The journey into the Lower Sixth began when the whole year group came together for a welcoming mocktail evening. For our new intake, this was their first opportunity to meet the wider year group and begin to establish the friendships and connections that will shape their Sixth Form experience. The evening provided a warm and relaxed introduction to life at College, bringing together new and returning pupils and giving everyone the chance to settle into their new surroundings before the formal programme of induction began the following day.
A key message of the morning came during the ‘Welcome to Sixth Form’ talk, led by the Senior Prefects, Charlie H and Zara S-J. With their own experience of early Sixth Form life still fresh, they encouraged the new Lower Sixth to make the most of the extraordinary breadth of opportunities available to them. Sixth Form is about far more than academic study, and pupils were encouraged to look beyond the immediate demands of their A levels, explore unfamiliar interests, take on new responsibilities and consider how they might contribute to the wider College community. The message was clear: there is an enormous amount on offer, but pupils need to be proactive in making the most of it.
This emphasis on personal development continued with leadership and teamwork training, led by the Upper Sixth Prefects. Through a series of activities designed to encourage communication, collaboration and leadership, pupils were challenged to consider not only how they work as individuals, but also how they contribute to a successful team. The sessions provided an important introduction to the responsibilities that will come: being among the senior pupils in the College highlighting the many ways in which leadership can be developed throughout the upcoming journey.
The afternoon turned firmly towards the academic transition to A level study. Academic induction was introduced by the Academic Prefects, Felix J and Tali S, who shared their own experiences and offered some important advice about the step up from GCSE. With greater academic independence comes greater responsibility, and pupils were reminded that independence should not be mistaken for freedom from effort. A level study demands sustained commitment, organisation and a willingness to take ownership of learning. As the Academic Prefects emphasised, hard work comes first and is something that will never be regretted. To support pupils in making that transition successfully, two lectures were then delivered by the Life Skills Company. The sessions provided practical strategies in effective note-taking and speed reading that pupils can apply immediately, helping them to become more efficient and purposeful in the way they approach their studies.
The Deputy Head (Safeguarding), Deputy Head (Pastoral) and College Counsellor welcomed the new Lower Sixth and outlined the network of support around them. Their message reinforced the importance of looking after yourself and each other, recognising that successful Sixth Form life depends not only on academic progress but also on wellbeing, relationships and a strong sense of belonging.
Across the induction programme, a consistent theme emerged. Our pupils have arrived at a stage of their education where they are increasingly expected to take ownership of their choices, their learning and their contribution to the community. The induction programme was therefore about much more than helping pupils find their way around a new phase of College life; it was about giving them the confidence, skills and perspective to make the most of it. They have been encouraged to be ambitious, curious and engaged, and to recognise that the foundations they lay now will shape not only their remaining time at Marlborough, but the people they become beyond it.
Danielle Lilley
Head of Lower Sixth
