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In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, sixth form (sometimes referred to as Key Stage 5) represents the final two years of secondary education, where students (typically between sixteen and eighteen years of age) prepare for their A-level (or equivalent) examinations.

England and Wales[link]

The first five years of English secondary schooling were previously known as forms. Pupils started their first year of secondary school in the first form or first year, and this was the year in which pupils would normally become 12 years of age. Pupils would move up a form each year before entering the fifth form in the year in which they would have their sixteenth birthday. Those who stayed on at school to study for A-levels moved up into the sixth form, which was divided into the Lower Sixth and the Upper Sixth. In some private schools, the term Middle Sixth was used in place of Upper Sixth, with the latter being used for those who stayed on for an extra term to take the entrance examinations that were previously set for candidates to Oxford or Cambridge universities. Other schools described these Oxbridge examination students as being in the Seventh Form or Third Year Sixth.

The system was changed for the 1990-1991 academic year and school years are now numbered consecutively from primary school onwards. Year 1 is the first year of primary school after Reception. The first year of secondary school (the old first form) is now known as Year 7. The Lower Sixth is now Year 12 and the Upper Sixth is Year 13. However, the term Sixth Form has still been retained as a vestige of the old system and is used as a collective term for years 12 and 13. Public (fee-charging) schools, together with a few state schools, tend to use the old system of numbering.

In some parts of the country, special "sixth form colleges" were introduced beginning in the 1960s, recognising this as a particularly important phase of student life. A large proportion of English secondary schools no longer have an integral sixth form. This is mainly related to reforms in the later 20th century, where different political areas became a factor in the introduction of colleges instead of the original sixth forms. There are now numerous sixth form colleges throughout England and Wales, and in areas without these, sixth form schools (as in Hammersmith and Fulham) and specialist FE colleges called tertiary colleges (as in Richmond-upon-Thames) may fill the same role.

Sixth form is not compulsory in England and Wales; however, university entrance normally requires at least 1 or 2 A2-level qualifications, and perhaps one AS-level. Students usually select three to four subjects from the GCSEs they have just taken, for one "AS" year, the AS exams being taken at the end of lower sixth. Three subjects are then carried into the A2 year (the dropped AS being "cashed in" as a qualification) and further exams are taken at the end of that year. The marks attained in both sets of exams are converted into UCAS points, which must meet the offer made by the student's chosen university.

Northern Ireland[link]

In Northern Ireland, the equivalent of "Reception" is "P1", and the equivalent of the English Year 1 "P2", while the first year of secondary school is known by that name (rather than Year 7 as in England), and following that Lower and Upper Sixth are Year 13 and Year 14 respectively.

Scotland[link]

In the Scottish education system the final year of school is usually known as Sixth Year or S6. During this year students typically study Advanced Higher and/or Higher courses in a wide range of subjects, taking SQA exams at the end of both S5 and S6. Pupils in Scotland may leave once they have reached the age of 16; those who reach 16 before the 30th of September may leave after national examinations in May, whilst those who are 16 by the end of February may leave the previous Christmas.

It is not essential for candidates to do a Sixth year if they wish to attend a Scottish university; so long as they have obtained adequate Higher grades in fifth year they may apply and receive acceptance, though this is conditional on being successful in the examinations. The vast majority of Scottish students return for S6 if they plan to attend university. Some English universities will also accept Scottish students who have obtained adequate Higher grades in fifth year. It was announced in December 2008 that, as from 2010, UCAS will increase the number of points awarded to those who achieve Highers and Advanced Highers.^[1]

In some cases, particularly in independent schools, the term 'sixth form' is also used for the last two years of secondary education. An increasing number of independent schools are offering their students the International Baccalaureate Programme.

Other countries[link]

In some secondary schools in India, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Malaysia, Sierra Leone and Trinidad and Tobago the sixth and seventh years are called Lower and Upper Sixth respectively. In Nepal, it's called "10+2".

Similarly, the term sixth form is also used to define the final two years of education before entering the University in Malta.

In Singapore, however, the equivalent of a sixth form college would be called a junior college where pupils take their Cambridge GCE 'A' Levels after 2 years.

In some American college preparatory schools, such as Ethical Culture Fieldston School, Kent School, The Church Farm School, The Haverford School, Portsmouth Abbey School, and more, sixth form refers to the final year of education prior to college. It is the equivalent of twelfth grade in the U.S. education system.

In New Zealand, under the old system of Forms, Standards and Juniors, sixth form was the equivalent of Year 12 in today's system.

Notes[link]

1. ^ BBC News Website

See also[link]

• Sixth form college
• Plus Two
• Education in the United Kingdom
• High school junior and High school senior - Equivalent American grades for this age range.
• Ontario Academic Credit

Coordinates: 54°51′04″N 6°13′37″W / 54.851°N 6.227°W / 54.851; -6.227

Cambridge House Grammar School is a mixed, controlled grammar school in the County Antrim town of Ballymena, Northern Ireland within the North Eastern Education and Library Board area.

General[link]

The school is located in the Galgorm Road area of the town at a mature site surrounded by gardens and playing fields comprising almost 80 acres (320,000 m²). Cambridge House is the newest grammar school in the province, having been opened in September 2001, following the amalgamation of the old Cambridge House Grammar School for Girls (founded 1910) and Cambridge House Boy's Grammar School (founded 1975). The main school buildings are contemporary and the campus was refurbished in 2001 prior to the opening of the new school. The Technology and Design Suite is an award winning^{[citation needed]} building and the most recent addition to the school, and its facilities are among the best in the province.^{[citation needed]} The school has recently invested in the latest computer technology and the pupils and staff have access to the very latest in computer multimedia and Internet learning packages.^{[citation needed]} The school also includes a separate Drama and Media annexe and a self contained, Sixth Form Centre complete with both private and communal study areas, a common room and a coffee shop.

In 2011 it became the first grammar school in Northern Ireland to enter a period of formal intervention.

At present Cambridge House does not have a permanent Principal.

The House System[link]

Cambridge House Grammar School (CHGS) is split into six houses (Having previously been four in the Cambridge House Boy's Grammar School- Adair, Eaton, Raphael and Chichester), and the pastoral care of each pupil is enforced by this system. The house system is based on patrons who are successful in a wide range of expertise, such as sports, business, science and the Arts. The ethos behind the house system is that each pupil can relate to a smaller unit within the school and have a sense of identity in such a large school. Each house is allocated a Senior Teacher, and a team of seven group tutors. Houses fosters the development of Leadership skills in the pupils, as House Prefects are elected in year 11. Each house has a separate colour, house charity and house ties, with the house crest emblazoned in the middle.

The houses, and their patrons are listed below.

• Jones House: Marie Jones, Belfast born playwright.
• Burnell House: Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell, phyicsist.
• Abercorn House: Alexandra Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn
• Bell House: Derek Bell, Late musician and member of the Chieftains.
• Patton House: David Patton, local businessman.
• Robinson House: Brian Robinson, former Ulster and Ireland rugby player and past pupil.

Principals: Past and Present[link]

• Mr. Charles Mills: Principal, September 2001-June 2003.
• Mrs. Elma Lutton (Current Vice Principal): Acting Principal, September 2003-February 2004. Acting Principal, January 2012-Present
• Mrs. Eileen Lisk: Principal, February 2004–December 2011

Notable former pupils[link]

• Adrian McCoubrey, Professional Cricketer held the office of Deputy Head Boy 1997/98
• Shane Glynn, Executive Producer for BBC NI Sports and former News Reporter for UTV

• Dr Richard Ball, World renowned chemist with a penchant for making all drinks alcoholic from a wide variety of English apples. His most notable accomplishment is acknowledged almost silently by Bulmers with the addition of the word “Ball” on the side of the 500 ml tin of Stongbow.

• Jamie Smith, Current Ulster Rugby Full-back, Jamie completed five years at the school.

• Ian Dickson, motoring journalist. Holds the position of senior editor at MSN Cars UK and previously worked as a road tester on the magazines What Car? and Test Drive. Ian was a prefect at the school and left in 1997.