Richmond upon Thames College and the Richmond upon Thames School (RTS) have announced a groundbreaking proposal to establish an innovative, new Sixth Form Plus.
The partnership will enhance the local educational landscape by offering an unrivalled sixth form experience and support students' prospects.
The new Sixth Form Plus creates a co-delivered, hybrid teaching model, overseen by a senior post Head of Sixth Form. Staff from the Richmond upon Thames School will have the opportunity to teach A-level courses, enriching their career development while assuring parents of the quality of education provided.
The new Sixth Form Plus will provide students with a unique curriculum encompassing 21 different A-level options, including subjects such as Architecture, Fine Art, Psychology, Music Technology, and Economics. Additionally, state-of-the-art facilities will offer a comprehensive range of vocational courses from Accountancy to Travel and Tourism, comprising 27 distinct vocational routes, including BTEC Level 1, 2 & 3.
The partnership enables a clear sixth-form progression, and will operate under a formal partnership of co-ownership, supported by an Executive Management Board. This board will be co-chaired by the Richmond upon Thames School Headteacher Kelly Dooley and Richmond College Principal Gavin Hughes. This will ensure effective governance and reporting to the respective governing bodies.
The partnership was launched at an event at the college attended by representatives for the Department for Education, and the Association of Colleges.
Gavin said, “Students will get an amazing offer. They will be both part of the school and part of the college and will get the best that both can offer. Students will access both buildings and benefit from double the pastoral and academic support, and twice the range of enrichment and work experience. This ambitious initiative underscores our commitment to providing local students with world-class education – it also exemplifies our shared values and high expectations, which will be delivered with an emphasis on wellbeing, nurturing and top-tier teaching facilities.”
Kelly said, “At the Richmond upon Thames School (RTS), we have always prided ourselves on taking an innovative approach to education, serving our local community, and doing the ordinary differently. We are thrilled about what we know will be a transformational partnership between ourselves, Richmond upon Thames College, and the wider HRUC group of colleges. With the introduction of RTS Sixth Form Plus, we will offer our students a seamless transition to post-16 education. Starting from September 2024, our post-16 (Key Stage 5) students will have the opportunity to benefit from a diverse post-16 curriculum and exceptional teaching within a familiar setting. Together, we look forward to setting a new standard for post-16 education, both locally and beyond.”
Find out more about the courses offered at Richmond upon Thames College.