Academic study lies at the heart of Sixth Form life but there is a huge amount on offer beyond this. It is the balance of the co-curricular enrichment that makes Sydenham High School such an inspiring place to grow during your Sixth Form years. There are greater responsibilities on offer, as well as freedoms to develop self-motivation and independence.
When you start in Year 12 there is a bespoke induction programme to aid the transition to Sixth Form including welcome events, team building activities, and personalised curriculum meetings.
There is a wide range of educational visits on offer as part of the curriculum but perhaps one of the most special is our biannual trip to our sister school in Nepal, a school that we helped to rebuild after the earthquake in 2015, alongside the charity In Your Hands. Our other biannual trip is to New York, where students can engage in the cultural delights the city has to offer.
You are also actively encouraged to get involved with a number of other activities that are on offer:
– GDST LEAD Enterprise Challenge
– Dulwich College Saturday School
– Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
– School societies such as Literary Society, AfroCaribbean Society and BioMedSoc
– Performing Arts opportunities such as music lessons and productions
– Plato Programme (lectures and talks in and around London).
The importance of maintaining positive mental health, alongside physical health, has never been greater. Our co-curricular programme is split into three strands: Body, Mind and Soul and we encourage pupils to join a variety of clubs each term.
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Sixth Formers have the opportunity to gain their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Combining volunteering, developing a skill and organising an expedition, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award challenges you and helps build resilience, develop team bonds and allows you to give back to the community.
Students are carefully guided and supported by our dedicated DofE coordinator.
Drama
From the Shakespeare for Schools Festival to major school productions, Drama is an integral part of Sixth Form life. You can continue to explore your talent through academic study at A Level or as an extracurricular pursuit. Sixth Form students make up a large number of the performers in school productions, taking on some challenging but rewarding roles as well as leading Drama clubs and House Drama productions.
Music
The Sixth Form plays host to a number of talented musicians who are able to pursue their love for music, either through their academic study at A Level or through their co-curricular commitments. Sixth Form musicians play an active part in school concerts and productions and often perform during assemblies, at lunchtime or after school recitals and other formal events. Sixth Form musicians are very much encouraged to continue with their formal music graded music lessons alongside their A Level studies and will often lead a number of musical events.
Sport
It is a well known fact that sport and exercise improve physical health and wellbeing as well as mental health and achievement. That’s why sport and physical activities are an important part of your Sixth Form life and so that you flourish in your various pursuits. All sixth formers have a timetabled lesson of PE fortnightly.
Rowing is very popular in the Sixth Form students and many hours are dedicated to land training with the ergos in the gym, alongside weekly sessions on the river. Our partnership with Dulwich College means that we have full use of their boathouse facilities and Sydenham High rowers have competed at many regattas.
Netball, hockey and athletics are also popular sports, with the Sixth Form fielding their own teams in these sports. Sixth Formers lead, participate and get involved with our annual dance show, Unity Through Diversity, and will often run other Dance events for younger girls.