Sixth Form Update - Summer 2

Well, that year seemed to pass by incredibly quickly! I hope it has been a good one for you and your children as we look to celebrate this term’s achievement and look forward to the Summer break…

Year 13 Prom

We were delighted to celebrate with our wonderful Year 13 at their prom on Tuesday 1 July.

England’s woeful first half performance at the World Cup initially threatened to cloud proceedings perhaps just a little! Luckily, Harry Kane saved us – and our terrifically resilient Year 13 would anyway not have let anything mar their evening.

It was lovely to talk about time at NLS and to look forward to the future: whether university, apprenticeships, employment or a well-earned gap year awaits. After two brief yet unarguably wonderful speeches (!), students and staff alike enjoyed some great food in a lovely setting – with so many staff as well as students there, the mood was terrific and everyone had fun. The dance floor moves on display from students and staff alike was testimony to what terrific relationships and teamwork exist in the NLS Sixth Form – though some of the moves were perhaps a touch more on-point from the students than from some of the staff. Who would have thought “the caterpillar” could make a come-back?

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…

Photograph of seven young adults dressed formally, standing side by side outdoors against dense green foliage. Attire includes suits and elegant dresses in various colours, with one person wearing a traditional red and gold outfit, suggesting a celebratory event like prom or a formal gathering. Photograph of five young men dressed in formal suits standing side by side outdoors with arms around each other, posing in front of dense green foliage. Each person wears a different coloured suit and tie, suggesting a celebratory or special occasion such as prom or a formal event.

Future Pathways

As Year 13 depart for pastures new, the current Year 12 have begun their “exit plans” for post-18. Wednesday, June 17 saw a terrific Future Pathways Launch Event. This tied in neatly with the Work Experience opportunities as 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.

We are delighted we are due three successful Oxbridge with the outgoing Year 13 and are hopeful we can match this with the incoming Year 13. Likewise, we have a range of budding medics once more – which is evidence of high achievement and aspiration.

Ultimately, 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 Year 12 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 the Year 13 who were at Prom will testify is a very exciting time considering future pathways

Celebration Evening

On Tuesday 30 June we celebrated our students (Main School and Sixth Formers) at our annual Whole School Celebration Evening. It was wonderful to come together and recognise their achievements after having to postpone the event due to the very warm temperatures the previous week.

Students were nominated in each year group based on their outstanding contributions at a Faculty level (CORE, Humanities and Performance), as well as their Year Group and Sports Personality of the Year Awards.

Students were recognised for their outstanding contributions for their leadership and commitment in Careers, the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, our Eco and the International Schools programmes.

In addition, a range of Whole School Awards celebrated outstanding contributions and achievements across the school community. Whole School categories included: Equality and Diversity, Character and Culture, Overcoming Adversity, Charity and Community, Overall Academic Achievement in Year 11 and in Year 13, Michelle Mountifield IEN Award and the Head Teacher’s Award.

It was fantastic to see the array of talent and achievement on display across our school and a proud evening for the North Leamington School community.

Congratulations to all students nominated for their outstanding contributions and to the overall winner in each category.

wo young women standing in front of a blue backdrop with repeated North Leamington School logos, each holding a certificate. Both are smiling, with one wearing glasses and a patterned top, and the other in a striped sweater, indicating an award or achievement recognition event. a smiling young girl holding a certificate in front of a blue backdrop featuring repeated North Leamington School logos and text. The setting suggests a school award or recognition event celebrating student achievement. a young man holding a certificate in front of a blue backdro

a young woman standing against a North Leamington School branded backdrop, smiling while holding a certificate and a blue box. The setting suggests an award or recognition event, with the certificate prominently displayed and the backdrop featuring repeated school logos and name in white on a teal background.

All available photographs from the evening can be viewed in each of the year group tabs here: Celebration Evening 2026 Photographs

Year 12 Work Experience

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of parents, staff and students, we are delighted that every student in Year 12 sourced a Work Experience placement. Nearly all of these were off-site and covered a range of areas such as:

Medical placements in hospital settings
Cyber solutions (a growing industry) at tech firms
Veterinary Practice
The Warwickshire Gin Company!

There are local placements, one in Scotland and then one in Milan and another in Austria!

Elsewhere, it’s nice to see that their experience at NLS has not put many off a potential career in the education sector – we had a record number (16) of students out in the educational field and it will be great to see these terrific students as the next generation of educationalists perhaps teaching our grandchildren! It was also great for our Multi Academy Trust (MAT) that 6 of our students supported in that setting for the week – gaining valuable personal insights but also cementing the links between the schools.

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 by members of the Sixth Form Team and witnessing students thrive in a real-world setting, deploying the skills and knowledge they have developed in school, is a real privilege. Great stuff!

Well done again and thanks to all those (staff, students, parents) who have made this such a great opportunity!

Year 12 Sixth Form Sports Day

On their return to school, Year12 were involved in our alternative Sports Day on Wednesday, 15 July. A range of ‘silly’, fun sports were on offer and – to satisfy the more competitive urge of some – these were interspersed with some more traditional, ‘serious’ events like the 100m sprint.

Photograph of five young people sprinting on marked grass lanes during an outdoor race event. White canopy tents and spectators are visible in background, indicating a casual sports day or community gathering.

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 Tutor Group 12-3.

Photograph showing a group of young people participating in an outdoor team-building activity involving ropes. Participants stand closely on grass, focused on coordinating movements, with clear blue sky and trees in background. Photograph of a young woman walking on a grassy field during an outdoor event, wearing a maroon t-shirt, black shorts, white sneakers, and a face mask. A white and blue canopy with seated people is visible in the background Photograph of a group of young people sitting outdoors, engaging in conversation and clapping. The scene highlights casual clothing, natural light, and a relaxed social atmosphere.

Photograph of a group of young people participating in a wheelbarrow race on a grass field marked with white lines. Participants are paired, with one person holding the legs of another who is walking on their hands, showing active engagement and teamwork in an outdoor sports or recreational event. Photograph of four people sprinting on a grass running track marked with white lanes during daytime. Two runners in black are leading, with one in pink following behind, set against a background of trees and open field.

Photograph of a relay race on a grass track with multiple runners competing. Foreground features a young male athlete in black sportswear holding a yellow baton, running towards the camera with other participants and spectators visible in the background Photograph of two young people standing on a grassy field holding a large inflatable gold trophy labelled "The Champ." The person on the left wears black athletic clothing and glasses, while the person on the right wears a white sports jersey with "O2" and black shorts, with other people and trees visible in the background. Photograph of a relay race on a grass track with runners passing a red baton. Foreground runner wears a dark blue sports kit, while background runners and spectators are visible under white tents.

Photograph showing a large group of people standing on grass in front of two white tents, with many raising their hands and smiling. The scene suggests a social or community event held outdoors on a sunny day.

New Year 12 Induction Event

Thursday 9 July, saw our Induction Day event for those students who hope to form our new Year 12 cohort in September.

Photograph of a classroom with multiple students seated at desks equipped with desktop computers, engaged in various activities. The room features large windows with blinds, exposed wooden beams, and walls decorated with posters and notices, indicating an educational environment 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 Year 12 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.

Photograph of a classroom with students seated at lab tables engaged in a science activity, with a teacher assisting one student. Colourful educational posters on pH scale and atomic model are visible on walls, indicating a chemistry lesson setting. Photograph of a science classroom with students seated at lab tables engaged in experiments or discussions. Colourful educational posters on pH scale and atomic model displayed on walls, with natural light from large windows illuminating the room.

Our New to NLS students were warmly integrated into the day and will experience enhanced transition opportunities in September – though we of course look forward to greeting everyone into our increasingly popular, highly successful Sixth Form community.

While we want to accentuate the positives, prospective Year 12 parents please remind your child to complete the Summer Work – or run the risk of being an early Tier 2 or Tier 3 student come September.

Student Leadership

We are delighted with the start that David and Claudia have made to their roles as Senior Student Leaders (essentially Head Boy and Head Girl). With support from Sixth Form Team, they have undertaken work in supporting with:

The new Mobile Phone Policy and its implementation
Ensuring a positive working environment in the dedicated Sixth Form spaces
Student learning in Main School

We are pleased to confirm the appointments of their Assistant Senior Student Leaders (ASSL):

ASSL – Careers

Ruairi S

ASSL – Charity and Comminity

Naomi M Binswood)
Gabi A (Blackdown)
Eva H (Blackdown)
Georgie R (Blackdown)
Sophie J (Croft)
Esther V (Manor)
Esme S (Park)
Alice R (Park)

ASSL – Eco and International

Lily P
Beth K

ASSL – Equality and Diversity

Khushpreet K
Nic D
Kitty W

ASSL – Digital Literacy

Dylan S
Jesman G

ASSL- Sports

Meg P
Daisy G

ASSL – Transition

Mae S
Huw W
Teagan S
Hattie S
Nadia Ruma

Well done to all – we look forward to all your achievements in the upcoming year!

Online Safety Newsletter

A reminder our website contains a variety of online safety information within the Safeguarding tab. Recently, we added the July Online Safety Newsletter which contains information on a variety of areas – it is linked here also:

North Leamington School – Online Safety

July Online Safety Newsletter

Student Rewards

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 each year:

Student	College
Teagan S	Manor
Toby V	Manor
Daisy G	Manor
Sofia Y	Binswood
Meredith C	Croft
Kushpreet K	Park
Dan C	Manor
Josh L	Blackdown
Harry B	Manor
Naomi M	Binswood

In the last assembly of term, we celebrated these students and those who had secured excellent attendance and strong progress and attainment in their studies. It was great to be able to include so many students in this because standards remain so high!

In addition to this, the whole school Rewards Event was a great success – with students celebrating their achievements with inflatables and the like!

Photograph showing a young man running through a red and black inflatable obstacle course outdoors on a sunny day. Another person is visible in the background, partially obscured by the inflatable structure and greenery Photograph of two young men participating in an outdoor inflatable obstacle course, with one man reaching forward holding a black object. Bright red and black inflatable structure contrasts with green trees and clear blue sky in background, capturing a moment of active competition and enjoyment.

Tutor Time, Assemblies and P.S.H.E Curriculums

With no Year 13 in school as they are out experiencing it first-hand, it has been Year 12 only who have been exploring how to navigate Living in the Wider World. This ties in quite neatly with the Future Pathways work alluded to above as they begin to increasingly turn their attention to Life Beyond NLS. Assemblies and Tutor Time have all complemented this with reflections on exam performance but also thinking about how they can prepare for the challenges of the fast-approaching Y13, all that entails and what it equips them to do subsequently…

Upcoming Events and Calendar

Friday 17 July – Year 12 Progression Exam results will be available on G4S for parents
Thursday 3 September- start of new term for students
Monday 28 September – Grantchester Georgraphy Field Trip
October 6, 13, 20 – Sociology Trip to Warwickshire Justice Centre
Friday 9 October UCAS and Apprenticeship Expo @ Edgbaston

If you have any queries at any point, please do make contact via the usual communication sources.

On behalf of myself, the Sixth Form Team and the school, thanks for all you have done this year to support us in supporting your children and have a terrific break!

Mr Steve Taylor
Head of Sixth Form