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 specific subject-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.