Following a late transfer from another Sixth Form, our newest arrival Toma has just knocked on my door to submit his application for Senior Prefect. I am thrilled. He has been at the school for just four weeks and is thriving. He has recently joined the school jazz band, settled into a firm friendship group, participated in numerous sporting and co-curricular activities, and is now feeling confident enough to apply to join the school’s student leadership team. One of the most frequent observations I make as Head of Sixth Form of the Fulham Boys School, is that we are a welcoming and kind community. There is a graciousness to our boys that is both rare and humbling and Toma’s success in such a short space of time is testament to that incredible ethos.
FBS’s Sixth Form has been on a tremendous journey in three short years. We have more than tripled in size and developed an outstanding student leadership team whose positive influence is felt throughout the school via peer mentor schemes, school events and social enterprise. We’ve achieved our first outstanding set of A-Level results and have supported our boys in numerous successes both inside and outside the classroom. After the uncertainty and disruption of Covid-19, it gave me great joy this summer to watch the ‘original’ Fulham Boys open the school’s first set of A-Level results: 97% achieved A*-C, 50% of boys gained at least one A*/A and 81% of boys achieved A*-B. These results reflect the incredibly hard work of both students and staff in ensuring that no boy was left behind during the severe disruption of the past two years. We look forward to welcoming them back as our first Alumni during our Awards Evening in November, where they will share with us their experience of University life at institutions such as Warwick, Exeter, Manchester, Leeds and Kings.
Outside of the classroom we have made headlines for all the right reasons: from articles penned by our Head Boy Team in the Times, Telegraph and Evening Standard tackling sexism, gender inequality and life as a Sixth Former, to students competing for GB athletic, becoming global youtube stars, growing social enterprise through links with charities such as Dads House and achieving rugby and rowing sporting success to name but a few.
I love my job. There is no better feeling than supporting students to accomplish their aspirations at this crucial stage of their life, knowing that they will enter into young adulthood feeling confident and able to make a positive contribution to society. We’re a school that believes passionately in educating the whole person and I’m particularly proud of our Sixth Form students’ can-do attitude. This was demonstrated recently by our 13s, who despite being given study leave for their intensive week of mock exams, returned to school in their time off to support both our Year 7 Open Evening and Open Day, as well as deliver peer mentor sessions to younger students.
Our new building boasts a Sixth Form study room and library and as I stand back and observe the students as they work, I am excited by what is to come. We are at a crucial time of the year. Year 13s are reflecting on their recent mock exams and preparing for UCAS. With 15% of the year group applying for Oxbridge and Medicine there is a buzz in the air and boys are working tirelessly to perfect their personal statements and prepare for entrance exams, each supported by our in-house Medicine and Oxbridge programmes. After this cycle, we turn to those who apply for Russell Group institutions. They are a great example to our new year 12s, who are embracing the academic rigour and challenges of A Level well, grappling with the increased workload, the demands of independent study and a new curriculum. In weekly progression hours we explore post 18 pathways and give boys the opportunity to meet with people from a range of careers, industries and Universities, most recently Cambridge University and the Diplomatic service. Through our co-curricular programme and sports afternoons, students can explore their passions beyond the classroom, such as chess, debate and personal fitness as well as cultivating positive relationships with students outside of their immediate subject areas.
And now we turn to our year 11s, busy preparing for their GCSEs. Our Sixth Form Open Evening is just around the corner and this is an excellent opportunity for them to explore our fantastic range of A-Levels and talk with current Sixth Form students and teachers about their subject choices. We are excited to welcome them through the doors on 11th November, alongside students from other schools interested to discover what makes FBS so different, and to continue in the successful growth of our Sixth Form.
Our Sixth Form Open Evening for entry in September 2022 will take place on Thursday 11th November. Please complete the attached Google Form and register for a talk and tour here. This is an excellent opportunity to tour the school, hear from our Head of Sixth Form, talk to subject teachers and find out more about life as a Sixth Former from current pupils.
