Why Choose Us?
St Edward’s are delighted that you are considering studying with us for this important and exciting stage in your education. In our sixth form, we can assure you of a unique experience where academic rigour and excellence is embedded within an environment where relationships between young adults and their teachers are regarded as an essential factor for success. As such, we aim to get to know each of your starting points, encourage your aspirations, enjoy the uniqueness that you bring with you and above all develop your potential.
We expect you to participate fully in sixth form life, bring your intellect and enthusiasm to your lessons, recognising that participation in a range of activities is the key to you finding the experience that might lead you to making life changing choices.
There are a wide variety of opportunities available to you: drama productions, trips to Iceland, France, Germany, Poland, sport tours, chaplaincy work, mentoring, senior student team, sport, Young Enterprise Challenge, public speaking, debates, Duke of Edinburgh, retreats, open and taster days at universities.
Our students follow a range of pathways including going to world ranking British and international universities, outstanding arts institutions, competitive apprenticeships with leading organisations, direct employment and exciting gap years.
Enjoy reading through the information on our website and I hope that it provides you with necessary information to help you make an informed choice.
We look forward to receiving your applications.
Our Ethos
As an ecumenical school we respond to Jesus’ prayer for his disciples, “Father, may they be one, as you and I are one” (John 16:21), and as a community of Christians we work together every day to serve young people and one another. Our ethos is characterised by love and care, together with a passionate belief that every child is capable of excellence, and that our role as educators is to enable each student to discern and respond to their unique vocation. Our horizon for students goes beyond exams and the workplace, and in addition to helping them to secure outstanding results, we seek to form them as well-rounded spiritually mature, and hardworking individuals.
We are proud to be a comprehensive school – a place of learning where everyone, regardless of their ability, is stretched and inspired to realise their potential. Many of our students go on to attain places at some of the best universities in the world, others go straight into the world of work, or take their learning in a different direction. We are proud of them all. We are renowned for the close, caring relationships between staff and students, and we believe that it is in a school where everyone feels valued, that high aspirations have the best hope of being turned into reality.
Gospel values permeate our work with students. Beyond the formal curriculum we offer a wide-range of learning experiences to develop and enrich each child. Spiritual, social, moral and cultural (SMSC) developments are woven through school life, via taught lessons, acts of worship, educational visits, and in the myriad of daily interactions that form the hustle and bustle of happy, successful secondary school life.
The School is affiliated to the De la Salle network of schools. St John Baptiste de la Salle was a massive influence on the education movement in the 17th and 18th century, fighting for the rights of poor children to be educated. He founded a religious community dedicated to securing the very best education for young people.
All of our students have the opportunity to go on retreat at Kintbury, a beautiful country estate in Oxfordshire. There they spend time under the guidance of the Youth Team, having fun, reflecting on their lives, and exploring their God-given vocation. Our La Sallian link enables us to be focussed on providing a holistic formation for our students; attending to their academic and spiritual development. It also helps us to grow in understanding and appreciation of childhood – that precious time in our lives, which is so often threatened by pressures to grow up quickly.
We as a school are proud to be part of this international community.