IN THE debate about sixth forms I believe the following essential issues need to be born in mind.
We are dealing with our children who are the future of our community the things at stake are far more important than mere money.
Schools as with other institutions establish a chemistry or it might be more fashionable to call it culture. This can be inestimably precious yet quite delicate and almost impossible to re-established if destroyed. I hope all educational theorists and those tampering young people’s lives will listen.
The sixth form should play a very significant part in both establishing and maintaining the positive culture required to maximise pupil development.
A strong sixth form contributes to school culture in a number of ways.
The best sixth formers take responsibility and become examples to the junior pupils they are leaders at that level and more importantly grow in personal leadership capacity.
Whilst pupils may respond to the leadership of good teachers there is absolutely no substitute for a role model provided by some on just a few years ahead of them.
Sixth formers have the opportunity to develop relationships with staff at an entirely new level. Indeed they should be challenged to rise to this as an important part of their maturing process.
Probably one of the most important contributions of the sixth form is that it provides an element of hope and challenge for the teachers.
‘At last’ they are no longer working with classes in which a significant number do not wish to be present or are not particularly interested in the subject, the sixth form can stretch them.
In this way the sixth form provides a constant stimulus for professional development of the staff.
Finally technical colleges should stick to what their original name implies. They should focus on work related education and skill development and thereby provide the right environment for the large numbers of pupils for whom sixth form is inappropriate. It seems to me that there is danger that the local college tries to be all things to all people from sixth form college to a smattering of degrees at the other.
Can we please ‘stick to the knitting’ and keep focused on what should be the prime strengths of both institutions.
Ultimately this type of discussion is not about facilities it is about leadership, strong positive culture and motivated teachers.
LAURENCE HOLT
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