home > 6th form > enrichment programme

Sixth Form

Enrichment Programme

beach trip

You will have the chance to take part in a staggering range of activities in the Sixth Form. We are extremely proud of our Enrichment Programme which will help you bridge the gap between school and university or the world of work.

Extra–Curricular Activities

You may well be surprised at the sheer range of extra-curricular activities available in our Sixth Form. There is something for every interest and all our activities are available to everyone. Our Young Enterprise and Duke of Edinburgh schemes are well known and incredibly successful, but we also can offer sport (including rowing coached by our very own world class oarswoman, Mrs Susan Brown), music, drama and a whole range of other activities.

Duke Of Edinburgh Award Scheme

Described by the Good Schools Guide as “the best we have ever, and we mean ever, seen” the Gold Award scheme is one of the jewels in the Sixth Form crown. It is easy to take this opportunity for granted as it has been so successful for so long. Over 50% of the current Lower Sixth are working towards the Gold award, a percentage unrivalled elsewhere.

The Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award is not only satisfying in its own right but it is also highly valued by universities and employers. By taking this award you will gain a huge number of skills as well as the occasional blister! If you want to take advantage a glorious opportunity to be part of a scheme with a proven track record then St Mary’s Sixth Form is the place for you. Read more about our DofE scheme.

Young Enterprise

50% of the Lower Sixth are also involved in our multi–award winning Young Enterprise group. It is highly unlikely that you will see anything like such a high proportion of students involved in the scheme elsewhere and we are very proud of the fact that at St Mary’s the Young Enterprise scheme is open to all.

This is another activity that is highly valued by universities and employers while also providing you with a whole range of valuable skills and experiences. Read more about our Young Enterprise scheme.

Other events and activities

wine tasting

• Editing the Magnolian magazine
• Trips to the theatre and cinema
• Tenpin bowling
• Rugby
• Table Tennis
• Dance workshops
• Digital Film making
• Debates
• Public Speaking Competitions
• Tutored winetasting
• School play or musical
• Jazz Band
• Orchestra
• Cantore and other choirs
• Visits to the Cambridge University Observatory
• Visits to local places of interest
• Trips to the beach, the zoo and shopping!
• Lourdes trip
• East Anglia Children’s Hospices’ Christmas Party
• Travel Bursaries are awarded each year to Lower Sixth Formers to enable them to travel in Europe during the summer

Visiting Speakers

Martin Bell

The Sixth Form at St Mary’s provides an excellent preparation for university and the world of work. One way in which we ensure that you are kept up to date with the latest developments is through our programme of visiting speakers. Speakers in the last two years alone have included:

• Poppy Aldam, King’s College Cambridge and Addenbrooke’s
• Dr Balsari–Palsule, St Francis Xavier College, Bombay
• Kate Barsby and Jo Jamison, Project Trust
• Sandra Bearcroft, Solicitor at Mills & Reeve
• Dr Paul Beaumont, Homerton College, Cambridge
• Martin Bell, former BBC War Correspondent and Independent MP
• Calev Bender, The Embassy of Israel
• Dr John Bradley, Head of Research and Development at Addenbrooke’s
• Orlando Figes, Professor of History, Birkbeck College, University of London
• Arthur Gibson, Professor of Philosophy at Roehampton University
• Richard Hanson, British Antarctic Survey
• Christopher Hogwood, founder and director of The Academy of Ancient Music
• Umar Janjua and Anita Barnes, Cambridge Commonwealth Initiative
• Fr John Patrick Kenrick, Blackfriar’s Cambridge
• Dr Jenny Koenig, Director of Studies in Neuroscience and Pharmacology, St John’s College, Cambridge
• Andrew Lansley MP
• Rebecca Lloyd–Evans, Science communicator
• Anne Lonsdale, Vice–chancellor of Cambridge University
• Greg Millar, Design Director at the BBC
• Mike Nicholson, Head of Undergraduate Recruitment & Admissions at University of Essex
• Professor Palsule, Senior Advisor to the United Nations
• Susan Quilliam, Agony Aunt, writer and Broadcaster
• Fraser Rogers, Addenbrooke’s
• Robert Sturdy MEP
• Phil Talbot, Co–chair of UCAS Eastern Regional Group
• Matthew Wordsworth, BSES Expeditions
• Margaret Wright, Green Party

Sixth Form Programme

You will have a double lesson each week to help you prepare for university. It is highly unusual to be given this amount of direct help when you think about your post–18 options. The topics you will look at include:

• What graduates do with different degrees
• How to choose a university
• How to choose a degree
• Careers
• Personal statements
• UCAS Extra and Clearing
• The UCAS web site
• Other useful web sites
• How to fill in your UCAS form
• GAP year opportunities

Sport

You will have a triple lesson each week. Sports on offer include:

• Rowing
• Yoga
• Outlooks Gym
• Rock Climbing
• Archery
• Tennis
• Squash
• Netball
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Football

Did you know?
In the Sixth Form you will have the opportunity to be trained by our very own world–class oarswoman, Mrs Brown, and compete in local and national regattas!

Philosophy, Ethics and Religion

You will have a double lesson each week. The course on offer has included:

• Ethics
• Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism
• Jewish and Christian Responses to the Holocaust
• Medical Ethics
• Justice and Peace in contemporary Christianity

PSCHE

You have one lesson each week. Topics to be looked at include:

• Studying at an advanced level
• Writing a CV
• Coping with stress
• How to pay for your time at university
• Money management skills
• Essay writing