In the Sixth Form, students really begin to focus on ‘Life After Hurst’, and the broad life skills education they receive – and often lead – reflects their growing excitement that ‘the real world’ is fast approaching. Visiting speakers from commerce and the professions, especially our network of young OJ’s who have recently started their careers or launched their own businesses, serve as inspiration for the adventure to come.
Networking and speaking
Our Sixth Formers receive training in networking skills, both interpersonal and online, with every pupil assisted to start building their LinkedIn network by the end of Year 12.
The importance of nurturing and maintaining oracy skills is emphasised in The Oracy Project, a presentation training programme all Sixth Formers complete.
Project planning and university-style exams
Independent project planning and management is built into the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) programme, but to reinforce those key skills for modern Higher Education, all Year 12 students participate in the College’s unique 12-hour Exam Challenge, designed to reflect how students are now examined by many of the UK’s top universities.
Financial Literacy
Financial Literacy is a core element of our Sixth Form tutorial and assembly programme, with pupils learning about budgeting, pensions and saving, tax and benefits, property law, mortgages and credit. Other Sixth Form life skills training includes safe socialising, empathetically negotiating modern relationships, safe travel and gap year planning, cookery, baking and food budgeting and, of course, driving safely and without distraction.
Employability
Employability and interview skills are also a focus. All Sixth Formers receive AI-literacy and prompt-writing training, and receive training in the challenges of modern job-hunting, including psychometric testing and completing assessment centre tasks. Job interviews are built into the Sixth Form culture, with written applications and in-person interviews guiding the selection process for House Captains, House Prefects, School Prefects and Sports Club Captains.
Furthermore, our sector-leading Sixth Form Work Experience programme, offering Hurst Sixth Formers over 100 professional placements every summer, requires pupils to apply with a full CV, letter of application and in-person interview, often conducted by the provider.
Beyond the academic
Throughout these experiences, Sixth Formers are guided to understand the value of qualifications beyond the academic. Combined Cadet Force (CCF) officers are able to complete their BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Leadership through the Cadet Vocational College and our keen sportspeople can complete training for the Sports Leadership Award or their lifeguarding qualifications. Other Sixth Formers train as sports referees and outdoors education instructors.
Leadership
Finally, the many leadership opportunities on offer in the Sixth Form ensure our students develop the character they will need to stand out. Prefectships, House Captaincies, House Families, Sports Captaincies and Club Captaincies, Performing Arts directing responsibilities, leading House and School assemblies, the Young Enterprise scheme and Model United Nations, plus the dedicated and student-led Sixth Form Societies time and the ability to join Middle School Electives as coaches and directors – all these opportunities empower our Sixth Formers to learn to manage others effectively and empathetically.
To make those lessons explicit, in October 2026 Hurst is teaming up with the world-leading adventure education charity The Outward Bound Trust to offer Year 12 students our first ever Leadership Development Course in Ullswater in the Lake District.
