Loretto SIXTH FORM EXPERIENCE A small School, Loretto is ranked in the top 7% of schools big on heart, nationally for value-added at A level. big on ambition 2 BENEFIT FROM FIRM FOUNDATIONS LORETTO IS A SMALL SCHOOL, BIG ON HEART AND BIG ON AMBITION Since 1827 Loretto School’s holistic balance between the structure of school education has been based on a broad, deep and the freedom of university; a balance curriculum with high academic standards between providing a clear framework and and wide-ranging sports and activities. recognising the need for trust and flexibility. Loretto stretches pupils intellectually, physically and socially, instilling them In today’s fast-paced and increasingly with quiet confidence. Senior boys and globalised world, Loretto encourages Sixth girls are encouraged to question the Formers to develop a mature attitude to life world and to have the will to make it and study. We nurture self-reliance and a better place. self-motivation whilst providing strong social and academic support as a safety net. Loretto is the oldest boarding school in Scotland and provides a modern, Lorettonians work hard and enjoy a good life British boarding school experience in outside the classroom, taking advantage of its leafy campus on the edge of the city our fantastic range of opportunities. of Edinburgh, close to beautiful East Lothian countryside. Loretto is a small School which means more individual attention, a friendly atmosphere, a More than 80% of the Sixth Form community secure base for pupils, broader participation choose to board, but a significant minority and more first-hand experiences for are day pupils who benefit from the long day everyone. This is a place where individual with various finishing times and the ability to interests and talents flourish yet the flexi-board when it suits them. importance of teamwork and team-building are never forgotten. Loretto's Sixth Formers are guided by a core team of highly trained staff: including the Head of Sixth Form, Sixth Form Tutors and a dedicated group of Careers The atmosphere at School is specialists, as well as the House Staff more like a large family. and Teachers. Our ethos is a healthy “ MAKE FRIENDS ” FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD Loretto is a close-knit community where pupils forge friendships for life. There are around 180 Sixth Formers at Loretto. About 50 of our Fifth Form boys and girls move up into the Lower Sixth each year. This group is enriched by new pupils from other UK independent and state schools, as well as from all over the world. About a third of pupils are from overseas countries as diverse as Germany, France, Belgium, Austria, Italy, Spain, Denmark, the West Indies, Russia, China and Hong Kong, the USA, South Africa, Australia, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates, and Bermuda. This includes expats as well as foreign nationals. All new Sixth Formers are assigned a "shadow" pupil from their House to look after them. Teaching at Loretto centres on the individual and encourages pupils to study independently, learn at their own pace and to think for themselves “ - a vital preparation for university. ” 3 Loretto’s stringent quality control mixed with a robust and irresistible sense of humour is an invisible force that has put my feet on paths which I never even ACHIEVE HIGH “ dreamt of… ACADEMIC STANDARDS Loretto offers A-levels in the Sixth Form, the We offer a wide variety of subjects at A-level international "gold standard" of academic to suit a broad spectrum of interests. qualifications. We focus on preparing our Lorettonians usuall”y choose four subjects to pupils for these exams and beyond through study in the Lower Sixth year. Whilst some excellent teaching and a focus on individual continue with all four, many will choose to needs by teaching in small groups. focus on 3 subjects in the Upper Sixth. Additionally, Sixth Form pupils are In today’s competitive world, academic encouraged to study the Extended Project achievement is fundamentally important. So, Qualification (a detailed independent it is reassuring to learn that Loretto’s record research project on a topic of their choosing) is outstanding. We are ranked in the top 7% for one year. This “EPQ” is highly valued by of schools nationally for value-added at universities. Pupils have to work hard: for A-level and 97% of our pupils achieve every hour of lessons, they should be places at their chosen university. Most pupils spending another hour on academic work secure a place at elite "Russell Group" outside of the classroom. They will spend universities in the UK such as Oxford, around 10 hours per week on evening preps Cambridge, Edinburgh, St Andrew's, Durham, (homework), for instance. Bristol or London Universities like Imperial, LSE and King's. Each year, several ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE pupils choose to attend equally prestigious For those pupils for whom English is not universities in other countries, such as their first language, Loretto provides the Princeton and Yale. IELTS certificate (International English Language Testing System). This is studied Pupils’ progress and wellbeing are monitored intensively over one year in classes of around by regular subject-specific assessments and five pupils. This structure allows pupils reports, reinforced by daily contact with their to become fluent in English as fast as Sixth Form Tutors. Pupils are encouraged to possible, which boosts their confidence and reflect and comment on these methods of results in other academic subjects. Loretto assessment. Our teachers and tutors guide has a proven track record of attaining very and encourage pupils to set achievable short high IELTS scores, which allows our and long term goals. The Senior Academic overseas pupils to apply for universities Staff and Head of Sixth Form monitor each in the UK or overseas. pupil’s progress to help them to fulfil their potential and meet their targets. 4 EXTEND ACADEMIC BOUNDARIES We are proud of our reputation for providing favourite subjects. Loretto’s Mavor Society a stimulating and stretching academic provides all Sixth Formers with a unique environment. Lorettonians attend the finest opportunity to research, prepare and present universities around the world. There is a an academic lecture to combined audiences dedicated and specialist support system of pupils and teachers. These evening lectures for those wishing to apply to the most allow pupils to push themselves beyond their academically competitive university courses, comfort zone as well as develop valuable such as medicine, law, veterinary medicine, communication skills. engineering or any of the courses offered by the likes of Oxford, Cambridge and the Sixth Formers are also encouraged to enter Russell Group of elite UK universities. On an exclusive essay prize for either Science or average, Loretto has between 6 and 8 pupils Humanities, several of which have won applying to Oxford or Cambridge each year, recognition in international competitions in re - and around 75% of each year apply to cent years. highly demanding courses such as medicine, engineering, mathematics, languages, USA AND GLOBAL UNIVERSITIES history, English, economics and the sciences The Loretto community stretches around the (amongst others). world, with pupils applying to the world’s most prestigious universities. At Loretto, Loretto provides the opportunity to attain the pupils can choose to join a dedicated SAT excellent examination grades that these preparation programme which is designed to courses demand, alongside a wide variety enhance applications to the USA (the SAT is of academic extras which both develop a an entrance test required by most American pupil’s academic rigour and enhance their Colleges). This runs alongside the usual university applications. A-level programme. Pupils are provided with guidance and tutoring for the SAT The Sixth Formers enjoy access to a vibrant examinations, as well as guidance on their academic enrichment programme led by university choices. There are very few SAT the Head of Sixth Form. This programme is Test Centres in the UK, and we are happy designed to spark curiosity, reinforce that Loretto is one of them. Whether a golfer understanding, encourage creative thinking searching for a sports scholarship or an and prepare pupils for independent study at academic high-flyer whose goal is to study at university. The most significant aspect of this an Ivy League College, Lorettonians are programme is that it is student-driven. If a therefore provided with a sound and pupil expresses a specific academic interest, secure platform. our staff are only too happy to help them research and develop this chosen area. This enrichment programme features a blend of compulsory and optional events which happen each week outside of lessons. We invite external speakers to lecture on various topics, including the likes of medicine, sports psychology, leading expeditions and the issues surrounding Scottish Independence. These lectures are supplemented by seminars presented by Loretto’s academic teaching staff. Most Sixth Formers will join a specific academic extension society which is linked to their interests, from humanities to science, mathematics and engineering. These societies allow pupils to research and discuss a range of detailed topics within their Pupils are highly motivated and respond very well to high expectations demanded of them in class. “ Education Scotland Inspection ” 5 ENJOY INDEPENDENCE Sixth Form represents a stepping stone Assessment and Report objectives as between school and the "real world" agreed with their tutor. beyond. Loretto therefore focuses on developing pupils' independence and The Sixth Form Centre encourages self-reliance. In an academic sense, the independent learning. This deepens Sixth Form fosters independent study understanding of the curriculum and and learning to reinforce these core broadens knowledge beyond A-level characteristics. Such an approach also choices. deepens our pupils' understanding of the curriculum and broadens their SIXTH FORM HOUSES knowledge beyond their A-level Loretto has recently made significant choices.