Our Sixth Form Class of 2021 have faced unprecedented challenges in their final year of study at The Canterbury Academy. To have worked hard towards a variety of qualifications, at a variety of levels, over one, two or three years, and then not have the opportunity to sit final examinations will have been very difficult for many. However, the resilience, focus, determination and empathy which our post-16 students have shown throughout this pandemic, both towards each other and their wider communities, has been truly humbling and serve as an inspiration to all the staff that have worked with them.
Despite the setbacks over the last year, we are incredibly proud to announce another highly successful year, congratulating all our Sixth Form students upon their successes in the many qualifications taken, allowing them to progress on to a variety of positive destinations.
The Canterbury Academy Sixth Form is one of the largest in the country and the largest in Kent. It is a comprehensive Sixth Form for all the talents, which believes all students are good at something and in which all gifts, abilities, attainments, and achievements will be recognised. We offer students an academic pathway; an elite programme in sport; specialist provision in the performing arts; and a variety of vocational, applied and enterprise qualifications to industry standard.
In a difficult and demanding educational year, we are delighted with the resilience and academic achievement in our Academic Pillar. We have 149 students with UCAS offers and places from 114 of the 150 UK universities. Students will be going off to study at widespread institutions such as Plymouth, Edinburgh, Cardiff, as well as Kent University and Canterbury Christ Church University to study a variety of diverse courses. Sam will be joining Southampton University to study History; Florence will study Environmental Geoscience at Swansea and Periale has gained a place at the University of Manchester to study Economics and Finance. Rhianna will be starting an American Studies Degree at Sussex University and Danny will be studying Economics at Aston University. Nicole will start her Law degree at Manchester Met University, Lia will be studying Psychology at Kent University and Kasper will be starting his maths degree at Birmingham University.
In our Vocational Pillar, Ellie has been accepted by Solent to study International Tourism; Ryan will be studying Speech and Language at Greenwich; Fran will join Norwich University to study Textile Design and Lauren will be studying at East Anglia University to become an Occupational Therapist. Excell will be joining Christ Church to study Social Work and Kate has an offer to study Adult Nursing at City, University of London, whilst Cobie will be studying an Adult Nursing degree at Christ Church. Oliver has an offer to study Primary Education with Reading University. Guy will be studying Photography at the prestigious University of the Arts, London. Nathan has successfully started an ecologically responsible T-shirt business using sustainable materials in everything from the products to the packaging. Ben has started his own business working with high-end footwear. Kieran has created his own business using his products for consumers within the mountain bike industry.
In the Sports Pillar, we have had numerous successes, including Brendon who has been accepted to Essex University to study Biological Sciences and Tom will be attending St Mary’s Twickenham for a Sport, Exercise and Science degree. The University of Leeds Beckett will be accepting Anthony onto their Sports Coaching degree. Brunel is where Kris will be studying Sport, Health and Exercise and Alice will be attending Christ Church to study a Physical Education degree. The University of South Wales is where Harry will be studying a Rugby Coaching and Performance degree. Jay will be studying Physiotherapy, Sport and Exercise Medicine at the University of Bradford. Thom will be studying Sports Development and Coaching at Plymouth Marjon University.
Robbie has gained a professional contract with Cheshire Phoenix, a British Basketball League club where he will train and play with some of the best players in the country. Kieran has committed to going to St Ambrose University in Iowa, USA, where he gained a scholarship to one of the top NAIA schools in America studying sports management alongside playing basketball every day. Xander gained a silver level sports scholarship to Solent University, where he will continue to play national league basketball and study Sports and Exercise Science Psychology.
We are also delighted to recognise the many successes of our singers, musicians, dancers, and actors who attended our Elite Performing Arts Institute. Jake is delighted to have been accepted into Chichester University to study Acting for Film and Seren will be studying Musical Theatre and Dance at BIMM, Brighton. Lucas has gained a place at Central Film School to study Screen Writing; Eliza will be starting a Music Production degree at BIMM and Sol has been accepted at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama to complete a Lighting Design degree. Finally, Molly will be going to the University of Staffordshire to study for a Cartoon and Comic Arts degree.
There have been several amazing performances throughout the year such as ‘Rent,’ and ‘Blue’ which were shown at The Gulbenkian Theatre. Year 13 Musical Theatre students performed their final year showcase in June. All our students performed solos and duets alongside group numbers from current West End and Broadway musicals, using all the skills they have learned throughout their time with us.
We wish to congratulate all those students who achieved work-related qualifications and will go on to begin fantastic careers that they are passionate about. We are delighted, also, for the number of students who will continue in education and those who have gone on to gain employment, in trainee management positions and various apprenticeships, or who will set up their own businesses. We look forward to hearing how they all develop in the future.
The Canterbury Academy Sixth Form, as part of The Canterbury Academy Trust, continues to provide a comprehensive Sixth form for all the talents and continues to grow. This September we expect to welcome more than 350 students into year 12 again, maintaining our total number in our sixth form at over 700.