Sixth Form
Why choose St Catherine's?
If you are considering coming to St Catherine’s for your Sixth Form education, you will appreciate the sense of purpose, the friendliness of staff and girls and the myriad opportunities to make the best of the next two important years. And with the added attraction of The 6 – our vibrant new accommodation for day girls and boarders alike with its Common Room and kitchen for all and 44 study bedrooms for our boarders from across 19 countries, there has never been a better time to join us.
Our location is another plus-factor too: near to the historic town of Guildford, with its shops, cinema and railway station where trains to London leave frequently, and within 45 minutes of Heathrow and Gatwick Airports. In London you can take advantage of all the capital has to offer. St Catherine’s is situated in Bramley village, in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty surrounded by some of the loveliest countryside in the south of England: the Surrey Hills.
St Catherine’s is a fabulous place to study, to have fun and to start building the rest of your life.
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What we expect from you…
In the Sixth Form, personal progress will depend upon a partnership between you and your teachers. You will develop further an ability to work independently, and strengthen your knowledge and understanding of your chosen academic subjects beyond the confines of the classroom and text books. You should expect to broaden your horizons too through reading books and newspapers, attending lectures, courses and theatre visits, improving I.T. expertise, travelling etc.
Commitment
A Level results at St Catherine’s are amongst the best in the country which is due, primarily, to the commitment and hard work of students. St Catherine’s students are successful in achieving places on competitive courses at top universities; these achievements are based upon doing a substantial amount of work, over and above the demands of those set by their teachers.
Greater Responsibilities
Opportunities for further responsibility and leadership roles – especially in your House, in extra-curricular activities, sports, charities, becoming a prefect or a subject mentor - will arise as a matter of course in the Sixth Form. The Sixth Form plays a pivotal part in the life of St Catherine’s.
…AND IN RETURN
A Friendly Environment
You'll enjoy The 6 brand new modern building dedicated to the Sixth Form. The 6 includes boarding accommodation as well as a huge Common Room and kitchen for all Sixth Formers. You'll also benefit from a dedicated outdoor relaxation area in Summer, a place to gather, chat and recharge with friends. For your academic study the Speech Hall Library is dedicated to the Sixth Form and fully equipped for wifi with a personal study space and meeting rooms for group work, here you can study in your free periods and after School.
New Opportunities
There are lots of extra-curricular activities open to you and you are strongly encouraged to become involved. University admissions tutors value such commitment because an active participation in sport, music, drama, outdoor pursuits or in any group or society provides an opportunity for the development of leadership and organisational skills.
Leadership
This is one of the most important ways in which a school sixth form differs from a sixth form college. You have the chance to develop leadership skills and make a real contribution to the life of St Catherine’s. The increased self-esteem and confidence girls gain in a girls’ school have been proven to influence future career development. Girls taught at girls’ only schools tend to be leaders later in life too.
Pastoral Care
You will be assigned a personal tutor who will, most likely, be a specialist in one of your chosen subjects and so has the experience to guide you in your academic studies and oversee your progress in general. Your tutor will be your first port of call if you have any worries. In addition you can also talk to the Head of Sixth Form or your School House Mistress and for boarders, the Sixth Form Boarding Housemistress, at any time.
Academic Excellence
In a recent Sutton Trust report, St Catherine’s was positioned in the top five schools in the country sending students to the UK’s most highly selective universities. We have a happy combination of very able students taught by dedicated and enthusiastic staff who relish teaching their subjects at A Level.
Departments are well resourced with relevant teaching materials, both traditional and e-versions. Bright and airy Science and Foreign Language laboratories, Music and backstage technology, Art and Sports facilities, all enhance the Sixth Form experience. The dedicated Speech Hall Library, located at the heart of the School, is intended to emulate the type of learning and study environment you will encounter at university with full access to a fast, reliable internet connection . In addition it has meeting rooms and group study areas.
Girls are encouraged to undertake independent reading and research beyond the confines of the various examination specifications. Students are not only equipped to achieve excellent A Level results but are also encouraged to think independently and to develop their own responses to the material they study.
