“Quote.” – Ofsted
Sixth Form 1
A Welcome from the Head Teacher
Thank you for considering La Retraite Sixth Form for your post-16 education. We are extremely proud of our Sixth Form which has enabled many young women and men to realise their dreams. In our Sixth Form, we want to see you develop all of your talents, achieve the highest level qualifications, be guided into planning for a successful period of Higher Education and a subsequent career and have opportunities to develop spiritually. We can offer you a wide range of courses, both at La Retraite and at our partner schools. You will choose between the AQA Baccalaureate programme (comprised of A levels and some other qualifications), a wide range of A levels (more than 30 subjects), Diplomas in Business or Social, Health and Development, BTECs at Levels 2 and 3 and some GCSE core subjects. We believe in you and we want to support you to get where you want to be!
Susan Powell Head Teacher
“The genuine care of the teachers for their pupils is something I will treasure forever.” – Year 13 student
“The school’s strong ethos and Christian values underpin a high level of care. The very dedicated staff provide excellent guidance and support for all.” – Ofsted 2007 1 1
“Teachers at La Retraite are the BEST! They really do work hard to help us and show us that they truly care.” – Year 13 student
Achievement
We want our students to achieve the very best of which they are capable. We have had students go to universities all over the country – including Oxford and Cambridge, as well as many London colleges. We will try to help you find the path which is right for you. Our committed team of teachers will give you a solid foundation of knowledge and skills in your chosen subject areas. We want you to find the right course for you. So we will advise you carefully on entry to the Sixth Form about courses which are likely to suit you. Perhaps you are scientifically inclined? We are a Science specialist school, with lots of excellent Science facilities. Many of our students go on to study medicine, dentistry, nutrition, nursing and other Science-based subjects. But maybe your talents lie in another direction? We achieve excellent results in Arts subjects and these can lead on to careers in law, teaching, business and the performing arts. We aim to make learning interesting and enjoyable – as well as extremely rigorous. We work to develop good learning habits and thinking skills in all of you. We expect you to do at least five hours private study per week for every subject you take and we offer structured study time in school to support this.
“ A rigorous tracking system, combined with personal support from subject teachers and form tutors, ensures that students achieve well.” – Ofsted 2007 3
Guidance The strong Catholic ethos of the school supports you on your faith journey. These are important years in which you are likely to establish the code by which you wish to live your adult lives and it is extremely important to us that you have a chance to develop spiritually. Students have their own sixth form prayer group and are supported in their faith with worship and liturgy. During these years, you will become more and more independent. It is important that you are treated as adults – but even young adults need a helping hand from time to time. We will give you that support – with organising your studies, with becoming independent learners, with applying to university, and sometimes even with managing finances or finding accommodation. From the start of Year 12, we will help you to understand the choices you have for higher and further education and the steps you need to take to get there. We arrange visits to universities and speakers in school. There is always a member of staff on hand to help and advise you.
“ I know the teachers; they know my strengths and weaknesses. I know what is expected of me and understand the routines of work.” – Year 13 student
“ La Retraite is a caring community and I know that if I have problems, help will always be at hand.” – Year 12 student
“Students receive excellent support and guidance in“Quote.” their studies and in their – Ofstededucation and higher career choices.” – Ofsted 2007
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Opportunities A Sixth Form education should, we think, be a time for you to go out into the world as an individual, but still with guidance and support from us. So we try to offer lots of different opportunities: • Lots of different enrichment activities through our CAS programme • Taking responsibility around the school • A wide range of extra-curricular activities, for instance, in Music, Drama and Public Speaking • Links with institutions of Higher Education – for instance, our programme with King’s College Hospital Medical school • Educational and cultural visits around the capital and elsewhere in the country • Chances to travel abroad – for instance the annual Your Future in Europe conference in Paris • Work experience with some very special placements • Chances to shadow students currently at university • A range of visiting speakers in school • Residential retreats • Service to the local community We want you to have fun while in the Sixth Form but also to develop as a person so that when you leave La Retraite, you will be prepared to take on all sorts of challenges.
“The opportunities that were offered us across the two years opened a lot of doors and opened our minds. They offered experiences to develop us, not just to benefit us educationally or career-wise, but also spiritually.” – Year 13 student
“This is such a lovely place! The students are positive and well-behaved and so articulate! The best Sixth Form I’ve ever worked with!” – Aspire Partnership representative
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The South London Sixth Collaboration (SL6) La Retraite Sixth Form is part of the SL6 collaboration of Sixth Forms in four schools: La Retraite, Dunraven, St-Martin-in-theFields and Bishop Thomas Grant. The collaboration means that students in the SL6 can access the curriculum at all four schools, allowing for greater flexibility of choice. The SL6 also get together for a number of social events and the Sixth Form Councils meet regularly to plan these. A dedicated mini-bus runs between the schools at breaktime and lunch to ensure that students can get to their lessons easily.
“ I love the fact that our Sixth Form is joined with Dunraven and St. Martin’s, which means that we can take pretty much any subject combination we like.” – Year 13 student
“The school… in collaboration with other schools, provides students with a wide range of academic courses “Quote.” with some vocational options. – Ofsted Students are appreciative of both the subject choices and the excellent enrichment opportunities offered.” – Ofsted 2007
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“ I’ve been provided with an excellent range of opportunities here. There is a great equilibrium between educational and social enrichment. I also feel that I’m being prepared for both future education and the working world.” – Year 13 student
Atkins Road Clapham Park London SW12 0AB Tel: 020 8673 5644 Fax: 020 8675 8577 Email: schsec@laretraite.lambeth.sch.uk
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