Sixth Form at St John’s School
A level results 2023-24
Welcome
It is my great pleasure to introduce you to Sixth Form at St John’s, as you consider the next pivotal and enriching phase of your educational journey. We pride ourselves on delivering not just exceptional academic results but a comprehensive, well-rounded education that prepares our pupils for the diverse challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Our Sixth Form journey is built around achieving three strong A level results, and an additional fourth option, ensuring each pupil reaches their full academic potential. However, we believe education extends far beyond the classroom. Our pupils excel in sport, music, drama, Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and our extensive co-curricular activities programme offers something for everyone. These experiences nurture individual talents and build essential skills such as teamwork, resilience, and creativity.
Understanding the importance of future planning, we provide high quality career and futures guidance. Our dedicated Sixth Form team supports each pupil with their aspirations whether that be aiming for a Russell Group university, pursuing an apprenticeship, studying abroad or entering the workforce.
We are committed to helping every pupil navigate their own path with confidence and clarity.
Our Sixth Form community is underpinned by a strong pastoral ethos, where kindness, empathy, and mutual respect are at the core of everything we do. Together, our experienced Sixth Form team, tutors and house staff ensure that every pupil is cared for; we understand how much more pupils thrive and achieve when they are happy. Through community engagement and volunteering, we foster a culture of giving back and making a positive impact.
Leadership is another cornerstone of our Sixth Form offering. We offer numerous leadership opportunities and a specialised Leadership Award that celebrates and cultivates participation and growth as a leader.
We provide a nurturing environment where every pupil is equipped to thrive academically, personally, and socially.
Embarking on a new educational journey is exciting, and we hope this booklet gives you an insight into our Sixth Form, but please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Kate Symes-Thompson ASSISTANT HEAD (SIXTH FORM)
Our Sixth Form
VISION
We believe that if pupils are happy, inspired and supported, they have limitless potential.
We aim to prepare our pupils for life beyond St John’s, developing a life-long love of learning, encouraging them to thrive and achieve.
Our vision for the two sixth form years is for pupils to attain excellent academic credentials, allowing access to top universities, pathways and careers whilst instilling resilience, optimism and confidence for their future beyond St John’s. This approach is underpinned by our three pillars:
1 2 3
ACADEMIC RIGOUR
Our Sixth Form pupils are motivated to learn. Our outstanding teachers are committed to forging environments and lessons to enable them to develop an interest and passion in their subjects. We are committed to improving study habits to ensure that pupils can study independently to reach their full potential.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Our Sixth Form cohort are role models for our younger pupils. We are committed to creating a kind, inclusive and open-minded environment to allow them to contribute positively across all aspects of school life (be it music, drama, CCF, sport, or community service) and to support each other.
THRIVE AND ACHIEVE
ASPIRATIONAL FUTURES
Our Sixth Form pupils have the confidence to aim high. We aim to equip them with a formula for success, encouraging them to use their time in the Sixth Form to build their repertoire of skills, experiences and contacts. This ensures they are future ready, confident and prepared for future careers.
We go ABOVE
All pupils study three A levels. In exceptional circumstances, such as if a pupil wishes to study a language (and they are bilingual) and those who study further mathematics, they may do four A levels.
In this case, that would be their fourth option. All pupils (with the exception of those doing four A levels) do a fourth option which is delivered within their curriculum time.
They choose from:
•EXTENDED PROJECT QUALIFICATION (EPQ)
• GOLD ARTS AWARD
•MATHS IN CONTEXT
Universities like the breadth this gives pupils, and with a high grade in their EPQ or Maths in Context qualification, pupils have previously received grade reductions from certain universities.
Running alongside our core offering, we have created our bespoke Quad programme – a programme designed to prepare our pupils for life after St John’s.
Our pupils enjoy a wide range of enrichment opportunities, including our weekly clubs and activities programme, community service, sport, music, drama, and CCF, which are all included within our school day.
Our outstanding pastoral care continues throughout our Sixth Form. All pupils are supported by a tutor, a Housemaster/ mistress and matron, as well as the dedicated Sixth Form team. It is our mission to know and understand out pupils incredibly well, to give them the best possible care.
BEYOND and
PASTOR AL CARE
THE FOUR KEY STRANDS OF THE QUAD PROGRAMME
1 The basics of finance, how to set up a bank account, saving, mortgages etc.
2 Understanding the British political system, the key parties etc.
3 Importance of writing and speaking for life e.g. CV/letter writing, interview and presentation skills, assessment centre workshop.
4 Pupils pick from a number of ‘short courses’ which are each five weeks long. These are run by different academic teachers and are normally something which they are particularly passionate about, perhaps have studied themselves at undergrad or masters level. They are designed to be similar to university seminars.
Full of
OPPORTUNITY
Our Sixth Form offering goes beyond university counselling and guidance, career and futures guidance with specialised career workshops, guest lectures and internship/work experience opportunities.
Our expectation is for all pupils to do one week of work experience (normally in the summer holiday between Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth) but we also encourage pupils to go beyond their academic subjects and to complete MOOCs, essay competitions, residentials and workshops. Our school wide membership to Unifrog makes it easy for pupils to find and apply for these opportunities.
Finally and very importantly, we value our pupils engaging and contributing to our wider community and to volunteer and service our St John’s and wider community. In particular, every year many Sixth Form pupils volunteer to be part of our Community Holiday, a week-long residential holiday in the summer for children aged 10-18 with a range of complex special needs.
In order to capture and celebrate these efforts, pupils going above and beyond have the potential to achieve the St John’s Leadership Award. Pupils record their community contributions for the Sixth Form team assess and reward those who have gone above and beyond.
SIXTH FORM TEAM
Kate Symes-Thompson ASSISTANT HEAD (SIXTH FORM)
Rosalind Williams DEPUTY HEAD OF SIXTH FORM
Aaron Mooney DEPUTY HEAD OF SIXTH FORM (UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS)
Lula Teunissen HEAD OF CAREERS AND SIXTH FORM ENRICHMENT
We are committed to helping every pupil navigate their own path with confidence and clarity.
St John’s School
T +44 (0) 1372 373000
school@stjohns.surrey.sch.uk stjohnsleatherhead.co.uk
Registered Charity No: 312064