SPONSORED FEATURE
For students approaching the end of Year 11, deciding what comes next is one of the biggest choices of their school lives.
At Hornsea School and Language College, its sixth form – increasingly known as HS6 – aims to make that transition as supportive and ambitious as possible, helping students not only achieve academically but also work out where they want to go next, and what they need to do to get there.
Former students have shown just how far that journey can lead, progressing to Russell Group universities, opportunities in the United States and travel in South East Asia, while others have chosen to build their futures closer to home.
For Rachael Williams, head of sixth form, the aim is to make HS6 a “springboard rather than a safety net”.
“We’re hoping to build resilient people who are able to walk into the next stage of their lives with confidence,” she said. “We’ve got a fantastic secondary and everyone’s really proud of it, but we’ve also got the sixth form where the journey isn’t over.
“There’s life in Hornsea and there’s life beyond Hornsea, and I think we can help build those aspirations here.”
That is particularly important at 16, when young people are gaining greater independence and making decisions that could shape their future education and careers. For those growing up in a coastal community, HS6 also sees an important role in helping students look beyond their immediate surroundings and understand the opportunities open to them.
“We are unapologetically ambitious for your future. We are going to relentlessly pursue the future that you want.”
A major part of that approach is the size of the sixth form. With 153 students currently across Years 12 and 13, students are not simply another face in a large institution. Smaller classes in many subjects allow for more seminar-style learning, closer relationships with teachers and quicker support if somebody is struggling.
“You’re more than known to your teachers,” said Rachael (pictured above). “You get more one-to-one time with the experts. It’s almost like a concierge-style service in building your future self. No one falls through the cracks.”
That individual support begins before students have chosen their courses. Rather than simply asking which subjects they enjoy, HS6 works with them to consider where different combinations could lead, what opportunities they might open and how they fit with longer-term ambitions.
“We want to reverse-engineer what they want out of life. We’re focusing on the end result and working backwards from there.”
Students can also follow bespoke pathways in areas including medicine, STEM, education, sport and law, giving them opportunities to meet professionals, gain experience and develop a clearer understanding of potential careers.
Careers adviser Nichola Ashton works closely with students exploring university, apprenticeships and employment, including highly competitive degree apprenticeships.
For HS6, the emphasis is not on pushing every student towards the same destination, but making sure they understand the options available and have the confidence to choose the route that is right for them.
“You don’t need to be going to a big college elsewhere. We can provide those same opportunities here in Hornsea.”
Academic success is only part of the picture. Weekly mentoring and coaching sessions are designed to help students navigate the pressures of becoming young adults, make realistic decisions and develop the confidence and resilience needed beyond school.
“We offer real-world coaching and mentoring. Part of our job is helping them filter out all that noise and understand what they need to do to get where they want to be.”
That wider focus on personal development also runs through sixth form life. This year, Years 12 and 13 were taken off timetable for an HS6 freshers’ day, with health, wellness and wellbeing activities alongside opportunities to build relationships with fellow students and staff.
Sessions included fitness, arts and crafts, body balance and a sound bath, while the sixth form common room has also undergone a makeover this year, creating a refreshed social space for students.
HS6 is being presented as a new era for Hornsea’s sixth form, building on its academic strengths while placing greater emphasis on enrichment, personal development and preparation for life after school.
“We’ve always been a good sixth form and we’ve always been a safe bet,” Rachael said. “But what makes HS6 unique is that whole holistic experience – the academia, the enrichment, the personal development and what you get out of being an HS6 student.
“Where you can go from this small seaside town is endless. We want our students to understand that.
“We’re hoping to build resilient people who then be able to walk into the next stage of their lives with confidence.”
HS6 will hold its open evening on Wednesday, October 21, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm when there will be two sessions. It will give prospective students and their families the chance to hear from staff, meet subject teams and find out more about sixth form life.
Places should be booked through Eventbrite, with bookings closing at 3.30pm on Tuesday, October 20.
