Our Year 10 students got a taste of post-GCSE life during a visit to Springwood High School Sixth Form in Lynn.

Around 350 students from four different Trust high schools attended the Sixth Form Experience Day, including Springwood itself, along with Marshland, St Clement’s, and Smithdon.

Nicky Thompson is Head of Year 13 and Careers Lead at Springwood, and organised the event with Head of Year 12 Luke Rawling, as well as hosting a welcome talk and question-and-answer session, and leading taster sessions for A-Level Business Studies.

“It was an opportunity for students to experience a day in the life of a sixth former,” she said. “ Students had a welcome talk from the SIxth Form Team, then had over 30 subjects to choose from for A-Level taster sessions. Each student took part in three different sample A-Level lessons of their choosing, and they then took part in a question-and-answer session with the Sixth Form Ambassadors.

“Throughout the day, they were able to use the dedicated Sixth Form spaces, including the Hub social area, the Cabin cafe, and the Study Area.”

She continued: “Students really enjoyed seeing what a typical day looks like for a sixth former – and our amazing Student Ambassador team was a real highlight.

“They were very good at explaining to Year 10s that the freedoms of being a sixth former, like not wearing a uniform and being able to leave the site during the day, are great, but A-Levels are hard work, and you need to be organised and use your free time wisely for independent study.”

The annual event took place ahead of the students’ post-16 decision making at the start of Year 11.

Miss Thompson added: “Experience Days help students to make informed choices about their futures. Some Springwood students attended a college day at the College of West Anglia instead.

“This is an important part of the decision-making process for the students – they can see if continuing their academic studies at A-Level is right for them, or whether going down a more vocational route at college is more beneficial, depending on their future career aspirations.

“It is also an important part of the school’s recruitment process for the new cohort of sixth formers. Next step is our Opening evening on 10 October, where we welcome back these students and their parents to tour the facilities and ask follow-up questions with subject teachers.”