LIFE IN THE SIXTH FORM
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All Sixth Form students at Denstone study three or four subjects in their Lower Sixth, with most opting to continue with three subjects in the Upper Sixth. There are currently 21 different subjects available in the Lower Sixth, alongside the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) available within the College’s activities programme.
As an independent school, we have the freedom to be innovative, and so we offer a curriculum experience that offers more than just a focus on GCSE and A level courses.
Overseas students can also participate in additional lessons leading to the widely recognised International English Language Testing System (IELTS) certificate. As students look ahead to life beyond Denstone they can take advantage of a vast array of support in their important UCAS decisions, with specialist staff such as the Head of UCAS and Careers and Oxbridge Admissions Tutor available to offer guidance alongside academic tutors and subject staff. The College follows a number of examination boards and details are given on the examinations page.
The LIFE programme is formally timetabled throughout the Lower Sixth. LIFE focuses on developing skills in Leadership and Innovation, equipping students to be Future-ready with Enterprise capability. The World Economic Forum, in its The Future of Jobs, has pinpointed the skills most prized by employers of the future and these range from complex problem-solving, critical thinking and creativity, to people management, emotional intelligence and cognitive flexibility. Essentially LIFE will encapsulate three key skill areas:
- Financial capability: the ability to manage finances and to become questioning and informed consumers of financial services
- Business and economic understanding: the ability to understand the business context and make informed choices between alternative uses of scarce resources
- Communication skills: the ability to persuade, resolve conflicts, develop emotional intelligence and articulate complex ideas concisely
The programme offers lectures, seminars, further research opportunities, experience days, visits, and collaborations. It draws upon our alumni and parent networks, integrating with the careers and university preparation we already offer. Exposure to these valuable life skills will aid in developing confident, financially mature and self-sufficient young people who are equipped to maximise any opportunity that comes their way. The programme will run alongside the many enrichment and extension opportunities.
The freedom to be inventive in our offering extends down throughout the year groups in a number of exciting ways.