The Swan School in Oxford is getting ready for new sixth form

As headteacher of The Swan School, I certainly wasn’t expecting the challenges that have come my way and the way of my colleagues.

None of this was part of the plan when we opened Oxford’s first new secondary in more than 50 years in September 2019, but I have been proud of how everyone has risen to the challenge.

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However, if the challenges for us as educational professionals have been significant, they are nothing in comparison to those that the young people leaving school in the next few years are likely to face.

The pandemic has affected young people more than any other group.

First day at The Swan School in September 2019

A study by the Resolution Foundation found 18 to 24-year-olds most impacted by furlough and job losses in 2020.

Youth unemployment in Britain is on course to more than treble to the highest levels since the early 1980s.

Coupled with social isolation, financial pressures, and lack of opportunity, this has likely contributed to the 80 per cent increase in 18 to 24-year-olds experiencing poor mental health in the last year.

There are real fears of a so-called lost ‘Covid generation’, but this is not an inevitability.

Our responsibility as educators is to equip our young people with the tools to thrive in this difficult period.

At The Swan, opening a brand new sixth form next September has given us the opportunity to consider carefully how schools can best support their students in this context.

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First off is ‘keeping the main thing, the main thing’, because the only thing that is certain is that the future will be uncertain!

The jobs we do and how we work may change, which makes great qualifications even more crucial.

The evidence, and our experience, indicate that the best way to unlock opportunity is having top grades in rigorous, academic subjects.

Kay Wood

That is why our initial offer at The Swan will be core, academic A-Levels.

Our sparkling new facilities and small class sizes mean students have the very best chance of success.

We will be focusing on the subjects that give our students choices in their lives after school, and where we know our staff have the expertise and a track record of excellent results.

Helping young people stand out from the crowd will also be key.

The jobs market is likely to be more competitive than ever in coming years so we have to help our students stand out.

They must be more than just a great set of qualifications – they will need to demonstrate ambition, dedication, kindness, and integrity amongst many other things.

To help broaden our students’ portfolio, we have developed the Swan Leadership Programme (SLP) for all Year 12s.

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This will create opportunities for our students to engage in physical, community, academic and leadership activities that will not only help to enhance their own lives but also to support the community around them.

The Swan School artist's impression Picture Infinite 3D

Then there is high quality pastoral support, because we know that this is a challenging period and nurturing students’ mental health is going to be just as important as supporting their academic progress.

We are also aware that the support that sixth formers’ need is specific to their particular age and stage.

That’s why we are recruiting a new pastoral leadership team for The Swan’s sixth form to ensure that our students get the bespoke support they need within our small, calm, nurturing environment.

One thing is clear – a good education has never been more important, and we intend to provide a great one for the Year 12s who join us in September.