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The Sixth Form
Denbigh has a successful, thriving Sixth Form of over 400 students which combines the very highest academic standards with a wide range of enrichment, social and sporting activities.
Our Sixth Form students consistently record examination results above the national average and over 85% of our students achieve university places each year.
Students choose a programme of study to suit their needs from our flexible and varied curriculum, containing over 40 Level 2 and 3 courses.
Denbigh School also has the only Sixth Form in Milton Keynes to offer students the opportunity to engage in undergraduate study as part of the YASS programme run by the Open University, where students study under-graduate short courses in a wide variety of subjects including tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanoes, application of genetics and writing fiction.
Our Sixth Form facilities have been extended and modernised to reflect the growth and success of our Sixth Form and to provide Sixth Form students with a specialised learning environment.
Sixth Form students are encouraged to play a leadership role in the wider life of the School and to support the School’s younger students. The Sixth Form has a thriving Student Union which organises charity/social events, produces a half termly Newsletter and contributes to developing the teaching and learning of students in the Sixth Form.
At Denbigh we offer our students a high quality educational experience. Whether you intend to move onto Higher Education or enter the world of work after the Sixth Form, we aim to provide you with the knowledge, skills and confidence to succeed.
Our Sixth Form has an excellent reputation and in September this year we had over 400 students on role.
At Denbigh, programmes of study are organised to suit your interests and abilities. You will follow a ‘route’ or ‘pathway’ appropriate to your GCSE performance and you will also choose an ‘Enrichment’ course to supplement your studies.
A flexible and varied curriculum allows students to select a tailor-made programme that meets their individual needs. Specialised staff and high quality teaching ensure that students achieve or exceed their individual targets.
All students have access to the ‘Denbigh Learning Community’ and are able to access their work both in School and at home via the School’s website.
Students receive formal feedback every eight weeks concerning their progress. There is an extensive programme of revision activities for Sixth Form students throughout the year.
All of our students who choose to apply for university places are successful in achieving at least one offer. The majority of our students achieve their first choice of university, including Oxford and Cambridge.
Facilities
The Sixth Form facilities have been extended and modernised over the past two years and now include:
- A dedicated Sixth Form ICT suite, interactive white board and laser printer
- A TV room with a large wall mounted plasma TV
- A Street Café with a drinks machine, café style chairs and tables
- Individual Lockers
- A Sixth Form careers room containing university prospectuses and work related information
- Dedicated Sixth Form facilities within the School’s Independent Learning Centre and Library
- Many classrooms dedicated to Sixth Form teaching and access to the excellent ICT facilities throughout the School
Personal Development
All students are assigned a Sixth Form Learning Mentor with whom they meet regularly to discuss targets, progress and their future.
Additionally students develop their leadership skills by taking an active role in their mixed age tutor group, assisting the tutor in delivering our tutorial programme to the younger year groups.
Students can train to become Peer Mentors to work with younger students in the School and can also qualify as Peer Mentor trainers.
Extra-Curricular
We value the development of social skills and therefore offer a wide variety of extra curricular opportunities.
- Competitions such as the BBC Schools Question Time Competition which Denbigh won in 2007
- Organising fund-raising events such as the highly successful multi-cultural fashion show which raised funds for the NSPCC.
- World Challenge Expedition: in July 2008, our first team of students took part in a four week World Challenge expedition to Malaysia
- Debating Group which enters local and national competitions.
- Sixth Form Prom
- regular Sports activities
- Salsa Dancing
- School productions
- the Rock Challenge
- trips to Alton Towers
- and BBQs
the Student Voice
There is a thriving Sixth Form Student Union which meets regularly to organise social events including trips and the annual Prom, as well as a Sixth Form Magazine.
The Sixth Form Council has also contributed to policy decisions, including the new Sixth Form facilities and each Faculty has a student representative in Year 12 and Year 13 who forms a link between the student body and the class teachers to provide input to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the School.
There are further, regular opportunities for students to provide feedback about their Sixth Form experience through on-line questionnaires.Sixth Form students have been appointed as House Presidents and Vice Presidents and these students organise the House Councils and work towards enhancing the House ethos of the School.