Sixth Formers Aspiring High

Jenny Powlesland, Head of Teaching and Learning, runs the Sixth Form Aspiring High programme for our capable and enthusiastic senior students keen to access some of the more competitive options in tertiary education. This year’s Aspiring High cohort includes an Oxford offer, a Cambridge offer and a scholarship for composition at one the country’s leading conservatoires. Whilst the grades for the top universities can be steep, with the right support, our students are on the right track to achieve their dreams.

“The process starts by supporting students to think about what they really want to spend the next three, four or more years of their lives studying. What do they really love doing and what do they want to spend a large proportion of the rest of their lives doing?” explains Jenny. “We support every student in their ambitions, whatever they want to do. We have very specific careers guidance but students’ ambitions are what guides our advice; it’s very personalised. We will go and visit institutions and we’re excited to be back into Open Days now that Covid has moved on, we use our Old Leightonian contacts and work experience advisors, we do practice interviews and have links with other schools too for this. There is a lot of support.”

David, who has accepted his offer of A*AA to study Materials Science at Oxford University commented, “The Aspiring High sessions were really helpful in terms of general personal statement writing and interviews.  Jenny has also arranged teachers from other schools to do mock interviews with students applying to Oxbridge and the feedback I got was very helpful.  The school was extremely professional and efficient when it came to deadlines and exam registrations.”

David continued, “Overall, my experience of Sixth Form life at Leighton Park School is very pleasant.  The school really focuses on our development in more than just academics.  The teachers are kind and willing to give up a lot of their times to deal with questions that students have.  I really feel like that Sixth Formers are treated like grownups here.”