Our next blog comes from Erin, one of our Year 12 students. Erin was also one of over 100 Sixth Formers who helped at our Sixth Form Open Evening on 6 November.
We are looking forward to receiving applications for Year 12 2026 on Sheffield Progress from 1 December.
Hi, my name is Erin and I’m currently studying A Level in English Language, English Literature and Geography. Despite being at High Storrs for five years prior to joining Sixth Form, when I started Y12 I was met with an entirely new school experience, one which has already begun to open new opportunities for me as a High Storrs pupil.
Firstly, A Levels allow for a greater depth and insight into my subjects. Whether I’m delving into power dynamics in English Language, the structural features of a Shakespeare play in English Literature or the ins and outs of how coasts are formed in Geography, I’m guaranteed to be fully absorbed in my learning. Even when doing homework, which is notably more rigorous than GCSE, I’m engaged with the content, as my subjects are genuinely interesting and fulfilling.
I also love how classroom discussions have become more engaging, often with students using each other’s ideas as springboards for deepening conversations. I’ve started to become immersed in lessons, as everyone there is just as passionate about the subjects as me, resulting in less distractions and productive lessons, which really shape my understanding of the courses.
Then of course, all my teachers – some of which I’ve had before, some of which I’ve not – play an essential part in sparking an interest for my subjects. They engage with me in a personable, friendly manner and are always supportive with any queries and questions I have. They often provide suggestions for independent work, which I’ve found to supplement the work we do in lessons and greatly develop my comprehension of the subjects. This also allows for freedom within the courses and really helps me explore personal areas of interest related to the subjects.
Finally, there have also been many opportunities to volunteer within school, for instance helping out at Open Evenings and taking part in mentoring programs with younger students. These activities have really enabled me to feel part of the High Storrs community and have been nice to take part in away from academic study.
So overall, whilst the transition into Sixth Form has been a challenging step up, the pupils, teachers and staff at High Storrs have really helped to make it an exciting and enjoyable experience. High Storrs is a lovely school to be completing my A Levels in, and I cannot recommend it enough to anyone currently making Sixth Form decisions.