The London Oratory School Sixth Form experience is distinctive in that a greater degree of personal responsibility is assumed, and pupils are supported into this. Moreover, scope is provided for wider conversation and intellectual and cultural exposure, creating opportunities that will ensure pupils are able to move confidently in the world after their departure. Whilst recruiting predominantly from internal pupils, the Sixth Form is open to external applicants, including girls. The latter form an important, integrated element of the School, and have been a much valued part of the Sixth form since its inception in 1970.

Through its offer of a traditional, high currency set of A-levels and its wider curriculum, it aims to promote the intellectual virtues of studiousness and intellectual seriousness. It emphasises exposure to the very best that has been thought, said and done across a diverse range of human experience and endeavour.

Whilst admissions from the Oratory Sixth Form into Oxbridge and other Russell Group universities are fiercely competitive by any measure, with Oxbridge entrance customarily reaching into double figures, and Russell Group entrance hovering around the 75% mark,  pupils also transition successfully on to a wide range of other strong universities and competitive pathways. Whatever the chosen pathway, pupils can be assured of very experienced pastoral, academic and other specialist support. Careers advice in the Sixth Form is exceptionally focused and enables all pupils to have as full an exposure to the wealth of opportunities the world of work can provide, in addition to supporting pupils into discerning where their own individual strengths may lie.

Sixth Form pupils are expected to play a full part in the wider life of the School, especially its House, co-curricular and religious life.  There are plenty of opportunities for meaningful leadership roles through the Senior Prefect positions, where senior staff mentor pupils into the initial challenges of leadership and of taking on responsibility for others.

Whether pupils are joining us as externals, or progressing through to the Sixth Form internally, we provide full support in becoming a fully fledged Sixth Form Oratorian in no time at all!

We strongly believe that education is not just about activities defined by an examination syllabus. Our sixth formers are expected to take advantage of a wide range of opportunities to develop their sporting, cultural and intellectual lives. Through participation in extra-curricular activities, sixth formers develop a variety of skills, ranging from teamwork, time management, leadership and technical proficiency.

Sporting opportunities

The main winter sports are rugby, and netball. We also offer water polo, table tennis, basketball and volleyball, athletics, tennis and cricket. The school has a well- equipped Fitness Centre which pupils, who successfully complete an induction programme, may use before and after school. We offer the opportunity for pupils to take a Community Sports Leadership Award which provides pupils with the skills to supervise and organise sporting events in the wider community.

Activities

We have a well-established Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. Sixth formers new to the school and the scheme would be able to follow the gold award. For pupils who have already completed silver, the gold award is available.

Cultural opportunities

The musical life of the school is extremely rich. There are a wide range of ensembles for pupils to join and to enjoy. Pupils may follow music lessons in any solo instrument or singing. Each term sees one major concert involving more than one hundred performers. We have a number of choirs including a choir for sixth form girls.

We have a purpose-built 300 seat capacity theatre which is not only an excellent concert venue but a stage for memorable dramatic and musical theatre productions where sixth formers play a prominent role. The first term sees a sixth form dramatic production which provides a range of roles both on the stage and in support. The second term sees the sixth form produce a major musical production. For pupils who do not wish to perform on the stage, there are a wide range of backstage roles to play supporting productions.

Other cultural activities

Outside sporting and cultural activities we run a number of different societies where sixth form participation is prominent. These include Science Society, History Society and Literary Society. Outside specific subject-related societies we have the Newman Society which considers ethical and moral issues. All these societies invite speakers to talk to interested pupils providing extra opportunities for pupils to expose themselves to challenging ideas and new perspectives. The quality of visiting speakers is high and the debate stimulated by the visits is rewarding.

We are highly involved in the Model United Nations movement sending award-winning delegations to a number of conferences in the UK and overseas. Pupils learn to view global problems through the eyes of a particular country, digesting key data quickly and developing advocacy skills as well as the softer skills of negotiation and compromise.