Sutton High Sixth Form – September Highlights

 We are beyond thrilled to be starting this academic year in our brand new Sixth Form Centre! On the first day of term the Sixth Form were treated to hot chocolate and cookies as they explored the new space and their excitement was palpable. As we near half term, and are settling into routines, it is wonderful to see all of the different spaces in the building being used so well.

On the first floor, students and staff alike are making the most of Café 1884 and Andrea’s wonderful coffee-making skills throughout the day! The first floor social space continues ouside the café with sofas and low tables where our Sixth Form can relax and have some much-needed down-time at different points during the day. This space is surrounded by classrooms and seminar rooms for the sixth Form subjects, meaning the girls rarely have to travel far to get to their next lesson (which we are sure will be even more appreciated as winter draws nearer).

Then, as we move up to the second floor the space becomes quieter, with a focus on independent study and specialised teaching spaces for Art, Photography, EPQ and Languages. Again there are lots of different options for students to find a place for studying that works for them, including a large silent study room with the facilities for making hot drinks – which will help keep them going as their exams near!

We are eagerly anticipating the completion of the outdoor spaces, including our balconies and outdoor furniture, which we know are going to be the icing on the cake for our Sixth Formers!

Fiercely Towards the Future

On 24 September we held our Sixth Form Open Evening where Year 11 students and their families, both from Sutton High and other local schools, came to see and hear what belonging to the Sutton High Sixth Form community is really like.

The evening provided a wonderful opportunity to showcase everything that makes Sutton High Sixth Form such a special place to study, grow and prepare for the future. Families heard from Head of Sixth Form, Mrs Harvey, who spoke about the school’s commitment to helping every student achieve her individual ambitions and reflected on the personalised support and guidance that underpin the Sixth Form experience. Visitors also heard about about the breadth of opportunities available beyond the classroom. From the innovative Fiercely Beyond programme to leadership roles, careers guidance, enrichment activities and educational visits.

As well as hearing from Mrs Harvey, Mrs Dawson and Miss Hatchwell, we were joined by recent Alumni Rosie Kennedy and Gabby Ofo. You can watch an extract from their heartfelt and inspirational speeches here:

Rosie Kennedy’s Speech

Gabby Ofo’s Speech

Throughout the evening we were also able to highlight the strengths of the Sutton High Sixth Form community, as well as being given the opportunity to explore the new Sixth Form Centre and meet current students, whose enthusiasm and experiences brought the evening to life.

Fiercely Prepared

As part of Sutton High’s Fiercely Beyond enrichment programme, Year 13 students have taken part in an empowering and practical self-defence workshop led by Era Culverwell, a GDST alumna from Howells School. This was our first opportunity to really put the new Sixth Form Centre to the test and we opened up the whole of the middle floor to make a large, open space for the students to use – and it was perfect!

The session equipped students with valuable techniques to help them stay safe as they prepare for greater independence beyond school. Through hands-on demonstrations and practical advice, students developed an understanding of how to respond confidently in challenging situations and learned skills that they can carry with them into the future.

The impact of the workshop was reflected in the students’ feedback. Many commented on how informative and empowering they found the session, with one student noting that it had “educated us on how to defend ourselves now and in the future as we become more independent as young women.” Others highlighted the confidence they gained, describing the workshop as both reassuring and highly relevant to real life, and felt that the session had left them feeling “much safer about going out as a teenage girl in the future.”

Eira’s workshop was practical, fun and definitely took Year 13 out of their comfort zone! It was a powerful example of the aims of the Fiercely Beyond enrichment programme: providing students with practical skills, confidence and resilience as they prepare for life beyond Sutton High. We are grateful to Eira for sharing her expertise and inspiring our students with knowledge that will empower them for years to come, although we hope they never have to use what they have learnt.