About our Sixth Form
The Sixth Form at The Canterbury Academy has over 800 students and is one of the largest in the county. Year 12 students transition from year 11 at The Canterbury Academy and from a wide selection of schools around Kent. Students here will benefit from specialist teachers, a dedicated team of Sixth Form staff and specialist facilities for Sixth Form students.
Students belong to one of our four colleges; Academic, Vocational, Sport or Performing Arts and can study a wide range of courses in combination, such as BTEC and A Levels together. We can be flexible and create bespoke timetables for our students, which allows students a lot more choice and variety in their study. Students can also join one of our elite academies in Sport, Performing Arts or Practical Learning and Enterprise Education.
Students at The Canterbury Academy benefit from a dedicated Sixth Form Centre where they have a social space, an independent study computer room, a supported study computer room and a university-style lecture theatre. Students also have use of other dedicated computer rooms in the main school, a careers library, a gym and a café.
University is an appropriate destination for some students and increasing numbers progress to university. A planned programme of information, advice and guidance is offered to all our students, including personal statement writing, UCAS support and information regarding university fees.
The Canterbury Academy Sixth Form offers a stimulating, vibrant and challenging environment to study. The staff are supportive, the students are friendly and the facilities are excellent.
Post 16 education is a personal journey; we believe it is important to recognise that every student follows their own individual path to reach their particular goal. The Canterbury Academy knows that employers are looking to recruit people who have initiative and drive and an ability to think creatively and analytically. For students looking to progress to university, these are also the skills and attributes that will attract the attention of admission officers.
Sixth Form students have more freedom and independence, to develop and manage themselves as young adults. Teachers will develop working relationships with them, with the expectation to work independently completing coursework and research in their own time.
Alongside this extra responsibility comes significant support from The Canterbury Academy’s Sixth Form team. Students’ progress is monitored, with intervention and targeted study sessions in place to support students in achieving their potential. Alongside this, external pastoral support as well as information, advice and guidance towards university and career options is readily available for all students. A large portion of our students progress to university, including those in the Russell Group, in a variety of subjects.
We place a strong emphasis on developing leadership in our students, with students encouraged to contribute to the wider school in some way, from mentoring students in our Middle School or running a breakfast or lunch club at The Canterbury Primary School to becoming Student Leaders or supporting whole school events.
There are also a wide range of enrichment activities available beyond the curriculum. Through flexible timetabling, students are able to study a wide range of subjects, alongside our Sports, Performing Arts and Practical Learning academies, part-time work or volunteering.
The Sixth Form Centre is the hub of student life with a variety of social and study areas plus a designated Sixth Form servery. The UCafé is open to Sixth Form students and staff, offering meals, snacks, hot and cold drinks.