Debden Park High School

Our Student BE Team, headed up by our Executive BE Leaders, take on the leadership and management of a range of key events. These may be charitable, social or linked to academic life but each member of the team has a specified role and organisational responsibilities. Their responsibility is to promote the BE characterisitcs within the school and drive the BE Journey. They work with staff on the conception of ideas, the planning of strategies and the implementation of their own project. Whether this be managing revision sessions, running assemblies, getting involved in form time activities or rolling out a fundraising event, Sixth Form students are encouraged to take ownership of ideas and deliver a quality product.

At Debden Park High School, every student pledges to take part in at least one enrichment activity per week. For a Year 12, not only does this mean participating in extracurricular activities but this can also include becoming an Ambassador for a subject and helping to facilitate clubs for younger students. This is because we recognise our students as young adults with skills and strengths that can be shared with and used to motivate others. In Year 12, students are encouraged to use their independent study time to work and build ties with students from lower down the school. Primarily, this is achieved through our ‘Adopt a Team’ initiative where students spend at least an hour a week, working within that team, leading learning, encouraging progress and becoming a Mentor. Subject Ambassadors can also be involved in arranging whole school activities & events, offering valuable suggestions and ideas about school life, and work alongside staff to strengthen the bridges between the lower school and sixth form. In addition to these exciting opportunities, Sixth Formers may mentor a Year 11 student through their final year.

Learning is deepest when an idea is seen in a real life application or delivered by an industry expert. As a result, students at Debden Park High School Sixth Form are given access to experiences outside of the classroom including trips to art galleries, plays, subject conferences, observatories, universities and legal establishments. The key quality that employers are seeking is resilience. We encourage students to develop this characteristic throughout their time in Sixth Form, from the physical and cultural induction experience, to the multi-skilled Brighton Challenge and through to the chance to engage on an expedition further afield through the World Challenge organisation.

Students have the opportunity to take part in the Enterprise Challenge, where they work as a small group to raise as much money as they can for Haven House. Students compete with other school and work in teams of 8 to spend and invest £50 seed capital and raise as much as they can over the year.

Students fundraise and take part in once in a lifetime expeditions to some incredible destinations. So far, DPHS students have travelled to Sri Lanka, Eswatini and Malaysia. Our next trip is headed to Borneo...will you be joining them?

All students are given the chance to complete an EPQ on a subject of their choosing. EPQ lessons are timetabled throughout Year 12 in order to give students all the support they need to complete their personal project to an excellent standard.