Heathfield Sixth Form Prospectus 2015

A step ahead to independence

Heathfield School Sixth Form

Introduction to

Heathfield’s Sixth Form ‘A lively list of Sixth Form destinations and courses includes Economics and Accounting at Edinburgh, Architecture at King’s College, Philosophy at Loughborough, Maths at City, Law at Universidad CEU San Pablo, Madrid, Drama at RADA and History at Trinity College Dublin. Definitely no stereotypes here.’

Good Schools Guide 2014

The Sixth Form at Heathfield provides a distinctive and nurturing environment where girls flourish.

Our value added academic results are second to none. Pastorally, we are nationally renowned and consistently rated Outstanding.

E

xtensive support, individual guidance and an inspirational careers programme ensure that girls are inspired to ever greater heights of confidence and initiative.

They take key leadership and mentoring roles, in preparation for leaving the school as independent young women.

Our girls win places on some of the most competitive courses at leading universities in the UK and overseas.

Our former pupils excel in life after Heathfield: since 2010, an impressive 90% have achieved a First Class or an Upper Second class degree at their chosen university.

This reflects the strength of their Sixth Form experience at Heathfield which teaches them not just what to learn but how to learn independently and successfully.

Girls at Heathfield are happy, fulfilled and inspired to do well in the future. I look forward to welcoming students joining us from the Fifth Form and those joining us for the first time in the Sixth Form.

Jeremy Hart, Director of Sixth Form

1

The Support Network The Sixth Form is a time of challenge and excitement. Academically, small classes, flexibility in subject choice and a supportive tutor system give each individual the opportunity to develop her strengths and achieve success.

Attainment and achievement are closely monitored.

‘The pastoral care available is outstanding and a strength that comes from every corner of the school.’

Ofsted

Co-curricular activities provide both leadership and team building opportunities. Evenings and weekends are full of House and Interhouse activities.

In both years of the Sixth Form, girls are supported and cared for by experienced housemistresses.

The Sixth Form is regarded by former students as the ‘best part of the Heathfield experience’.

2

‘Masses to do at weekends’, according to parents, ‘this is when good friendships become great’.

Good Schools Guide 2014

Academic

Overview Heathfield’s Sixth Form is a place where our girls mature into young women, ready and readied for the challenges and independence required in the outside world.

I

nnovative from the very start, the girls are inspired and challenged to gain the very best qualifications possible.

Our excellence in the Creative Arts is balanced by our expertise in STEM subjects, Languages and Humanities, meaning that our girls’ destinations are always personalised to them at the highest level, from Russell Group universities such as London, Exeter, Edinburgh and Bristol through to Lee Strasberg Institute, New York, the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, Parsons, New York and École Hôteliére de Lausanne.

The personalised support and overt focus on scholarship through independent opportunities mean that you will leave ready and able to make the most of the outside world. Our girls consistently achieve at the highest levels at university, demonstrating the levels of scholarship and excellent independent working habits that are inculcated throughout the school and consolidated in the Sixth Form.

It is never just about a wide curriculum, high expectations or excellent academic qualifications; Heathfield imbues the girls with persistence, grit, effort and the desire to achieve. The exposure to leadership opportunities, enrichment through art, drama and music as well as the ability to talk to leading experts in the fields of medicine, history and art give a taste of university life early, together with the best possible friendships. Every girl is therefore well equipped to take on the world and win.

‘The small year group and class sizes make it easy not only to make new friends but also allow you to receive attentive guidance from your teachers.

Pupil

3

Independent

Living

In the Lower Sixth, the girls live in individual study bedrooms. Every girl is a member of a House – Austen, De Valois, Seacole or Somerville.

T

he Sixth Form plays a key role in helping their Houses to run, organising events like the House Drama, Music and all the Sporting Competitions.

The Upper Sixth girls remain members of their original Houses. New Sixth Form joiners are assigned to one of the school Houses.

In the Upper Sixth, girls move across to Wyatt House, named after the school’s founder Miss Eleanor Wyatt, and affectionately known as ‘the Bungalow’, where they enjoy more independent living in study bedrooms with communal kitchen and common room areas, giving them an invaluable pre-university experience.

The move also gives them a taste of the practicalities of university life.

Girls do their own washing and ironing and learn to cook healthy meals for themselves on a budget.

Living in Wyatt House also cements the friendships and engenders the sense of camaraderie for which Heathfield is renowned.

“Wyatt House is incredible; living in a house with all your friends is amazing and doing your own cooking and washing is so much fun as well as great preparation for university.” Pupil “The Upper Sixth kitchen looks more like a real family kitchen than any school kitchen we can remember.” Good Schools Guide 2014 “Pupils in Year 13 (Upper Sixth) have the good opportunity to cater for themselves in their purpose built accommodation and in this they are being well prepared for life beyond school.”

ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)

4

Sixth Form

Leadership

“The prefect positions and earned privileges reward you for your efforts and give a gratifying sense of responsibility.�

Pupil

Heathfield is unusual in asking girls to become prefects in the Lower Sixth.

T

he Prefect positions give the Lower Sixth Form girls the opportunity to gain valuable leadership experience.

Girls apply for a position and go through a selection process towards the end of the Fifth Form.

New girls have the opportunity to apply before they arrive and are assessed and allocated responsibilities, where appropriate, in their first half term.

5

Beyond the

Classroom

Music, Drama, Art and Sport are part of daily life at Heathfield, with girls able to choose from a variety of sports and activities.

A

ll girls are encouraged to train in competitive sports and to represent the school in matches and tournaments at home and away, including on overseas tours.

In-house coaching is supplemented by visits from leading international players and coaches.

The Equestrian Co-ordinator oversees Heathfield’s riders who perform exceptionally well at both local and national levels.

Musically, Heathfield offers a wide variety of extra lessons and activities and has an active senior choir.

RADA and LAMDA qualifications are on offer. Girls can also take dance lessons including ballet, tap and street dance.

Trinity College Arts Awards can be taken alongside A Levels.

The prestigious Certificate of Food and Wine from Leiths School of Food and Wine can also be studied for in the Sixth Form.

Sixth Form girls are encouraged to enter for the Duke of Edinburgh’s (Gold) Award – a huge but rewarding commitment.

The school also holds regular social events including informal suppers and debates and socials with boys’ schools such as Eton and Radley.

6

“The school is justifiably proud of the breadth and scope of the extra-curricular provision that extends the academic studies of the pupils, as well as offering them new opportunities, for example in sport or the arts.

It is particularly commendable for a small school.”

ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)

‘The strong relationship between staff and students in Sixth Form helped me to carry out lots of independent learning but with the continuous support of my teachers who always found time to help. This really helped me in my application for universities and to gain a higher knowledge required for top universities’.

Former student

Mona Ebert (Heathfield 2008-2010) graduated from The Courtauld with an MA History of Art (Distinction)

eathfield ie Pennick (H Old Girl Tais in Kenya volunteering

2005-2012)

The Future

Old Girl Octavia Woolger (Heathfield 2006-2013), selected for GB Canoeing

University In the last five years, Heathfield girls have read a wide range of subjects at university, including Biomedical Chemistry and Classics at Oxford, History of Art and English at Cambridge, History and Geography at Warwick, Law and Politics at Bristol, Accounting and Finance at LSE, History and English at Exeter and Philosophy at King’s College London.

Girls have also taken Art foundation courses and won coveted places at RADA and LAMDA. Heathfield has an exclusive partnership with the London College of Fashion, which gives girls intending to apply for an Arts course access to university level advice.

The application process for university begins in the Lower Sixth and the process continues into the Upper Sixth where girls start applying for their chosen courses in the Michaelmas Term.

Throughout the process, tutors and subject staff support and guide the girls.

Careers

Gap Year

The Sixth Form participates in a comprehensive programme of activities including informal talks, taster days, university open days, and work experience. Girls are encouraged to make informed decisions about their future with expert guidance.

Guidance is offered to Sixth Formers who may plan a gap year.

Increasingly, girls look to raise money themselves to finance their travels. Guidance and support is offered on making the most of any gap year for a girl’s personal development and future.

7

Life after Heathfield The Fellowship

W

hen girls leave Heathfield, they become part of one of the strongest associations of Old Girls in the UK – the Heathfield Fellowship. Girls are welcomed into the Fellowship at their final Parents’ Day. They receive the Fellowship badge which symbolises the global community of Heathfield girls and shows that Heathfield friends are friends for life.

The Fellowship works hard to support girls as they leave Heathfield and annually offers the chance for Upper Sixth Formers to apply for travel bursaries.

Old Girls

F

ormer students keep in touch and update us on what they are doing and many come back to give talks about their chosen careers.

Several recent leavers have moved on to pursue further academic study, including an MA at Edinburgh in History of Art, MSc in Mathematics at the London School of Economics and a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry at Cambridge.

Old Girls’ career paths have been varied and include a freelance artist, a film director and a geoscientist, with many choosing international as well as UK based jobs.

Admissions Entry into the Sixth Form for external candidates is dependent upon success at GCSE level with a minimum of six GCSE passes A* to C grade (or equivalent) with the expectation that a minimum of a Grade B is attained in the subject if it is to be pursued to A Level. This entry requirement may be an A grade in some subjects.

Sixth Form girls can choose to study up to five A Level subjects with the majority of Sixth Form girls choosing to study four. One of these subjects is dropped after AS Level.

Girls should usually end up with three or four A Level qualifications, all of which accrue UCAS points for university entrance. Being a small school, we are able to respond to the needs of each girl individually, to offer advice and support and ensure that she is stretched but not overburdened by the subjects she chooses to take and that her choices lead to the best opportunities in Higher Education.

Scholarships are awarded to those who demonstrate significant levels of achievement in one or more areas and agree to act as role models, thus improving the educational environment we all share. Scholarships carry with them a financial award and prestige along with entry into our Scholarship programme and can, of course, be listed on UCAS forms and CVs in later life.

Please contact Mrs Rebecca Farha, Registrar at registrar@heathfieldschool.net or 01344 898 342 with any questions regarding admission into the Sixth Form 8

‘Perhaps the best test of a senior school is not only the A Level results but whether you can look back and confidently say “we got it right!” and I’m happy to say that is exactly how we feel about Heathfield.’

Parent of 2014 Leaver

‘Our daughter has worked for hours and hours almost every day throughout the Christmas break, and when she wasn’t working she was enthusiastically discussing her subjects with us. We have never once had to tell her to go and revise. In fact, we had almost to drag her out of her room for meals!’

Parent of 2015 LVI pupil

Heathfield School, London Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 8BQ Telephone +44(0) 1344 898 343 www.heathfieldschool.net Incorporating St. Mary’s School Wantage