Sixth Form

Shaftesbury and Sturminster Sixth Form

Shaftesbury and Sturminster Sixth Form provides a truly multicultural experience for students to flourish in a caring and supportive environment. The boarding facility at Shaftesbury School ensures that the Sixth Form always has students from a number of different countries, many having chosen to study there because of the high level of pastoral support and the excellent results achieved over the last few years. Through access to a broad range of A Levels and vocational subjects, the emphasis is upon improving the skills of the students in independent learning. Preparation for life after school is considered important.

As well as the academic, there are a range of opportunities available to students. The school is a sports college, and a number of coaching and leadership qualifications may be taken. Every year a group of students travel to Rwanda to teach in a local school with which they are twinned, to visit sustainable projects, to learn more of the genocide and then return to help to educate their peers and to spearhead fund-raising activities. Students also take part in the Global Student Forum, a national conference where they discuss issues facing developing countries. Following on from the Forum they help to organise a Global Citizenship Day and a Rag Day which this year resulted in over £18,000 being raised for charity.

The Shaftesbury and Sturminster Partnership means that we offer an increased number of subjects and a more extensive choice of subject combinations. Exciting and innovative courses provide a flexibility to tailor the course to the individual student.

We recognise that there are many personal skills in demand by both universities and employers. Skills of communication, application of number and information technology, as well as taking responsibility for your own learning, working with others and problem solving are important elements taught within the subject areas.

Students staying in familiar surroundings often perform better in their studies than their contemporaries who have to adjust to new surroundings. The pastoral and academic support that is provided will be assisted by knowledge of the student gained over previous years. It is also true that every year students from other schools join the Sixth Form because of the level of pastoral support and the good results achieved year after year.

The less rigid structure in the Sixth Form encourages students to take responsibility for their own studying. Students appreciate that their approach to their studies has the greatest influence on their achievements.

Apart from the chosen subjects, there are lessons and tutorial time devoted to personal development. These are known as core studies and are compulsory for every student.

The core studies include General Studies, Tutorial Sessions and Additional Studies such as cookery, sporting activities, music, photography and drama.

OFSTED 2008: “The Sixth Form is very effective in involving students through seeking valuing and acting on their views. Students demonstrate co-operation and harmony; they provide good role models for the rest of the school”.