Bright Futures

Our Bright Futures programme enables you to benefit from a broad educational experience, equipping you with skills and qualities that will enable you to thrive beyond your time with us in the Sixth Form.

The programme focuses on the development of independent study skills, leadership and work-preparedness, as well as opportunities to develop evidence of super-curricular engagement.

You will have the opportunity to complete an Extended Project Qualification and the GDST Leadership and Enterprise Advanced Diploma and, for some, the choice of either the GDST Space Technology Diploma, the DELE or DELF Language Diploma.

brightongirls.gdst.net/sixth-form/

THE EXTENDED PROJECT QUALIFICATION (EPQ)

This is a serious academic course valued by universities and employers. It is an opportunity to work independently and pursue a personal interest. Success requires you to be both problem-seeking and solution-focused; you will learn how to analyse, evaluate, test and develop ideas which become robust and successful. The inventiveness and resilience this requires is exciting, as well as valuable.

You can see why employers and universities would value this qualification from all the reasons above; many universities make a lower entry offer to students succeeding with the EPQ. If you have a particular career ambition, you might use an EPQ to explore that area, and the expertise gained can be invaluable in a university interview. For most students, their completed EPQ is the single item of work from their whole school career of which they are most proud, and the self-confidence this generates is often the springboard from which successful careers develop.

GDST LEADERSHIP AND ENTERPRISE ADVANCED DIPLOMA (LEAD)

In partnership with the London School of Economics, the GDST Leadership and Enterprise Advanced Diploma equips our Sixth Formers with the requisite skills for future leadership in a fast-changing workplace. There are three strands to the Diploma: Leadership, Social Enterprise and Mentorship.

You will complete modules covering a range of topics: self-awareness of your leadership style; dealing with difficult people and situations; AI and unconscious bias, to name a few. You will also put your skills into practice through running your own social enterprise, supported by a mentor from the LSE.

Many Year 12 students across the GDST participate, and you will join them at a Bootcamp in the Autumn term and a showcase event in the Spring, which is the culmination of the Diploma.