BECOMINGA SIXTH FORMER

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One of the great strengths of our Sixth Form, arguably our greatest, is the huge range of opportunities available for Sixth Form girls beyond the classroom – whether on the sports field, on the stage in terms of music, drama and dance, in the form of visits and trips, or chances to do charitable acts, to do service to the community, to help in the Lower School, and the vital enrichment that brings.

Entry into Queenswood’s Sixth Form marks the end of your time in Middle School and the beginning of an exciting new chapter in your life.You will find that you have more independence: you will be trusted to manage your own time far more than you may be used to. You will also take on school-wide responsibility – building on the positions of authority you may have held in your Middle School Houses. Finally, you will have the opportunity to really focus on the subjects you love.

Being a member of the Sixth Form at Q brings many benefits: you will have access to the Bellman Sixth Form Centre, which will become a familiar and well-loved place for you. The Sixth Form enjoy greater access to cakes at break – make sure you get there early!

You will no longer need to wear your school uniform – you’ll have the opportunity to dress formally for business during the school day. Likewise, you will be allowed greater freedoms: from managing your own study periods to going to Cuffley at lunchtime.

Our academic staff are here to help you with the challenge of the transition from GCSE to Sixth Form courses: we will ensure you have every opportunity to attain all the necessary skills to tackle what will come next with confidence.

While the work is demanding, the rewards are immeasurable: your time in the Sixth Form will really be the best years of your life.

Becoming a Sixth Form

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Your time in the Sixth Form at Queenswood should be the highlight of your school career. We will seek to provide you with all the skills and knowledge needed to achieve great things when you leave the ‘purple bubble’ behind. To that end, we take our responsibility for preparing you for life beyond Q very seriously indeed. The experiences we offer both inside and outside the classroom make for the most vibrant Sixth Form education possible.

Across these pages you will find information about life as a Sixth Former. We believe that the school offers the very best of all possible worlds: academic excellence, all the activities beyond the classroom that you could wish for, the opportunity to take on major school wide responsibility and significant freedoms so that you can begin to prepare for the next step in your journey with confidence and style.

There is no way I can distil the essence of a two year experience into such a short space. It is impossible to capture the buzz that typifies life in Bellman, the strong friendships, the fun and challenge of exploration and discovery, the support from staff, the pride in taking leadership roles in the school community and beyond, the joy on examination results days, the fulfilment of long-held aspirations and dreams. Follow us at @QSixthform to get a taste for what occurs in a normal week.

What is certain is that the Sixth Form years go by with alarming speed and are to be treasured; I know that new girls and those coming through from our Year 11 will find it an enjoyable and exciting experience, and not only make the most of what Q has to offer but also make their own mark on the school.

Paul-James Merrell, Head of Sixth Form

FROM THE HEAD OF SIXTH FORM

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TUTORS

Just as in the Middle School, you will have a Tutor who will support you throughout your Sixth Form career.

You will meet as a group with your Tutor on a daily basis to discuss academic and pastoral issues. This is not just vital to monitor your day-to-day well-being, but is also crucial in the university application process.

PASTORAL

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THE HOUSES

Alongside your Tutor, you will also be moving into a new House, with new House Staff, for your time in the Sixth Form. Your new Houseparent will be your key point of contact for all things related to the school. You should ensure you have their mobile number in your phone: you will be phoning them more than anyone else at school!

All of our day girls – both Lower and Upper Sixth – are accommodated in the spacious Bellman Sixth Form Centre. This newly refurbished space has been specially developed to give the day girls a bespoke study base. The Lower Sixth are based downstairs, with each study room housing five girls. Upstairs, the Upper Sixth Form rooms are even more spacious, accommodating three or four girls. Each student has her own desk, noticeboard, book case and lockable drawer. We encourage you all to make the most of such excellent facilities. Of course, you are free to spend as much time in all the other Sixth Form

buildings as you may wish – but you have one particular space that is very much your own.

All Lower Sixth Boarders are accommodated in Trew House. Here, rooms are a mixture of doubles and singles: room allocation is changed each term to ensure everyone has the opportunity of enjoying a single bedroom! As a matter of policy, all girls boarding for the first time in the Sixth Form will share, during the first term, with a roommate who can show them the ropes.

In the Upper Sixth, we allow girls to identify – within reason – friends with whom they would like to spend their final year and also to specify in which of our two Upper Sixth Boarding Houses they would like to live. Each has its own special characteristics and flavour. Senior House is a large, busy House with large kitchen facilities. Bridge House has a smaller, more intimate feel for those who may like a calmer environment.

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Queenswood Sixth Formers achieve outstanding academic results. Most girls will progress to Oxbridge, Ivy League and Russell Group destinations in a variety of subjects: from English to Engineering; Classics to Chemistry; Business to Biomedical Sciences.

Most importantly, however, the Good Schools Guide highlights that what our girls achieve places the school “at the pinnacle of Hertfordshire’s value-added tables”. Our teachers work tirelessly to ensure their students reach – and consistently exceed – their potential.

Not all schools are able to offer the breadth of choice that is available at Queenswood. Whatever subjects girls choose to study, it is vital that they continue to learn to organise and discipline themselves, to think, to acquire knowledge and to apply intelligence – employers and Higher Education tutors alike value such qualities enormously. For those who relish the challenge of independent research and investigation, we offer the highly regarded Extended Project Qualification.

Information on typical A-Level and Pre-U grades needed to gain places on specific university courses must be researched via the UCAS website, individual university websites and prospectuses.

ACADEMIC

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Not all schools are able to offer the breadth of choice that is available at Q.

For all the academic strength of the Queenswood Sixth Form, we also believe that it is crucial that girls have the opportunity to explore the world beyond their curriculum subjects. Sixth Formers at Queenswood, therefore, have access to a huge range of experiences which, inevitably, make them shine beyond our classrooms.

The following is just a (very) small sample of the activities on offer.

Leiths School of Food and Wine runs a ‘Franchise in Schools’ scheme, and Queenswood is proud to be one of the flagship schools to offer the Leiths Introductory Certificate in Food and Wine. Girls have the opportunity to spend five terms studying everything from knife skills and fish classification to menu planning and even wine appreciation. For further details, including costs, contact jayne.lee@queenswood.org.

Sixth Formers who take part in the Young Enterprise scheme have the opportunity to work as a team and make decisions about products, target market, pricing, branding as well as involving themselves in the manufacture and selling of products. For any girl who has ever wanted the chance to become the next Sara Blakely (SPANX), Arianna Huffington (Huffington Post),

Cher Wang (HTC) or Rosalia Mera (Zara), this is the perfect activity.

We are very keen for our Sixth Formers to be aware of their place in the wider, global community. Each year, we nominate a number of girls for the prestigious Global Young Leaders Conference. Those selected have the opportunity to travel to America, China or Europe to meet and discuss the issues of the day with fellow students. Likewise, girls considering a Gap Year are encouraged to apply to the ESU Secondary School Exchange Programme, whereby they can spend a year in an American High School.

The John Fry Public Speaking Competition (named after a distinguished former Chair of Governors) encourages Sixth Form students and Academic Scholars from younger years to deliver a public speech to a theatre audience. In addition, debating skills are practised in the Debating Club and competitions.

Such enrichment activities, and the many, many more which run weekly, sit happily alongside the School’s outstanding reputation for Sport, Drama and Music in the Sixth Form.

Girls are encouraged to develop a balance between their academic and enrichment activities. It is about so much more than ‘having something to write on a UCAS form’ – our aim in providing these opportunities is to produce happy, well-rounded, confident and informed girls.

ENRICHMENT

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Service is at the heart of what it means to be a Queenswoodian.

Led by the Senior Prefects, all Sixth Form girls have the opportunity to give back to their community – both inside and outside the school gates.

Sixth Form girls can be found working in Residential Homes, Special Needs institutions and local primary schools; supporting Year 7 girls as Big Sisters; in Middle School lessons, supporting younger pupils; promoting the activities of Amnesty International; touring visitors around the school site.

Sixth Formers and other senior students visit Botswana every 18 months. The first visit took place in July 2016. Based at Maru-a-Pula School, they were involved in community service as well as attending lessons and going on visits to places of interest in and around Gaborone, Botswana’s capital city. There were

opportunities to learn about Botswana culture and gain an insight into how HIV/AIDS has impacted on Botswana society.

Beyond Community Action and Charity work, our Sixth Formers are the leaders of the school – and this ethos of service can be no better demonstrated than through the Head Girl, her Deputies and the Senior Prefect team. This team is selected by a rigorous process, including a letter of application and votes by the School community. The Head Girl and her Prefects support the Principal and her Senior Team in running events, marketing the school, liaising with younger years, organising social events for Lower and Middle School and facilitating the School Council to ensure that the school listens to, and acts upon, the Pupil Voice of every student at Queenswood.

SERVICE

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Privileges of a Sixth Former

As you would expect, when you enter the Sixth Form, you have more freedom in the way you conduct yourself at school. However, along with these increased freedoms, comes an increased responsibility. We want you to enjoy the special privileges of being a Sixth Former, however we need you to accept the added weight of responsibility that comes with them.

You can find an outline of the privileges that you can expect below:

Chapel and Assembly

The Lower Sixth attend Chapel on a Monday, whereas the Upper Sixth attend on a Wednesday. You will sit upstairs in the balcony overlooking the school.

The Senior Prefect team attend Chapel in their Prefect gowns on both days and are positioned in the Cloisters to maintain the good order of the younger girls as they enter. When the Senior Prefect team enter Chapel, this is the signal for the school to stand.

The Lower and Upper Sixth attend assemblies at 8:30 am in the OQ on Tuesday or Thursday – which begins with a member of the Sixth Form reading a ‘thought for the day’.

Break

Alongside the normal food available within Houses, there will also be cake and coffee available every day for members of the Sixth Form.

Lunch

Sixth Formers are able to go into lunch at 12:45 pm every day if they are free. During the summer term, Sixth Formers may sit outside on the patio area to eat their lunch.

With the permission of the Head of Sixth Form and in consultation with their Houseparent, Sixth Formers may also go into Cuffley at lunchtime. You can sign up – once a week – for the minibus trip.

Driving

It is a privilege of Upper Sixth Formers to be allowed to bring a car on-site, with the express permission of the Principal. There are a number of forms that must be completed in advance: your Houseparent can supply these to you. Likewise, if you intend to have other members of the school in your car, the necessary permissions must be sought.

TRANSITION FROM YEAR 11

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In the Sixth Form girls wear their own suits to distinguish them from the rest of the school. They have a responsibility to themselves and the school to dress appropriately during the working day, so that they look smart, businesslike and presentable at all times. The Head of Sixth Form will be the arbiter of suitability.

• Suits should be worn at all times during the school day (from 8.20 am to 4.30 pm). A plain suit (skirt, dress or trousers) with matching fabric in navy, charcoal grey or black with dress/skirt length on the knee or longer. This can be worn with a tailored shirt of choice. A plain V-neck woollen jumper or V-neck fitted cardigan can be worn under the jacket in colder weather.

• A jacket needs to be worn at all times.• Shoes should be smart plain black or navy leather court,

pump or loafers.• In cold weather a smart navy, charcoal or black tailored coat

may be worn.• Hair should be of one natural colour.• Upper Sixth Leavers’ hoodies should only be worn after

lessons, on Home Clothes Days and at weekends.• An overall/old shirt is required for Art; Drama and PE

clothing is available through the school shop.• Compulsory school sports kit does not apply to Sixth Form

students. Students should have the following (which can be brought from home): A one-piece swimming costume, swimming hat and towel. One plain track suit – no slogans or large motifs. One plain coloured PE shirt with collar and short sleeves – i.e. a polo shirt. Two pairs of trainers with non-marking soles – one for indoor use with black laces, one for outdoor use. If a student represents the school in any team, she should purchase the appropriate team kit from the school shop.

• Piercings should be in the ears only.• No tattoos should be visible.

The following items are not allowed: Uggs (except on snow days); trainers; flip-flops; tracksuit jackets or bottoms; leggings (worn without a skirt) or shorts or skorts; any form of denim; low-cut tops or tops that show bare midriff; too short skirts; leather jackets; hoodies.

Boarders who appear to lessons inappropriately dressed will be sent back to their room to get changed: likewise, alternative dress will be provided for day girls who do not meet the required standards. For pupils who find this difficult, a Dress Report will be issued which will require them to have their dress checked regularly by a member of staff. We hope that this will spur them into taking responsibility for their appearance.

Meals

Sixth Form girls may enjoy all their meals in the Dining Room but it is not compulsory to attend breakfast as girls have access to kitchen facilities in their House. All Sixth Formers must attend lunch but supper is optional for the Upper Sixth. Senior House has excellent cooking facilities and in the Upper Sixth you can prepare your own supper, should you wish. We run regular trips to Tesco which will give you the opportunity to purchase any cooking materials.

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House Supper

The Lower Sixth will hold their House Supper in the Spring Term and the Upper Sixth will have their Leavers’ Dinner in May. Wine will be available for students during the meal. The Leavers’ Dinner is a black tie occasion. It is a tradition that the Lower Sixth serve the Upper Sixth at this event.

Saturday Night Wind-Down

From 7:00pm on a Saturday night, there is the opportunity for girls to see in the weekend with music and snacks.

Evenings and Weekends

We would like girls to have the opportunity to manage their own time a little more than they may have experienced in the

Middle School. We therefore,ask all girls to be back in House for 10 pm each evening during the week. Unless we feel that girls are not taking care of themselves, we have no official ‘lights out’ policy – although the House should be quiet from 10:30 pm.

At the weekend, with the correct permissions, girls should feel free to make the most of the opportunity to travel into London. You must keep your Houseparent informed of your intended destination and you must be back at school by 9pm.

Leavers’ Tea

In their final week of study, the Upper Sixth are taken to Luton Hoo by the Principal for a special Afternoon Tea to mark the end of their studies. This is a lovely opportunity for the girls to say goodbye in beautiful surroundings.

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Queenswood School, Shepherd’s Way, Brookmans Park,Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 6NS01707 602500 | www.queenswood.org