Academic

Hurst is unashamedly ambitious for its Sixth Form and strives to ensure that every student achieves his or her true academic potential. 

The formal study time allocated for each subject and small class sizes ensure that subject specialists are able to pay careful attention to each individual’s needs.  Students are encouraged to take ownership of both their learning and their overall academic progress and to take greater responsibility for the organisation of their time.  Whether in their private study areas or the well-equipped Library, effective independent study, essential for success at A level or the IB Diploma and beyond, is strongly supported and students regularly participate in seminars and make presentations on specific topics to their peers.

Sixth Form life is underpinned by a mentoring relationship between student and specialist tutor over the two years.  Weekly meetings provide regular guidance and support, monitor academic progress and help students to achieve the ambitious targets set for them.  Tutors join in celebrating successes and follow the extra-curricular and social progress of their tutees.

As students begin their second year, they move into St John’s, Hurst’s co-educational Upper Sixth hall of residence, designed to provide a bridge between school and beyond.  As befits ‘trainee undergraduates’, every student – day or boarding – has his or her own study and, within appropriate academic and pastoral frameworks, enjoys greater freedoms and more independent control of their academic work.  It is from here - working in partnership with their tutor, University application specialist and the School’s Head of Careers – that they apply to University and it is here that they focus on their studies and prepare for life beyond the Sixth Form.