netball, basketball and football. Our students are also encouraged to participate in a range of competitions, such as the Senior Mathematical Challenge, throughout the school year.
Many of our students volunteer, which is a great way to learn new skills, develop your confidence, meet more people and have a rewarding experience. Students are welcome to volunteer to support students and staff at Abbey Grange with some seeking out their own placement if they wish and we can schedule this in their study sessions during school time if it is appropriate.
During the academic year, students can attend a variety of talks. We are always reviewing and enhancing our offering to ensure it matches the needs of our students.
The breadth of leadership opportunities at Abbey Grange Sixth Form enable our students to further develop their communication, relationship-building, influencing and decision-making skills. In Year 13, students can apply to be a senior prefect and, if successful at interview, then act as role models to younger students. Year 13students can also apply to run one of the five student leadership teams with representatives from each year group and each team has an area of responsibility across the school such as wellbeing, charity, digital, sustainability or learning. Everybody can apply to be Student Leader and Deputy Student Leader, and those selected meet frequently to lead on improvements to Sixth Form life and campaigns.
Every other year, there is a Sixth Form expedition. There are many other exciting curriculum-based trips.
We encourage students to participate in work experience to gain transferable skills and to gain experience if they are considering a particular vocation. Year 12 has an annual week of work experience and they are offered other opportunities frequently –such as access days, virtual workshops and talks – to learn about a variety of careers.
Abbey Grange Sixth Form celebrates that everyone is different and that enrichment takes many forms. All students can work with the Sixth Form Leadership Team to help them find the best way to pursue their interests and ambitions alongside their studies in the sixth form.
