Cambridge Edition November 2019

EDUCAT ION

Sixth (form) sense CHOOSING THE RIGHT SIXTH FORM CAN SEEM LIKE A DAUNTING TASK, SO HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR PICKING THE PLACE THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU WORDS BY CHARLOTTE PHILLIPS

While life in sixth form is the time when horizons are starting to expand, it’s also sensible to stay grounded. It’s never a bad idea for students to begin with the subjects that float their boat – they’re going to be getting to know them in an awful lot more depth when studying just three or four subjects at A-level rather than eight, nine or ten GCSEs. Katie Banks, head of sixth form at Bishop’s Stortford College, advises students to strike a balance between

choose right now. Ask them: “Where would you be, what would you be doing and what might your life look like in one year if you had absolute choice?” Ruth Taylor says: “Maybe you already know exactly where you want to be, or maybe the idea of having to make choices and decide on a direction feels chaotic. Or maybe you know that you’re at the start of an adventure. You’re not entirely sure where you’re going, but you are excited to get started.”

or Year 11 pupils contemplating their sixth form options amid the hurly-burly of GCSE preparation (revision, revision, mock tests and

more revision), the choices can appear overwhelming, with a smorgasbord of courses and subjects on offer. So, where to start? Ruth Taylor, head of sixth form at St Mary’s, stresses that the decision-making process is something to look forward to and feel excited about. “Sixth form is the first time in the educational journey that you have real power to determine your own direction. Up until this point, you have had choice on some occasions, such as GCSE options, but not total freedom,” she says. She suggests students project into the future, thinking ahead and imagining an older version of themselves, and encourages them to consider which direction for the next few years they would

“What might your life look like if you had absolute choice?”

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