On Monday 22 to Wednesday 24 June, the UV returned, together with eight of the new girls who will join St Mary’s in the Lower Sixth to prepare for entering the Sixth Form in September. The schedule was jam-packed and everyone did incredibly well to maintain energy and enthusiasm during the hottest days of the year.
Running throughout the three-day programme, there was a common thread of taking on greater responsibility and developing the skills needed to make the most of the Sixth Form experience. Particular highlights included the Presentation Skills workshop led our resident Communication Coach, Mrs Rebecca Cochran-Patrick, the UV Summer Futures Conference, Positive Perspectives: Realistic Optimism for the Future (see separate article), a trip to cool off on what was the hottest days of the year in the Cotswold’s Water Park and a highly entertaining and truly inspirational talk by Kamal from Aim a Little Higher, which echoed much of the advice we had received from the speakers at the Futures Conference and encouraged us not to be content with having potential – we should aim to reach or even exceed it.
In addition to attending seminars in their chosen A Level subjects, the EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) and Gold Duke of Edinburgh, across the final two days, girls were placed in groups and given the challenge of planning and then leading a session for their peers across five different areas: music, drama, sport, wellbeing and critical thinking. They drew upon what they had learned throughout the week – collaborating positively, being a ‘cheerleader’ for peers, being creative, speaking confidently, and aiming a little higher – with excellent results.
Throughout the week, the girls impressed us by engaging so positively and enthusiastically despite the soaring temperatures and I very much look forward to welcoming them all into the Sixth Form in September.
Mrs Lucy Weeden, Director of Sixth Form
