Sixth Form

The Leighton Park Sixth Form combines the best academic progress in Berkshire with the country's leading provision for student personal development, all within a empowering and supportive learning environment and set in 65 acres of beautiful parkland

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The academic progress made by our Sixth Formers makes us the top performing school in Berkshire, and puts us in the top 1% of schools in England. Our students gain an average of 0.6 of a grade placing the School in the top ‘Well Above Average’ category.

Our A Level students achieved 74% A*/B last year, making us the joint best performing Independent School in Reading. Find out more about our A Level Programme.

Our International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) students gained an average score 33.3 points out of 45, and achieved highly impressive university places.

In recent years, our students have gone on to Oxbridge, medical degrees, art colleges, music conservatoires and many leading UK and international universities. Whichever direction you want to go, we’ll help you take the first steps towards your future. Click the arrow above to find out more about the Leighton Park Sixth Form.

Learn more about our students' academic success +
Anna Sixth Form outdoors

Moving to Sixth Form

We like to think that our Sixth Form is different to most. We’ll do all we can to encourage and support your goals, but we’ll also give you a certain amount of freedom to do it your way. This makes us a bit more like a university campus – and it works, with our students achieving some of the very best academic progress in England.

Students are given close support by their academic tutors, with our tutor groups smaller than most schools and students seeing their tutors three times every day.

See our academic case studies +
Students in the library

Sixth Form at a glance
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Click on the image to meet some of new Sixth Form joiners this year.

Leavers' Destinations 2022 +
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New Lower Sixth students

A stunning new Sixth Form Study Centre
Take a look +

Our new Sixth Form Study Centre and School Library will develop an historic building designed by one of the UK’s most celebrated Victorian architects, Alfred Waterhouse, and infuse it with beautiful study spaces and cutting-edge learning technology.

Our students already achieve the best academic progress in Berkshire – so we’re excited to see what they can do when they have a brand-new study centre, with every detail designed to support their success.

Find out more +
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Grove architect's drawing

Why choose the IB Diploma Programme?

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is an excellent programme for students who love learning and whose interests span across the academic spectrum. It also suits students who don’t want to narrow their options down at this stage.

  • Two year academic programme
  • Study six subjects, three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level, with 24 choices
  • Includes a Theory of Knowledge module and an extended essay
  • Get points from all your subjects and co-curricular options
  • International outlook in subjects like History, English and Psychology
  • More emphasis on course work and interdisciplinary study
  • Highly valued by universities with 97% of admissions officers rating it the best preparation for university
  • The IB Diploma is highly regarded internationally.

Find out more about the IB Diploma Programme

 

Why choose A Levels?

A Levels are ideal if you excel in particular subjects and want to focus on these.

  • Two year academic programme
  • Students study three subjects in depth and can choose from 18 options
  • Exceptional students may be able to study four A Levels with agreement from the Head of Sixth Form
  • Students are strongly encouraged to stretch themselves with the Extended Project Qualification
  • Subjects are predominantly assessed by exams
  • Students need to develop good time management skills to use study periods effectively
  • A Levels are highly regarded internationally.

Find out more about the A Level programme

Sixth Form course finder

Use this course finder to explore the different options available at Leighton Park in the Sixth Form and see details of each subject’s syllabus. Alternatively, you can browse all our courses our Sixth Form prospectus.

Subjects do change over time and courses will usually only  run if there are at least five students in the class.

 

Browse our courses

Or view all subjects +

Want to apply?

We’re a selective Sixth Form, so you’ll need:

  • A minimum of five GCSEs at Level 6 or higher
  • A minimum of Level 7 at GCSE in any subject you wish to study at A Level or Higher Level on the IB Diploma
  • A minimum of Level 8 at GCSE to study A Level Further Mathematics or Higher Level Mathematics
  • A satisfactory reference from your current school
  • An interview, even if you’re already studying with us.

Find out how to make an application

Changemaker programme

Our aim is to form young people of real character and confidence, with a determined desire to change the world. And there are plenty of Old Leightonians doing just that. Our Changemaker Programme brings you the benefit of their experiences and gives you the skills to make a real difference. Our programme focuses on leadership, critical thinking, creative problem solving and understanding and appreciating difference.

Developing leadership skills

Programmes include:

  • Find out about our Sixth Form Changemakers programme
  • Aspiring High programme with pathways for applications to Oxbridge, Medicine, Law and Overseas universities
  • Leadership roles, such as a Prefect, Head of House, Peer Mentor, Student Council
  • Prefect and student leadership opportunities, including representing the School at events and to visitors
  • Literacy Changemakers programme supporting literacy in local primary schools
  • Sports Leaders Programme, coaching youth teams and teaching Key Stage 2 students to swim
  • Student-led co-curricular clubs, including our Amnesty International Club, GSA and Anti-bullying Ambassadors or our student-led charity – Amicus
  • University visits to Oxford, London and specialist institutions to meet former students who now study there
  • Sports and Languages International trips
  • Africa trip to visit community partners in Uganda and Tanzania
  • JBH public speaking competition.
Ahmer Adnan smiling

“Sixth form at LP is a truly unique experience. In the classroom, teachers push you to your academic limits and provide support to develop you beyond them, fuelling a life long passion for your subjects and helping you achieve to the best of your ability. We are encouraged to think ‘outside the box’, beyond the syllabus and research topics of interest. Not only does LP develop you academically but also as a person.”

Ahmer | A*, A*, A*, A AT A LEVEL WITH AN A* EPQ | MEDICINE, IMPERIAL COLLEGE

Sixth Form subject videos
Take a look +

Sixth Form at Leighton Park is all about you. You’re able to choose between A Levels or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and there are also a lot of subject choices in each programme. Our course finder lets you search or browse our different subjects and these videos let you learn more – straight from our teachers and students.

Our Psychology video is featured here but click the link below to see more.

See all our subject videos +
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Claire Gulliver, Head of Psychology

See what our Sixth Form students think

Head shot of Millie

MILLIE

42 POINTS AT IB | ENGLISH AND FRENCH, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

“Leighton Park is a rarity, and gave me an insane and maybe ill-founded confidence in goodness… I am endlessly grateful for the friends I’ve met in the past five years.”
See more case studies +
Antonia at Old School

Antonia

43 points at IB | Medicine, a university in Germany

"Being at Leighton Park school has helped me grow as a person in so many ways. At Leighton Park school everybody is accepted for who they are and gets supported in every possible way to achieve their goals. I will always remember those two wonderful years at Leighton Park school and the awesome community who supported me in every situation.“
See more case studies +
Shaun Uppal headshot

Shaun

A*, A, A at A Level | Politics and International Relations, UCL

“I like the relaxed atmosphere of the school, where I can fully express my personality and grow as a person. No other school that I know offers such diverse activities and such incredible trips and I am forever grateful that my parents are able to send me to a school like Leighton Park."
See more case studies +
Head shot of Nikki Wilson

Nikki

A*, A*, A at A Level - Music, Royal Northern College of Music

“What I really think makes Leighton Park different is that every single student’s individual experience can be tailored for what they love and what they are interested in. Everyone on the Park was so friendly and welcoming when I first joined."
See more case studies +

related articles

March 23, 2023

JBH Speech Competition 2023 +

The Jonathan Backhouse Hodgkin (JBH) Speech Competition is one of the school’s longest running annual events with a history of almost 110 years. Described as “a night of rhetorical mayhem!” … Read More +

March 22, 2023

Insights into Mandarin for Primary School Pupils +

Four of our Mandarin students visited Farley Hill Primary School in March with Mandarin teacher, Lan Worrall, to support pupils at the upper end of their KS2 education with an … Read More +

March 13, 2023

St George’s Park: Experiencing Life as a Pro Athlete +

On Friday 10th March, Leighton Park’s Sports Scholars had the unrivalled opportunity to experience life as a pro athlete, when they set foot on St George’s Park, home to England’s … Read More +

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