Welcome to OHS Sixth Form
Our Sixth Form is a friendly, inclusive and stimulating environment where you will flourish academically and develop your individual talents and potential. Our students have a track record of academic success at GCSE, which they develop and enhance at A Level.
We are proud to offer an educational experience which combines academic challenge with inspiring leadership opportunities, to prepare you for the future. We want you to be ambitious in all areas of your life, to develop academic rigour, intellectual curiosity and agile thought. Crucial to this is the pursuit of academic excellence, including, but going well beyond, outstanding examination results.
As future leaders and changemakers, our wider Sixth Form programme gives you a wealth of opportunities to understand and develop your role as a leader, become an advocate for yourself
and others and make a positive difference through service to others in our school community and beyond.
It also gives you all the skills and know-how for now or in the future, whether that’s developing greater awareness of local and global issues, understanding finance and how to manage your money or looking after your well-being and developing strong, healthy relationships.
We build a personalised timetable around the choice of subjects you make. In Year 12, our students typically take four A levels, with those taking Further Mathematics potentially taking five. We offer an exciting range of 27 subjects at A Level, all taught by specialist staff.
Our vision for A Level is of a curriculum that inspires as well as challenges, and it is the hallmark of an Oxford High School education that students approach learning with assurance and skill. When you leave school, you will invariably earn places at top-quality universities and manifest the skills, knowledge, and confidence to make a positive difference in the wider world.
Marina Gardiner Legge Head, Oxford High School GDST
Key highlights of our Sixth Form Programme
150 YEARS EXPERIENCE OF EDUCATING HIGH-ACHIEVING GIRLS
SMALL CLASS SIZES /TUTOR GROUPS
WEEKLY CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
90 1:1 PASTORAL SUPPORT AND WELLBEING
ACADEMIC CHALLENGE
TIMETABLED STUDY PERIODS
LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SIXTH FORM STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
DEDICATED QUIET STUDY AREA
RECEIVE A CHROMEBOOK AND CHARGER FOR THE DURATION OF YOUR STUDIES
WIDE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES AND BENEFITS THROUGH THE GDST
WE SUPPORT YOU TO GET INTO YOUR 1ST CHOICE UNIVERSITY
27 A LEVEL SUBJECTS ON OFFER
VERTICAL TUTOR GROUPS FOR PEER TO PEER SUPPORT
RATED AS ‘EXCELLENT’ IN ALL AREAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE (ISI) INSPECTION REPORT 2023
UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS INCLUDE LEADING UNIVERSITIES IN THE UK AND BEYOND
DEDICATED GYM
TIMETABLED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR EVERY STUDENT
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WITH PUPILS FROM 36 COUNTRIES
ACCESS TO MASTER CLASSES AND MENTORING SUPPORT FOR YOUR EXTENDED RESEARCH PROJECT
CAMPUS-STYLE FACILITIES INCLUDING CAFE
RELAXED DRESS CODE
BUILD YOUR NETWORKS THROUGH OUR EXCITING SPEAKER PROGRAMME AND CAREERS EVENTS
FLEXIBILITY AT LUNCH TIMES AND OPTION OF EARLY FINISH
7 AVERAGE CLASS SIZES
Why choose our Sixth Form?
We have a 150 year history of educational excellence. Our students are unafraid to challenge, and have the drive and determination to change the world for the better. We are proud to be the longest established girls’ school in Oxford.
We are a friendly and down-to-earth school, where you are encouraged to explore your beliefs and values so you can find your voice. Students leave the school with the confidence to lead and the self-assurance to question.
Within our community we care for each other, promote diversity and celebrate differences. Through collaboration with our students, we strive to do better.
Strong links with local schools and organisations enable us to contribute positively to the local community. We have a committed, outwardfacing approach to education.
Our Sixth Form Programme gives you a rounded framework of academic challenge, skills development and stimulating experiences.
Classes are engaging, where you get the support you need. The high staff-to-student ratio helps us understand and respond to your individual learning needs.
Within school, pastoral care is at the heart of everything. We focus on the individual so you develop resilience, self-assurance and awareness of the positive impact of your actions on others and the wider world.
Our learning experience offers a well-rounded education designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills and critical thinking to prepare you for future success.
Our Sixth Form offer is also strengthened by our long-standing connections with universities, businesses and the 100,000-strong network of GDST Alumnae, giving you the chance to build your professional networks through mentoring schemes, internships and work experience.
Our modern dedicated Sixth Form building is an inspiring environment to learn in.
The city of Oxford plays an important role in our education provision. Whether it’s leading a visit to one of Oxford’s museums, galleries or theatres, we ensure that every learning opportunity is maximised by our proximity to Oxford’s cultural and intellectual life. Our strong links to leading universities such as the University of Oxford and the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust enable us to host visiting speakers from across the academic spectrum, so you can extend your knowledge far beyond the curriculum.
Life in the Sixth Form
As you wander through the Ada Benson Building you will notice the laughter and enthusiasm of happy and engaged students. Life in OHS Sixth Form is about discovering your potential, whether that’s in the classroom or beyond it.
Our non-uniform policy adds to the relaxed atmosphere. We respect you to make appropriate clothing choices for teaching and learning, expressing your true personality and individuality. You will also have a greater sense of personal responsibility and there is more freedom and flexibility to manage your own time.
A thread that runs through our Sixth Form experience is the idea of challenging yourself. We encourage you to try new things and step outside your comfort zone. This is not only in an academic capacity through A Level lessons and the Extended Research project, but in all aspects of life.
We support you to explore what you feel passionate about, by trying new experienceswhether that’s uncovering the joys of Oxford’s museums or leading a club in anything from Astronomy and Beekeeping to Football and Robotics.
It is this combination of academic challenge and co-curricular opportunity that enriches the learning experience and enables you to win prestigious international competitions, launch new enterprises as part of the GDST Lead initiative, embark on brave new worlds of academic research with the Warnock Extended Research Project, and explore the myriad of other opportunities available.
Sixth Form Challenge Day: The day is about challenging yourself, developing resilience and building confidence, and involves a range of exciting activities from rock climbing and kickboxing to learning how to graffiti and salsa dance. The day is always full of energy, enthusiasm and enjoyment.
Our facilities
Co-curricular activities
Our Sixth Form Centre is based in the state of the art Ada Benson Building. Our modern and purpose built building includes a sunlit atrium and café, where you can catch up with friends or study together in the large social space. In addition, there is a dedicated quiet study space and cosy booths around the mezzanine for a bit more privacy.
Within the Sixth Form teaching and learning spaces, we have small seminar-style classrooms, a purpose built Textiles Atelier, Art Studios for 3D and 2D Art, as well as a ceramics kiln, Animation Suite, Photography Studio and Mac Suite.
We offer up to 90 co-curricular activities per week, many of which are led by our Sixth Formers. Maybe you’re volunteering to help with our Book Buddies scheme with students from a local primary school, as part of OHS Perspectives programme? Or perhaps you’re on the Student Council? Maybe you’re in the music block, rehearsing a piece for a forthcoming concert? Or perhaps you’re preparing a speech for debating club or a poem for one of the many creative writing competitions we enter. We might equally find you in the Animation Studio, working on a showreel, or out by the bee hives, collecting honey or wax for candles. Then again, you might equally be found out on the field, fitting in a spot of last-minute coaching for a forthcoming match. Our Sixth Formers play a leading role in many aspects of the co-curricular activities across the school.
What are the benefits of a Girls’ Day School Trust Sixth Form?
Our membership of the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) brings a wide range of benefits. There are opportunities to shape the direction of the Trust via the Student Council. Our academic scholars collaborate with their peers at Wimbledon High School GDST, as part of our prestigious OWLS programme.
The GDST also offers a range of academic awards and scholarships to support travel and study. Our Sixth Formers regularly receive GDST Travel Scholarships to embark on new experiences after their A Levels. The scholarships enable you to expand your horizons through travel or volunteering. Some of the previous travel destinations have included Vietnam, Japan, China and various places in Europe.
What other opportunities are available?
• Attend one of the many day courses to help you prepare for pre-interview tests such as UCAT, LNAT and TSA. To support pre-interview test preparation, GDST Oxbridge On Track and GDST Medics On Track seminars, workshops and news bulletins are useful resources.
• Attend the annual GDST Oxbridge Conference to help you prepare for all aspects of the application process to Oxford or Cambridge.
• Apply for GDST awards and scholarships
• Access Internships and Insight Days at global organisations through the GDST’s Careerstart Programme. Internship opportunities are advertised in school assemblies.
• Represent your school in the GDST Student Council up to 3 times a year.
• Access support on GDST Overseas On Track when applying to universities in the USA.
• Study the GDST MBA
• Develop social entrepreneurships through GDST Lead
• Explore career pathways through GDST Careerstart insight days
• Online GDST Careerstart spotlight seminars
• Study the GDST Space Technology diploma, developed for GDST students
• by the University of Warwick and NASA.
GDST Creative Writing Prize
The GDST Creative Writing prize is an opportunity for GDST students to produce a piece of creative writing on a chosen theme. The competition is for all budding writers and involves students producing a short story or creative writing piece of up to 1,000 words. The students are competing against other students in their age group. Rosalind from Year 12 reached the GDST final for her imaginative piece called ‘Waves.’
GDST Johnston Memorial Scholarship
“Last term, I had the privilege of travelling to the GDST Headquarters in London to interview for the Johnston Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was established to commemorate Lady Johnston, a distinguished Parliamentary Counsel, who achieved first class honours in Jurisprudence at Oxford University.
Her accomplishments as a woman in academia and professional spheres have deeply inspired me. During the interview process, I was challenged to find solutions to thought-provoking questions, pushing me to think critically. Law, for me, is a way of navigating through a dynamic maze of conflicts. As a pathway towards fulfilling my aspiration of making a positive difference, the prospect of reading law at university truly excites me.
I enjoyed meeting talented GDST girls and discussing our perspectives on legal scenarios. Together, we shared our passion for law… and burning desire to capture the London skyline from the top floor! I am delighted and so grateful to have received the award – it feels truly an honour to receive this scholarship.”
Shira
Benefit of Girls’ Day School Trust
GDST alumnae network of 100,000+ for mentoring opportunities
GDST Travel Scholarships available –
GDST Academic Awards include: Creative Writing Poetry Classics Modern Foreign Languages Somerville and Gurney Award –
The Atherton Award Promotes entrepreneurial spirit in the STEM subjects –
GDST Minerva Prize £500
This prestigious prize is awarded to engaging and well rounded pupils, with strong academic achievements
*Year 13 pupils are eligible
Why girls-only?
Girls-only schools tend to dominate exam league tables and participation in maths, science and technology is higher among girls in single-sex schools.
Our girls are encouraged to ask questions, make suggestions, speak up and take intellectual risks. The confidence that is made here springs from the advantages of an all-girl education especially in the Sixth Form, where leadership opportunities abound. Academic research has shown that girls in a mixed environment defer to boys and do not step up to leadership roles. By making their mark here, in an environment where it is assumed that all students will take on high profile roles, they gain the necessary experience and confidence that leads them to claim roles which are rightfully theirs at university and in the world of work. You will meet OHS students everywhere, You will see them making their mark, being inventive and being confident leaders.
The GDST have conducted research published in the Girls’ Futures Report about how girls’ attitudes to leadership and the worklplace are changing, how we can address girls’ loss of confidence, and what girls need to truly prepare for the future.
I think that being at an all girls school has had an immense impact on my personal life. The confidence I have gained from being here is incredible, and having come from a mixed school, I have felt the difference and the empowerment!”
Harriet
I am very honoured to be a 2023 recipient of a GDST Pearson Silver Award. This is one of the many scholarships and prizes offered to GDST Sixth Formers. The Pearson Silver Awards assist towards the cost of attending courses with a classical content. Winning this award allows me to attend the JACT Greek Summer School, where I will explore Ancient Greek language and literature beyond the A Level curriculum. In this way, the GDST also supports my intention to apply for Classics at university, as the experience I gain on the course will be invaluable for future studies.” Iphigenie OF SIXTH FORM STUDENTS HOLD A SCHOLARSHIP OR EXHIBITION
57%
GDST Space Technology Diploma
This exciting course is written by subject experts from the space industry in collaboration with GDST Computer Science teachers and provides the latest in space technology, customised for GDST students.
Confidence is key to the Sixth Form. GDST’s comparative research of GDST girls and their counterparts from mixed-sex schools found that GDST Sixth Formers are less likely to feel negative about the future and more likely to feel positive. The GDST Difference: Designing education for girls’ futures
Our Sixth Form Programme
Our Sixth Formers are successful in their lives beyond school, thanks to success at A Level and all the opportunities our wider Sixth Form Programme brings. You develop a deeper understanding of academic subjects and higher order thinking skills through the innovative opportunities and experiences that elevate learning beyond the curriculum. In addition, Music, Drama, Sport, Entrepreneurship, Leadership and community partnerships all play a key role in Sixth Form life, enabling you to flourish and to make the most of your individual strengths. Our students excel in numerous areas, but it is their vibrancy, determination and willingness to work hard and embrace new challenges which never fail to impress.
When it comes to what I learnt, what skills I took away with me to become an entrepreneur and work in finance, one word would be resilience. It’s not always easy, it can be a challenge and you have to keep going and learn to put one foot in front of the other, which is invaluable when you’re running your own business.”
Helen Thomas, Class of 1998
OHS Sixth Form is a place where we love going beyond in our learning. The Sixth Form Programme comprises three strands – Academics, Horizons and Perspectives. Each strand extends learning and outlook and equips you with the academic knowledge, professional skills and personal resilience which are vital to succeed, at a leading university and beyond into your future career. Our Sixth Form Programme is inspired by our specialist experience of educating girls and equips you for everything you need for careers in the highly competitive global workplaces of the future.
Sixth Form Programme
Our 360 programme for Sixth Form gives you a rounded framework of skills, experience and resilience to prepare you for a successful career in a highly competitive global economy.
Academics
Develop your intellectual curiosity, agile thinking and independent thought
Select from 27 A Level subjects - Most students begin with 4 subjects, moving to 3 A Levels in Year 13, but other patterns are possible. We build the timetable around your choices.
The Warnock Extended Research Programme (Year 12)
Go beyond A Level and develop your research skills through a research project that you design, on a topic that inspires you.
Critical Thinking Short Course
Develop your ability to analyse data, evaluate evidence and arguments.
Horizons
Experience how being a GDST Sixth Former benefits you
GDST Careerstart Programme which includes insight days and internships.
University Ready - Access our bespoke online courses to prepare for life at university and beyond.
OWLS (Sixth Form Scholars Programme)
Interdisciplinary academic research project which expands your horizons beyond the scope of A Level study for publication in OWLS Quarterly, an online journal.
Perspectives
Understand your spheres of influence
You
Nurtures self-awareness, personal influence and understanding your place in the world.
Community
Develop your leadership through volunteering and social entrepreneurship opportunities..
• Book Buddies
• Conrad Challenge
• GDST Lead
• GDST MBA
• Magazine
• Maths Mentors
• Drama Directors
• Sports Leadership
• STEM Outreach
Your World
Builds awareness of your influence in a world context.
Our ‘Perspectives’ lecture series offers fascinating talks which provide a world view of political, economic and humanitarian issues.
Academics
The Academics programme includes a personalised timetable built around your choice of subjects. There are no rigid blocks or limits to the subjects you choose because we want to nurture your love of learning in the subjects that interest you.
Our excellent teaching challenges and inspires. Our students are curious and the academic strands of our Sixth Form Programme enable you to become agile thinkers, expand your professional networks, hone your creativity and develop critical thinking skills. All of our A Level subjects are taught by specialists in their fields. Your A Level teaching groups are small seminar style classes,
A Level subjects
We offer a wide range of A Level subjects:
• Art
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Chinese
• Computer Science
• Drama
• Economics
• English Literature
• French
• Geography
• German
• Greek
• History
• Italian
• Latin
• Maths
• Further Maths
• Music
• PE
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Politics
• Psychology
• Religious Studies
• Russian
• Spanish
• Textiles
which encourage debate and discussion. There are many opportunities for everyone to express their point of view, pose questions and challenge assumptions. Talking about ideas as they are introduced helps you to develop strong understanding and mastery of your subject and prepares you for university and beyond.
Pupils make rapid progress across the curriculum, especially when teaching sets high expectations and consciously builds on previous learning.”
Pupils’ study skills are highly developed; they ask searching questions and are confident in drawing together and analysing information from a range of resources.”
Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspection report 2023
Critical Thinking
All students in Year 12 follow our Critical Thinking course. This teaches you how to recognise key issues, understand, evaluate and construct convincing arguments and evaluate them skilfully. This is even more pertinent given recent discussion about the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This module is fully immersive, has minimal demands on your workload but the impact on your personal development is far-reaching. Some employers, particularly in the legal, financial, and consultancy sectors, now use Critical Thinking tests as part of their recruitment process. It is also useful in a range of contexts, whether you are justifying your view in a university seminar, pitching a new idea in the boardroom or campaigning against injustice.
Extended Research Project topics
Recent examples include:
How has the federal government exerted control over women’s bodies through the 21st century?
Are emergency services in the UK doing enough to help their work force deal with PTSD?
What are the restrictions on rolling out nuclear fusion as a reliable energy source in the UK?
How likely is it that space tourism will become a reality?
Should transgender women compete against cisgender women in elite sport?
Making and comparing a Regency period gown to a modern dress..
Explore how Atwood uses the Bible and portrays Christianity in The Handmaid’s Tale and The Testaments.
Bilingualism and its effect on dementia
In what ways have historical events of the late 20th and early 21st centuries shaped the portrayal of villainy in Hollywood?
An explanation on how the fashion movement influences sexism.
How can AI be used to save endangered languages?
The Warnock Extended Research Project (ERP)
The ERP enables you to conduct in-depth research on a topic that inspires you and gives you the chance to demonstrate intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, independent learning and initiative – all skills which are highly valued by leading universities in the UK and abroad. Our students relish the research skills it teaches them and the intellectual freedom it provides before they move onto their next phase of their academic life.
Students are supervised by a team of Inspires Mentors, who are academics engaged in their own research..
If you are taking the ERP, you are required to produce either a researched dissertation or a practical piece, such as a drama production, a piece of creative writing, an exhibition or film. You will present your findings to your peers as part of our annual festival of research.
You also have the option of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), an externally accredited qualification.
The teaching style is a lot about passion, so rather than just learning for an exam, it is learning geared towards enjoying and engaging with the subject.”
Annabelle
Horizons
Sixth Form Scholars’ Programme
The Sixth Form Scholars’ Programme, popularly known as OWLS (Oxford and Wimbledon Leading Scholars), is run in collaboration with scholars and staff at Wimbledon High School GDST.
Established to create a community of scholars, OWLS provides Sixth Form scholars with the opportunity to expand their horizons beyond the scope of A Level study. Working individually and collaboratively, you produce a range of pieces inspired by a common theme. The results are published in our online journal, OWLS Quarterly.
The initiative brings together academic scholars and exhibition holders from both Sixth Forms to engage in interdisciplinary academic research, discussion and collaboration, all of which goes far beyond the curriculum.
The programme also incorporates a strong social element, as OWLS gives you the opportunity to get to know peers within the GDST family through a series of virtual and face-to-face meetings at a range of locations such as ZSL, Murray Edwards College, Cambridge, the University of Oxford’s Mathematics Institute, the British Museum and the Wellcome Trust Collection.
I love being a member of OWLS - we are Oxford High and Wimbledon High academic scholars. We collaborate to write articles for the OWLS Quarterly academic journal. We are free to write about any topic, which expands our knowledge and sparks interest outside the curriculum. I especially enjoy the exciting trips (most recently to the British Museum) and getting to know like-minded students from other GDST schools.”
Iphigenie
Sixth Form leadership opportunities
OHS Sixth Formers are not just leaders of the future, they are given every opportunity to lead and shape our school community.
Our Sixth Form students are advocates for themselves and others, aware of their impact on the world around them and of the ability they have to change the world for the better. Opportunities to lead, to understand and learn about leadership and develop as leaders are key aspects of our Sixth Form Programme.
Leadership opportunities within the school community
As a Sixth Form student, you get the opportunity to lead on clubs and activities, and this makes a really valuable contribution to our superb co-curricular offering. Examples include Beekeeping, LGBTQ, Russian, Robotics, Ethics and Philosophy and Interfaith club.
There are so many opportunities for leadership in the Sixth Form. The most obvious ones are becoming a Prefect or a Head Girl. As Head Girl, I’ve had to adjust to having a lot more things on my plate. This role has helped me get to grips with how I balance my time.”
Serena, Head Girl 2023-2024
Young Entrepreneurs
We want to give you real-world learning opportunities in business and entrepreneurship, so you learn how business works within the national and global economy and understand what role they play in that context.
Our programme provides national and global platforms to develop confidence and leadership skills and gain management experience. Our aim is to give you a glimpse of how you can solve real-world problems with your curiosity. We focus on building your confidence, broadening your horizons and encouraging you to step outside your comfort zones. We strive to develop resourceful students who are unafraid of challenge, with the confidence to lead and the self-assurance to question, collaborate with others and shine.
LEAD - GDST Leadership and Enterprise Advanced Diploma
LEAD is an innovative Leadership and Enterprise programme designed to enable Year 12 students to develop the skills to be future leaders and entrepreneurs.
GDST MBA
Accredited by the University of Buckingham, the GDST MBA is taught in conjunction with with an Enterprise Challenge, to enable students to apply the theoretical concepts learnt in the course to a real business.
Conrad Challenge
Conrad Challenge is a prestigious global Science and Technology competition for 13-18 year olds. It involves creating a product or service to address a global problem. The competition enables students to develop their knowledge and skills in science and business - including writing and presentation skills
Sixth Form leadership opportunities
Our students demonstrate leadership qualities on a daily basis - whether that is giving up your time to mentor younger students or leading assemblies, the Student Council, clubs, or initiating our fantastic student-led conferences. We believe that it’s crucial for you to have a platform for voicing your opinions and influencing decisions.
School Council
We want you to be involved in developing the democratic process by empowering self-expression. Of course, lots of schools have a School Council. However, few are given their own budget, and have a tradition of outspoken debate that is listened to by senior members of staff which leads to real change. As a member of our School Council, you are trusted to chair meetings, involve your reps, identify ways forward and decide how to spend the annual budget to create the greatest impact. The Chair of School Council runs the meeting, and all members of the school community are welcome to attend and contribute.
School Prefect Team
Our Prefect Team and wider Sixth Form community play a leading role in representing the views of their peers and promoting positive behaviour. There are 14 Prefects, including the Head Girl, Deputy Head Girl, Chair of School Council and the GDST Student Council Representative. They are excellent role models for younger students. Our Prefects work closely with the Head and Director of Sixth Form and other senior members of staff. Examples of the impact that Prefects have had on school life include raising awareness of neurodiversity, and introducing various environmental and fundraising initiatives.
Student-led Conferences
Over the last three years, there has been a range of exciting student-led conferences, such as Fashion, Engineering and Economics or our TedX Youth conference ‘New Realities:
The Big Questions Shaping Our Future.’ As a member of the event planning team, you decide on the conference theme, design the speaker programme and host the event on the day, including chairing the Q&A sessions. This is a high-profile role, with a wide reach of over 200 schools and approximately 7,000 pupils. Themes have included:
• Political Extremism in Europe
• Business and Financial Economics
• Macro Economics
• The EU
Teaching and Learning Ambassadors
Teaching and Learning Ambassadors conduct research on a variety of education themed topics including pupil learning characteristics, homework management and exploring student behaviours in Key Stage 3. After they have explored a particular area of research, they present their findings to staff and students.
The Sunflower Newspaper
The Sunflower is written by Sixth Form students every term, it is a quirky take on OHS life and also includes interviews with staff.
House Prefect Team
House Prefects (three per House) are elected annually by their year group and staff in the spring term of Year 12 and their period of office is one year. This is another key leadership role in school and your responsibilities include working closely with the Heads of House and members of staff in leading and running the various House activities such as Sports Day, literary quizzes, House choir competition and House drama competition.
Peer Mentors
Peer Mentors are Sixth Formers who have volunteered to support younger students. There are many rewards to Peer Mentoring. Your role is to help students settle in and support them with any concerns in their academic and personal life. This includes supporting students in finding the answers to the following: how to study more effectively, how to manage your time and what subjects are like at GCSE and A Level. Mentor can also offer support in how to navigate social and friendship issues.
Perspectives
Perspectives focuses on your role as leaders and advocates for others within the school and wider community.
You
We believe that leadership and volunteering opportunities are key to understanding your place in the world, and making a positive impact on those around you. The perspectives programme focuses on developing your self-awareness and personal influence. Through the programme you will understand these spheres of influence; you, your community and your world
University Ready
Your community
Book Buddies
Our Year 12 Mentors spend one lunchtime a week with Year 6 pupils at a local primary school. The project aims to build confidence and enjoyment in reading, helping to encourage and nurture positive reading habits.
As a Mentor you will receive guidance about various reading strategies to use with your buddies. Through this experience you will develop leadership qualities and become confident in discussing any issues that arise and suggesting new ways of working.
Maths Mentors
Our Maths Mentors programme involves creating engaging lessons for pupils in Year 6 at a local Primary School. As a Year 12 Mentor you will help them develop their basic mathematical skills through a variety of tasks and puzzles! The Mentors receive guidance about various teaching strategies to use with their buddies. They develop leadership qualities throughout the project and become confident in discussing any issues that arise along with suggesting new ways of working. You don’t need to be taking A level Maths, but do need to have enthusiasm, patience, good communication skills and commitment.
STEM Outreach
Our STEM Outreach programme has been running for several years. Each week during the school term, you will run interesting science lessons for Year 5 students from local Primary Schools. You don’t need to be studying science at A Level! We are looking for volunteers who enjoy working with younger students, have good communication, interpersonal and teamwork skills.
Drama Directors
As a Year 12 Mentor, you will organise, plan and run sessions on a variety of subjects, using acting and role play to help students from a local Primary School develop their communication skills and hopefully grow in confidence throughout the year.
Drama
We aim to foster a lifelong love of the arts through academic study and performance. In the Sixth Form, you get the chance to produce, write, direct and perform in your own plays, which widens your understanding of the process of producing your own work.
LEAD - GDST Leadership and Enterprise Advanced Diploma
• Compete and collaborate with hundreds of students from across the GDST family of schools.
• Learn from the world’s top business minds and successful entrepreneurs.
• Take part in bootcamps and business challenges around the country.
• Work with graduates from London School of Economics (LSE) and leading Russell Group universities.
• Develop and set up sustainable businesses.
• Gain experience and skills to boost your CV.
• Build a network of like-minded colleagues and friends through speed networking and mentoring opportunities.
• Benefit from a dedicated mentor to support and advise you through the business planning process all the way up to the final Showcase Event.
Women in Leadership: The Facts
Globally, women hold only 17% of business leadership positions. That means that men account for 83% of all leadership jobs in business. Gender equal businesses are 71% more likely to make more money.
Your world
Music
Our Sixth Form musicians have the opportunity to lead ensembles. In addition to the whole school concerts and performances, there are Open Mic Nights, Sixth Form Concerts and Music Scholars’ Concerts.
Magazine
The annual school magazine is entirely student-led. The Sixth Form editorial team is responsible from start to finish. They decide the theme, content, and the layout. They also make choices on what they consider newsworthy, ensuring there is a flavour of what has happened in school over the last year.
Sports Leadership
Many students choose to pursue the Sports Leadership qualification alongside their academic studies. The Level 2 Award in Community Sports Leadership, is a nationally recognised qualification which equips you with the skills to lead sports or physical activity under indirect supervision. The course involves both guided & peer-topeer learning and supervised leadership to ensure that you have the skills you need. It increases your social confidence and teaches core leadership skills such as organisation, planning, communication and teamwork.
Every year, our spring term Speaker Series offers a range of notable and expert speakers to talk about a range of topical and thoughtprovoking issues.
The Middle Eastan Arab perspective
Silent disability and 100 years since the development of insulin
Financial survival as a student Palestine & IsraelA brief history
Food porn to food poverty - Why are we so weird about what we eat?
The Middle East
Covid and the Oxford vaccination Life as a blind trans woman
Female empowerment and the future of work
CEO and co-founder of the healthcare charity Kissing it Better
Human rights & the law
Finance & women
Career path & challenges along the way
The criminal justice system & probation service
Violence against women & girls
Supporting you and your learning
It is vital that students feel happy and supported during their time at school. Student wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do. Our pastoral systems are designed to help celebrate success during the ‘good times’ as well as provide support during the ‘not so good times’. Adolescence can have bumps along the way and learning how to navigate them with resilience and determination is a lifelong skill we want to foster. We understand that you need a support network to help you navigate any personal challenges and prepare you for life after school.
Personal development and wellbeing
Our Sixth Form Programme gives you everything you need to manage your wellbeing and your emotional, mental and physical health, to be confident with who you are, comfortable with challenges and be able to respond to feedback. This gives you the chance to be the best version of yourself and achieve your dreams.
In addition, our programme gives you the skills you need to be successful in the workplace. It enables you to understand yourself and the wider world, to be advocates for yourselves and others, develop your cultural and emotional intelligence and act inclusively. It also prepares you for independent life at university and beyond with sessions on managing your money, cooking on a student budget, digital literacy, basic DIY and self defence.
Sport is an integral part of the Sixth Form Programme, timetabled for every student, with a focus on individual student-led learning and opportunities for both coaching and umpiring. We also have a dedicated Sixth Form gym open to all. We want to enable you to maintain a positive lifestyle.
University Ready learning and what this means for you in the Sixth Form
We are committed to ensuring that you feel ‘University Ready’ by the time you graduate from school:
• We are an inclusive and supportive community, where difference is respected and celebrated. We care for others and work effectively with them, whilst valuing ourselves.
• You will love our warm, relaxed and friendly atmosphere, the strong tutor relationships and the innovative tools we put in place to support your happiness in school.
• Our Wellbeing Toolkit encompasses all aspects of the pastoral provision to develop the whole person. It encourages you to take responsibility for your own learning and promotes building a supportive network both inside and outside school, where you can truly thrive. Through this you approach the unfamiliar with skill, self-assurance and develop resilience.
• Personal care runs through our pastoral provision; staff build strong supportive relationships so you feel known and understood, and in return, you readily access support when you need it.
• Mutual respect is evident across the whole school; you are taught how to establish and develop positive relationships and are given the tools to communicate effectively with one another.
• In the Sixth Form, form groups consist of between 15 - 20 Year 12 and Year 13 students. This makes it a cohesive environment where you will get the opportunity to build friendships with peers in the upper and lower sixth.
• Our rewards system is linked to character, focusing on praising positive behaviour rather than academic success. This approach encourages you to reflect on your values so you become more self-aware; it promotes personal integrity, initiative and independence.
• Whilst our PSHCE lessons are taught by specialist teachers, the curriculum is also balanced with Guest Speaker events, utilising the expertise of professionals in their field. The topics covered are proactive and age appropriate such as Diversity and Inclusion, Mental Health and Belonging, Organ Donation Choices, Staying Safe Online, Financial Education and Sexual Health.
• Through the passion of our staff, you will feel engaged with the learning process and committed to giving back to the community.
• In the Sixth Form, our University Ready programme helps you develop authenticity, advocacy and awareness of yourself, others and the wider world.
Learning support
Our Neurodiversity and Academic Support Hub (NASH) is on hand to offer advice and support concerning all aspects of learning and studying, including managing exam access arrangements as well as offering a programme of specialist support for any students with dyslexia or other diagnosed conditions.
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Careers and Higher Education support
Our Higher Education and Careers provision is all about helping you to make the choice that’s right for you. Whether you are applying for universities in the UK through UCAS, a music conservatoire, an Art Foundation course, a degree apprenticeship, or study abroad, we will help you get there. A comprehensive programme of information, advice and support is offered throughout the Sixth Form. With dedicated pathways for each discipline and a wealth of in-house expertise, you will benefit from experienced and individual guidance.
Careers support is fully integrated in the learning process and is delivered through one-to-one guidance, group sessions, personal research and specialist events. Gaining leadership opportunities is at the heart of our careers programme. By nature, our students are enterprising and enquiring. We foster this by giving you exciting opportunities, whether it’s meeting top academics and professionals or gaining work experience in order to learn from an entrepreneur at a networking event.
We are here to listen, expertly guide and give vital opportunities to get excited so you are well-informed about the future. The emphasis is on discovering how to make the best decisions for university and beyond. We ensure that parents are updated on developments and changes in trends in higher education, both in the UK and abroad, as well as involved in our Careers and Higher Education programme.
In addition to the annual Careers and Higher Education evenings, we invite our recent leavers to talk about their experiences at university or on a Gap Year. This is an invaluable opportunity to hear from peers who have experienced your preferred study/work route first-hand.
The key highlights of our programme:
• Access specialist 1-2-1 support from an experienced Careers and Higher Education professional, Mrs Heath, who is focused on your individual needs.
• Gain access to a comprehensive range of Careers and Higher Education resources.
• Attend talks delivered by colleagues from a range of universities and higher education institutions on a variety of themes, such as gaining entry to degree disciplines and careers, including Art Foundation courses and Conservatoires.
• Take part in dedicated events including our annual Higher Education and Careers Fair.
• Establish and build your professional networks through the GDST Alumnae Network.
• Enhance your professional skills including presentations, interview techniques and CV writing.
• Improve self-awareness through reflection and discussion so you can make informed decisions about future education options and career path.
• Develop understanding of potential study routes, future training, employment opportunities and other personal development experiences.
• Access a range of Internships and Insight Days at global organisations through the GDST’s CareerStart Programme
• Discover and take part in taster days, mentoring and work experience opportunities.
• Attend dedicated programmes from the GDST which support you applying to Oxbridge, studying in the USA or entering a healthcare profession.
Benefit from the expertise of GDST
GDST’s Careerstart modules include:
• The recruitment process.
• Skills for the workplace.
• Career research.
• Finance.
• Study skills and time management.
GDST’s ‘Future You’ personalised coaching
• CV writing/LinkedIn review.
• Careers research support.
• Interview prep.
• Careers coaching.
GDST Insight Days
GDST Insight Days offer an early opportunity to get your foot in the door, and see how a variety of businesses work from the inside.
Companies include:
• PwC – Consulting, technology and accountancy.
• Rolls-Royce – Engineering.
• Barclays – Finance or auditing.
• Engie – Energy or facilities management.
• Hilson Moran – Building design consultancy.
• Interquest Group – Tech-industry recruitment.
• Broadway Malyan – Architecture.
• Siemens – Engineering or technology.
Results and university destinations
Our students go on to a wide range of top-selecting universities, conservatoires and institutions in the UK and beyond to study a diverse array of subjects, reflecting the breadth of our students’ academic interests.
The majority of our students go on to Russell Group universities, with Cambridge, Bristol, Durham, Edinburgh and UCL as the top five most popular destinations year on year. Between 10% and 15% of our leavers go on to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge each year. Both STEM and humanities subjects are well-represented with typically one third of our students going on to study STEM subjects, including Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry. Degrees involving languages are always a popular choice for our students. In the last five years, we have seen a steady increase in the number of students choosing degrees with an international focus, including studying abroad, as well as an increase in engineering and the field of Computer Science. The number of students going on to study the creative and performing arts has also increased over the last few years. Each year a number of students each year opt to take a gap year before going to university.
For the most up-to-date information on results and university
When you leave OHS, you are well equipped to succeed in the workplace and find fulfilment in your lives, with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to make a difference.
We are here to help you achieve the skills and qualifications you need to take the next step in your learning and career development journey.
Alumnae
As a member of the OHS community, after Sixth Form you can take your place among our amazingly diverse and successful alumnae in the next phase of your life, whatever that may be.
As a valued member of our alumnae network, you have access to an exciting range of benefits:
• Receive regular news updates through school newsletters, social media and the dedicated GDST alumnae magazine.
• Attend reunion events with your classmates.
• Sign-up for mentoring schemes to support the current cohort.
• Share your knowledge and professional experience with others at specialist school events.
• Nominate yourself or a friend for the GDST ‘Alumnae of the Year’ award.
• Sign-up to GDST’s free ‘In Conversation With’ events featuring an inspirational alumnae and hear about their career and how they got there.
• Come along to GDST’s networking events to connect with and be inspired by fellow GDST alumnae, from a network of 100,000 worldwide.
• Watch out for GDST’s exclusive cultural events to experience something new.
Get in touch
Whilst we strongly encourage external applicants to apply in the Autumn term of Year 11, we take applications throughout the year based on availability. Contact admissions on 01865 478678 or admissions@oxf.gdst.net. We look forward to hearing from you.
Visit the school Month
Discover more about life and learning in our school: https://oxfordhigh.gdst.net/sixth-form/
Come along to our Sixth Form Open Evening
Visit us for an Open Event (‘Take a Look’)
Admissions journey timeline
Complete and submit your Sixth Form application by the deadline and select that you are interested in a Bursary, if this applies
Complete and submit your scholarship application form
You can apply for the following scholarships:
• Art & Design & Textiles
• Drama: Acting or Production
• Music
• Sport
Please note: Academic scholarships are awarded based on GCSE results
GDST’s online bursary application portal is open
Registered applicants will be invited to attend the Sixth Form Admissions and Scholarship Day
Attend your Sixth Form Scholarship interview (invitation only following shortlisting)
GDST’s online bursary application portal closes
Throughout the year
Receive the outcome of your Sixth Form place, scholarship and bursary application (if applicable) December
Accept your place before the deadline
Early January
Attend our Starting Sixth Form Days June
Oxford High School, Belbroughton Road, Oxford OX2 6XA
01865 559888
oxfordhigh@oxf.gdst.net
oxfordhigh.gdst.net
Connect with our social channels: facebook.com/OxfordHighGDST instagram.com/oxfordhighschoolgdst twitter.com/OxfordHighSch linkedin.com/school/oxford-high-school
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