Here at Streatham and Clapham Sixth Form, we like to think that we provide students with a varied and relevant educational experience, which extends beyond the confines of their chosen subjects. We see students develop greater self-confidence and skills, which enable them to take their place in adult society.

Continuity
For those considering entering the Sixth Form from our own Year 11, enormous advantage is gained by the continuity of learning and familiarity with the School and staff. Since Curriculum 2000, the time constraints on AS and A2 level courses are tough and there is no time to waste with settling in and becoming comfortable in a new learning environment. Specialist subject staff at SCHS are aware of the needs of each of our present Year 11 students and they will be in a position to offer fully informed advice about course selection and to give students all the advice and the learning support necessary from the very start of a course. This ensures that the knowledge and expertise gained at SCHS at Key Stage 4 is fully utilised and built on from day one. Our value-added statistics speak for themselves.

In addition for those entering SCHS Sixth Form from other schools, there is the reassurance of knowing that they will not be alone, but that they are few enough in number to enable provision of the special individual attention required in the first few days of term.

Equal Opportunity
Being a member of the Girls Day School Trust ensures an excellent all-rounded, broad education especially for girls. Every individual is valued and expected to aim high; she is encouraged to give of her best in our inclusive, culturally rich and diverse community and all within a supportive and friendly environment.

A wide range of courses
The courses on offer to students in SCHS Sixth Form are updated each year to provide the most appropriate experience for their future lives. As well as offering a broad range of conventional AS and A2 courses and the occasional short GCSE course, students are also able to study specific subjects like Law, Psychology and Sociology using distance learning video-conferencing opportunities.

Careers
We are able to offer our students the benefits of expert on-site careers and higher education advice. Our careers department has the "Investor in Careers" quality assurance accreditation.

Pastoral Care and Tutoring
The pastoral care offered to all students has its strengths in the fact that we are small and flexible enough, to be able to treat students as individuals and also to offer a wide range of courses. Regular day-to-day contact with form tutors and the availability of subject staff means that additional support and advice are given within a truly caring environment.

Each Sixth Form student is allocated a Personal Tutor in a small tutor group, who is always available to discuss academic and other issues, and to help guide future choices. The tutor, together with the Head, Deputy and Head of Sixth Form, will also monitor progress throughout the Sixth Form and act as a channel of communication between School and parents. Our programme is designed to meet the specific needs of the '16-19 age group', to encourage them towards independent learning and to deal with issues in a mature and open style favoured by universities.

The main focus will be on working either individually or in small groups with the Personal Tutor, to discuss areas of concern. This includes issues such as study skills, time planning and management, or detailed discussions on how to write personal statements and fill in UCAS application forms.

The flexible academic programme is intended to be responsive to students' needs. We have mainly separate programmes for Year 12 and Year 13 students in order to cater specifically for their differing needs, although the two Year groups may come together for some AS subjects and other events in which they share a common interest.

Planners
The use of planners means that students are able to begin the process of taking greater responsibility for their own learning by logging their homework and targeting work schedules. These diaries together with the student Sixth Form handbook are used evidence students' progress for students and tutors to constantly monitor and assess the effectiveness of private and home study.

Regular contact with home
Frequent communication between staff and the School inform parents of progress throughout the duration of the Sixth Form; there are two parents' evenings in each year group and in addition there are two detailed reports in December and March. There is also a higher education information evening for parents towards the end of the Year 12.

Exclusive facilities
Students have the use of a Common Room (with its own equipped kitchen area and extremely popular vending machine) for relaxation. The Common Room also has a pool table and stereo. There is a choice of seminar rooms, as well as a room set up with video conferencing, distance learning facilities and PCs with Internet access.

The Sixth Form Committee
Through their own committee the students run the Sixth Form Centre, fund-raise for charities in general and also for their own Sixth Form fund. They produce a Yearbook, chair the School Council, and provide a huge range of services for both the wider School and local community. They, together with House Captains arrange regular sporting challenges with staff.

Our expectations of you
Life in the Sixth Form offers many opportunities and challenges. We demand a positive attitude from all Sixth Form students. The greatest challenge of all is to successfully combine the greater freedom of Sixth Form life with the greater responsibilities this inevitably brings. Students are expected to take responsibility for their own work, to prepare thoroughly for their lessons and to read widely around their chosen subjects, without the continuous supervision of teaching staff. To enable this, students' timetables provide periods of private study. Students may choose how and where to spend this time i.e. in the Library, in the Sixth Form Centre, or elsewhere in the School.

Responsibilities and Duties
Students are expected to take a lead in different aspects of school life. There are many opportunities for Sixth Formers to make a positive contribution to School and at the same time develop skills of leadership, decision-making and teamwork. The Head Girl's message, the Year in the Sixth Form and the alternative web page (coming soon), all illustrate that life in the Sixth Form is very different from that lower down in School.

Trips and visits
The GDST offers a variety of scholarships to help fund individual student projects and plans. More information is available on the School Trips page of our site.