A very warm welcome to Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School Sixth Form and our online virtual event and prospectus. ‘Prospects’ comes from Latin origins literally meaning ‘distant view’ combined with ‘action’.  A ‘looking forward’ to advancement and success.  As you prepare to choose your options for A Level study and make the important decision for the next stage of advancement in with a view to what you may want to further study at University; experience as a Higher or apprentice; or your vocation in the world of work, we are confident that our school can help you to fulfil your expectations and achieve success in your chosen field of study and employment.

Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School has a growing and exceptionally successful Sixth Form admitting students across Years 12 and 13 from our existing Year 11 and from students within the Archdiocese of Cardiff and Bridgend County Borough.

We offer a breadth of choice of academic provision, in partnership with Bridgend College, and a range of collaborative courses with other Sixth Forms in the Bridgend area and Archdiocese. 

We believe that this cooperative approach complimented by extracurricular opportunities to develop and champion employability, virtues and empowerment (EVE) and underpinned by excellent teaching, academic rigour, outstanding career undergraduate and apprenticeship advice, and first class pastoral care ensures that our students have every opportunity to develop their potential.

It is our goal that you should ‘have life, and have it to the full’ (John 10:10). At our school we believe we have a unique community where every student, unconditionally, is valued and understood. We provide a supportive and caring environment where you can explore, develop, grow in knowledge an understanding of yourself, and ultimately thrive. We treat every student as an individual and will do our utmost to assist you, whatever your aspirations, to reach your full academic potential and provide greater opportunity to progress to higher education or personal career choices.

We warmly welcome students from other schools into Year 12 who are willing to support and uphold our ethos and values and are ready to benefit from the expertise of highly qualified academic staff and a pastoral system which offers excellent care and individual guidance as you transition to adulthood and further lifelong learning.

Our Sixth Form is the ideal preparation for the independent learning and living that will be undertaken at university and in the world of work. Whether you are continuing your journey with us from Year 11, or are joining us in Year 12 from another school or college, we will ensure that you feel welcome, safe, and settle in quickly. 

Archbishop McGrath will provide you with the careers support and expert advice and help you need to guide you on your journey. 

Our expert knowledge about university and apprenticeship opportunities, and assistance with successfully securing places, is a particular strength of our school. Whatever educational pathway you choose, you will have access to high quality teachers in a culture of high expectations.  Archbishop McGrath offers a unique opportunity for you to study both in school and in college, giving you a breath of opportunities. We are very proud that a vast majority of our students do fulfil their aspirations. Many Year 12 students take up the opportunity to study in Summer Schools in Oxbridge and other Russell Group universities. 

In the latest published data by the University and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS) Archbishop McGrath Y13 students University acceptance rate on course they had applied for was 96% - 14% above the average of other Sixth Forms in Bridgend County Borough; and our offer rate for university courses received by our students after their applications had been accepted was also 96% - 2% higher than other Sixth Forms in BCBC.

All our Sixth Form students who were choosing an undergraduate routeway of HE were successful in securing full time places of study at universities in 2022 and 2023. Nearly all students who applied to Russell Group Universities as their firm choice achieved these offers. 

In Sixth Form we believe that God has plan for every one of us 'a plan to prosper and not harm us, a plan to give us hope and a future.' (Jeremiah 29:11) We seek to develop independent, autonomous learners who are diligent in their work and active in contributing to the Catholic life of the school. There is an excellent support structure in place where progress is monitored closely and supported by teachers and the Wellbeing Team, and we aim to ensure that every student can both develop their own spirituality and meet their full academic potential.

We are proud of our Sixth Form at Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School and we look forward to welcoming you to our community in September.

Mr McShane

Head of Sixth Form