Tailored pathways that prepare for university and beyond.
Sixth Form at Barney inspires ambitious learning, personal growth, and independence through small classes, expert teaching, and real-world enrichment.
In the Sixth Form, we want each student to attend to their learning with a deep-rooted desire to learn and explore their chosen subjects; to broaden their thinking about themselves and the world, and to understand their potential to make a difference. We encourage them to study with ambition and enthusiasm, to speak with growing confidence and conviction, and to face the world with a passion to play their part.
Sixth Form classes are smaller, attention is individual and lessons increasingly like university seminars, taught by passionate subject specialists. Whilst maintaining a supportive structure of monitoring and guidance, we gradually devolve greater responsibility for learning to our students in order to equip them with the right skills and disciplines sought by leading universities and the workplace. Examination courses are supported by fieldwork, theatre visits and study trips, and tutors are on hand to advise on any aspect of academic and personal life.
Our academically robust curriculum offers students subjects which are assessed as either traditional A Levels or BTEC and CTEC courses. Students also have the option to take the rigorous, research-based Extended Project Qualification, which is highly prized by leading universities since it demands a degree of independence and intellectual maturity beyond traditional A Levels. AS Levels are now standalone qualifications and no longer contribute to A Levels. Some subjects may be available to AS Level – students should contact the relevant head of department for more information.
Each week, the Sixth Form comes together to welcome an external speaker or a member of the School’s pastoral team for a talk or presentation covering a wide range of topics, including astronomy, addiction, self-regulation, Festival First Aid, setting up a business, and study skills. There is an opportunity to develop these presentations in tutor-based forums throughout the week, as well as each student having 1:1 contact with their tutor.
The Kenneth King Sixth Form Centre
The Kenneth King Sixth Form Centre, our state-of-the-art dedicated study and social facility for Sixth Formers, opened in 2016 and is the hub of life in school for our senior students. Modern and technologically advanced, the centre reflects the ethos of our Sixth Form provision which is to help prepare our students for their futures by providing a professional working environment which encourages collaboration, teamwork and communication while also supporting independence and responsibility among our young adults.
The curriculum here at Barney is certainly a broad one. Studying Maths, Chemistry, Theatre Studies and Spanish, there cannot be a better example of balancing Science and Humanities. Furthermore, I have some one-to-one Spanish conversational lessons, and my other class sizes range from 3 to 12 students, allowing for a unique teacher-pupil relationship. Here at Barney, no matter what subject you study, all the teachers around you go out of their way to ensure you achieve the best you can.
— Year 13 student
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