What makes it so great?
The final two years of school life should the most exciting of all.
There is more freedom to pursue subjects of interest, build strong bonds with teaching staff and peers, in addition to making new friends and preparing for the next stage of your journey.
At Rydal Penrhos Sixth Form, young people are put in the best possible position to succeed. They are given exceptional support and guidance, expert teaching throughout their A Levels and given every opportunity to develop additional skills that will serve them extremely well both during university and the working world.
The school’s Sixth Form provision has enjoyed a phenomenal amount both academically and in a wide range of other areas. Perhaps more importantly however is each pupil at Rydal Penrhos leaves with a sense of belonging, friendships that will stand the test of time and fully ready for whatever challenges lie ahead.
But what makes Rydal Penrhos Sixth Form truly great?
Examination Results
Despite last year being a difficult one due to COVID-19, Year 13 pupils still managed to produce some exceptional examination results that ended up being the best in the school’s history. This was a just reward for not only the hard work each recent leaver put into their studies, but Rydal Penrhos’ shift to focus more on academia during a critical stage of learning for its Sixth Form pupils.
Grades compared to National Averages:
A*-A grades
A*-B grades
A*-C grades
A*-D grades
Information provided by the Welsh Independent Schools Council.
Value-Added Scores
To “Add Value” means a school can significantly influence a child’s performance through such a high standard of teaching that the projected outcome is improved and therefore they achieve much better grades than they would have done at an average school (i.e. the national average).
At A Level our score is 0.5 this means for every ten subjects taken, five of them (i.e. half) have come out with higher grades than forecast.
This has meant for example that over the 51 Year 13 pupils who recently left, 100 additional ‘A’ grades were achieved.
Diverse A Level Options
These superb examination results come from a wide and varied A Level and Cambridge Technical curriculum at Rydal Penrhos that caters to almost any potential career path.
These options give our pupils a more in-depth avenue into what ignites their passion, something that is proven to bring the best out of them both in the classroom and during independent study.
University Preparation
Preparing for University can be a daunting prospect, but this is a pressure we look to relieve at Rydal Penrhos by giving Sixth Form pupils every possible tool needed during the UCAS application and decision-making process.
With specific lessons regarding applications, assessment and potential University destinations that best suit their potential career paths, Sixth Formers are given plenty of useful information before coming to their own conclusions.
Small Class Sizes at Rydal Penrhos
No pupil slips through the net.
Another thing that sets Rydal Penrhos Sixth Form apart is focusing on the individual. This is done with small class sizes that provide them with extra attention during each phase of their A Level studies.
This is something the school takes a great deal of pride in and also builds special bonds between teaching staff and Sixth Form pupils, who go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure their goals and aspirations are met.
Rydal Penrhos has a pupil to teacher ratio of 1:9
A Thorough Timetable
At Rydal Penrhos, a typical Sixth Form pupil has 24 weekly academic lessons a week. This gives them the best possible chance to get the most out of their education and ensure they are fully prepared for examinations, assessment and coursework during their A Level subjects.
Extra Academic Clinics
For those seeking more study time relating to their modules of choice, Rydal Penrhos offers additional academic clinics after school hours. Sixth Formers can brush up on specific elements of their subjects and get even more time with our incredible teaching staff, who are always happy to help at any time.
Leadership Opportunities
Every Sixth Former at Rydal Penrhos also gets the chance to improve leadership skills with various opportunities available. Whether it be Head Boy/Girl, the Senior Prefect Team, within various Sixth Form committees or mentoring younger members of the school community as a Peer Mentor, there is plenty of chances for Year 12 and 13 to become strong role models and add to their University applications to set them apart.
Extra-Curricular Options
Rydal Penrhos’ rich academic provision is enhanced by extra-curricular options, which include sport, sailing, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, additional qualifications in Music and a thriving Speech and Drama programme among others.
This caters to almost any interest and is known to develop key areas such as confidence, problem-solving, communication and co-ordination that might not necessarily be gained from the classroom.
Social Events
In normal circumstances, the school also holds a number of social events throughout the academic year that are arranged by Sixth Formers. This enables them to socialise, build friendships and acquire a sense of calm during what is a stressful time with studies and next stage planning.