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Welcome to Debden Park High School

In March 2025, Debden Park High School’s Sixth Form was recognised by Ofsted as ‘Outstanding’, alongside the school securing 3 of the 5 Ofsted judgements as ‘Outstanding’. We were especially delighted the Inspectors recognised that ambition for our students is at the heart of everything we do. We know we have a consistent focus on learning and academic drive which means our students go on to achieve incredible results; we equally ensure we have a consistent focus on ‘Be Your Own Future’ which allows students to go on to incredible destinations. Consequently, we are certain that at our Sixth Form, students flourish and go on to flourish in their future lives. Our curriculum is student-centred and we aim for their education to be inspiring, stimulating and challenging. Our staff are appointed for their passion, their enthusiasm and their imagination in communicating with children to ensure that every single child in their classes is engaged, excited and challenged by the learning experience at all times. As Ofsted reported, our teachers are not only “dedicated” but equally have “strong subject knowledge”, and these teachers are diligent in providing “detailed feedback on how students can improve their work further” (Ofsted, 2025).Our vision is to empower students so that they are able to take control of their own future and have enhanced life chances as a result of learning with us. And we don’t leave any of this to chance: as Ofsted noted, “students in the Sixth Form receive exceptional support” (Ofsted, 2025). So we are not only academically ambitious for our students, but we are equally focussed on developing their character as they mature into impressive, well-balanced young people who genuinely ‘stand out’. To that end, the curriculum offer is broad, there are numerous opportunities for personal development through our ‘Be Your Own Future’ drive, and an expectation students embrace this, and there is a relentless focus on students finding and securing ambitious futures in whatever it is that inspires them. The consequence of this is clear: sixth form students at Debden Park “are passionate about their personal and academic aspirations and model these positive attitudes by actively guiding younger pupils.” (Ofsted, 2025)In short, we are unapologetically ambitious for our students, and in turn expect them to be incredibly ambitious for themselves and their futures. Andrew Hogan Helen Gascoyne Head of School Executive Head

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Boarding Type

No Boarder

School Type

Suitable Ages

11 to 18

Gender

Mixed

No. of Students

1,050 Total

No. of Boys

523 (49.8%)

No. of Girls

527 (50.2%)


Academic Excellence

GCSE Results

Latest Examination

6.3%

Students achieving A*/A grades (9/8/7)

A-Level Results

Sixth Form Performance

A* grades

7.46%

A*/A grades

19.03%


Leavers' Destinations

Destinations after GCSEs

Staying in education

86%

School

79%

England

Apprenticeships

5%

School

3%

England

Further education

School:37%
England:51%

School sixth form

School:47%
England:19%

Sixth form college

School:1%
England:7%

Other education destinations

School:1%
England:2%

Destinations after A-Levels

UK higher education

47%

School

1%

England

Apprenticeships

5%

School

19%

England

Higher education or training

School:92%
England:63%

Further education

School:0%
England:4%

Employment

School:41%
England:35%

Not sustained in education/employment

School:6%
England:26%


Exciting Events Ahead!

A detailed admissions process on ApplicaaOne is coming soon.

Please see our website for more information on our admissions process.


Admissions Process

Quick Apply
Nov 2025Dec 2025Jan 2026Feb 2026Mar 2026Apr 2026May 2026Jun 2026Jul 2026Aug 2026Sep 2026

Applications for September 2026

Key Dates & Deadlines

Nov 20, 2025

Sixth Form Open Evening

Nov 20, 2025

Sixth Form Application Online Form goes live!

Jan 7, 2026

Day In The Life Of A Sixth Former - Sixth Form Taster Day

Feb 1, 2026

Sixth Form Application Deadline

Apr 1, 2026

Sixth Form Offer Letters sent out

Jul 1, 2026

Springboard to Sixth Form - Transition Day


Term Dates & Half-Term Holidays

Planning ahead for school holidays? Below are the term dates and half-term dates for the 2025/2026 academic year.

Autumn

2 terms

Half Term 1

Sep 1 - Oct 24

Half Term 2

Nov 3 - Dec 19

Spring

2 terms

Half Term 1

Jan 5 - Feb 12

Half Term 2

Feb 22 - Mar 31

Summer

2 terms

Half Term 1

Apr 19 - May 28

Half Term 2

Jun 7 - Jul 21

Half-Term & Holiday Dates

Autumn Half Term

Oct 27 - Oct 31

Christmas Break

Dec 22 - Jan 2

Spring Half Term

Feb 15 - Feb 19

Easter Break

Apr 2 - Apr 16

Summer Half Term

May 29 - Jun 4


Alumni Stories

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Updates Coming Soon!

We’ll be sharing information about the destinations of our alumni here soon.


Enrichment Activities

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The leaders of the future are distinguishable by more than just their academic qualifications. At Debden Park High School Sixth Form we help students to learn about life skills through our diverse programme of enrichment opportunities.

Devolving Responsibilities
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.
Community Enrichment
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.
Trips and Travel
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.
Enterprise Challenge for Haven House
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.
World Challenge Expeditions
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?
Extended Project Qualification
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.

About School

RegionEast of England
Local AuthorityEssex
Ofsted RatingOutstanding
Gender TypeMixed