Sixth Form is one of the most formative periods of your life, and choosing the right place to study for the next two years is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your education. It’s a time when you’ll discover where your true passions lie and start to make the choices that will determine the direction of your life for years to come. It’s a time when you’ll gain greater independence – both as a learner and as a member of the wider school community – and take on more important responsibilities outside the classroom. It’s a time when you’ll be given leadership opportunities and become a powerful role model for younger pupils. With all this in mind, it would be quite understandable if you felt some trepidation at the prospect of moving up to A level. Don’t worry. Above all, Sixth Form is an immensely exciting time – a period in which you will develop your existing talents and discover new ones. It is our privilege to help you on that journey. 

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been with us since the start of Year 7 or are thinking of joining us from another school – Sixth Form at the RGS offers a fresh start to everyone.  While returning Year 11 students account for the majority of our incoming Sixth Formers, every year they are joined by around 30-40 new students drawn from local schools and further afield. This makes for a dynamic, diverse and vibrant community, in which new friendships are forged and students benefit from the wide range of experiences of their peers. 

There’s no such thing as a typical Sixth Former at the RGS, but our students are united by their common desire to work hard and succeed both in and out of the classroom. Academic standards are high: we have a very successful track record in supporting our students to progress to high-tariff universities, including Russell Group and Oxford and Cambridge. We are also proud of the breadth of our co-curricular programme, which is unparalleled in the state sector and which is one of the key ways we promote personal growth and draw out individual talent wherever it lies. 

Philip Wayne
Headmaster