St Helen & St Katharine

Academic life in Sixth Form is about individual choice and learning beyond the ordinary business of a curriculum. Every student will choose three or four A-levels as the core of their academic work, some taught jointly with Abingdon School. Success in A-levels enables leavers to secure places on their chosen courses at top UK universities, including a significant number who advance to Oxford and Cambridge.

Our pastoral networks are strong and accessible, with form tutors, the Director of Students, and Heads of Section all playing a role in supporting students. We give students the space to explore their individuality in an environment which is big enough to celebrate a wide range of personalities and interests but small enough to know, to care and to spot when someone is having a good or bad day.

Our broad and varied extracurricular programme of 100+ clubs and activities plays a central role within school life. We actively encourage students to give new things a go – they can participate purely for fun or follow their strengths and excel through selective teams and groups, music and drama productions. From fencing and photography to philosophy and Mandarin as well as activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, there are always opportunities to explore and extend interests, to make friends across age groups and to build confidence and self-belief.