Life in the Sixth Form

“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 delight to introduce St Albans School Sixth Form to you. The St Albans School Sixth
Form is a vibrant family, enriched by a strong sense of unity and inclusion. We value our
diversity here, not only in celebrating over 30 years of co-education, but also in providing a
space for self-expression and individuality. The Sixth Form provides support and guidance for
each and every pupil, encouraging them to be the best they can be in all their pursuits. It is our
hope that you too will have the chance to experience this.
This prospectus gives an insight into the academic and co-curricular life of our Sixth Form, as
lived and felt by Sixth Formers themselves. We hope this provides an honest representation of
our welcoming community.
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.
John-Ellis and Dasha
Head of School and Deputy Head of School
HELLO

MOVING
INTO
Sixth Form
ANYA
Studying
Maths, Economics and
Geography
Initially, the thought of moving to a new school with a
co-ed Sixth Form, from an all girls’ school, was daunting,
especially as I didn’t know anyone at St Albans School.
However, although it was a hard decision, 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
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 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
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.

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
OPPORTUNITIES
THROUGH Co-Curricular
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
ANYA
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.
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.

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 the 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
PASTORAL
Care
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
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 well-disciplined school, and one that pushes you to do your
very best, whilst maintaining a high focus on pupil wellbeing and
support.
SAM
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.
“I would encourage any prospective students to take up the chance
of joining the School because of the wealth of possibilities which this
Community provides. St Albans School is the place to make your home:
to live, to grow, to thrive.”
John-Ellis Wallace, Head of School

Abbey Gateway
St Albans
Hertfordshire
AL3 4HB
T: 01727 515182
E: registrar@st-albans.herts.sch.uk
st-albans.herts.sch.uk