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Sixth Form Life
Sixth Form is an important step towards greater independence. At Hockerill, students are given greater freedom and responsibility while remaining part of a community in which they are well known, supported and encouraged to make the most of everything the College has to offer.
Our Sixth Form brings Years 12 and 13 together within a diverse community of day and boarding students. Students join us from Hockerill's Year 11 as well as from other schools in the UK and internationally, creating opportunities to establish new friendships, widen social and academic networks and learn from people with different experiences, cultures and perspectives.
Your Sixth Form Centre
At the heart of Sixth Form life is our purpose-built Sixth Form Centre, providing an environment designed to support the greater independence of Sixth Form study.
The Centre includes seminar and meeting rooms alongside a range of spaces for independent and collaborative study. Students can work in larger communal areas or choose smaller, quieter spaces when they need to concentrate independently. They also have dedicated Sixth Form provision within the College Library and are encouraged to request new and updated resources to support their studies.
Key members of the Sixth Form team, including our Heads of Year, Sixth Form Administrator, Careers Lead and Director of Sixth Form, are based within the Centre. This makes it easy for students to access advice and guidance, whether about their academic progress, future plans or wider Sixth Form experience.
The Centre is also an important social space. The Sixth Form café and communal areas provide places to meet friends, relax and enjoy being part of the Sixth Form community.
Bringing Years 12 and 13 together in one shared environment helps build relationships across the two year groups. Year 12 students benefit from the experience of those who have already navigated the demands and opportunities of Sixth Form, while Year 13 students increasingly help to shape the culture of the community.
Greater independence
Sixth Form should feel different from Year 11. As students move closer to university, employment and adult life, we expect them to take greater responsibility for their learning, decisions and personal development.
A Sixth Form timetable is not simply a sequence of taught lessons. It includes dedicated periods for independent study, which students are expected to use purposefully to prepare for lessons, complete assignments, undertake research, revise, meet with teachers or work collaboratively with others.
Learning to manage this time effectively is an important part of the Sixth Form experience. Students develop the organisation, self-discipline and independence needed to balance their subjects, deadlines and wider commitments. Staff remain available to guide, challenge and support, but students are increasingly expected to take ownership of their progress and seek help when they need it.
One Sixth Form community
Hockerill's combination of day and boarding students creates a Sixth Form community with a character of its own. Students study and socialise alongside people from a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities, bringing different perspectives into everyday conversations, friendships and learning and helping prepare students to live, study and work in an increasingly interconnected world.
Our international character is not confined to a particular curriculum pathway. Whether students choose the IB Diploma, A Levels or an Applied pathway, they are part of the same diverse and outward-looking Hockerill community. For our boarders, Hockerill is also home during the school week or term, extending friendships and College life well beyond the classroom.
Part of something bigger
Our Sixth Form students are the most senior students in the College and important role models for younger students. They make a significant contribution to the academic, social and cultural life of Hockerill, with opportunities to take responsibility, support others and positively influence the wider College community.
There are many ways to contribute, from formal leadership positions to mentoring younger students, supporting activities, representing the College and taking initiative within everyday College life.
Student voice also matters. Through College Council and other opportunities to contribute their views and ideas, Sixth Form students can help shape developments and influence the community of which they are part.
Students can explore these opportunities in much greater detail through Leadership & Opportunities.
More than your subjects
We expect Sixth Form students to take their academic studies seriously, but a Hockerill education is also about developing the whole person and the skills, interests and experiences that students will carry with them throughout their lives.
Sport provides opportunities at different levels. Students can represent Hockerill competitively, continue developing within a sport they already enjoy or participate recreationally with friends.
Music is similarly open to students with different interests and levels of experience, with individual instrumental lessons alongside opportunities to participate in choirs, bands, orchestras and ensembles and to perform at concerts and College events.
Students can also become involved in drama, the Combined Cadet Force, Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model United Nations, societies, volunteering and a wide range of other activities. We strongly encourage active participation and welcome new ideas from students who want to establish activities and interests of their own.
Our international outlook is reflected in opportunities beyond the College, with trips, visits, exchanges and international experiences that have taken students across Africa, Europe, Asia and North America. These experiences can support academic learning, develop cultural understanding or provide opportunities for challenge, service and adventure.
Sixth Form also has its own programme of community, charity and social events, providing opportunities for students to spend time together and celebrate important moments during their two years at Hockerill.
Some of these wider experiences can be genuinely life-changing. They provide opportunities for students to challenge themselves, discover new interests, build relationships and develop the confidence and independence to make the most of the opportunities available to them now and in the future.
We want students to leave Sixth Form with excellent qualifications, but also with the independence, confidence, friendships and experiences that will help them succeed in whatever they choose to do next.
Making the most of Sixth Form
Two years pass quickly, and students who gain most from Hockerill tend to be those who are prepared to engage fully in the life of the College.
Try something new. Join a society. Play sport. Perform. Volunteer. Take on responsibility. Attend a talk. Go on a trip. Support an event. Spend time with people you might not otherwise have met.
At the same time, learn to manage your time, organise your work and become increasingly responsible for your own decisions.
Sixth Form provides an opportunity to become more independent while still benefiting from the relationships, guidance and opportunities of a strong school community. It is an important bridge between school and whatever comes next.
Explore Sixth Form Life
Guidance & Pastoral Support - Find out how tutors, Sixth Form leaders and other staff support students throughout their two years.
Clubs, Sport & Activities - Explore the opportunities available beyond your academic programme.
