This next Headteacher’s blog comes courtesy of Noulla, one of our wonderful new Y12’s who started Sixth Form with us this September & was written to be released in late November – we wanted to share this with you all ahead of Sheffield Progress applications opening on December 1st to give you a bit of an insight into what you might expect from High Storrs.
Hi, my name is Noulla and I’m currently studying A Levels in French, English Language and Modern History. If I was to sum up the first half term of sixth form in one word, it would have to be ‘overwhelming’ – but not necessarily in a bad way. It’s true that A Levels are much more academically rigorous and demanding than GCSEs, but the past 7 weeks of school have been about so much more than that.
Firstly, the transition to sixth form has allowed me to meet and make friends with so many new people. All the sixth formers at High Storrs, including previous students and those who are completely new to the school, are so friendly; it’s been really easy to talk to people. There are so many new students that it genuinely doesn’t matter if you attended High Storrs before or not. I’ve made friends with new students, but I’ve also found myself making friends with people I never spoke to before in lower school.
In terms of adapting to a new system of learning, the difference between external and previous students is basically non-existent. Everyone has to make the same jump from GCSEs to A Levels, start new courses, and adjust to the different style of work and new routines, so you’re all in the same position. And while this switch does seem daunting at first, you absolutely get used to it, just as you would get used to anything else. It only appears intimidating because it’s completely new. I will admit that the workload is intense and can feel overwhelming at times, but if you work hard during study periods and develop efficient time management skills from the beginning, you will be able tomanage your workload much more easily. The pace of A Levels is much quicker, but in some ways more approachable, thanks to the flexibility that you are awarded. Most
importantly, choosing subjects that you have true passion for will mean that the work feels worthwhile.
I cannot overstate how enjoyable it has been to begin studying my A Levels. Each subject offers me something unique and fascinating, from the challenging grammar of French to the power dynamics involved in the English language, to the politics of postwar Britain. I absolutely love the freedom we have as students to pursue aspects of the curriculum that we find interesting, and we are also given lots of direction from staff in
terms of independent learning. Each of my teachers has so much passion for their subject and for teaching, something that has really made every lesson engaging and exciting. Additionally, there is a lot of support available within school both from teachers and pastoral care that has made the transition feel much less stressful.
Overall, I have found the transition into sixth form challenging but enjoyable. The work is fascinating and there are also so many opportunities to have fun, especially when it comes to spending time with friends. High Storrs is such a lovely school environment; I absolutely love being a student here and would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone currently making sixth form decisions.