Co-Curricular

Co-curricular at Rendcomb College Sixth Form

As well as the huge number of activities and clubs that we have on offer at Rendcomb College, the Sixth Form also have a number of additional activities that are put on to help enrich and engage during their time here.

Garden House

Sixth Form life at Rendcomb College is not only about working hard on academic courses but also about being part of a friendly and supportive community, contributing to the leadership and development of the school and trying new things.

Our dedicated Sixth Form House, The Old Rectory, is an integral part of the Sixth Form experience; with excellent facilities for independent living and working, Garden House has been expressly designed to better prepare each student for life beyond Rendcomb.

Students in the Upper Sixth spend two separate weeks taking responsibility for themselves and enjoy much greater levels of freedom.

Sixth Formers in Garden House

Students manage their own budget for the week - they shop, cook, clean and do their own laundry. One evening per week they also put their cooking skills to the test entertaining a few chosen members of staff. The experience of Garden House equips our students with the skills required for independent living before they head off on their chosen path, whether university, a gap year or the world of work.

With this well-rounded education our students leave as enthusiastic, well-grounded and versatile young adults who are excellently equipped to take their place in, and contribute to, society.

Leadership

Leadership is an integral part of Sixth Form life at Rendcomb. Sixth Formers are given the opportunity to act as leaders and prefects in a variety of areas.

The school prefects and the Head Girl and Head Boy are chosen after a formal application process and interview and they take on major leadership roles throughout the College. They speak regularly at formal occasions and work alongside the staff in the running of the College. Other prefects have specific roles in the boarding houses acting as listeners and advisers.

Sixth Formers also sit on the school committees such as the School Council, the Food Committee, the Sports Committee and various social committees. All Sixth Form students take part in our in-house Leadership Programme.

In the Lower Sixth areas covered are:

• Rights vs Responsibilities
  This session welcomes students to Sixth Form; pupils discuss new freedoms and expectations, discover personal consequences of decisions and actions and discover their own learning preference and practice a variety of leadership styles.
• Team / Task / Individual
  In this session, pupils acquire practical communication, decision making and reflecting skills in an outdoor setting. Students apply examples of accountability and consequence to this in-school activity.

In the Upper Sixth areas covered are:

• Who am I?
  This indoor session explores personality and preferences using the Myers Briggs personality profiling tool: an industry accepted tool with direct application on CV. The session encompasses aspects of career choice and future direction.
• Where am I going?
  This outdoor session applies personality preferences and skills acquired to date to challenging real-world tasks. Pupils are expected to think ahead in this session which encompasses the theme of living as an adult.

The Buddy Scheme

This scheme encourages Sixth Formers to act as role models to younger pupils. Sixth Formers are paired up with a Year 7 pupil, or buddy, to offer support and friendship. Sixth Formers meet with their buddies once a week and at events during the year including a Buddy Quiz and a Buddy BBQ.

Duke of Edinburgh

We offer the Duke of Edinburgh Award to Gold standard. This involves expeditions in Dartmoor, Exmoor and the Black Mountains. Volunteering, a residential experience, learning a skill and a physical section need to be completed before going up to St. James Palace to receive the award.

Enrichment

Sixth Formers take part in a full programme of cultural enrichment inviting guest speakers to share their skills and experiences. These events expose students to intellectual and cultural challenges outside their immediate academic disciplines.

Recent speakers include:

• Fran Sandham; Traversa Coast–to-Coast walk across Africa
• Nik Powell, Director of the National Film and Television School and former BAFTA chair
• Diana Darke: My home in Damascus (The Syrian revolution)
• Hektor Krome, GAP Year Travel
• Improwise: leadership, innovation and change management with live jazz performance
• A first-hand account of a meeting with Rudolf Hess in Spandau Prison and the history of Hess, his capture, trial and imprisonment
• John Hoskison: Professional Golfer, on the dangers of taking unnecessary risks
• A talk on the impact of war in Afghanistan on the Afghan people
• ‘The Families left behind’ whilst loved ones complete their tour of duty
• Sean Conway Endurance Adventurer, Blogger and Author