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Our comprehensive academic and pastoral offerings, combined with an emphasis on life skills and future readiness, ensure that our students leave us as rounded and grounded individuals with the confidence and capabilities to thrive in whatever path they choose. We take a holistic approach to education, where academic success is balanced with personal development. Students are encouraged to engage in a variety of enrichment activities, promoting skills such as leadership, teamwork, and resilience.
This variety means you can choose the subjects you love and that will best equip you with the knowledge and qualifications you need for a happy future. You will have access to a highly professional and supportive careers programme, which will give guidance to match your skills and interests to your options.
You will have the freedom to drive your own learning, to manage your own free time, and to establish your own balance of studies, activities, socialising and relaxing.
Outside lessons, you will have the choice to study in the café culture of Stamford, spending time in our spaces or making the most of the focus and inspiration afforded by our study spaces.
You will have all the support you need to take your next steps, but you will have the independence to make your own choices. We respect your views and opinions, and will help you to find the right track as you navigate the challenges that life will throw at you.
Sixth Form is about far more than just achieving the qualifications that unlock your next steps in life. Complete an Extended Project Qualification in a topic of your choosing, or take part in the Community Sports Leader Award.
The aim is to help students achieve their full academic potential by addressing individual needs and fostering a supportive learning environment. Students are encouraged to manage their own time, to make appointments with their individual tutors and work in a more flexible way to study, whilst remaining in the structured setting of a school environment. We hope that offering a unique, flexible, and varied programme to our students will ensure their time at Stamford is valuable, life affirming and enjoyable.
Our study mentor is a full-time, non-teaching member of the academic team. This role has been created to build a better link with the library and study spaces to change from a book heavy space to an online, modern, interactive space where students can learn new skills in how to study. Our study mentor is on hand to encourage independent learning, intellectual curiosity and prepare students for life after school.
The St Martin’s space has been carefully designed to offer spacious classrooms, a TED style lecture theatre, common rooms and a student café along with the dining hall and atrium breakout areas. Students are advised how to collaborate in different rooms – silent, individual study, breakout rooms or meeting rooms to learn about office or university culture, and interactive large open spaces including use of the TED theatre for debate and discussions. This environment helps prepare students for life after school, mirroring the workplace and university. We understand that not everyone learns in the same way, in the same environment, so giving options gives students a variety in choice.
Funneling down from a broad range of subjects at GCSE, we understand that moving to a narrower range of subject choices can often limit breadth. We want our scientists to still have a passion for literature; we know our language students still need numeracy skills for adult life when managing money for the first time; and we also still need to have fun, relax, and unwind.
Stamford Sixth Form offers a variety of taught short courses for Year 12 students, designed to complement the main curriculum and provide students with additional learning opportunities. These courses are aimed at enhancing students' skills and knowledge in specific areas, often focusing on practical and applied learning.
Example Courses:
The Stamford Futures Programme is an integral part of the Stamford Sixth Form experience, designed to provide comprehensive support and guidance to students as they prepare for their post-secondary education and career paths. The programme offers a range of resources and activities aimed at helping students make informed decisions about their futures.
We recognise that students may need additional academic support and guidance in their learning, regardless of whether they have a related diagnosis or not. The aim of our Learning Development team is to help boost self-esteem and build academic competence so that students can become confident, independent learners able to achieve their full potential.
Our Learning Development team has a wealth of experience, and the team includes a lead SENCO and a Deputy SENCO, as well as a number of Learning Development Assistants who work with students throughout the school. This means we can closely tailor the support we offer to the requirements of our students and provide various levels of support according to need. This may include Learning Development Assistant’s delivering ‘live time’ support in lessons, students attending weekly small group literacy, numeracy or study skills interventions, or students having a slightly reduced timetable with Learning Development lessons becoming part of their curriculum.
We also collaborate closely with subject teachers and academic departments to identify students who may benefit from support with their studies. We would also encourage parents to get in touch with the SENCO or Deputy SENCO if they have any concerns about their child’s learning needs.
We believe that building resilience is the pathway to academic success for students who face challenges with learning, so we focus on promoting self-esteem as well as developing academic competency when working with individuals or small groups. Students are encouraged to focus their attention on the effort and progress they are making in the knowledge that these key ingredients determine successful outcomes.
Enthusiasm and brave experimentation are at the heart of what we do.
Our excellent tutor system and pastoral care programme understands the challenges you face. We can provide sensible, practical and relevant help and support.
Navigating friendships and relationships, learning the life skills and the communication techniques that will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life and underpin your wellbeing, will be part of your daily learning.
