As the final year of secondary education in Scotland, S6 can be a hard sell for students desperate to enter the worlds of work and further study.
This is particularly true for those who have already obtained the requisite grades for entry into university from S5 exams. “What purpose is there in staying another year?” you hear them ask.
As year head of sixth form - as it is branded at my school - part of my remit lies in providing a meaningful and enriching experience, which bridges the realms of secondary school and the adult world.
Here are the central opportunities, offerings and services that I try to sell to students - and their parents - as the keystones of a positive S6.
The benefits of S6 study
Academic fulfilment
As the school roll narrows in the final year, the curriculum widens to offer more variety. Through crashing Highers in new subjects or specialising through Advanced Higher courses, students can broaden their skillset while deepening previous learning.
Even when students have achieved the entry requirements and received unconditional offers, universities strongly encourage them to commit to S6 studies, as students with good S6 results tend to find the and attain better degrees.
Clearly the academic possibilities available in S6 have consequence and value.
Leadership roles and responsibilities
A successful application to be school captain can return fulfilling and long-lasting experiences. Creating a pupil leadership team, with roles and responsibilities for all, is a vital part of injecting a sense of camaraderie into an S6 cohort.
There are myriad procedures through which schools can make captaincy appointments and award suitable individual roles, including staff surveys, ballots and formal interviews. The latter obviously generates important experience of answering questions strategically - a skill that students will need when seeking employment.
Enrichment and life skills
A common criticism of Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence, and of the secondary experience in general, is that it does not prepare students with sufficient skills for life. In S6, when the timetable is often reduced, there are clear opportunities for young people to engage with extracurricular workshops and industry expertise.
For example, in my school we offer enrichment opportunities such as inviting driving instructors in for theory and practical sessions, team building outings to Glasgow Climbing Centre, cookery masterclasses to prepare simple and nutritious meals, financial management lectures and giving back to society by registering and volunteering to become blood donors.
Through coordinating a varied selection of outings and input from visitors, we can foster those transitions from school life to the adult world.
Voluntary and charitable duties
Forging partnerships and establishing routine are key elements in retaining pace and purpose in S6. My school has implemented a fruitful relationship with a local primary: senior students visit on a weekly basis to support teachers in delivering lessons to children with a range of additional support needs.
I have been struck by the sense of pride and ownership that S6 students demonstrate in relation to this. They travel independently to the campus and communicate maturely with staff, and have maintained incredibly low levels of absence from these sessions. They have shared that they “love” their volunteering work while finding the process enlightening and rewarding.
S6 students also have the opportunity to come up with and run charity events within our own school community, thereby continuing to develop their appreciation of service and duty towards others.
Privileges
One key element of a successful S6 is that it should feel different from other year groups. These young people are staying on at school willingly, when many of their peers have moved on, and they therefore want to feel recognition for that.
Within reason, we are keen to treat them as young adults and valued contributors to the leadership culture across the school. Consequently, they have access to an exclusive common room, with facilities such as a kettle, toaster and fridge.
And end-of-term events - such as the summer prom, a valedictory lunch and a final assembly - are given over to S6 students to arrange, so that they can celebrate their achievements and experiences with their friends, their families and the rest of the school community.
Alan Gillespie is principal teacher of English at Fernhill School, an independent school near Glasgow
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