A student’s view
“St Richard Reynolds Sixth Form is a supportive, friendly, and academically stimulating environment that has shaped and guided me throughout my A level studies and in becoming the person that I want to be. The teaching and support students receive are a product of the personal relationships fostered and developed between teachers and students. These relationships make for a dynamic learning environment and a meaningful attachment to the school and its values. In the classroom, students are encouraged and engaged by their teachers, who care deeply about their academic potential and pastoral development. This combination makes for successful results, and happy students. The Sixth Form Study Room is a place of tranquility and calm during lesson time whilst also serving as a place to socialise with friends at break times, a balance of which I found to be particularly important throughout the exam period and Year 13 more broadly.
St Richard Reynolds instils values of hard work and academic pursuit but also, simply, kindness and humility. These are the principles I will carry with me into the next stage with confidence no matter what challenges lie ahead.”
An average week
- School day runs from 8:30am – 3:00pm
- Year 12 – 10 hours per subject per fortnight
- Year 13 – 11 hours per subject per fortnight
- Supervised study periods – 10 hours per fortnight
- Independent study in the Sixth Form Study Room, LRC, café or at home
- One period of Personal Development (see below)
- One period of Core RE (link)
- One period of Service (link)
- Tutor time
- Lunch periods can be taken off-site
PD (Personal Development)
We pride ourselves on the strength of the working relationships we have with our students. In the Sixth Form, we develop and celebrate our young people as individuals as well as students. We know that students are not the finished article when they arrive with us in Year 12 and provide numerous opportunities to practise, reflect on and develop the skills which are important to university admissions teams and employers and help us to develop into the people that God created us to be.
Part of this is our PD programme which dedicates one period a week to activities as wide ranging as:
- Social sport
- Team building
- Effective study skills
- Student-led societies
- Trips and visits
- External speakers – charities, university finance departments,local youth services and police, mental health and well-being
- UCAS and apprenticeship application preparation
This programme evolves all the time so that we are able to respond to students’ needs. We know that each year group is different.
Tutor Time
All Sixth Form students are part of a tutor group and receive individual support from their tutor for their academic and pastoral needs. Attendance to tutor time sessions is compulsory for all our students.
Sixth Form Facilities
Our Sixth Form Study Rooms have been designed with A Level studies in mind. It is a flexible study space with a number of PCs and workstations, moveable desks and chairs, wi-fi to enable students to bring their own devices and a social area for relaxation when time permits. There is also a balcony with a living wall and outside seating for the exclusive use of the Sixth Form. Students are also able to use the LRC and Sixth Form Café for more informal study options.
Students can buy food on site from our Sixth Form Café 10am-12pm each day. There is a range of hot and cold food options available. Our menu is reviewed according to student preferences on a regular basis.
Our exclusive Sixth Form Silent Study is designed to provide sixth form students with a quiet, distraction-free environment dedicated to focused learning. It’s the perfect space for independent study, revision, and completing assignments without interruption. In a world filled with distractions, this room allows you to concentrate, think deeply, and engage with your studies at your own pace. Whether you’re preparing for exams or working on projects, the Silent Study Room supports a calm atmosphere, ideal for maximising productivity and helping you achieve academic success.
Dress Code
Our students always look the part and we take pride in our relatively formal dress code – we know that this contributes to our positive working atmosphere and prepares our students for life as a professional.
Extra-curricular Activities
The College offers a range of extra-curricular activities depending on the interests and talents of the students and many of these are led by the students themselves. These include:
College Newspaper – the Reynolds Review
Music – various choirs, orchestras and bands
Art – daily drop in sessions at lunch times and fortnightly skills workshops alongside staff
Sport – daily social sport in the Sports Hall with regular training sessions for competitive sport
Theatre trips – varies each year but highlights so far include Dear Evan Hansen and Matilda
International Trips – Barcelona 2024, Paris 2024, Seville 2022, Lourdes 2019
Leavers’ Ball to celebrate all of the hard work in the build up to A Levels.
