Students choose SHSG for many reasons but our research suggests that most of all they value the quality of the teaching they receive. As a result we continue to provide nine hours of lessons per fortnight per subject. But the learning does not stop there, sixth form students are actively encouraged to take part in Insight days and academic competitions such as the maths challenge and the Model United Nations event. For those interested in travel there are various sixth form trips including work experience in Germany and visiting CERN and for the most adventurous there is the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and World challenge expeditions to places such as Peru and Vietnam.

Sport, music and drama feature heavily within the rich variety of extra-curricular activities on offer. Whether you would like to play in our orchestra or just participate in the traditional Sixth Form Christmas Pantomime you will find plenty of opportunities to enrich your curriculum.

To help foster and develop the all-important ‘soft skills’ such as teamwork and leadership skills, students are encouraged to take on responsibilities within the school such as, running clubs and societies for the younger members of our school community. In recent years the most infamous has been our Harry Potter Society! Many students choose to become peer tutors or maths angels for the girls in the younger forms or just participate in the sixth form societies such as History reading club, the debating society and the Humanities lecture series. Others are attracted to positions of responsibility on our student leadership team such as the Head Girl Team, Prefects, House Captains and Student councillors.

Students are given help, advice and support by experienced and enthusiastic staff with decisions about Higher Education, Gap Year opportunities and Careers. There are regular visits by Admissions Tutors from a range of universities and students are given expert individual help with writing Personal Statements, completing their UCAS application forms and preparing for interviews. As a result of all of this, Southend High School for Girls’ Sixth Formers leave us feeling confident and enthusiastic about the exciting futures that lie ahead of them.