Our day

Grab a coffee from the Benedict Building Cafe to fuel up for the day ahead or take advantage of one of our cosy study spaces to catch up on some reading before lessons begin.

Registration is an important time for you to check in with your form tutor. Relationships between students and teachers are relaxed, respectful and collaborative, having your learning and interests at heart.

Weekly, you will attend both a whole school assembly and a Sixth Form assembly. Additionally, you will have weekly opportunities for one-to-one time with your form tutor, as well as house meetings and time to reflect in Chapel.

Academic life in St Helen’s Sixth Form is challenging – and all the more rewarding for it. With 24 subjects on offer and the option to supplement your studies with one or two options from our St Katharine’s Study programme, you will be spoilt for choice. You will have the opportunity to create a bespoke programme of study. Most A levels are taught in eight 40-minute periods in the week, all by subject specialists.

In between study, relax, recharge and catch up with friends in the large Sixth Form common room or step outside to enjoy the peace of the Sixth Form garden, or grab a snack in the Benedict Building café.

You will have lessons which you can allocate to individual study. Many of our students choose to pursue an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) – supporting skills development crucial for higher education and enabling you to develop an enquiry which complements or contrasts your A level studies.

Lunch is more than just a meal. Of course, there is plenty of variety when it comes to the food in our Refectory – from the salad bar to the dessert table, as well as at least three meal choices (including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options). But it’s also a time to take advantage of the many clubs and societies on offer. Have an idea for a new club? Starting and running a club is a fantastic leadership opportunity for our senior students.

Beyond

At St Helen’s, your studies will stretch far beyond the classroom to make your Sixth Form experience as rich and rewarding as it could possibly be.

Throughout Lower Sixth, all students commit to either community or school service based on their particular interested. There are numerous leadership opportunities to prepare you for life beyond school including becoming a prefect, training to be a peer mentor or joining the School Council.

You will have a double Personal Development (PD) lesson each week. Our PD programme covers a broad range of topics, including health and well-being, relationships and living in wider world.

Our Futures programme prepares you for life after school. Whether hearing from Cambridge admissions tutors or taking part in subject-specific personal statement workshops, our higher education programme will ensure you’ve made excellent choices for your future that are just right for you.

In Sixth Form, there is a great sense of independence and personal responsibility. Freedoms such as independent study periods, home clothes, an early afternoon a week or the chance to pop into Abingdon during lunch breaks are highly valued and help to shape your Sixth Form experience.

Whether carrying out an experiment in the science lab, debating in the Politics classroom or devising an original performance in Drama, the last two lessons will be sure to end your day on a high note.

Every week you will take part in our Friday PE programme, choosing from options including yoga, golf, dance and climbing and, of course, team sports such as netball, football and lacrosse.

Our Beyond extracurricular programme offers a wide range of opportunities to pursue your individual interests. Whether you’re interested in team sports, taking the lead in the latest Senior Drama production or joining the Debate Club there is space for competitive aspirations, individual ambitions and more low-key enjoyment of non-classroom activities.

There are also plenty of opportunities for academic enrichment including lectures from specialist speakers, debates, field trips, theatre visits, business and work experience and much more.