Making the Most of Sixth Form
Broadening Horizons
As a sixth form student at Abingdon, there’s a lot more to life
than A Levels. We provide a stellar academic education but we
believe just as much in the importance of broadening horizons
and preparing for life beyond school. We have specialist
career advisors, a university applications team and a wide
range of initiatives to help students decide on their next step,
including funding for travel plans, work place internships and
plenty of opportunities to study interests outside of A Level
specifications.
Our sixth formers are encouraged to take on responsibility, to
think for themselves and to develop as independent learners
in preparation for moving on. We appreciate that this doesn’t
happen overnight and some students take longer than others
so we manage the process, giving increased responsibility
and freedom to boys as they earn it through their lower
sixth year. Students are encouraged to take up leadership
opportunities, both within school and through activities such
as the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and CCF. They can
sail, canoe or walk expeditions as part of DofE; our CCF cadets
are recognised as some of the best in the country and our
sportsmen have recently captained national teams in hockey
and rugby as well as represented their country in a wide range
of sports from rowing to rifle shooting.
Students with an interest in drama can take part in major
senior school productions, or develop animation, film
and documentary skills through our renowned Film Unit.
Musicians have numerous orchestras, ensembles and bands
to choose from and in recent years boys have gone on to
become classical musicians as well as members of the more
contemporary Foals and Radiohead. Most years we offer
around 25 A Level subjects and subject combinations are
geared around what individuals want to study not what fits into
our timetable. We encourage students to take on the Extended
Project Qualification (EPQ) in order to develop university
research skills and either deepen their subject knowledge or
broaden their interests. The topic is entirely their choice. The
academic curriculum is complemented by a varied enrichment
programme including lectures, discussion groups and practical
workshops, and wide ranging trips in the UK and abroad.
The majority of students get to their first choice of university,
usually Russell Group, and 10-15% receive offers from Oxford
and Cambridge each year. The range of subjects they study
reflects the very diverse nature of our sixth formers. Recently
boys who have not chosen to follow the university path have
opted to study music at the Royal Academy, Drama at RADA
or pursue sporting careers. Each year a number of students
will go to university abroad, particularly the USA, and we have
specialist advisors to provide guidance in these applications.
At our open day on 1 October we are running a sixth form
forum in the Science Centre. The Head of Sixth Form, Nick
O’Doherty and his team will be there.
Full details can be found on our website at
www.
abingdon.org.uk/open_day_sixth_form_forum
