Wyedean School and Sixth Form Centre

Stretch and Challenge for All

Our comprehensive ethos means that we are passionate about stretching and challenging all students regardless of ability and background. Some of the ways in which students are encouraged to push themselves include Academic Tutorials, the Extended Project, TEFL courses, the 15/10 Society and links with Oxbridge; details of which follow below:

More Able Policy

Please click HERE to download the More Able Policy.

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is self-guided, self-disciplined thinking which attempts to reason at the highest level of quality in a fair-minded way. People who think critically consistently attempt to live rationally, reasonably, empathically. They are keenly aware of the inherently flawed nature of human thinking when left unchecked. They strive to diminish the power of their egocentric and sociocentric tendencies. They use the intellectual tools that critical thinking offers – concepts and principles that enable them to analyze, assess, and improve thinking. They work diligently to develop the intellectual virtues of intellectual integrity, intellectual humility, intellectual civility, intellectual empathy, intellectual sense of justice and confidence in reason.  

The unexamined life is not worth living, because they realize that many unexamined lives together result in an uncritical, unjust, dangerous world.

The group meets in the principal’s study one day a week to be challenged and to challenge in a constructive respectful dialogue and had enough of the false dichotomies and binary positions that have come to dominate discussion and debate on all global, national and local issues. All students need is a lively interest in the World, the willingness to debate, listen and to be prepared to accept your view point may change as a result of being able to think about issues more critically.

Extended Project Qualification

As another way of stretching our students, Wyedean Sixth Form also delivers the WJEC Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). The EPQ requires students to pick a topic of their choice and either write a 5,000 word essay on that topic, or produce a smaller essay and artefact related to it, like a photography project or short film. The EPQ topics can be related to any particular interest. Students last year produced a diverse range of work including essays on the French Revolution, Orwell’s 1984, women’s contribution to mathematics and whether the Football Word Cup has benefited Brazil.

Each student undertaking the project has a personal tutor and one lesson a week in addition to their independent research. The EPQ is placed in every option column so that all students have the opportunity to undertake the qualification alongside their other subjects. It is graded in the same way as A levels, is worth UCAS points and is highly regarded by university tutors as it provides a good grounding in research, writing extended essays and working with less supervision.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language at Wyedean

Wyedean Sixth Form is delighted to offer a two day course in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) alongside studying A-levels. The qualification costs £164 and is delivered at the school itself. The course runs in July and provides a wonderful opportunity for our students to gain an extra qualification and prepare themselves for the possibility of earning whilst travelling. 

 

15/10 Society

The 15/10 Society was created to offer specialised support and tutoring for those seeking to attend the most prestigious universities and competitive courses. Such students require extensive levels of extra- and super-curricular experiences to draw upon to discuss in their personal statements and interviews. Many of our students have very high aspirations but become intimidated by the application process or under-sell their experiences and skills. It is our job to ensure that such students are stretched, challenged and fully prepared to embark upon their chosen path. The 15/10 Society is also suitable for those students who wish to stretch and challenge themselves academically and to develop their skills of analysis and critical thinking.

Who should join? Students who are aiming for outstanding results in all areas: mainly A*- A at GCSE and straight As at A-level. It is probable that such students are intending to apply to Oxford or Cambridge and/or medicine, veterinary science or dentistry.

Links With Oxbridge

Our Sixth Form is fortunate to be attached to Lady Margaret Hall College, at Oxford University. The college provides support with applications, informal advice and arranges visits in the summer term for students who are interested in applying to Oxbridge.