Smoothing the transition for Year 11 pupils
Sixth Form should be the best two years of your school life. At last, there is the freedom to study the subjects that really excite you, have more informal and rewarding relationships with teachers and make new friends – all whilst being guided towards the next stage of the journey at university or the working world upon leaving Rydal Penrhos.
Although exciting, this can also be a daunting prospect for Year 11 upon finishing their GCSEs. In addition to the exam pressures, they must also mentally prepare for making the transition into Sixth Form life for the final two years of their time in school.
This is something that our teaching staff are fully aware of at Rydal Penrhos. We recognise the strains that any changes might have on our young learners and strive to ensure that they are fully prepared for any obstacle or challenge.
Our staff accomplish this by putting on an exceptional “Stepping up to Sixth” programme that consists of seminars, activities and plenty of fun along the way.
Our recent Higher Education Day kicked things off in a positive fashion and pupils will also get the chance to familiarise themselves with their new surroundings during Year 11 to Year 12 Bridging Days so nothing will be a shock to them at the start of the new academic year.
There will be fun and bonding aplenty during a specially arranged day out to Alton Towers before the summer holidays and our upcoming sponsored walk from Colwyn Bay to Llandudno Pier provides those involved with a sense of community and what it means to be a Rydal Penrhos Sixth Former.
Many staff members will be on hand during GCSE Results Day in August to discuss A Level options and provide expert support on the big day, with our aspiring sporting stars set to hone their skills during a preseason rugby, hockey and netball camp in pursuit of hitting the ground running when competitive games commence.
Another exciting event will be The Big Sleepover, which is an overnight stay on-site with workshops, team-building exercises and a motivational speaker visiting to inspire the next generation of Rydal Penrhos Sixth Formers.
It’s the little things that make a big difference. Something that’s been at the heart of our success at Rydal Penrhos, with examination results remaining extremely high and impressive value-added scores indicating that our pupils greatly exceed expectations consistently.
Our Sixth Form knows they are lucky and as such, they work hard to represent the school as impeccable ambassadors giving back to us and the wider community with their energy and enthusiasm.
The Sixth Form experience espouses an ethos of teamwork, leadership and service underpinned by a sense of intellectual curiosity. Effective teacher/pupil ratios and bespoke pastoral care ensure that Rydal Penrhos pupils move forward ready and willing to contribute their skills to the wider world around them.
Tutor groups are deliberately small and caring, meaning tutors can take the time to know their pupils, forging relationships that will challenge them to fulfil their ambitions.
We understand that Sixth Formers are older and more independent – but there are still people on hand to guide and help as they navigate their way through classes, exams and what lies beyond school.