Sixth Form Welcome

What was it like settling into the Sixth Form from another school?

The Sixth Form instantly felt welcoming when I joined and I settled in very quickly, having made plenty of amazing friends! I thoroughly enjoyed being able to focus on the subject that mattered the most and sharing my passions with the other pupils in my classes. Being given so many opportunities, which I would not otherwise have received at my previous school, made me sure that I had made the right decision in coming to King Edward's School.

How does teaching and lessons in the Sixth Form differ from lower down the School?

In a literal sense, teaching in most subjects is structured into two parts, with two teachers for each of your A Level subjects. In terms of the style of teaching, I find that teachers expect a lot more in the way of self-reliance from us in our learning; we are responsible for noting and absorbing the information.  Since with A Levels, you’re likely to be quite interested in your chosen subjects, lessons are often structured around discussion, especially with three of my own chosen subjects History, Politics and Economics. In Politics, for example, teachers restructured our course in order for US elections to be taught directly in the context of the US presidential election that was unfolding at the time. In Economics, we often learn about types of policies and their impacts through the lens of currently occurring policy changes, such as by analysing a budget in the wake of Covid-19.

What are lessons like in the Sixth Form?

Lessons deal with the step up from GCSEs to A Levels very well. Firstly, your lessons are split up between two teachers who will cover different parts of your course, giving you more support and helping you break down your work into much easier and efficient segments. Class sizes become a lot smaller too, which I have found to be very helpful as your feedback becomes a lot more personal and constructive. Personally, this has really helped me excel and push myself to achieve the best grades possible.

In addition, the support from your peers - everyone in the classroom with you is equally interested and passionate as you are about your subject - makes a real difference to the learning environment and introduces a lot more class discussion, making lessons feel enjoyable and purposeful.

Outside of academic life, what extra-curricular activities are open to me in KES Sixth Form?

KES offers a huge range of activities outside the classroom to fit almost any interest you could possibly have. Personally, I was a little worried that the step-up in academic intensity would mean that it would be harder for me to keep going with the things I enjoyed, however, this year I’ve done more activities than ever before. KES sport is almost as big a part of school life as A Levels themselves, but it’s not just limited to the 1st team of the main four sports – whatever your skill or interest level, you’ll find something. There are too many clubs and societies for me to list here, but I can say that, from my own experience, you’ll definitely find your extra-curricular niche at KES, and if you think there’s a gap in what’s available you are given every encouragement to start your own club.

What is the balance between lessons and ‘study periods’ like?

When you start the year with 4 A Levels, you will have about 13 study periods a fortnight, out of roughly 46 overall lesson slots. In Year 12, this creates a really good balance between lesson time and ‘free time’ which you can use to catch up on work, spend time with friends, or spend in the school gym or library. Because the Sixth Form Holbeche Centre has two computer suites and lots of study areas, there is usually more than enough space to work in, and there are also many seating areas to use with your friends. Some people also use their study periods for extracurricular activities like music lessons or LAMDA lessons. In addition, the café is open during various study periods, meaning that there’s often a chance to grab a snack or a hot drink as you study. 

What do like most about being in the Sixth Form at KES?

I think that the independence that is lent to you plus the ability to study the subjects you are most passionate about, makes Sixth Form a significantly different experience to studying lessons in Years 7-11.

What’s the co-curricular life like in the Sixth Form?

Throughout the School, KES offers so many different activities and during my KES career, I have tried to take advantage of all the opportunities provided. There are a huge variety of music ensembles for different genres and instruments, and because of this, I have some form of musical activity almost every day! I also really enjoy being a member of our School's CCF and the opportunities that has given me (I'm going parachuting this weekend!).

As a senior pupil at the top end of the School, there are lots more opportunities for leadership-focused roles, whether that's in music ensembles, senior sports teams or as an NCO in the CCF.

How is the KES Sixth Form lesson experience?

I cannot even begin to emphasise how much Sixth Form - how much KES Sixth Form - improves school life. The academic community at KES makes each lesson feel less like a teacher talking at students for an hour, and more like a conversation, where each of you is talking about a subject you (hopefully) at least vaguely enjoy. English Literature has been a particular highlight for me personally - it being a small class of only eight, we spend plenty of lessons just discussing the novel, play, or poem we are studying at that time, and adjacent works. Everyone in the room is equally engaged in the subject they’ve chosen, making each lesson far more enjoyable.

What are lessons like in the Sixth Form?

The lessons in Sixth Form contrast greatly to those lower down in the school. The class sizes are much smaller, allowing for more interaction with the teacher, and more time devoted to my learning and feedback, this enables me to learn and work at an improved rate. All pupils are more immersed in their subject, allowing productive discussions and a more focused, enthusiastic classroom setting.

Why did you choose KES Sixth Form?

I chose to go to KES Sixth Form as I knew that: Firstly, I would have a fantastic sixth form experience in the brand new Holbeche Centre and secondly, the teachers are all extremely good and the class sizes are all relatively small, which I find really helpful for learning. Everyone here is so friendly so, if you’re new, there will be no problem making friends. I also chose KES as the Art and Drama departments are amazing, both with fabulous facilities including a new Drama studio (aka ‘The Rose’). Also, realistically, I knew I would be in safe hands academically and would have all the support and guidance needed to do the best I can in my A Levels and leave school with such a positive experience and amazing friends and memories that I can cherish forever.

What’s the co-curricular life like in the Sixth Form?

KES has so much to offer in terms of co-curricular activities. I am part of both the music and sports scene at KES and so I regularly take part in concerts and matches. The Music department is fantastic - there are so many musical ensembles to take part in, allowing pupils to really develop a passion for music. I also play in lots of hockey and netball matches, which provide a breather from the academic side of school life. Although I may be very busy, both departments are incredibly understanding if you need time to focus on your studies. Co-curricular life has enabled me to make friends with pupils in other year groups, whilst having fun and making great memories.

Favourite thing about KES Sixth Form?

Personally, Holbeche, the Sixth Form Centre, was what initially enticed me about King Edward’s. Sixth Form students are privileged in the sense we have our own building, computers, sofas and café, separate from all other years. Apart from lessons taking place in classrooms, the majority of my time has been spent in Holbeche - lunch, break, frees - it has become almost a home away from home. The Holbeche Centre is a light, friendly space for both hard work in the two quiet, computer rooms and then socialising in the central area. I am appreciative that we are given the freedom by teachers to decide how to spend our free periods. My favourite time of the school day has been morning breaktime - a chance to catch up with friends over a hot chocolate or cookie from the café and get some last-minute tips on homework for an upcoming lesson.

What was it like joining KES in the Sixth Form?

KES created a calm and friendly environment for me to settle into and find my feet in the first few weeks. Both the teachers and pupils made me feel welcome and everyone at the School is motivated, which generates a hard work ethic and helped me focus.