| Sixth Form
Our Sixth Form Open Evening for prospective Year 12 students starting in September 2024 took place on 17th January 2024. Over 1000 visitors attended and had the chance to tour the facilities and talk to staff and current students about their aspirations for Post 16 education at Denbigh. If you were not able to attend or did attend and would like more information about our Sixth Form then please read on.
Our Sixth Form is an integral part of Denbigh School which is a member of the Denbigh Alliance Trust. The Trust’s core values of ‘Care, Education and Opportunity’ for young people is reflected in our Sixth Form. It is our ambition as a Sixth Form to provide excellent care for our students so that they can achieve their potential. We believe that when you look after your students and staff, everything is possible. This must be underpinned by a first-class educational experience where, within a culture of continuous learning, we all strive to do our very best, whatever the challenges. Lastly, we believe that providing opportunities beyond the classroom enables our students to see the relevance of what they are studying and start to explore where their journey will take them after Denbigh. The opportunities that we provide throughout the Sixth Form are both inspirational and enriching.
Virtual School Tour
Join us for a virtual tour of our wonderful school. Visit each of our faculty areas and take a look at our outstanding Sixth Form study and social facilities, including their very own Cafe Pronto. Take a virtual walk down our Street where students dine and socialise before moving outside to see our outdoor facilities and sports pitches.
Faculties
Please take some time to explore our different faculties areas by clicking on the respective link below. Each faculty has a dedicated page on our school website that introduces the faculty, an opportunity to explore the Schemes of Learning for the subject, and the Enrichment Opportunities offered by the faculty.
| Business & Computing | Creative Arts | Design & Technology | English & Media |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business | Art | Fashion & Textiles | English Literature |
| Computer Science | Art & Textile Design | Product Design | English Lang & Literature |
| Economics | Music | Media Studies | |
| CTEC Technical in Business | Music Technology | ||
| Theatre Studies |
| Humanities | Mathematics | Languages | PE & Football Academy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | Core Mathematics | French | BTEC Sport |
| History | Further Mathematics | German | Physical Education |
| Philosophy & Ethics | Mathematics | Spanish |
| Science | Social Science |
|---|---|
| Biology | Health & Social Care |
| Chemistry | Psychology |
| Physics | Sociology |
Sixth Form Pastoral Support
Mentoring in the Sixth Form
Denbigh is proud that every Sixth Form student is mentored regularly on a one-to-one basis. Every effort is taken to pair students with a mentor who teaches at least one of the subject areas in each student’s timetable. The Sixth Form Mentor provides guidance to their mentee in the one-to-one meetings with regard to their academic progress, university or apprenticeship plans. Mentoring will also address the emotional challenges faced by Sixth Form students. We believe that the pastoral support we provide is vital in supporting the mental and physically well-being of all of our students.
In addition to the one-to-one sessions, the student will also have two compulsory 30 minute group mentoring sessions per week. In these mentoring sessions, we focus on the A-Level mindset which will aim to support and develop the student’s commitment, motivation and productivity. Mentors will help the students look at aspects of prioritisation, planning for progress, general study skills, and effective revision. The mentoring process allows the mentor to get to know and understand the student. As a result, the mentor will become the student’s best advocate and be in a position to advise them as they plan for their future. Successful mentoring will lead the student to become a confident independent learner.
Student Experience
Denbigh Sixth Form attracts students from a number of local secondary schools in and around Milton Keynes. One of the features that we are particularly proud of is the experience that all students go through when they arrive at Denbigh School, whether they are external or internal students. As the video will demonstrate, the support available through mentoring and the wider Sixth Form community provides an excellent experience for students transferring from other schools. The Denbigh experience is about more than just a focus on academic excellence, it is very much about developing the whole person. The opportunities in sport, the arts and wider leadership roles all contribute to the student experience. Denbigh Sixth Form is concerned with preparing our students for their lives post A-Levels, whether that is at University, in an apprenticeship or in a career. These experiences, available to all, will provide an excellent grounding on which to make the next steps in the students’ lives.
We provide all of our students with the opportunity to sample A-Level lessons in subjects that they are interested in. For our current Denbigh Year 11 students, we ran a Futures Day in October and then, in July, there will be two Induction Days where all students who have a conditional offer of a Sixth Form place at Denbigh are invited in to experience all aspects of being a Sixth Former at our school.
Football Academy
Denbigh’s Football Academy was established in 1999 meaning that it is the most established provider of football education in Milton Keynes. We offer students a two-year challenging, but flexible, Level 3 course which is the equivalent of two A-Levels. There is also the opportunity to take an additional A-Level for those students with appropriate GCSE scores. Academy students also develop their footballing skills and learn how to coach young people. Academy graduates go on to a variety of pathways, both academic and vocational. Alumni have gone on to complete university courses at leading institutions, whilst others have taken up successful positions in disciplines such as sports coaching, physiotherapy and sports analysis.
Our Academy works in partnership with the Milton Keynes Dons Sport & Education Trust (SET) which allows Academy students the opportunity to train and compete in a high-performance environment at the MK Dons and gives boys from the MK Dons Talent Pathway access to Denbigh’s first class education offer.
Careers
We have a strong Careers team at Denbigh School, ensuring that students get the right support, advice and careers education to prepare them for their next step.
Careers education is delivered through the following means:
- Mentoring sessions
- Personal guidance with our independent Careers Adviser
- Careers Week
- Year 12 Work Experience
UCAS and Apprenticeships
Every year, approximately 75% of Denbigh students apply to University. All applications take place through the UCAS website and students are provided with extensive guidance and support to help them through this process. UCAS also provides information and the means of applying for apprenticeships.
The UCAS process officially starts in school in July of Year 12. However, it is never too early to start looking and doing some research and wider reading about university courses and careers. There is a wealth of experience in the Sixth Form Pastoral Team to guide students through all aspects of the application process, including supporting those students who aspire to become doctors and/or apply to Oxford or Cambridge University.
For those students who are considering an apprenticeship or going straight into a career then support is also provided. Through mentoring sessions and our Post-18 Futures Day, the Sixth Form Team work closely with the school’s Careers Advisor to provide students with comprehensive advice and guidance on apprenticeships and employment opportunities. Employers from a wide range of businesses are also invited into the Sixth Form Centre to talk to the students and provide them with information relating to their specific sectors.
To support UCAS and apprenticeship applications, we also draw on the contributions of the Denbigh Alumni, with ex-students making regular visits throughout the year to speak to our Sixth Formers about their choices and experiences. During our Post-18 Futures Day, the Alumni provide more specific guidance about the UCAS and apprenticeship processes and talk to our students about how they made their choices and provide guidance about things to consider.
Enrichment
All students in Year 12 will be expected to choose one enrichment activity alongside their A-Levels. This will be a regular timetabled session of one hour a week and will, in the most parts, lead to a specific qualification. However, it is about more than achieving that qualification. It is the chance to take up an activity that students might not have considered before in order to acquire new skills and experiences.
Enrichment activities are covered in more detail in the video, but some of the more popular choices include the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), the Sports Leader Award and Cooking. Choices are made during the first couple of weeks in September, with students making three choices based on order of preference. Every effort is made to provide students with their first choice activity but this cannot be guaranteed.
Our students compete in local and national challenges and competitions, as we believe competing against their peers in this way improves their subject knowledge and self-confidence. They perform superbly and regularly reach regional and national finals. Our students also successfully compete in National Olympiads in subjects such as Science, Maths, Geography, Business and Modern Languages.
We help and support students who wish to gain work placements to support their Higher Education applications or future career plans. Our students have gained valuable experience in scientific research establishments through the Nuffield Bursary Scheme; have taken part in the Sutton Trust Summer School Programme to prepare for university life and undertaken MedLink courses. Students have also undertaken work placements with MK City Council’s Town Planning Department through the Royal Town Planning Institute’s ‘Explore Programme’. Our students have sampled life at Oxford and Cambridge through shadowing schemes such as the ‘Inspiring Excellence Programme’.
We value the development of social skills and offer a wide variety of extra-curricular opportunities. Students can experience the trip of a lifetime through our World Challenge Programme, which, over the years, has allowed students to visit Malaysia, Tanzania, India, Peru, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and China. Our most recent expedition was to Ecuador, where our students trekked in the Andes Mountains and worked on a marine conservation project. We are a Licensing Centre for the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and support every student who wishes to take part in this popular national award scheme.
There is a strong sporting ethos in our Sixth Form and students represent the School in local, regional and national competitions. We also support those students who are regionally or nationally ranked in their sporting fields in combining their studies with their training schedules. Sixth Form students take a leading role in many of the School’s Creative Arts activities and productions, and they can join our popular Debating Society that discusses current ethical issues and enters local and national debating competitions. There are a number of exciting opportunities for Sixth Formers to mentor and read with younger students, both at Denbigh and in our partner middle schools.
There are also opportunities for students to participate in a variety of community projects through the House and School Council or through the Sixth Form Committee.
