Sixth Form Update - Summer Term
I hope this communication finds you well and you are looking forward to any summer holiday you may have.
It has been another superb term in the NLS Sixth Form – with many events illustrating why it is such a privilege to work with your terrific children. Read on…
Future Pathways Launch
Wednesday, June 18 saw a terrific Future Pathways Launch Event for our current Year 12. This tied in neatly with the Work Experience opportunities as, as suggested below, quality work experience is so central to applications for university, employment, apprenticeships.
The purpose of this event was to equip students with better understanding as to what is available to them post-18. This can be crucial in terms of information, advice and guidance (I.A.G.) but also in terms of raising aspirations and incentivising. While the launch is steered towards UCAS and university applications (because that is what the vast majority of our students choose to go on to do), we recognise that this route is not the only Future Pathway. So, we offer I.A.G. on:
- University and UCAS
- Apprenticeships and Degree Apprenticeships
- Employment – including the uniformed and armed services
- Gap years
There is also attention paid to specific applications. For example, to high demand organisations (Oxbridge) or subjects (e.g. medicine, dentistry, veterinary science) as well as those which are more niche (conservatoires) or popular (law) – nearly all of these have an early entry deadline of October and most of them will require additional entrance examinations or processes which students and parents need to be aware of and to take a lead on researching and organising.
This current year with Y13, we have students to go to both Oxford and Cambridge (which is terrific) but we are delighted that a range of universities are represented as well as a range of alternatives - including prestigious apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships.
We know Y12 will be likewise successful with their planning (like their Y13 peers) and are sure they will make the most of all this IAG as they enter what is a very exciting time considering future pathways!
Y12 Work Experience
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of parents, staff and students, we are delighted that every student in Y12 sourced a Work Experience placement. Nearly all of these were off-site and covered a range of areas such as:
- Journalism with the BBC (in Milan!) and Bullivant Media
- Shadowing a Barrister in Chambers in London
- Engineering with Aston Martin
- Radiography at Warwick Hospital
- Veterinary Practice
- Curacy work at Leamington Art Gallery and Museum
This image shows two such students. Jess and Ilsa returned to their previous school setting, which happens to be our partner primary within the Elm Tree MAT – Telford Junior School. They spent a week supporting children in class and further cementing that all-important relationship between the two schools which ensures a terrific transition experience and, ultimately, real success for the students!
It’s nice to see that their experience at NLS has not put many off a potential career in the education sector - it will be great to see these terrific students as the next generation of educationalists perhaps teaching our grandchildren!
All of these work experiences will prove vital to applications to future pathways given that UCAS, for example, reference the evidence base which shows quality work experience is in the top two areas admissions tutors point to in terms of determining offers – as you might expect, the key area is projected grades.
A number of off-site visits were made and witnessing students thrive in a real-world setting, deploying the skills and knowledge they have developed in school, is surely what it is all about. Great stuff!
Well done again to all who have made this such a great opportunity.
New Year 12 Induction Event
Thursday 10 July saw our Induction Day event for those students who hope to form our new Y12 cohort in September. Following an introductory assembly and some team building tasks – designed in particular to integrate those students ‘New to NLS’ – students engaged in three subject taster sessions plus an enrichment-based task. Linked for the day to the Colleges they are likely to be attached to, the students also experienced an example of a Y12 Tutor Time session - where they explored the curriculum map outlining their planned experiences and undertook a ‘balloon’ activity. A closing assembly reminded them of some key messages ready for enrolment in August and the start to their Sixth Form life in September.
Our New to NLS students were warmly integrated in to the day and will experience enhanced transition opportunities in September – though we of course look forward to greeting everyone in to our increasingly popular, highly successful Sixth Form community!
Year 12 Sixth Form Sports Day
On their return to school after Work Experience, Y12 were involved in our alternative Sports Day on Wednesday 16 July. A range of ‘silly’, fun sports were on offer and – to satisfy the more competitive urge of some – these were interspersed with more traditional, ‘serious’ events like the 100m sprint.
The ‘silly’ sports were great fun and all helped to cement a positive sense of community but we also gave opportunity to some of our uber-sporty types to show off their athletic prowess. The event was based on college affiliations and the winning team was TBC.
IMAGES TO BE ADDED
Curriculum, Data and Rewards
In terms of the tutor time curriculum, recent coverage has focused on finalising Work Experience, follow-up on the Future Pathways Launch and preparation for the Progression Exams. Elsewhere, and with reference to the discrete P.S.H.E. lessons offered, students have explored Living in the Wider World.
For efforts in tutor time, across lessons and in school in general, students are accruing many rewards points in Sixth Form – which is great to see. With their College affiliation noted, here are the Top 10 in Yr 12.
| Student | College |
|---|---|
| James W | Binswood |
| Henry J | Binswood |
| Katie M | Croft |
| Laurie F | Manor |
| Elissa W | Croft |
| Jaydon C | Manor |
| Luke S | Binswood |
| Harry P | Manor |
| Joe C | Park |
| Georgia P | Binswood |
Well done to these Top Ten students but to all of those who are so committed to their studies and to school life here at NLS
Summer Celebration Evening
It was great to see so many of our Y12 and outgoing Y13 attend the recent whole-school Celebration Evening event. Some lovely photos can be seen here:
Link to Photos of Celebration Evening 2025
Students were rewarded for their outstanding contributions on a subject and faculty basis but also on a wider level – including the Head-teacher’s Award which went to Y13’s Luke who leaves us for Oxford.
Well done all – a wonderful whole-school event with Sixth Form very well represented!
Summer Music Concert
A highlight of the school year has to be the Summer Music Concert – where students from across year groups come together and share their musical and performative talents. We are delighted that the Sixth Form was so well-represented again. Here we can see the returning Y13 Anna performing a beautiful, note-perfect operatic piece while Emily and James closed the show with a series of modern numbers which showcased their brilliant harmonies and melodies. Well done all!
Year 13 Prom
We were delighted to celebrate with our wonderful Y13 at their prom on Monday 30 June. With nearly every one of them in attendance, it was lovely to talk about the past few years and to look forward to the future: whether university, apprenticeships, employment or a well-earned gap year awaits. After two brief yet glorious speeches of undoubted high-quality (!), students and staff alike enjoyed some great food in a great setting – with so many staff as well as students there, the mood was a nice blend of relaxed yet vibrant. Students were able to access the beautiful garden and veranda on what was a very warm evening as well as the tasteful dining room with its well-packed dance floor. The moves on display from students and staff alike was testimony to what terrific relationships and teamwork exist in the NLS Sixth Form. Behaviour was impeccable and it was a real privilege to be part of such a terrific send-off.
Well done all and best wishes for the future…
The Y13 Prom was a fantastic end to the year and the Sixth Form journey. As we bid goodbye to those outgoing Y13 we wish Y12 all the best as they transition in to being the most senior students at NLS.
We wish all our students and their families a lovely summer break and thank you all for making the Sixth Form at NLS such a great place to be.
Yours sincerely
S A Taylor
Senior Assistant Head Teacher (inc. Head of Sixth Form).