Sixth Form

St Catherines School has been licensed by the UK Border Agency to enrol international students under Tier 4 of the Points Based System.

If you would like further details, please telephone the Admissions Secretary, Angelita Faulkner on:

Tel : 0203 261 0139

In September 2010, after a 30 year break, St Catherine's was delighted to open its doors once again to welcome Sixth Form students wanting to study A levels in a highly regarded independent Catholic Girls' School.

Here we offer a supportive and caring environment where the standard of teaching is outstanding and where each student can be assured of the very best tailor-made guidance regarding further education and career prospects.

At a time when pressure on university places has never been greater, with employers becoming increasingly overwhelmed by the number of graduates applying for jobs, never has finding the right place to study for the Sixth Form been so crucial.

Moving into any Sixth Form should be an exciting and challenging time and, with our wonderful new Sixth Form Centre, students cannot fail to be inspired here. With a highly modern and fully equipped Common Room and separate Study Area the facilities available to Sixth Form students at St Catherine's are simply exceptional.

What you can expect as a Sixth Former at StCatherine's…

Care and Attention

St Catherine's already has a reputation for providing the very highest level of pastoral care and in the Sixth Form we pride ourselves on ensuring that each student is part of a small tutor group (5-8 tutees), whose tutor really does know each student inside out!

Your tutor will not only liaise closely and regularly with your teachers to ensure you are on track academically but will also help you discover possible career paths and identify the relevant work-experience and courses you would need to study to pursue them. (That is not to say that all learning should be undertaken simply with a particular career in mind; we fervently believe that learning simply for the sake of learning is a truly enriching and valuable experience in its own right.)

Excellent Teaching and Facilities

In the Sixth Form you will have access to the very best resources and facilities. The most important resources, of course, are your teachers and you can expect to be taught by a team of truly committed and highly qualified staff.

In Year 12 you would expect to study for 4 AS levels and receive 6 x 45 minute lessons for each subject. In Year 13 you would probably take 3 subjects through to the full A level.

Independence…

To help foster an atmosphere of true independent learning, each student is presented with a free lap-top computer on entry to Year 12. Such a tool is invaluable, not only for writing assignments and carrying out academic research but also for researching Further Education Institutions and carrying out the UCAS university application process which is now all done on-line.

We also believe that independence and freedom go together and you will notice there are greater opportunities in the Sixth Form to leave the school site and manage your time in a way that is preferable to you.

With freedom, of course, comes responsibility, not only towards yourself and your future but also to your fellow students, teachers, family and members of the local community. All our Sixth Formers are expected to exercise leadership in all aspects of their life at St Catherine's and they receive extensive training in this along with all the school's prefects as part of their Sixth Form Induction programme at the beginning of September.

A Breadth of Education…

Education in a Sixth Form should be more than simply attaining excellent academic results and applying to universities. Our General Studies programme sets out to equip our students with a whole range of 'Survival Skills' ranging from CV writing and Study Skills to First Aid and Car Maintenance. Furthermore, a variety of speakers from the world of politics, academia, medicine and media provide colourful insight into an exciting and meaningful world beyond St Catherine's.

St Catherine's produces many concerts and plays and if you're a keen musician or actor, there will almost certainly be a platform which suits your ability level. In terms of sports, our Sixth Form combine with Year 11 to produce senior school representative sides in Netball, Hockey and Tennis but there are also opportunities for Rowing, Sailing, Canoeing, Swimming and from 2011 we will be offering Real Tennis, Fencing, Triathlon and Polo. If you want to play a sport or learn a new skill or try any extra curricula activity which is not already offered by St Catherine's we will do all we can to find the right venue and time for you to pursue this interest. We encourage our students to adopt a Can Do attitude and if we cannot offer it we will find someone who can!

Entry requirements:

At least 8 Bs at GCSE (including Maths and English Language) with at least an A in your chosen AS subjects, if applicable.

Sixth Form Scholarships and Bursaries

Sixth Form Scholarships are available, as are means-tested Bursaries. Please speak to our Head of Sixth Form for further details.

To carry a subject through to Yr 13 you would expect to have got at least a B at AS.

Subjects on offer for study in the Sixth Form:

Art and Design
Biology
Business Studies
Chemistry
Classical Civilization
Drama and Theatre Studies
Economics
English Literature
Food Technology
French
Geography
German
Governement and Politics
History
History of Art
ICT
Law
Mathematics
Further Mathematics
Music
Philosophy and Ethics
Photography
Physical Education
Physics
Politics
Psychology
Religious Studies
Spanish
Sociology
Textiles

Further Information

For any further questions or to arrange a time to visit, please email Angus Pearson (Head of Sixth Form) at:

apearson@st-catherines-twickenham.org.uk

or call him on: 0203 261 0136

And to keep up to date with what is going on in our Sixth Form or find useful links, do visit our blog at: