Sixth Form (Years 12-13)

Life in Sixth Form

Life in the Sixth Form is all about developing the independence necessary to be successful and the mindset to forge your own path through adult life. 

Our model is built around the 4 pillars of Pangbourne - Academic Rigour, Adventure & Exploration, Community and Leadership. 

Academic Rigour

The Sixth Form experience at Pangbourne is first and foremost about securing great outcomes and ensuring all students secure their destination of choice from Oxbridge to Medicine to studying abroad. We offer a broad subject choice of 22 A Level and BTEC options alongside the EPQ. All our Sixth Form lessons are taught by subject experts, and we have a weekly training programme for all teachers to ensure they are continually improving and enhancing their craft. 

For full details of all subjects available, view our Guide to Choosing Subjects at Sixth Form

Adventure & Exploration

Great grades alone are not enough, and we have a dedicated super-curricular programme to ensure Pangbournians stand out from the crowd. This ranges from CCF and Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award through to a bespoke careers programme and visiting speakers. 

Alongside the acquisition of an adventurous mindset Sixth Form students have access to a world class sport programme. We have specialist sports staff coaching our Performance Sports and recent Olympic Gold Medallist and international athletes ensure we are at the cutting edge of sport provision and athlete development. 

Community

Sixth Form study can be a pressurised environment, and we have built a model that ensures our students are supported to grow and develop. Every student in the Sixth Form has a personalised tutor programme and small group tutorial model. This ensures they are known as an individual and can receive bespoke and tailored careers and UCAS support. 

We also want to enable Sixth Formers at Pangbourne to develop the autonomy and mastery necessary to live a purposeful life and so they have access to their own Sixth Form Centre, staffed by a dedicated pastoral team. This helps them to learn how to manage their own time, plan to meet deadlines and decide when to relax and when to work hard. 

Leadership

Pangbournians are known for their leadership skill and life in the Sixth Form is designed to ensure our students leave us with the skills and mindset to be a force for good. Our leadership model means that Sixth Form student leaders (Chief Cadets in our naval language) have real and meaningful leadership roles. Our leadership model is so respected that His Majesty The King awards a Gold Medal to our Head Boy and Head Girl (Chief Cadet Captains of the College) every year on our Founders’ Day. 

Co-curricular - Beyond the classroom

To nurture our students interests as well as building their confidence and skills, we offer a wider range of opportunities in the Sixth Form. Students participate in weekly sporting activities as part of their timetable alongside opportunities to do CCF, Duke of Edinburgh Award and a range of activities such as clay pigeon shooting, golf, classic car club and indoor climbing.  At the end of their first year of Sixth Form, there is also the opportunity for a small group of students to travel to Nabugabo in Uganda, to raise funds and undertake volunteer work.

We also have a strong pastoral focus across the College and have a well-established Peer Mentoring Programme in which students can participate.  It is important for our Sixth Form students to not only support one another, but also those in the younger years. There are also opportunities to demonstrate leadership and responsibility during parade practices and inter-divisional competitions.

In preparing our students for life beyond Pangbourne, there are strong Tutorial, General Studies, and HE and Careers programmes that help to support and develop our students over their two years of Sixth Form.  They will be guided through the process of applying for universities (in the UK and abroad), apprenticeships and preparing for gap years.  Whilst also learning life skills such as car maintenance and basic cooking skills to survive at university!  They will also be taught how to develop a growth mindset, revise effectively, write a CV, prep for interviews etc. along with ensuring that they have the tools to look after their own mental health.