Over the last four years our popular and successful Sixth Form has grown in both quantity and quality. Outcomes for the all important value added performance measures place our provision in the top 15% of schools nationally, teaching and learning is constantly rated as outstanding and students continue to secure higher education places at some of the world’s top universities, epitomised by our Head Girl Amira who is just about to
head off to Oxford to start her English Literature degree.

It is no surprise to see that our student numbers at Post 16 have increased by a staggering 65% since 2014; this has further enabled us to increase the breadth of our curriculum offer and retain some of the more marginal, but hugely important minority subject areas that provide all students with the necessary stepping stones to future career paths.

Many schools now do not offer these minority subjects due to financial constraints, but careful strategic planning over the last few years has meant that Bushey Meads can and compliments them with a number of very exciting additional vocational options – again providing pathways to degree level study and top apprenticeships.

Over the last two years our successful Childcare Diploma course has seen students gain university places to study primary education, our performing arts based vocational courses have supported talented students to access more practical Level 4 Performing Arts focussed degree courses at other universities and our minority language A level courses have enabled a student even this year to access a place at ‘Russell Group’ acclaimed Nottingham University – heading off to study at this prestigious institution this weekend.

A visit to our Sixth Form Centre earlier this week reminded me how that has been made possible. We have invested heavily in transforming our existing accommodation – now one of the very best in the local area: smart, business like, with access to state of the art IT resources, providing a variety of silent and quiet study areas as well as a superb Sixth Form Cafe – popular as a more relaxed breakout space and social area, providing a personalised and cost effective offering.

Students were very focussed, supporting each other with their studies and some were working in the outside space under the canopy.

The Silent Study rooms were being well used and many students were making the most of the computers and more portable Chromebooks – accessing the internet via our high speed broadband connnection.

Pictured here is newly appointed Head Boy Rukhil focussed on making a great start to his Year 12 courses.Students told me they love the responsibility that Sixth Form life affords and also the chance to be more independent with their studies.

An occasional break in the Sixth Form Cafe and even the odd game of chess helps balance the work load!