PUBLISHED 05 December 2019
With unparalleled academic results, world-class character education and investment in personal development, AKS provides a springboard for life. The question for our students is not where they go, but how far.
Unparalleled academic results
Our track record of results is unparalleled in the region, in both state and independent sectors. Over the past five years, 51 per cent of GCSE exams taken at AKS were awarded grades 9-7/A*; 60 per cent of all A-level grades have been A*, A or B, with over a third being awarded A*/A.
Our students consistently win places on competitive university courses or on higher apprenticeship schemes. This year, several students are going on to study medicine at a range of Russell Group universities, whilst others will read biology, computer science, psychology and music at universities such as Sheffield, UCL, Manchester and Leeds. Several of our students have secured competitive degree apprenticeships with employers such as BAE Systems, Deloitte, KPMG and the government. Through the dedicated support and guidance of the sixth form team, the majority of our students secure university offers by the first term in Year 13, which enables them to focus on their studies.
Specialist subjects are taught in small tutorial-sized groups, combined with private study periods which give students the flexibility to manage their workload. We work closely with every student to the create personalised SMART goals which makes them active stakeholders in their own success.
World-Class Character Education
However, we don’t define success in purely academic terms - we take character and competency development just as seriously and utilise our membership in the prestigious global network of Round Square schools to do so. Employers want prospective employees to demonstrate interpersonal and higher-order cognitive skills. We prepare our students by supporting them to develop twenty-first century competencies such as critical thinking, creativity and adaptability; to build their team and leadership skills, and to develop a social conscience. This rounded development has resulted in our longstanding success with initiatives like the Tycoon Enterprise competition. Our ‘Bottle Boutique’ team was the latest to win this national competition at Buckingham Palace in 2019.
Leadership Opportunities
Sixth Form students can take advantage of a range of leadership opportunities, benefitting from our through-school structure. The diverse opportunities include being a reading mentor for prep school pupils, participating in our school council, or undertaking a variety of leadership roles through sport, performing arts or through our house system, Round Square and charitable initiatives as well as prefects and head students. In addition, we encourage students to identify and lead projects which they are passionate about, such as Vent, our student support service and the initiation of our new digital leadership roles.
Broadening Horizons
We offer a diverse range of sports, from rugby, hockey, netball, athletics and cricket through to handball, table tennis, football, basketball and many more. Our success is reflected in students playing at County and National level for a wide range of sports. Forthcoming tours include the senior rugby tour to South Africa (2021) and senior hockey tour to Australia (2022). Similarly, recent music tours to Italy and New York have further extended the cultural horizons of our students, and next year’s music tour to Germany (2020) will be no exception. Our strong performing arts community gives our sixth formers the opportunity to take leading roles in our frequent concerts and sell-out shows at Lowther Pavilion. In recent years our students have also attended international conferences with other Round Square schools in India, Canada and South Africa. The conference in 2020 will be held in Australia.
Independence and Personal Responsibility
Our students’ growing independence and increased personal responsibility is reflected in the daily life of our Sixth Form, where sessions in time management and private study techniques give them the confidence to effectively manage their own time. This includes having the choice to go off-site at lunchtime, work from home in afternoon free periods and to use the gym and local swimming pool in games sessions. Students are empowered, have a voice and are engaged in decisions that affect them, both as individuals and as a community. Our revised sixth form dress code reflects the modern business environment and demonstrates the academic and professional ambitions we have for our students.
Scholarships available for September 2020: Academic, Art, Drama, Music, Sport
To find out more, please contact us to arrange a visit or to register for our Sixth Form Taster Day for entry in September 2020: admissions@akslytham.com or 01253 784104.