Joining the Blackheath High Sixth Form places you in an environment where people genuinely care about your growth, academically and personally. What stands out most is how supportive and involved the teachers are. It’s not just a quick email or a rushed meeting - they check in consistently, guide you through personal statements and are always available to help you think through big decisions. 

One of the things I enjoy most is how we’re taught to think critically, not just to memorise the content or copy down notes. We’re encouraged to ask questions we don’t know the answers to (as often happens in life) and work through them together by discussing, analysing and learning from each other. Lessons often feel like real-world problem-solving, and our learning feels personalised through small class sizes and truly inspirational and passionate teachers. 

As Head Student, I work with five other Deputy Head Students, each with their own area of focus: Charity, Wellbeing Diversity and Academic Life. We are offered the chance to take on responsible jobs as well as strengthen our links with the younger years, and so far we’ve helped run Sports Day, directed whole-school assemblies and supported the Year 10 Taster Day. These experiences help us develop leadership and communication skills, but more importantly, they are ways of giving back to our school. 

Whilst in Year 12, we are encouraged to run our own societies based on our interests - - whether that’s Biomedical Society, Economics, or even Games, it’s all student-led. We all find that this is a great way to explore our subjects in more depth as part of preparation for Uni, whilst also connecting with other students in our tight-knit community.  

As Sixth Formers, we attend fortnightly TEDTalk style sessions from professionals across a wide range of industries (our Wollstonecraft Speaker Series). For our students, these often lead to mentoring opportunities or work experience. Alongside this, we have access to a strong alumnae network. It’s a valuable resource, especially when planning our next steps. 

Being a STEM student, I can give a snapshot of the opportunities I have experienced: recently, we were all encouraged to take part in the Olympiads, in which many of us received Silver and Bronze Awards. Last week as a school trip, we visited the Royal Society’s Summer Science Exhibition - a rare opportunity to engage with real, groundbreaking, scientific research from top universities. Similarly, some of us had the chance to join the LEAD programme - taking place at the prestigious LSE, students got to collaborate on a large-scale project to develop leadership and teamworking skills. 

The Sixth Form space itself is designed to support both independent study and downtime - with two quiet libraries, well-equipped science labs, a kitchen and comfy sofas (our fundamentals to success). The overall environment is focused, calm, and gives us the freedom to manage our own time. 

What makes Blackheath High Sixth Form different is that it's a community where everyone’s opinion matters. You’re supported, challenged, and encouraged to find your own path, and by the time you leave, you’re more confident in yourself and in your ideas. 

Written by Enay, Head Student