Queen's gate Sixth former in the art room

Sixth Form Enrichment

Sixth Form is a time to build on all your experiences to date – to think, to plan and to prepare for life after school. In addition to the academic element in the Sixth Form, we offer a wide range of advantages and opportunities.

Careers

Careers is an essential part of the curriculum in the Sixth Form and during LVI all girls have compulsory careers lessons in which they explore their future options, be that university or art school. In lessons they are given the time and resources to research the different careers that might interest them, Gap Year possibilities, the subjects they might wish to study and the universities or art schools that it might be appropriate for them to attend. During Careers, girls also take the My Future Uni questionnaire which matches their interests and abilities with universities across the UK. In addition, they will be introduced to the UCAS process and start undertaking the independent research needed to write their UCAS personal statement over the summer holidays. As part of LVI Careers, girls can also attend the Oxbridge Programme or work with the US consultants.

Wider World

Wider World is a rolling, two-year enrichment programme of lectures that takes place weekly during the Autumn and Spring Terms.
It is designed to widen the girls’ knowledge of important issues and debates, helping them with topics that may be discussed at their university interviews, and introduce them to university-style lectures.

Speakers have included:

  • Dr Helen Pankhurst, women’s rights activist and author of Deeds Not Words
  • Dame Helena Morrissey DBE, a British financier and campaigner
  • Prof. Lyndon Da Cruz of Moorfields Eye Hospital
  • Penny Marshall from ITN News
  • Comedian Rich Hall

Duke of Edinburgh

The Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award is a fantastic opportunity to take part in physical activity, volunteering and learn and improve skills.

The Gold programme involves:

  • Volunteering for 12 months
  • Doing physical activity and skill, one for 12 months one for six months
  • A residential section (four nights away from home)
  • A practice expedition
  • The qualifying expedition

Inspiring Women Series

Our Inspiring Women series was developed to provide an opportunity for staff, students and members of the local community and other interested parties to hear from women who have been successful within their field.
The diverse range of high-profile speakers has encouraged engagement and discussion, and the series is now a regular and important feature in the Queen’s Gate events calendar.

Speakers have included:

  • Sally Gunnell OBE, athlete
  • TV presenter and vlogger, Venetia Falconer
  • Adventurer, Pip Stewart
  • Film producer, Kate Pakenham

Other Enrichment Opportunities

All girls in Lower Sixth will attend a weekly enrichment tutorial chosen from a variety of different options available.

Available Enrichment

  • Model United Nations (MUN)
  • Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
  • Oxbridge essays and competitions
  • The ARTiculation Prize
  • Logical Reasoning
  • SAT Preparation
  • Becoming a Mental Health Ambassador
  • A history of Europe through European cinema
  • Current Affairs

Outreach

At Queen’s Gate we have a varied programme of community outreach and partnership projects, which provide real benefits for everybody involved.
Examples include our weekly virtual games session for the Kensington and Chelsea AgeUK members with the principal aim of fostering intergenerational contact and combating loneliness and isolation.

We also support the work of the Trussell Trust through our Foodbank Friday initiative where our Sixth Formers organise a weekly collection of non-perishable items from pupils, parents and staff in both the Junior and Senior Schools. They deliver these to the local foodbank and help to organise emergency food parcels for people in crisis.

A recent partnership is a reading project with a local state primary school. Lower Sixth pupils from Queen’s Gate visit St Clements and St James Primary School every Friday to hear children read. A particular emphasis was placed on improving the skill of reading for meaning, and this was an area where our girls have made a major contribution and a huge impact.

Other projects with the local and wider community include the Football Academy with Rugby Portobello Trust, QG Super Saturdays where children aged 2-5 years old and their families join us for interactive workshops, a termly Book Drive for The Children’s Book Project and fundraising for the Kensington & Chelsea Foundation.
Foodbank Friday and AgeUK online games:

Foodbank Friday
AgeUK online games