Whatever the future holds you’ll be ready PHOTO SHOOT I am delighted that you are considering Queenswood

In a rapidly changing world, we cannot predict the future. Technological innovation and societal change will create unimaginable challenges and opportunities, opening up career paths that do not currently exist. But we can prepare. The progressive values of a Queenswood Sixth Form education, with its focus on creativity, resilience and curiosity, provide the perfect foundation.

The cornerstone of this preparation is our personalised learning programme, which means that we tailor our teaching to your individual needs. We will stretch your thinking and analytical skills, and if you require help with specificsubject-based study or revision techniques, we will provide you with the right tools.

A Queenswood Sixth Form education will take you far beyond the confines of the syllabus. Our approach to holistic learning stimulates intellectual enquiry and debate and offers unique study extension opportunities. In support of the traditional academic subjects, we run the EPQ (Extended Project Qualification). Many girls choose this independent study option, which allows them to engage in a detailed research project, and is much prized by universities.

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

If you are seeking expert teaching, exceptional preparation for UCAS, great careers advice and a huge range of co-curricular opportunities, then may I encourage you to come along to one of our open events to find out more? As a first step, please check out our Sixth Form video here and let us feed your imagination.

If you choose Queenswood for the Sixth Form I passionately believe that whatever the future holds, you’ll be ready.

Mrs Joanna Cameron Principal Focusing on your future

There is so much more to choosing your Sixth Form than simply fi nding somewhere that off ers the right subject combination. Alongside rigorous academic study, you will be preparing for the next stage of your career, whether that is a university degree or an apprenticeship. You will need to develop skills and attributes to stand out from the crowd in a highly competitive environment.

At Queenswood, we off er girls a unique and fulfi lling two-year course in the Sixth Form. Our small classes ensure you establish eff ective rapport with your teachers and peers. Our exceptional co-curricular and pastoral systems are bolstered by an enrichment programme of compulsory and elective courses. From an Extended Project Qualifi cation to university interview and aptitude test tuition, we’ll ensure you emerge confi dent, resourceful and ready for any challenge. Academic excellence

Our teaching staff are specialists in educating real-world applications to demonstrate concepts Besides being experts in their respective At Queenswood, we don’t believe that one size girls. We know that without gender boundaries, in the classroom and teach in collaborative fi elds, many of our teachers are moderators fi ts all. That’s why you meet daily with your girls can be free to take intellectual risks. This and co-operative ways. Our A-level results and markers for public exams. They use the tutor to discuss your academic progress and in turn builds confi dence and creates the are always excellent, and we believe this is most eff ective pedagogical approaches in their other issues regarding your wellbeing. Your necessary space to develop thinking. As part of achieved through the quality of teaching and teaching methods. They work closely with the individual needs will be focused on and you will our focus on what works best for girls, we use the personalisation of students’ learning. Personalised Learning Centre to ensure every be supported and stretched through seminars student is supported in exam technique, revision and tutorials, revision groups, dedicated study approaches and time management through days and curriculum trips. You will be prepared their own personalised learning plan. to embrace every academic challenge. Beyond Queenswood

Travel and experience of other cultures There is a wealth of opportunity to are vital to your outlook and will develop enhance your academic study through and shape you as an adult. travel. In recent years, History and Politics students have spent time in Washington, It is important that our Sixth Formers D.C., physicists have studied at CERN in are aware of their place in the global Switzerland, geographers have travelled to community. Every year, we nominate a Iceland, Drama students have immersed selected number of girls for the Global themselves in the Edinburgh Festival Young Leaders Conference. Gaining a Fringe, musicians have performed in Italy, place off ers the opportunity to travel to language students have enjoyed visits to America, China or Europe to discuss Madrid and Tokyo, and our hockey teams current aff airs with young people from all have toured Sri Lanka and Malaysia. over the world.

Shaping your character

At Queenswood, we believe in off ering a rich co-curricular experience, with opportunities for team-building, lateral thinking, decision-making and leadership. You might choose to take part in the Model United Nations, become a Global Young Leader or get involved in Young Enterprise initiatives. You might take up aerial hoops or Ancient Greek, join the Academic Scholars’ Society or explore the history of feminism with the 1918 Club. You might try out Polo, or study for the Leiths Introductory Certifi cate in Food and Wine. And you will certainly assume signifi cant positions of responsibility within the School. In doing so, you will develop the qualities and attributes sought by leading universities and employers. Life in the Sixth Form

We recognise that as you approach Sixth Form, you expect to be treated as a responsible young adult. That’s why life in Queenswood’s Sixth Form is less formal than for the younger years. Whether you are a day girl or a boarder, you will manage your own time, take positions of authority and focus on the subjects for which you have a passion. There is no uniform; instead you will wear your own smart business wear. You will also fi nd that relationships with teachers are more relaxed.

Every Sixth Former has her own dedicated study base, either in the Boarding House or in the Bellman Sixth Form Centre. As well as a quiet space for work, you’ll have your own place to relax, chat with friends or make snacks.

Our Sixth Form Houseparents will be your key daily contact, whether you are a boarder or a day girl. They will off er all the support you need to ensure you get the most out of your Sixth Form education.

You will have the opportunity to join a team of elected representatives in your House, or involve yourself in the wider leadership of the School as a Prefect. In the Lower Sixth, that might mean helping to organise monthly lectures, social events and careers conventions. In the Upper Sixth you may wish to put yourself forward for one of the 12 coveted Senior Prefect roles, with responsibility for the School Council, environmental matters, charity work, internationalism and much more. Embedding creativity in your learning

Creativity is the ability to see beyond the ordinary, to use the mind and imagination to create alternatives, possibilities and original ideas. Many industries cite creativity as a chief strategic priority. You will have boundless opportunities at Queenswood to develop your creative side.

We provide an environment that is supportive, playful, surprising, and values process just as highly as product. Whatever combination of Science, Arts, Languages and Humanities subjects you choose to study at Queenswood, you will fi nd that creative and lateral ways of thinking abound. Ingenuity for life

At Queenswood, we believe that learning to stand on your own two feet and adapting to whatever life throws at you are key life skills. We arm you with self-awareness, helping you to understand your strengths and weaknesses and adapt to new or diffi cult situations. You will become adept at problem-solving and decision-making, and develop your analytical skills, succinct expression of ideas and clear lines of argument. Showcase your determination

Courage and endurance are required in the Sixth Form. You will be given many opportunities to experience the unfamiliar, and you will need the confi dence to embrace these opportunities.

You will learn to formulate a coherent argument, supported by thorough knowledge and understanding of your subject, and to present, theorise and debate – all skills that are highly prized in the workplace. Grow your resilience

In education, as in all walks of life, we learn just as much from our failures as from our successes. Throughout your Sixth Form career, our insightful and highly experienced teaching staff will help you develop a learning style that works for you, and encourage you to build upon your achievements. The importance of an enquiring mind

An inquisitive mind is essential for study in Queenswood’s Sixth Form. Learning is increasingly self-directed, to ensure that you are able to think around problems analytically and imaginatively, and extend your study skills beyond simple recall of information. Our small teaching groups guarantee individual attention, ensuring that you will be challenged and supported. The more mature relationship between girls and staff in the Sixth Form allows for greater group debate and encourages independent thinking. Taking ownership of your work

Self-refl ection is critical to your success as a learner. In addition to feedback from teachers and tutors, over the two years of your A-level courses you will learn to evaluate your own development.

From the very start you will be equipped with details of the syllabus and mark schemes for each of your subjects, to enable you to monitor your own progress, test your knowledge and understanding and identify areas for improvement. After all, it’s your education, and it’s vital that you know how to fulfi ll your own potential. With your future in mind

You will be given plenty of individual support to prepare for the next stage of your career. Most Queenswood girls progress to university, gaining places at prestigious institutions in the UK and overseas. As part of your preparation, you will have one-to-one meetings with the Head of Careers, undergo interview training, attend careers events and seminars, visit university open days and have the chance to engage in higher education profi ling. You will also take advantage of the wealth of specially selected resources in our careers library to ensure your applications are the best they can be. UCAS next steps

Submitting your UCAS application will be one of the most important tasks you undertake in the Sixth Form. In a highly competitive market, it’s crucial that you are able to demonstrate your enthusiasm, potential and suitability for your chosen courses, and your tutor will help you every step of the way.

Oxbridge applicants will receive specialist insight from recent Oxbridge graduates, helping them to prepare eff ectively for entrance tests and interviews. Likewise, there are informative seminars for those considering applications to American universities.

Whatever path you choose, you will draw equally on your academic strengths and our wide range of enrichment opportunities to make you stand apart from the competition. Courses at Queenswood

We off er the following subjects at A-level: Exam grades are important. Compulsory elements However, as well as off ering Sixth Form lecture programme Both years Art and Design Government and Politics nationally recognised academic Community service Both years Biology History ‘value added’, we encourage our Extended Project Qualifi cation taught course First half of Lower Sixth Business Italian Sixth Formers to explore and to Chemistry Japanese University application preparation and Careers Second half of Lower Sixth engage in new areas of thought, Classical Civilisation Latin service and experience. Computer Science Mathematics/ Examples of elective Dance Further Mathematics Column Q is a programme University interview and aptitude test tuition ‘Tenner Challenge’ Design and Technology Music designed to provide Extended Project Qualifi cation supervision Classical World Drama and Theatre Studies Physical Education Sixth Formers with these Business or Finance Psychology Economics Physics opportunities, through a Mindfulness Mock Bar Trial English Literature Psychology combination of compulsory Art Appreciation Lower School Play direction French Spanish and elective courses. Body Balance This Week in Politics Geography Theology, Philosophy and Ethics 120-acre campus

Queenswood provides the ideal environment in which to learn and develop. Our idyllic 120-acre parkland estate, set in the stunning countryside, is a haven of tranquility, yet we are just a few miles from the enriching cultural life of . Door-to-door transport Location

At Queenswood, we understand how a door-to-door service for day girls and fl exi- The school is three miles north of junction 24 on the M25 challenging it can be for parents to juggle boarders of all years. Our routes cover many and four miles south-east of junction 3 on the A1(M). the daily school run with their busy working areas in North and and the There is excellent access to the major airports of London: lives or for our international parents to Home Counties. Additional routes may be Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and also Luton. The nearby arrange for collection and drop off for their added depending on demand. mainline rail station, Potters Bar, is 20 minutes from King’s daughter at Heathrow. That’s why we’re For our international girls, we arrange for Cross Station in Central London. proud to off er one of the most comprehensive pick up from and drop off at Heathrow at the 1 2 and fl exible transport services of any school in 5 beginning and end of terms and half-terms 1 Luton 3 London the independent sector. 4 (with the exception of arrival for the fi rst 2 Stansted We have a fl eet of dedicated vehicles and term, when we expect parents to accompany 3 Heathrow drivers, employed by Queenswood, providing their daughter). 4 Gatwick to Hatfield 5 King’s Cross Station 1 A1 (M) 6 Potters Bar Station 2

A1000 6 M25

A111

5 3 London

4 Key admission dates

For entry into Year 12 in 2020

2 18 11 2 16 October September October October November December December 2019 2020 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019

Open event Individual visit Final registration Entrance exams Results posted Acceptance Admission to date and interview deadline Sixth Form

Hear from the Principal Book a meeting with the To register a place you Exams will be set in the Results will be posted Successful applicants Successful applicants about the School’s ethos, Principal or member of will need to complete subjects that students to parents. to confirm acceptance join the School vision and values, talk to the Senior Leadership a registration form intend to study at A-level. of offer. community and teaching staff and current Team followed by a tour. and return it with the There will also be a commence their students about courses appropriate registration 15-minute interview Queenswood Sixth of interest, explore our fee by 18 October. with a senior member Form career. facilities and find out of staff. Prior to more about our Oxbridge the interview a and UCAS preparation. confidential reference will be requested from the applicant’s current school. Queenswood School Shepherd’s Way, Brookmans Park, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 6NS, queenswood.org Tel: +44 (0)1707 602500 E-mail: [email protected]

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