StaffordGrammar School

SIXTHFORMWITHA UNIQUE ATMOSPHEREWHICH AIMS TO HELP BUILDSTUDENTS’ CONFIDENCE ANDINDEPENDENCEWHILEENSURINGTHEYMAKE HAPPY MEMORIES

Head Girl, Fran, and Deputy Head Boy, Nirvan, explain what SGS Sixth Form has been like for them…

We all know that starting Sixth Form is amassive change from Year 11, but the teachers at SGS areincredible at dealing with those inevitable nerves because they’realways theretotalk and to help foster friendships between everybody

In fact, when you start Sixth Form, one of the first things you do is atrip to Go Ape: an activity that promotes teamwork and inclusivity.It’shumbling to be standing thereinaharness in front of 40 people you’ve just met, and then to be hurtling down azipline towards Mr Anderson, the Head of Sixth Form, at 60 miles per hour! This kicks offthe year with abang, right up until you see yourself screaming in the pictures on the SGS Facebook page.

At SGS you’ll quickly notice the open and understanding dynamic between students and teachers. The first week is always nerve-racking, but before you know it you’ll feel like part of the community,eating cake with your friends on aclassmate’sbirthday

The academic excellence within SGS is supported by the various extracurricular opportunities. Fantastic activities include the school musical, which has previously been ‘Chicago’, ‘9 to 5’ and ‘The Addams Family’, to name just afew.The opportunity to perform on stage in these incredibly professional productions builds confidence and happiness.

If your interests lie outside of performing, there’salways something to get involved with. Mr Anderson is in our emails day in, day out, sharing work experience and career opportunities. We sometimes worry about how much time he spends on his computer!

Through being at SGS, you soon come to understand how the Sixth Form’s atmosphereisunique, and built for making memories. The iconic Sixth Form Christmas pantomime brings everybody out of their shell. We never imaginedwe’d be standing on stage, wearing pink tutus in front of the whole school, but we did it, and loved every second!

As well as chasing our own personal goals, there’salways adrive to do well as acommunity.Onour first day we were made awareofhow much ouropinion is valued as amember of the Sixth Form. For example, we choose what sports to do in PE. When it’stimetoassign prefect roles and responsibilities, pupils cast their votes along with the teachers, so our voices are heardfor the big decisions as well as the little ones.

Independence and responsibility aredeveloped if you’rerewarded with a prefect position. No matter what position you’rechosenfor,your job will essentially be to help others. For some this means overseeing assemblies in the prep school, and having the immense privilege of hearing the younger ones sing every other week. For another it would be working with other Sixth Formers to make sure our common room is running smoothly, because things get alittle complicated if the dishwasher isn’tcleared properly!

Overall, we’d say that SGS’sSixth Form is an absolute hoot. Everyone’s experience will inevitably be different, and SGS provides the opportunity to make your time heretrulyunique, whether that’sbypacking your lunch times with music rehearsals, or grabbing aMaccies with your mates, SGS leaves you with memories and friends that stay with you for the rest of your life.

If you’d like to find out morefollow @staffordgrammar to see our video #SGSDifference