You are approaching two of the most important years of your life. Your sixth form studies will prepare you for study at university or to find interesting work. At GEMS Bolitho School you will be able to take the International Baccalaureate, a broad course that prepares you for entrance to universities around the world. The course provides a lively and demanding curriculum that involves you in the study of six subjects within an international framework.
Recognised as a hallmark of academic excellence by every university in the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States of America, the IB synthesises intellectual rigour with lifelong experiences. Its worldwide reputation, in academic and business circles alike, opens advantages and opportunities over more parochial qualifications. Its status as a “Gold Standard” qualification is recognised by universities world wide.
Several benefits accrue from you continuing your education beyond the age of sixteen. The more qualifications you have, the wider the range of employment opportunities which are open to you. It is far easier to obtain qualifications when one is young; it is not so easy to return to full-time study after a substantial break. Part-time study in addition to a full-time job is onerous in the extreme. There are also many advantages in following a sixth form course of study in the school attended up to the age of sixteen.
Familiarity and continuity are beneficial to the majority of students, who work best in surroundings known to them. You will also have the guidance and advice of teachers who you know, and who know you, and an established circle of friends. The Bolitho Sixth Form based at Clarence House, is a busy, lively community, full of fun and laughter. In this environment settling into the community is an effortless process.
Your success in the future will depend on your confidence to make the most of your abilities. In his play, Torquato Tasso, Goethe tells us “Talent develops in quiet places, character in the current of the world.”
There are opportunities to become involved in a whole range of activities from performing on stage to European work experience, and from sports to community service. You will also find quiet places in Clarence House and the main school site to study and to discuss important issues with fellow students and staff.
In this new millennium, you will be excited at the prospect of living and working in a world that is becoming ever more accessible. GEMS Bolitho School Sixth Form gives an opportunity for young people from several countries to study and socialise together. This provides tremendous opportunities for broadening cultural horizons, increasing understanding and challenging preconceptions. This is a unique experience that will prepare you to be a citizen of the world. It will help you to enjoy putting into practice concepts like mutual understanding and working in harmony with others - key abilities for future leaders in an international community.
Conservationists tell us that we have to think globally and act locally. At GEMS Bolitho School, you will have opportunities to take responsibility for the school’s service in the community and to show that you can provide leadership and contribute to a team. The international character of the school has far reaching implications for you as a student and extends far beyond just making friends with people from other countries. We aim to place learning within a broader context and you will have the chance to participate in projects that extend far beyond traditional language exchanges. This will include the opportunity to undertake work experience abroad, participation in European Socrates and Comenius programmes, and educational and cultural visits to our partner schools abroad.
All of these things complement your academic studies and make life fun. They also help you to develop your character and your talents, so that you develop a strong sense of who you are and what you stand for. At GEMS Bolitho School you will find that your views are respected and that your contribution is valued. Our sixth form students value the tremendous support and expertise offered by their teachers and we all share a very strong sense of being part of a caring and friendly community. We are in an excellent position to nurture your particular talents and abilities. We want excellent achievement for all our students no matter what path they choose to follow.
If you are prepared to challenge yourself to the full and if the chance to learn in an international environment excites you, as it excites us, then GEMS Bolitho School Sixth Form is the place for you!
SIXTH FORM ACCOMMODATION
The Sixth Form is now housed in its own self-contained accommodation at Clarence House, a short walk from the main site. A superb, newly renovated former Bolitho family home, Clarence House provides first class study and recreation areas. All the classrooms are covered by a wireless network and equipped with the latest technology and each student is provided with a laptop on arrival. There is a library, university information area, rooms to study and relax, locker area, and kitchen and toilet facilities. Clarence House is a short walk from the main site and situated close to the main town and its facilities.
Sixth Form boarders live in two single-sex boarding houses situated off campus, five minutes walk from school. While the House Parents are always available to offer advice and guidance, there is a level of independence built into the lifestyle of a Sixth Form student that is somewhat different to living on the main campus. Both the school campus and the Sixth Form houses are almost completely covered by a wireless network and have Broadband Internet access.