Sixth Form
What makes Sixth Form special?
When we ask our students what makes the Sixth Form special they tell us time and again it’s the family-like community. Because we invest considerable time and energy in getting to know each girl individually, we are sensitive to, and celebrate their diversity.
At lunch times and break times, especially, the Sixth Form Common Room reverberates with the sound of shared laughter, the celebration of the latest success and even raucous renditions of ‘Happy Birthday.’ Staff support girls, and crucially, they support each other through the twists and turns of an A level programme which is notoriously pressurised. But the sense of community and support here does make things manageable and enjoyable and we find that personal happiness leads to academic success.
Indeed, our Sixth Form is also characterised by a collective academic endeavour which pushes girls to do their very best. Small class sizes allow for an unrivalled level of personalisation and increased contact time. Outside of timetabled lessons, staff can frequently be found with students working together to consolidate learning and to go beyond the bounds of the A level curriculum, such is the shared sense of purpose and ambition.
first England cap
Jess knew she didn’t want to go to university; her ambition was always to start building a career in the City starting with an apprenticeship, where she could gain an industry recognised qualification in the workplace.
So, Jess set her (very determined) mind to researching options with the support of our dedicated Head of Careers. She attended a number of Insight Events at blue chip companies and took advantage of numerous opportunities offered by the wider GDST network, all of which reinforced her conviction that this path was right for her.
Applying for apprenticeships from March onwards meant Jess was having to juggle her A-Level revision with attending interviews and highly competitive assessment programmes. Fortunately, time management is just one of the many skills Jess found she had developed during her time at Croydon High, particularly in her last year as a valued member of the Senior Prefect Team. During her interviews, she was able to talk confidently about how school life has helped shape her. An enthusiastic and accomplished sportswoman, Jess is a real team player who can always be relied upon to meet a challenge and give of her best, on the field, on stage and in the classroom. We have no doubt these attributes will be equally appreciated in the Board Room!
Jess knew what she wanted and we are extremely proud to say she has achieved her goal. She begun her Apprenticeship at Rothschild & Co. in August 2019.
