Welcome to Sixth Form

The Sixth Form at St Albans School is a community of ambitious and intellectually curious young people who are encouraged to think deeply, question confidently and engage fully with the opportunities around them. It is a place where academic rigour is matched by exceptional pastoral support, enabling students to flourish both intellectually and personally. 

Our approach is founded on three simple principles: Scholarship, Leadership and Character. In Lower Sixth, students are encouraged to explore new ideas, develop intellectual confidence and discover where their interests and strengths lie. In Upper Sixth, that exploration gives way to greater focus, expertise and leadership, preparing students for success at the world’s leading universities and for lives of purpose, contribution and achievement. 

Supported by an outstanding curriculum and co-curriculum the St Albans Diploma and a comprehensive Student Futures programme, every student leaves Sixth Form with the knowledge, skills and character to thrive at university, in their careers and in an ever-changing world. 

Click here to read our Sixth Form Prospectus and Curriculum Guid

The Sixth Form at St Albans School is an intellectually ambitious community where scholarship, curiosity and independence of thought define the educational experience. Students are challenged to think critically, question assumptions and engage deeply with their subjects, developing the confidence, judgement and intellectual resilience needed to flourish at leading universities and in an increasingly complex world. 

Our Sixth Form is deliberately designed as a two-year journey. Lower Sixth is a year of exploration: students broaden their horizons, embrace new ideas and discover where their academic interests and strengths truly lie. Alongside this intellectual breadth, they develop the habits of independent learning, critical enquiry and scholarly research that underpin future success. Upper Sixth marks the transition from exploration to expertise. As students specialise, learning becomes increasingly purposeful and self-directed, while leadership, service and mentoring become defining features of Sixth Form life. By the time they leave St Albans, students have not only achieved exceptional academic outcomes but have also developed the maturity, judgement and character to make a meaningful contribution wherever their future takes them. 

Students study three A Levels alongside the St Albans Diploma, combining academic study with either the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) or Gold Arts Award to cultivate advanced research, creativity and communication skills that distinguish applicants to leading universities and employers. For a number of students, four A Levels may be appropriate as part of the Diploma programme. 

Learning extends well beyond the classroom through an exceptional programme of enrichment, societies, leadership, sport, music, drama and service. Students are encouraged to take intellectual risks, contribute actively to the School community and pursue their interests with energy and purpose. 

Our students progress to an outstanding range of destinations, including Oxford, Cambridge, other Russell Group universities and leading institutions across the world, as well as degree apprenticeships and other highly competitive pathways. Through expert guidance and a personalised Higher Education and Student Futures programme, every student is equipped with the knowledge, skills and ambition to make informed choices and flourish at university, in their careers and throughout their lives.

Click here to find out more about Sixth Form Admissions.