The long wait is over and Year 11 students now know their GCSE results. These students have been tested in a range of ways: oral exams in modern foreign languages, written course work, practical coursework in creative subjects such as art, design and music, assessed practical work for sciences and written papers.

Academic success at GCSE is a very good indicator of potential high performance at A-Level and University and girls and teachers at Oxford High School take this stage in their school careers very seriously.

And what of the next stage, the sixth form? What skills do these young women already have, and what opportunities are they looking forward to over the next two years?

At Oxford High School we study the iGCSE in mathematics which provides a thorough grounding in mathematics and encourages over half the year group to continue studying this highly regarded subject by taking A-Level mathematics.

In science, we have chosen to follow the double award, giving time for stimulating enrichment activities beyond the constraints of the specification which challenge thinking and arouse interest and enthusiasm.

The courses in chemistry, biology and physics provide excellent preparation for A-Level study.

The statistics that nearly three-quarters of the year group are taking one or more science or maths subject at A-Level, with nearly half studying two, are evidence of the success of these course and the reward they offer to those studying them.

English and history are essay based subjects and these skills have been developed during the GCSE years to be built on and refined at A-Level.

Critical analysis of texts and source material is what we are looking for and the girls grasp the ideas eagerly, communicating their responses effectively both orally and in writing.

Subjects such as modern foreign languages develop understanding and awareness of other cultures and require an ability to listen carefully and plan oral work, and at least one MFL is studied by 50 per cent of the sixth form.

Creative subjects such as art, design technology and textiles demand real dedication to the production of finished pieces of work which have been planned and executed over several weeks to a very high standard of technical expertise.

In the sixth form students take the opportunity to develop their academic interests and intellectual skills to new heights as they choose subjects from the very wide range on offer all of which are highly regarded by top selecting universities.

The lessons are characterised by high level argument and debate as the girls meet new ideas and challenge what they might have understood at GCSE.

The timetable is constructed around their choices rather than imposed, and it provides time for the sixth form students to engage in a huge variety of extra-curricular activities and develop skills of leadership.

A well-appointed common room provides a focus for social activity during the day. The house system allows the house leaders to organise younger girls in competitions such as the choir competition, history quiz, European Day quiz and, with the help of the sports department, sports day. The prefect team, elected by Year 12 students and staff, provides a body of resourceful energetic young women who help run school events such as parents’ evenings and the open evening, as well as the student school council.

A high point for many girls at OHS is the sixth form pantomime, performed by staff, but written and directed by the prefect team.

There are also opportunities for leadership in the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, orchestras, sports teams and Young Enterprise (pictured above) which has been hugely successful over the last few years with OHS companies competing at local, regional and national level.

The enduring relationships developed in the sixth form, and the close contact between the sixth form and the rest of the school, ensure that these two years are truly memorable and an excellent starting point for the beginning of adult life.

Congratulations to all those successful former Year 11 students and welcome to the sixth form.