SIXTH FORM STUDENT GUIDE 2018

Sixth Form Student Guide
The Head of School and Deputies are chosen by the Headmaster and staff for a number of
qualities including their commitment to the School and their ability to lead and organise
their peers.
Form Managers
One of your responsibilities will be to act as a Form Manager to one of the forms in your
House lower down in the school. Although differing from form to form, you will be expected
to attend the form period every Tuesday or Thursday and generally interact with the group,
perhaps helping to organise House activities and assemblies and such-like – a lot easier with
little Year 7s rather than a Year 10 class with an attitude, it has to be said, but take the
initiative and gain their respect. It makes prefect duties much easier when you know and
can talk to the would-be troublemakers!
Pause, Prompt, Praise Tutors
The English department runs the Pause, Prompt, Praise scheme to help Year 7 pupils
improve their reading skills. This scheme is only successful because of the commitment
shown by the Lower Sixth form volunteers. You work in pairs as tutors to a specific Year 7
pupil. For ten minutes every day, for six weeks, you take it in turns to listen to your tutee
read. It is remarkable how the Year 7 pupils respond and gain in confidence. In the past,
tutors have clearly enjoyed the experience and taken pride in the progress which “their”
pupil has shown. There are also opportunities to support Year 7 pupils who have been
chosen for the able, gifted and talented reading scheme.
Parents’ Evenings and Events
One way in which Sixth Form students are given the opportunity to broaden their
experiences and take responsibility is by helping out at Parents’ Evenings and other events.
This may sound a little boring but, in fact, most students thoroughly enjoy their first
experience of helping and often volunteer for a second or even third time!
Greeting parents at the door, looking after them and making sure the teachers do not allow
a queue of parents to build up require tact and diplomacy. Dealing with adults you do not
necessarily know can be a little daunting but provides excellent experience in developing
‘people skills’ and gives you the opportunity to show how polite and charming you can be.
The parents are always very impressed by your sophistication and are thrilled to think that
their little angels will grow up to be like these delightful young people in navy suits. As for
the teachers, we obviously know you slightly better than the parents, but you earn lots of
Brownie points with us by keeping us supplied with tea and coffee. Needless to say, tuition
in the vital skills of tea and coffee making is provided for those students who need it!
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