The Sixth Form at RSD is at the heart of the school community. It is in the Sixth Form that the relationship between pupils and staff blossoms fully into a sense of working together for a common purpose. You will be joining a community of young men and women who are well-supported by staff but also expected to become more independent, accepting responsibility for their own learning.
That sense of self-awareness and taking charge of your own learning and future also plays out on a wider scale. Sixth Formers are expected to play the role of organiser and leader across many areas of school life. Obvious examples include the teams of Prefects and House officials who oversee a host of school events but there are many others, such as the Safer School Team which leads on areas such e-safety, anti-bullying and mental health. You can become involved in charities work; show your entrepreneurial flare through the Young Enterprise scheme; debate in competitions; work on engineering projects with industry; or work in the community, such as at Sperrinview Special School; and stretch yourself to the limit in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. And don’t forget the many sports teams, clubs and societies you can join or help to lead, or the creative talents you can pour onto the stage through music and drama.
Life in the Sixth Form is in some ways similar to being a pupil lower down the school but there are also key differences. One of the biggest changes is that in studying three or four AS Levels in Year 13 and (usually) three A Levels in Year 14, pupils find themselves with ‘free’ periods. Making use of that time is crucial and Sixth Formers are expected to work independently and to show initiative in prioritising what to study and the resources to use. The RSD Library, the Murray Study and the Sixth Form Centre all provide private study facilities and a range of books, journals and computers to help. Sixth Formers can also spend some of their ‘free’ periods in the Sixth Form Centre, relaxing with a cup of tea or coffee, socialising with friends and (a Sixth Form privilege) use their phone. It is also a good venue for getting together to plan the next big school event, such as the Formal, or to organise teams, clubs and House activities.
The curriculum in the Sixth Form is very broad, with around 25 subjects on offer. Some are traditional academic subjects whilst others are more practical or vocational in nature. Whatever subjects you are interested in choosing, you will receive lots of support from Careers staff, helping you to choose the subject combinations which work for you and keep your options open for university and future career paths. Around 95% of RSD pupils go on to university, including Oxford and Cambridge and the high performing Russell Group universities such as Queen’s University Belfast. A number of pupils also enter the newer universities, including Ulster University, to take courses which are often contemporary in focus and attractive to employers. For others, the highly respected apprenticeship schemes offered by some businesses are the way to go. Whatever you see as your future, RSD staff will support you in reaching your goals.
The classroom experience in RSD Sixth Form is all about having a passion for your subject. The teachers are all subject-specialists and they will push you to explore topics and to go beyond the examination syllabus. You will be expected to work with others, to build your core knowledge and, eventually, to be able to operate independently. Many subjects will also offer visits to academic conferences, competitions to enter and fieldwork trips; and some will organise trips to Dublin and London and even overseas, such as to Rome, Paris and Madrid. By the end of the year you will be well-educated in your subjects and also well-prepared for your examinations, sitting AS modules at the end of Year 13 and completing A Levels at the end of Year 14. Each year, RSD pupils score highly at A Level with grades ABB long-established as the average outcome.
If you choose to join RSD’s Sixth Form, then you will be joining a school that has been helping pupils to fulfil their potential for over 400 years. Traditions are cherished but we are also a school committed to looking forward and embracing new opportunities. The personal development of young people is our focus and we encourage each pupil to learn about their favourite subjects, to find out about the world around them and to learn something about themselves. We hope that you choose to join us and that you make RSD your school. You will have a unique part to play in its great story.
Dr. David Burnett, Headmaster.
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