An Introduction from our Headteacher

Making a decision about your next steps once you finish Year 11 is one of the most important education-related decisions you will make. We are pleased that you are considering Brentside High School and we are confident that the materials you will find in our online open evening section, including our presentations and prospectus, will enable you to gather the key information that you need in order to make the right decision for you. 

Why choose Brentside’s Sixth Form?

We have a long-standing history of success at sixth form. For several years now, our student outcomes, on average, have placed our sixth form firmly within in the top 10% of all Post-16 education centres nationally, and in two of those years results have been in the top 2% nationally (Alps and Department for Education data). These outcomes do not happen by accident; students achieve so highly at Brentside because of the outstanding teaching and learning, care, guidance and support that they receive. Teaching in the sixth form is inspirational. Ofsted reported that “Teachers’ strong and confident subject knowledge captivates and inspires pupils. Students in the sixth form are especially appreciative of their teachers’ expertise.” Our teachers go the extra mile to ensure that all students, whatever their ability, are supported every step of the way. This is what makes our school unique; we work with warmth, care and investment in our young people. We understand that we all have different strengths and that we all need to be challenged and supported in different ways. At Brentside we care about each student as an individual. Our students recognise this, thrive because of it and are keen to share this with visitors, including Ofsted who noted that students “value the dedication and expertise of their teachers and the extra support they receive with their studies.”

We have a strong reputation and are visited by schools from London and beyond because of the way we support our students to make progress. Our strong, long serving and highly experienced sixth form Leadership Team, have an excellent track record in supporting individual students to move on to the right pathway for them, be that securing apprenticeships or getting in to their chosen universities, (with a good number successfully gaining entrance to top Russell Group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge).

Whether you have studied with us from Year 7 or will be joining us from another school next September, the sixth form at Brentside brings with it new challenges, the opportunity to specialise in the subjects you love or those you would like to experience for the first time, privilege, independence, responsibility and the opportunity to work alongside like-minded peers as well as to mix with those you have not previously worked with. We provide a sixth form of approximately 250 students - big enough for you to have a variety of people to mix with but small enough to ensure that you still feel part of the Brentside community.

What courses are on offer?

We offer a wide range of courses all of which are introduced in our prospectus. At A Level we offer both traditional and more contemporary subjects. We also offer BTEC courses (equivalent to one to three A Levels) and students are able to combine A Level and BTEC subjects or to specialise solely in one qualification type. We do offer some bridging courses for those students wanting to complete a specialised Level 2 course (GCSE equivalent) before moving on to a Level 3 programme of study. Whatever your subject passion, there will be a course for you and additional opportunities that allow you to grow in confidence, ability, experience and academic success.

Much of our sixth form accommodation is in the school’s new building, where we have a range of seminar rooms, sixth form science labs and a sixth form study room with access to computers and support from our dedicated pastoral support worker. In addition to this, facilities include specialist art rooms and workshops, a dark room for photography, Mac suites and a fitness suite. Whatever your interests, both within and outside of the classroom, there is something for you here at Brentside.

If you are hard working, committed, have a track record of success and meet the entry criteria for the subjects you wish to study, we look forward to your application to the Sixth Form at Brentside and to welcoming you to be a part of our continued success.

Yours faithfully,

Charlotte Hames