Welcome to Marling Sixth Form

ACHIEVE YOUR POTENTIAL

It’s the best of both worlds. An excellent balance between developing independence and being challenged to achieve your best.

Our students tell us they welcome the academic focus and the support and guidance they receive, as well as the familiar timetable and having regular break and lunch times which are common for all students. Work hard and push yourself in lessons, then relax with a coffee and chat with friends during your break.

Beyond the classroom our sixth form offers you independence, flexibility and its own distinctive campus environment. You’ll find Marling is warm, friendly and welcoming, with a relaxed, informal and inclusive atmosphere: a place where you’re responsible for your own time and managing your academic and social life.

Studying A Levels in the co-educational environment of Marling Sixth Form is the perfect stepping stone between school and the post-18 world.

A TAILORED CURRICULUM TO MATCH YOUR INTERESTS

Whatever you are planning to study, Marling Sixth Form offers an exceptionally broad range of subject choices. More than 30 A Level subjects are available, including 3 language choices and specialist subjects not generally available at other local sixth forms or colleges, such as Music or Music Technology. You can combine this with a range of breadth options such as Gold Duke of Edinburgh, Creative Writing, Classics, Global Perspectives or the EPQ. You’ll be supported by dedicated tutors and experienced A Level subject specialists, all committed to your success. To find out about our full range of A Levels and Breadth Options go to the Curriculum section https://www.marlingsixthform.org/curriculum#subjects-offered

EXCELLENT A LEVEL RESULTS

This year's A Level results were record-breaking and our best ever. 43% of exams were at the highest A*-A grades including 16% at A* which is well above national figures. The percentage of grades at A*-B was 69% and the pass rate was 99%. A large number of students exceeded their predicted grades including 6 students who achieved A* in every subject, 31 students achieved 3 A grade passes or better and nearly a third of students achieving at least 1 A grade. Most students have gone on to secure places at their first choice universities including many of the highly selective universities.

As well as outstanding attainment, Marling is particularly proud of its year on year positive Value Added score which checks if students are making progress. The Value Added measure compares students’ starting points at the beginning of Year 12 with what they achieve at the end of Year 13. The most recent Level 3 VA data ranks Marling as the 14th highest grammar school in the country and in the top 15% of all A Level providers nationally.

The student handbook gives an overview of how things work in Marling Sixth Form – read it to find out about dates, timetables, expectations and procedures.

Please see the current handbook for students entering the sixth form in the 2022/23 academic year. 

For many students, the transition from school to Sixth Form can be challenging. So Marling is committed to offering extensive pastoral care to do as much as possible to ensure the academic and personal well-being of every individual student.

Our Sixth Form team, including our Student Support Worker, Heads of Year 12 & 13, Head of Sixth Form, Form Tutors and Sixth Form staff are always available to help with anything from practical day-to-day issues to academic or personal challenges. Together we offer wide-ranging provision:

• Supporting the successful transition of students from Y11 into the Sixth Form.
• Contributing to students’ personal development as mentors and coaches.
• Providing personalised academic advice and guidance to help students achieve the best results they can.
• Working within school systems for pastoral support and intervention, safeguarding and wellbeing.
• Being the first points of contact for students and families should personal matters affect any student’s learning.

All students are assigned to a Tutor Group, led by a Form Tutor who they will meet twice each day, giving them the opportunity to discuss both academic and pastoral matters.

Every student should feel they have support and someone to turn to for advice and guidance, should they need it.

OUR OUTSTANDING FACILITIES INCLUDE:

• A shared purpose-built Sixth Form block with Lecture Theatre and study rooms
• A shared Sixth Form Café
• A Creative Arts Building with Drama Studio

• Laboratories with university level science equipment
• Music Hall with music studios
• A modern gym and extensive sports fields.

TAKE A TOUR OF OUR SCHOOL BELOW

Becoming a Sixth Former at Marling is not only about achieving good grades - it is also about embracing opportunities that will help students to grow as individuals as well as to develop the kinds of skills that universities and employers are looking for.

Increasingly, competitive universities want students who can demonstrate a real commitment to the subject they intend to study. Students need to show that they have gone beyond what they are taught in the classroom to develop their academic knowledge – this is what’s known as super-curricular.

Our students do this by completing the Marling Diamond programme, which brings together a wide range of super-curricular and extra-curricular clubs and societies, including sport, debating, drama, music, journalism & publishing and an evolving list of student-led activities.

Visit the Curriculum section to find out about Marling Diamond and the opportunities we offer. 

Taking on positions of responsibility is an important part of Sixth Form life and a wide variety of opportunities are available in the Sixth Form for students to develop and demonstrate their communication, presentation and teamwork skills, as well as their leadership potential.

All Sixth Form students are given the chance to apply to take on a role in the student leadership team or the School Council. Our student leaders play an important role in the school as a whole, acting as ambassadors at events, mentoring and guiding younger pupils and helping to run student voice activities.

 Follow this link to find out about our current team of student leaders: https://www.marlingsixthform.org/admissions#buddy-chat

At Marling Sixth Form, we provide tailored support to advise and guide each student through the UCAS/university application process, as well as finding and applying for apprenticeships and full-time employment.

Our University and Careers Programme Includes:

• Individual advice and guidance on UCAS application and writing personal statements
• Dedicated Enrichment Days to learn about application to university and apprenticeships and employment skills
• A bespoke Scholars Programme for students applying to Oxbridge or competitive courses. Read more about our Scholars programme in the Curriculum section of this website.
• Supervised use of the UNIFROG platform to research university and apprenticeship opportunities as well as online courses
• Futures Day – an annual Careers Fair with representatives from over 40 universities, along with local and national employers and gap year organisations. Students have the opportunity to visit the Fair and to attend a range of talks from visiting speakers from across the education and employment sectors.
• Regular careers presentations by industry specialists from a variety of sectors, includingbusiness and enterprise, STEM Careers, Law, Medicine and Financial Services.
• Individual advice and guidance meetings with a careers adviser

 Medics, dentists and vets

We have a well-established MEDSOC for students interested in studying medicine, veterinary science, medicine, nursing or any aspect of biomedical sciences. This is run by students with the support of Dr Warren, Head of Biology. We also run a dedicated support programme for students who want to apply to study medicine, veterinary science or dentistry at university. The programme involves providing advice on UKAT and BMAT preparation, work experience, personal statement writing, university choices and interview preparation. We work closely with the University of Bristol who run workshops for us on writing personal statements and interview preparation. The Biology department also run a very popular 'dissection club' which many prospective medics, vets and dentists attend.

Take a look at the Future Plans Careers and University Guide below, to find out more about the different pathways available after Sixth Form.