SAS - Sixth Form Prospectus 2022

“Moving to St Albans School has made me a more
confident person and essentially, has given me a
fresh start ”
IN ST ALBANS SCHOOL’S
SIXTH FORM

It is our pleasure to introduce St Albans’s Sixth form to you. St Albans School Sixth Form is full of a
variety of opportunities, both academically and socially. Whatever your interests may be, the Sixth Form
will facilitate this for you in a supportive environment. We believe that both students and staff are very
welcoming - there is a very strong community feel here.
This prospectus has been produced by members of our Sixth Form community, and we hope it gives you
an insight into the reality of our vibrant and welcoming community.
Adam and Annabel
Head of School and Deputy Head of School
HELLO

Choosing and moving to a new Sixth Form is an exciting time. We understand that to
make the right choice, it is important to gain an insight into the Sixth Form through
personal views and experiences of current pupils.
We asked a team of Lower Sixth Form pupils to give their personal accounts of what
stands out for them when it comes to life at St Albans School. This Prospectus aims to
answer any questions which you may have about moving to a new school.

MOVING
INTO
Sixth Form

ANYA
Studying
Maths, Economics and
Geography at Sixth Form
Initially, the thought of moving to a new school with a co-ed Sixth
Form, from an all girls’ school, seemed daunting, especially as
I didn’t know anyone at St Albans School. However, although it
was a hard decision to make, I know that it was the best choice for
me. Moving to St Albans School has made me a more confident
person and has given me a fresh start. It allowed me to broaden
my group of friends and pushed me out of my comfort zone. It
has made for a more varied classroom experience, with a broader
range of views and opinions. I believe that being in a co-ed
environment will ultimately help me prepare for my life outside of
school, when I carry on my studies at university.
As any new girl moving to a predominantly boys’ school, one
of my main concerns about the transition was making new
friends. I was quite nervous about how everything would work.
Would I have friends? Would I settle in properly? I think after
the first two weeks I was settled, and it wasn’t as scary as I
thought it would be! Because all the girls were new into the
Lower Sixth Form, it made it easy to open conversations and
form friendships. Everyone at the School was so friendly and
welcoming and I settled into the new routine very quickly.

RATHIP
Studying Maths, Economics and Chemistry
at Sixth Form
The transition into Sixth Form was brilliant!
Although at times a little unnerving, there was
a lot to take in initially. After the second week, I
settled into school life well. There was an increase
in workload which I was expecting, but the shift
in the social aspects of Sixth Form took me a little
by surprise. People seemed so much more open to
making new friends, and there was a change in the
friendship groups which had been there in the past. It
was nice to see new pupils joining the School, and it
has been great expanding my circle of friends.
As Sixth Formers, our privileges have increased. We
have our own Common Room – a place where we
can go to eat, socialise, and take some time away
from our studies. In addition, we have independent
study periods assigned to us, along with a weekly
independent study session with our tutor. I really like
this opportunity, as I can revise or have some time
to focus on homework. I also appreciate the smaller
class sizes, ranging between four to fourteen pupils,
as this means that teachers can focus on us more
individually, should we need it.

“It has been great expanding
my social circle”

THE BEST
PRIVILEGE
FOR ME IS THE
FREEDOM
TO GO INTO
TOWN

SAM
Studying Maths, Physics
and Chemistry at Sixth Form
The switch from Fifth Form to Sixth Form brought with it
many changes, as well as new faces. On Induction Day, I
walked into the Sixth Form Common Room where I was
greeted by a crowd of new people as well as some
familiar faces and it didn’t take long for people
to get to know each other. Another change
I have experienced is increased sense of
responsibility and independence. Having
our own Common Room and a greater
freedom over our choice of clothes are
both aspects which have helped create a
feeling of independence. The best privilege
for me, though, is the freedom of going
into town (which is right on the School’s
doorstep) to enjoy lunch away from the School
grounds. The opportunity to choose where
we get our lunches from, as well as the
opportunity to socialise away
from school, is appreciated.

OPPORTUNITIES
THROUGH Co -Curricular

RATHIP
There is so much to choose from when it comes to co-curricular activities in the Sixth
Form at St Albans School. Whether it be Art Club to Rugby training, Chess Club to Jazz
Band, there is something to suit everyone. Activities are there to broaden your senses and
experiences and there is potential to make more friends with pupils which you may not
usually meet during your usual school day.
ANYA
The Co-Curricular programme has opened my eyes to a variety of activities, many of
which I have experienced for the first time. So far, I have taken part in Zumba, yoga,
rugby, and rounders allowing me to enjoy activities outside of the classroom, enabling me
to meet friends I may not share lessons with, and above all, giving me the opportunity to
try something new. There is so much to choose from and there are outstanding facilities
available for Music, Drama, Sport and more. I am looking forward to taking part in the
Diversity Society next!

ACADEMIC
SUCCESS
SAM
Everyone wants to succeed, and at St Albans School
you are supplied with the tools and support to do
just that. The high level of staff expertise across
all departments, as well as the choice of subjects
available at A Level certainly helps. Being able to
choose from a wide selection means that you can
focus on subjects which truly interest you. This
results in an increased work ethic in class, and
paired with smaller class sizes, helps nurture a more
positive learning environment for us all.
Another opportunity you are afforded in the
Lower Sixth Form is a Friday afternoon activity
of your choice, along with fifty minutes’ worth of
Enrichment each week. These two activities offer a
great break from the standard academic lessons and
give you a chance to learn other important skills.
Examples of activities include: sign language, driving
theory, first aid and public speaking.

ANYA
St Albans School stands out
for me because it is a very
well-rounded school; one of
the main factors I took into
consideration when choosing
the Sixth Form were the
excellent grades in the subjects
that I wanted to take at A Level.
This was the icing on the cake
for me and when I knew I truly
wanted to go to this School.

PASTORAL
Care

ANYA
Pastoral Care at St Albans School is excellent. We have form tutor contact twice a day,
which takes us away from academic studies for a period, and this allows us to talk about any
of our worries.
There are one-to-one sessions with your form tutor two to three times a term, when we can discuss
grades and general life in Sixth Form and anything that might be bothering us. There is also the time
and opportunity to speak with the School Counsellor in a confidential capacity about any other issues
that you may want to discuss.
RATHIP
At St Albans School, there is always a sense of inclusivity - new Sixth Formers are always welcomed
and as pupils, we feel supported.
This is emphasised to us daily by our tutors. If there is ever a sense of uncertainty, we know that we
can always go to the Pastoral Staff, or any member of the Safeguarding Team. Pupils can talk to their
tutor about any issues they face at home or with their schoolwork.

THERE IS A
BIG
FOCUS
ON PUPIL
WELLBEING

SAM
Alongside the in-house Pastoral Care, there is a big focus on pupil wellbeing. We
are regularly reminded of ways we can care for our own wellbeing and we attend
PSHEE sessions covering a wide spectrum of topics that are relevant to us now
and which also focus on how to prepare for life after school. We are also reminded
about local organisations, such as The OLLIE Foundation and YouthTalk, which
are available to us should we want to seek any additional support from outside of
school.

IN SUMMARY
ANYA
SAM
Making the decision to leave my previous school was a difficult one but
I think it was one of the best decisions I have ever made! It is a welldisciplined
school, and one that pushes you to do your very best, whilst
maintaining a high focus on pupil wellbeing and support.
I’m really pleased to be spending my Sixth Form years of school here
at St Albans School. I feel that through its strong academic levels and
support, it is the best place for me to complete my A Levels. I am also
looking forward to my future at university which I feel the School has
helped prepare me for. I have formed lifelong friendships throughout
my time here and I plan to stay in contact with the School by joining
the OA Association.

“The School motto ‘non nobis nati’ (born not for ourselves) is instilled in
pupils across the School, fostering a community with a focus on integrity
and a good work ethic. I have found teachers to be approachable and
engaged thoroughly in my academic journey, supporting me to ensure
I achieve everything I can in my chosen subjects."
Adam Savvides, Head of School

This booklet has been project managed entirely by us,
the Sixth Form Marketing Team: Rathip, Anya and
Sam. We hope to see you next year!
Abbey Gateway
St Albans
Hertfordshire
AL3 4HB
T: 01727 515182
E: registrar@st-albans.herts.sch.uk
st-albans.herts.sch.uk