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Cover illustration: DAISY ROPNER

The Sixth Form at Heathfield provides opportunities for every girl to develop a range of skills and talents that increases her confidence, independence, initiative and leadership potential.

Our unique position as the only small, all girls, full boarding school in the country means we are able

to offer a bespoke education. Our academic successes have made us stand out amongst other schools and value is added not only in grades, but in the range of opportunities each girl has when she becomes part of our Sixth Form.

Heathfield girls leave school, become part of our ever growing alumni, the Fellowship, and make their mark in the world. Extensive support and guidance ensure that girls follow the best path to further study and beyond. Our outstanding successes with A* and A grades means that girls can win places on some of the most competitive courses at the most competitive universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, Durham and Warwick.

Finally, we aim to foster high expectations in all our girls so that their goals can be achieved through dedication, commitment, passion and thoughtfulness.

Mrs Jo Heywood, Headmistress

Heathfield’s Sixth Form

Introduction to

Contents

3 The Support Network

4 Academic Overview

5 Sixth Form Leadership

6 Independent Living

7 A Little Bit Extra

8 Beyond the Classroom

9 Where Next?

10 Life after Heathfield

12 Admissions

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Great emphasis is placed on the extracurricular programmes, which provide both leadership and team building

opportunities. In the Lower Sixth girls are invited to take on prefect responsibilities; the job might at times be challenging but it is rewarding and gives individuals the chance to shine!

In the Upper Sixth girls move across to the bungalow, where there is more freedom and independence and girls are able to take greater responsibility for their learning – this marks an important transition between school and university.

In both years of the Sixth Form girls are supported and cared for by housemistresses who have many years of experience and truly understand the highs and lows of taking A Levels. In the Lower Sixth the housemistresses are there to support the girls with the added pressures of taking on a prefect role and are another person to turn to if a girl has any difficulties with her studies. In the Upper Sixth they live alongside the girls in the bungalow and help bridge the gap to independent living.

Tutors play an important role within the Sixth Form; they see girls on a daily basis and are able to monitor progress and offer guidance to support students with organisational and study skills and give advice about career and Higher Education plans.

Throughout the Sixth Form journey the Head of Sixth Form, tutors, housemistresses and teachers offer help and direction in academic, careers and pastoral issues. The Sixth Form is regarded by former students as the ‘best part of the Heathfield experience’.

The Sixth Form is both challenging and exciting, with small classes, flexibility in subject choice and a supportive tutor system giving each individual the opportunity to develop her strengths and achieve success.

NetworkThe Support

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We ask girls to choose four subjects at AS Level. We also ask them to think through carefully any choices which mix sciences and

creative subjects or humanities and sciences, taking into account advice from the Head of Sixth Form and Deputy Head before finalising their decision. It is important that decisions made at this stage do not rule out certain options for life beyond the Sixth Form. Mixed A Level combinations may well work, but it is important to think through the implications in good time.

All Lower Sixth Form girls take General Studies lessons, to ensure that they stay abreast of current affairs, to give them a taste of a broad range of other subjects and to help them to develop knowledge and understanding of topics in Citizenship, and Personal, Social & Health Education. General Studies also serves as an opportunity to teach girls about university-style learning and to help them to understand what will be expected of them in Higher Education. Some recent courses include:

OverviewAcademic

We aim to guide every girl to make choices that will serve her best, and that will enable her to enjoy her time in the Sixth Form, to achieve her full potential and to allow her a good range of options to take forward.

FinancialAwareness

Problem Solving

Choices in Higher Education

Art Appreciation

Christian Values

Debating Skills

For a small school we are able to offer a wide range of subjects.

This can vary from year to year depending upon uptake,

but can include the following subjects:

AccountingArt and Design

BiologyBusiness Studies

ChemistryClassical Civilization

EconomicsEnglish Literature

GeographyHistory

History of ArtLatin

MathematicsModern Foreign Languages

MusicPhotography

PhysicsReligious Studies

Sports & Physical EducationTheatre Studies

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This allows girls to have the full benefit of the Upper Sixth Form bungalow experience. The prefect positions give

the Lower Sixth Form girls the opportunity to gain valuable experience as leaders and team-players whilst developing key transferable skills. Girls apply for a prefect position and go through a selection process towards the end of Form V. New girls have the opportunity to apply before they arrive and will be assessed during September, when they join us, taking up their responsibilities at the autumn half term.

For those entering the Sixth Form we take into account individual interests and specialisms which will then allow each girl the opportunity to take on and develop her own leadership posts.

Every girl in Forms I to LVI is a member of a House – Austen, De Valois, Seacole

or Somerville. Girls are allocated a House as soon as they join Heathfield and House identity and tradition are very important. The Sixth Form play a key role in helping their House to run. The House Drama, Music and all the Sporting competitions are organised by the Lower Sixth – this provides an excellent opportunity to develop leadership skills and to motivate the House with the aim of winning the termly House shield.

Perhaps the most demanding of the House activities is the annual Nicky Stalls, a charity fair held in the last weekend of November. Each House selects a charity; the House invite speakers from their charity to talk and explain how the girls can help beyond a monetary contribution.

LeadershipSixth Form

Heathfield is unusual in asking girls to take on prefect responsibility in the Lower Sixth and these roles of responsibility are taken seriously.

During their final year at Heathfield, the Upper Sixth Form girls are accommodated in their own self-contained, purpose built bungalow.

Not only do they leave the main school building but they also leave their former House and become part

of the Upper Sixth Form House, Wyatt. Named after the founder of the school, Wyatt House is the name for the social, pastoral and academic system that provides care for the Upper Sixth Form girls. The girls also retain allegiance to their old House.

The Upper Sixth year marks a transition between school and university life and the environment in the bungalow provides a caring structure that helps facilitate preparation for university living. The girls do their own washing and ironing and learn to cook healthy meals for themselves on a budget.

Whilst greater freedom and autonomy is part and parcel of life in the Upper Sixth Form (girls may go out every weekend provided that their work is up to date), the Upper Sixth Form remain an integral part of the school. At the same time, girls benefit from spending their final year together in their own exclusive space that enables them to focus on preparation for their A Level examinations.

LivingIndependent

“The bungalow is incredible; living in a house with all your friends is amazing and doing your own cooking and washing is so much fun as well as great preparation for university. You also have plenty of freedom at the weekend with the option of going to London, Windsor and Ascot giving you the best opportunity to balance work and play”.

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ExtraA Little Bit

Heathfield offers a wide variety of extra lessons and activities, for which parents are charged.

Lessons can be arranged for most musical instruments,

as well as singing and Musical Theory for girls who reach Grade V in their instrument and the Senior Choir and various ensembles prove excellent opportunities to practise. RADA and LAMDA qualifications are on offer and support applications to Theatre School. Girls also have the opportunity to take dance lessons which include ballet, tap and street dance.

Sixth Formers can also have sessions with a personal trainer, who will instruct them on the use of our multi-gym and pool, motivate and supervise their exercise and advise them on a healthy diet.

Our specialist EFL teachers prepare girls whose mother tongue is not English to sit examinations, which demonstrate their proficiency in English to universities and future employers. We insist on this extra as girls may find it difficult to progress to English-speaking universities without the qualification. We also find doing extra English helps girls to gain in confidence and to do better in their academic studies.

For girls considering applying to an American university, the school can organise special SATS preparation classes at a nearby centre.

Leiths School of Food and Wine is one

of the most prestigious and respected cookery schools in the country and their Certificate of Food and Wine is available to Heathfield’s Sixth Form in our dedicated cookery building. Since we started teaching Leiths in 2001 we have achieved a

100%PASS RATE

Heathfield has a dedicated Equestrian

Co-ordinator and many girls pursue Show

Jumping, Eventing or Polo. Heathfield’s riders

perform exceptionally well at both a local and

national level.

In the Sixth Form the emphasis is very much on an active mind and active body; sport and exercise are key to the overall wellbeing of the individual and girls are encouraged to participate in team sports as well as take on activities such as pilates, yoga, dance or swimming, or to use the fitness centre.

All Sixth Formers have two double PE lessons per week, during which times they can choose to do a variety of

sport and activities, including Lacrosse, Netball, Tennis, Rounders, Athletics, Swimming, Fitness including Aerobics and Pilates, Golf and Skiing.

In addition to Physical Education lessons, all girls are encouraged to train in competitive sports and to represent the school in matches and tournaments. The school has a full time Lacrosse coach and brings in specialists to coach other sports. Games provide a great opportunity for Sixth Formers to learn about team dynamics, about working together to achieve success and about dealing with failure constructively. Captaincy offers an important opportunity to practise leadership skills.

Sixth Form girls are encouraged to enter for the Duke of Edinburgh’s (Gold) Award. This is a huge commitment but girls find it extremely rewarding. The award requires them to complete a set amount of community service, to learn a new skill, to do a set amount of physical exercise, to take part in a residential conservation project and to organise and undertake an expedition in rugged terrain. If completed, the award is respected by many universities and employers as the equivalent to another A Level and as evidence that the girl has drive, determination and organisational skills – all highly prized personal qualities.

The Heathfield Senior Choir rehearses regularly, takes an active part in Chapel Services, enters competitions and goes on tours to other European countries.

In keeping with promoting life skills and expanding the girls’ experience they are encouraged to organise social events which include informal suppers, debates, the Caledonian Society and trips to the theatre. Socials with local boys’ schools such as Eton and Radley are organised for some weekends.

ClassroomBeyond the

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After SchoolGirls are encouraged to make informed decisions about their future by means of informal talks, taster days, university open days, work experience and careers guidance.

Where Next?

UniversityHeathfield supports the girls when applying for university to ensure they are selecting a course and university which is right for them. Careers advice and assistance with university applications is given to the girls helping them to secure their university place of choice.

In the last five years Heathfield girls have read a wide range of subjects at university, ranging from Biomedical Chemistry and Classics at Oxford, History of Art and English at Cambridge, History at Warwick and Geography and Law at Bristol, American Studies at Nottingham, Accounting and Finance at LSE and English at Exeter.

Many girls take foundation courses as an alternative route into Higher Education either in Art, Photography or Drama. Heathfield girls have gone onto study at the London Arts Schools, Parsons in New York and Paris, RADA and LAMDA.

Vocational Courses Some girls are now delaying Higher Education or are taking up either business courses or internships. Recent leavers have gained places at Savills and Hermès.

Gap Years Over half the Upper Sixth Form leavers take gap years, usually raising money to finance their adventures. They are encouraged with our guidance to properly organise their gap year with both courses and work experience that are stimulating and challenging ensuring further development.

Old Girl, Tara Watson

(Heathfield 2004-2011) at

the summit of Kilimanjaro

Old Girl, Taisie Pennick (Heathfield 2005-2012) volunteering in Kenya

HeathfieldLife afterThe Fellowship

Once you join Heathfield for the Sixth Form you not only become part of the school, but upon completing your time

in Upper Sixth you also become part of the Fellowship, the association of Old Girls which goes back to the school’s founding in 1899. The entry into the Fellowship begins at the Leavers’ Service on Parents’ Day, at the end of the Upper Sixth. At the service girls are welcomed into the Fellowship where they receive their Fellowship badge. That badge symbolises the community of girls that spans the entire world and which shows that Heathfield friends are friends for life.

As a member of the Fellowship you will receive regular news of what is happening at Heathfield, you will be invited to attend our annual Fellowship Day where you can meet old friends and make contacts with Old Girls from other years, and you can attend the biannual Fellowship Carol Service. The Fellowship works hard to be able to continue to support girls as they leave Heathfield and annually offers the chance for Upper Sixth Formers to apply for travel bursaries.

Careers

Former students keep in touch and update us on what they are doing and many offer to come in to talk to

the girls on their chosen careers or in some cases arrange work experience.

Sally Bushell (Heathfield 1979-1986)

Author and English Lecturer

Tannaz Lee (née Fazaipour) (Heathfield 1983-1990)

Journalist

Sarah Ali (née Wardle) (Heathfield 1984-1990)

Criminal Intelligence Analyst

Amy Lindsay (née Gordon) (Heathfield 1988-1994)

Photographer

Emma Willoughby (Heathfield 1992-1999)

Solicitor

Charlotte Sutherell (Heathfield 2000-2007)

Medicinal Chemistry PhD Student at Cambridge University

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Several recent leavers have moved on to pursue further academic study, including an MA at Edinburgh in History of Art, MSc in Mathematics at the London School of Economics, and to read for a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry at Cambridge. On completion of their degree courses, our Old Girls’ career paths have been varied and include a freelance artist, a film director and a geoscientist, with many seeking international as well as UK based jobs.

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AdmissionsEntry into the Sixth Form is dependent upon success at GCSE level with a minimum of six GCSE passes A* to C grade (or equivalent) with the expectation that a minimum of a Grade B is attained in the subject if it is to be pursued to A Level (this entry requirement may be an A grade in some subjects).

Sixth Form girls may choose up to five AS subjects with a usual minimum of four taken. They may then take

up to four A2 subjects in the Upper Sixth, but a minimum of three A2 subjects is required for progression into the Upper Sixth.

Girls should usually end up with four or five AS and three A2 qualifications, all of which accrue UCAS points for university entrance. Being a small school, we are able to respond to the needs of each girl individually, to offer advice and support and ensure that she is stretched but not overburdened by the subjects she chooses to take and that her choices lead to the best opportunities in Higher Education.

Scholarships are awarded to those who demonstrate significant levels of achievement in one or more areas and agree to act as a role model, thus improving the educational environment we all share. Scholarships carry with them a title and a certain amount of prestige along with entry into our Scholarship programme and can, of course, be listed on UCAS forms and CVs in later life. They also entitle the holder to a range of enrichment activities (for which we do not charge) in some or all curriculum areas, which will help them to fulfil their potential.

“I decided to come to Heathfield for Sixth Form largely due to the small classes and the more intimate and cosy atmosphere of the school which was a huge difference from the larger schools I’ve been to. I was attracted to the way Sixth Form students are treated, with teachers acknowledging that we’re mature and independent and there’s a great sense of trust between the staff and students, which really becomes clear when we move to the Bungalow.

The strong relationship between staff and students in Sixth Form helped me to carry out lots of independent learning but with the continuous support of my teachers who always find time to help. This really helped me in my application for universities and to gain a higher knowledge required for top universities.”

“I was apprehensive about joining the Sixth Form, but it was great. Within a few days I felt completely at home and started to make new friends. Boarding was quite a challenge but I feel as if it has prepared me for the next stage when I go to university. I have enjoyed studying new subjects and having the opportunity to take part in many of the extra-curricular activities such as Leiths and Debating.”

“I decided to join Heathfield because it offered me the experience of spending my last two years in a friendly and tight-knit environment with a strong sense of community. The small year group and class sizes make it easy not only to make new friends but also allow you to receive attentive guidance from your teachers. The prefect positions and earned privileges reward you for your efforts and give a gratifying sense of responsibility. Heathfield very quickly becomes a second home.”

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@HeathfieldAscot

Heathfield School Ascot

Please contact Mrs Rebecca Farha, Registrar at registrar@heathfieldschool.net or 01344 898 342 with any questions regarding admission into the Sixth Form

Heathfield School, London Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 8BQTelephone +44(0) 1344 898 343

www.heathfieldschool.netIncorporating St. Mary’s School Wantage