The Sixth Form
As you work towards your GCSE examinations, you will inevitably be thinking ‘what next?’. Perhaps your school does not have a Sixth Form, perhaps you would like a change - a fresh start for your A Level courses - either way, St Mary’s Calne has a great deal to offer you.
Firstly, if you are looking for a school to study for your A levels, you need to know about our examination results. At A Level this year, 75% of the A Level examinations taken by St Mary’s Calne girls were awarded A*-A grades, with an impressive 36% at A*. Nine pupils – just under a fifth of the year group – scored three or more A*s in their A Levels, with over half of the UVI Form achieving all A*-A grades.
Secondly, you will want to know about our leavers’ university destinations. This year, ten girls (one fifth of the year group) won a place at Oxford or Cambridge, with three girls also securing prestigious Choral Scholarships. Girls also won places at other top universities, including Edinburgh, Durham, Bristol, Exeter, King’s College, London, Manchester, Leeds, and specialist colleges such as the Courtauld Institute, and at Art Schools in the UK and Europe.
St Mary’s Calne has a strong Sixth Form of just over 100. There is a dedicated intake at 16+ - so you would not be starting on your own - and our current girls are always eager to welcome newcomers.
We are an all-girls’ school and this has many advantages. Girls have been shown to do better academically when educated separately. Girls are also more likely to take up subjects seen as traditionally ‘male’ and do better in them too. Moreover, there are fewer distractions in the classroom (!), no competing against each other for male attention and you are free to really be yourself and pursue your interests – every opportunity will be open to you.
‘Moving here was initially daunting, moving from my friends, from a mixed school, gave me fears of girls being…let’s just say girls. Luckily it would seem that I have landed myself in the nicest school around…I’m so glad I came here, I’ve had some of the best moments of my life here and have made lifelong friends that I shall never forget or lose contact with.’
Moreover, you would not lack for a social life. As well as the chance to take part in activities and trips as a year group or with the rest of the school, we have great links with boys’ schools, including Eton, Radley, Winchester and so on, and run many events and socials with them.
As for living accommodation…
‘In the Sixth Form Centre, you have the freedom to cook yourself weekend suppers. With an ensuite bathroom there’s always a shower free and you can roll out of bed for breakfast in your pyjamas. University life has a lot to live up to!’
As a Sixth Former, you have more independence but are still an integral part of the school. Everyone has a leadership role as part of the Head Girl’s Team, taking on responsibilities across all areas of school, from supporting academic staff and working with the younger girls in their Boarding Houses, to running clubs and activities and leading the school council, depending on your talents and interests.
Like the rest of the school, the Sixth Form also benefit from St Mary’s outstanding pastoral care. St Mary’s focuses on each individual girl and it would be fair to say that no two Sixth Formers have the same timetable as they are created around what you want to do as opposed to trying to fit a pre-existing mould. Academic and House Staff are always on-hand, and you have a Director of Study to guide you through your work and extra-curricular activities and help with the all-important UCAS applications! There is also the opportunity to take part in dedicated Oxbridge preparation sessions and our careers advice is excellent. St Mary’s prepares you fully for life beyond Calne, not just for examinations.
We would be delighted if you would like to come and have a look around and meet some of our current girls. We have open days every term which can be booked by clicking the ‘Open Day’ tab on the menu, or give us a call on 01249 857206 and we will arrange an individual appointment for you.
