Enrichment and Personal Development
Personal Development
Sixth Formers are expected to play an integral part in the school life, be it as House Captains within each of the School’s four houses; mentoring younger children lower down the School, or volunteering their services or fund-raising in a way that helps others within the local community.
They are also required to be effective ambassadors for the School and to act as positive role models for both our Primary and Senior pupils. Our experience shows that they respond well to these expectations and fulfil their tasks with a sense of pride and consideration for others.
At the same time, personal development takes place through work experience opportunities, university-style seminars, inter-house and inter-school competitive sports, speaker programmes and internships.
The School works closely with its alumni and other external partnerships to provide enriching opportunities that introduce students to the wider world and help them develop as maturing individuals.
As a Free School the Royal also offers the Extended Project Qualification – an academic enrichment programme that requires extensive independent study in a subject of a student’s own choosing. The EPQ is taken in Year 12 alongside A Level studies and earns students additional UCAS points.
Appointed roles
Each year, the School’s Head Boy and Head Girl are appointed by staff from the Upper Sixth, and House Captains and Deputies are elected for each of the School’s four houses.
House Captains must take responsibility for the leadership and organisation of their house throughout the forthcoming academic year. The role involves chairing house meetings, delivering assemblies, keeping the house noticeboard up-to-date, organising teams for all events and motivating and mentoring younger members of their house.
Enrichment
Sixth Formers at The Royal School are encouraged to take part in extracurricular activities in order to broaden their skill set, achieve a balance in work and relaxation, and provide vital evidence of their best attributes to universities and employers.
Be it sports, CCF, Duke of Edinburgh or charity work our students are able to provide real and practical examples of commitment, leadership and resilience; not to mention a willingness to take risks, support others and work as a team.
There is stiff competition for the best university places and career openings and it is these essential personal qualities that help our Year 13 leavers to stand out.
Sports
Our sports facilities are second to none and include a purpose-built Physical Education Centre with 25m swimming pool, gymnasium and dance studio. We have a full-size all-weather pitch and a separate football pitch for the First Eleven, plus tennis courts, cricket pitch and a pavilion.
Every Wednesday afternoon is dedicated to sport at The Royal School. The choice is limitless:
- Basketball Dance Netball Gymnastics
- Rounders Swimming Table tennis Athletics
- Badminton Football Rugby Cricket
- Scuba-diving Hockey Judo Ice-skating
Combined Cadet Force
CCF runs as an after-school activity and those Sixth Formers who’ve been at the School for GCSE and earlier will already have played an active part in the School’s CCF programme.
CCF is a national scheme run in conjunction with selected schools and designed to offer unique opportunities for young adults. It is a military-based organisation and consists of fitness and teambuilding activities that teach competence in leadership, drill, weapons handling and battle tactics. CCF provides students with a truly unique learning experience that not only helps them to stand apart from other young adults of the same age, but instils confidence and self-discipline. Uniforms and all essential kit are provided by the Army or RAF.
Sixth Formers can volunteer for courses and summer camps held at military bases resulting in qualifications in adventure training, lifeguarding, first-aid and more. Without doubt, every cadet comes back from these life-changing experiences having gained in maturity and self-belief.
Rotary Interact
The school has an active Rotary Interact Club run in association with two local Rotary groups and with the support of an international network. Interact is primarily involved in raising funds for charitable causes and through this Sixth Formers are able to ‘lead, serve and connect’ at the same time doing something useful and meaningful for others in the spirit of ‘Service before self’. In the past year funds have been raised for three Shelter boxes which are provided to places in the world that suffer from major catastrophe and can be on site in a matter of days.
For example, students may be busy baking for a charitable cake sale; organising a ‘Wear it Yellow’ day or manning a human fruit machine to raise funds for a local hospice and schools in Africa. These activities not only develop personal skills but they also support elements of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme – all useful evidence for inclusion on future job and UCAS applications. The group is run by the students and prepares them well for the world of work, collaboration and committees where a great deal can be achieved and learned.
Duke of Edinburgh Award
The Royal has a long established history of working with pupils towards their Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke Of Edinburgh Awards. This challenging award is well recognised by universities and employers as a hallmark of maturity, independence and inner strength and the School has invested heavily in training for the Award and is now an independent licence holder offering Bronze, Silver and Gold. The group meets weekly and covers a range of activities from teambuilding exercises, cooking, map work and navigation.
Those students who’ve been with us through Senior School will usually be working towards their Gold Level by Sixth Form, but it is also possible to start the scheme at Bronze Level in Year 12.
Debating Society
The Debating Society is a very popular among Sixth Formers especially for those who enjoy a good discussion on topical and controversial issues. Debaters also look at the theory of debate, the workings of the British parliamentary system and techniques for improving their own debating skills. Many of our Sixth Form leavers have gone on to become accomplished debaters at university and beyond.
UK Youth Parliament
Sixth Formers have the opportunity to put themselves forward as candidates for election onto both Wolverhampton City Youth Council and the United Kingdom Youth Parliament – two democratic institutions where student representatives can be involved in making decisions on real issues affecting their generation. Interested students are encouraged to organise their own pre-election campaign with support from the School. Elections are held in February each year.