Whole School Programme
In 2000, the Sixth Form Programme was introduced as the central vision and format for academic extension, lectures, societies and activities. The events have proven to be highly successful and our students during these years have acted as impressive ambassadors and hosts to many distinguished visitors at the dinners and events. Many students have had significant opportunities in terms of making important career and university decisions, as well as a large number being able to pursue impressive work opportunities through the events of the Programme. From 2007, we have unrolled the Whole School Programme across all year groups and alongside this have co-ordinated all extra-curricular activities to create a balanced Enrichment Programme for all of our students.
The School is delighted to be hosting many highly successful people and, in particular, some who have observed or contributed to policy at the heart of government. In previous years we have hosted former Chief of Defence Staff General The Lord Guthrie, former and current Cabinet Ministers Tony Benn, Rt Hon Ken Clarke MP, Rt Hon Geoff Hoon, former Ambassadors Sir Christopher Meyer and Sir Nicholas Fenn, former Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service Lord Butler, and the political commentators, Matthew Parris, Michael Crick and Michael Cockerell. Recent guests have included Haven Roosevelt, grandson of President Franklin D Roosevelt; Bill Furniss, Olympic Swimming Coach for Rebecca Adlington OBE; Football legend Sven-Göran Eriksson and pioneering climber and ski mountaineer Tom Avery.
We have hosted many distinguished visitors with a wide range of experiences - principal soloist from the Northern Ballet, the Director of the English National Opera, Young Musician of the Year Winner, explorers, a number of leading surgeons, scientists, award-winning authors, championship football managers, Olympic gold-winners, as well as several Judges and Barristers.
The Sixth Form Committee leads the Whole School Programme and gives support in running all events with Mr Toby Leadbetter, the Director of the Whole School Programme.They are joined at the Whole School Programme & Events Committee by representatives from every year group in the school. This in itself creates high profile leadership positions for our Sixth Form students. The Chair of theSixth Form Committee and his or her team, work on a weekly basis on this busy series of events across each Tier. Many of our students take full advantage of the opportunity to meet a diverse range of people who are starting off in their careers or who have reached the height of their profession. The students join the speakers for receptions and dinners which follow the talks or seminars.
Academic Forum
Whilst the Whole School Programme develops a broad and exciting programme for all students, the Academic Forum caters for the brightest students in the Sixth Form. They have their own series of events and also give presentations themselves. This year we have introduced the Academic Forum in the current Year 10 and this group will continue with this into Year 11. This gives our students the scope to explore areas in more detail and thought. The Chair of the Academic Forum is a member of the Sixth Form Committee.
Parents, alumni, staff and students are welcome at many of our events. If parents and alumni are interested they should contact Mrs Shaw or Mrs McIntyre on 0115 849 4916.
The current Whole School Programme is available in Adobe PDF format. Please click here.