Life in the Sixth Form is in full swing at King’s Bruton.

Whilst the Upper Sixth have been hard at work preparing for and completing assessments, as well as continuing to benefit from learning in class, the Lower Sixth have been focussing on increasing their employability for future careers.

Since their return from the Easter holidays, the Lower Sixth have looked at how they brand themselves and appeal to future employers. With the central goal of creating an application-ready CV, pupils have developed their competencies/skills, whilst also tackling the challenging task of trying to highlight their appeal to prospective interviewers in just a few short sentences for their CV profiles. A highlight of this personal development was a talk from Profile Consultant, Annabel McDade, who engaged the pupils with an insight from the perspective of modern day employers, demonstrating to pupils what was required to recognise and bring the best out of their rich experiences. Each pupil further refined their CVs, with support and direction within tutor times and as part of the Enrichment Programme workshops. The next stage for their employment readiness will be the Interview Scheme in the Christmas Term.

Alongside this, the Lower Sixth have continued their one-to-one meetings with the member of the Sixth Form staff team as they continue to explore and narrow down their choices for their next steps beyond King’s. It is a critical time for them in their explorations and decision making, but it is also an exciting time, and it is excellent to see pupils seizing opportunities to stretch their horizons and discover new pathways they could follow.

Meanwhile, the Headmaster’s Essay Society met to enjoy an evening of academic discussion and debate, stimulated by the research and writing of two pupil presenters. This week saw Hannah present her rewriting and modernisation of the ancient myth “The Tale of Ash and Brimstone”, which tackled issues of diversity and equality. The audience was further challenged when Sophie presented her essay on “What is Art from Dada to Pop Art”, in which she explored 20^th Century artists to gain a greater understanding of how, and whether, one can define art. Both presenters showed an impressive depth of intellectual rigour, whilst skilfully making their research accessible and relatable to all present, artists and scientists alike!

Whilst much of the attention in the current media is understandably on the examination year groups, it is fantastic to see a thriving Lower Sixth, who are keen to engage in both contemporary debate and improving their future career and university prospects. After half term, the focus shifts to university applications, an exciting step in carving their own futures and finding their best fit for their lives beyond King’s.

William Daws - Deputy Head - Sixth Form