Open evening for new intake coming up soon

On Tuesday September 4th, the doors to Acton High School’s new Sixth Form opened for the first time. Since there are so many other opportunities for students to pursue further education in the local area, we were unsure how many of the students that we had offered a place to would decide to continue their studies with us, but we estimated that we would have about 80 sixth formers on our roll, a typical number in the first year of other Ealing Sixth Forms. So, we were delighted when 114 students turned up on the first day, especially since so many had previously attended Acton High. The decision to continue their education with us makes them excellent role models for the rest of the school.

80% of the students are studying A Levels or other Level 3 courses. We offer over 20 A Level courses to students, and teach most lessons in our own Sixth Form building. Most Sixth Form students are therefore taught away from the main body of the school, unlike many other local schools. We based the Sixth Form in the former home of the Ealing City Learning Centre, which is conveniently situated right next door to the main school building. We are refurbishing and extending the premises during the summer of 2013, ready to house both Year 12 & 13 for the first time in September 2013.

A sign of the buzz of excitement around the Sixth Form has been that we have already been able to attract several high-profile speakers to come in to speak to the students this term. On Friday 9th November, MP Angie Bray visited the Sixth Form to speak to our Government and Politics AS students. This was a lively and extremely interesting session, during which students posed challenging questions on topics that ranged from university tuition fees to the functioning of a coalition government.

As with the rest of Acton High School, the Sixth Form is always looking to develop and improve, and this current academic year promises to be a very exciting one, as we go about recruiting the next Year 12, and planning for the transition of our current students into their crucial second year of Sixth Form. We will continue to provide a wide range of opportunities for students from our Y11 and for students applying to come from other schools, and we welcome applications from any Y11 student living in the local area.

Acton High School’s Sixth Form Open Evening is on Wednesday 21st November, from 6.30pm in the school hall.

Andy Sievewright

Headteacher

Acton High School

12 November 2012