Life in the Sixth Form
The Sixth Form at Haileybury offers a whole new experience for those pupils moving up through the School and coming in to join the Sixth Form from other schools. Pupils new to the School attend a special induction afternoon when they first arrive, and are joined later by our own pupils who have moved up from the Fifth Form.
The first week for ALL our Sixth Formers is Freshers' Week, when the pupils take part in many different activities designed to help them integrate and make friends quickly, to establish an immediate rapport with their teachers and to understand fully the demands of their A Level or IB courses and what is on offer to them in the Sixth Form. In addition, they attend presentations on the following aspects of school life:
- Introductions to the various clubs and societies, co-curricular activities and entertainment opportunities are made when the Upper Sixth pupils hold a Freshers' Fair one evening, at which new pupils can meet with established pupils and sign up to a wide range of activities.
- More formal presentations on UCAS and the expectations with regard to the future, university applications and preparations for these.
- Time management to enable a smooth transition from GCSE to Sixth Form Studies
- The week concludes with one of the highlight events of the term, the inaugural Freshers' Party held in the Sixth Form Centre. Always fancy dress and always great fun, this evening activity provides an opportunity for a good night's dancing and socialising with new friends.
Pupils are provided with every opportunity to take part in numerous regular and unique events, helping them develop confidence amongst their peers and in meeting and working with both staff and professionals from outside School. Activities such as the CCF, Young Enterprise, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and Community Service allow each pupil to pursue avenues of personal development perhaps not previously explored.
Leadership opportunities
College prefects: A number of pupils are invited to take on the responsibility of being College Prefects, a role of office which is held for a year. Prefects are chosen by the Master together with the Senior Leadership Team in consultation with Housemistresses/masters, teachers and pupils. A boy and girl are appointed as Heads of School with a deputy to support each other. Twelve other pupils are appointed as Heads of their Various Houses, taking on this important role in supporting the House parent and the pupils within the Houses. Pupils are fiercely loyal to their Houses and do much to promote a core House spirit, to engender good work ethics and to socialise and support each other across the age groups.
Hosting public events: Haileybury offers a dynamic curriculum and an exciting and challenging programme of co-curricular clubs and societies. Within this context the pupils are regularly invited to attend one of the many lectures on offer which are open to pupils and the public. Similarly, they are always intricately involved in helping to host the many events that are geared to the local community and public and for those events that are created to promote Haileybury, such as acting as tour guides for prospective families and visitors; hosting Activity Mornings, Open Days, prep school events, annual events such as the Charity Cabaret and unique events such as a major fashion show or a special Ball. The pupils are always quick to offer their services to host our guests on all these occasions and can always be relied up to do a superb job in welcoming and looking after our guests of all ages. They take great pride in their School and in making new visitors feel welcome and we have never had cause to hesitate in handing over great areas of responsibility to our pupils in this light.
School charities: our Sixth Form pupils are actively involved in creating events to help fundraise for our three School charities. They regularly organise House events to create fundraising opportunities either as part of the Charities Committee or as a member of the wider sub-committees involved in the practical arrangements and running of the many events they create.
Sport: All pupils in the Sixth Form are expected and encouraged to participate fully in the expansive games programme, choosing to train and play in one of the School's major team sports or, if they prefer to select an alternative option, trying something they might have never had the opportunity to try before - sailing, rowing, polo, golf, rackets, aerobics, squash and basketball are a few of the many options on offer.
Performing arts: An annual Upper School theatrical production, a dance show as well as numerous concerts, House Drama and House Music Festivals, the annual Cabaret and Friday Night with the Jazz Bands provide our senior pupils with the chance to try their hand at many new experiences. Everyone with any skill will find an opportunity to share their abilities with so many chances to perform.
In-weekend events: Whilst all pupils are able to go home from around 3.30pm following their games commitments on Saturday afternoons (with borders returning on Sunday evening), the first weekend of each half term is somewhat different. Boarders are required to stay in School until after Chapel on Sunday morning. On the Saturday evening of these ‘in-weekends’, a host of different events are organised for the best possible entertainment of all our pupils. These include superb fancy dress parties for the Sixth Form pupils, held in their own Sixth Form Centre, a whole school Charity New Year Ball, attended by nearly 600 pupils, an outstanding and much enjoyed Cabaret Evening, barbeques and crazy games evenings. These events enable the Sixth Form to socialise together and, on occasions, with other year groups.
