Sixth form

The Sixth Form at Thomas Mills is open to all who wish to attend it. Students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and schools beyond Framlingham. We provide opportunities for the full ability range.  We are proud of our facilities, reputation and results, and hope that this information will encourage you to find out more. An exciting building programme in recent years has created ‘state of the art’, specialist teaching areas in, for example, Mathematics, English, Design, Performance, ICT, Science, Languages and Art.

Planning a sixth form education needs careful thought. We have a curriculum structure that provides every sixth former with a stimulating and exciting educational experience and a breadth of extra- curricular activities and opportunities.

Find out more at our Open Evenings

Thomas Mills Sixth Form offers a wide range of courses. Some courses have specific entrance requirements, others are more flexible. For Advanced Level courses we would expect you to have achieved a minimum of 4 GCSEs at grade C, including,a grade C in any subject that you wish to take at Advanced Level.  For an Intermediate Level 2 course there are no formal entry requirements. Other courses leading to nationally recognised qualifications, are also available. For example,  Extended Projects  which allow students to develop breadth within their courses and prepare them for undergraduate study.  In this way we aim to provide our Sixth Formers with a flexible choice of courses and the broadest possible education.

We are normally able to accommodate most combinations of choices. Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences and Languages can all be combined. There are exciting opportunities in new areas of the curriculum, in subjects like Classical Civilisation, Economics and Psychology.  Individual students are able to follow the courses best suited to their needs, interests and talents.

The school has a tradition of over 60 years of sixth form teaching in Framlingham. Just as we embrace change and innovation, we take pride in the traditions and achievements of the past.  Our track record and our pioneering spirit have been recognised with successful inspections.

The school has a purpose built Sixth Form Centre, allowing students to develop their own interests and aptitudes in an environment that encourages self-discipline and personal organisation.  Students are treated as young adults with privileges and responsibilities but can still draw on a strong system of pastoral support to guide them through their education.

Dance, Drama and Music are among the Arts areas which offer chances to be involved in school life in a creative and lively way. Sixth Formers play a prominent role in annual productions, both acting and backstage. This gives many students an introduction to the world of theatre and the media. A specialist Performance Studio significantly enhances the opportunities available to students in this area. The school is proud of its outstanding musical reputation.  Its range of orchestras, ensembles, groups and choirs provides opportunities for students of all musical abilities.  Concerts and performances are presented throughout the year in both formal and informal settings. Tuition is available in most instrumental areas. Bands are also a regular feature of Sixth Form life for those who wish to be involved in making music. This wealth of opportunity resulted in the school receiving an Artsmark award.

Student Facilities

Our Information Technology facilities are amongst the most advanced in the country and have been regularly upgraded and extended. Seven designated computer rooms are linked to the suite of computers in the School Library. Internet, e-mail and multi-media facilities are available to all students for teaching and research purposes. Every subject area has interactive whiteboard facilities.

The Library and study areas in the Sixth Form Centre are ideal environments for studying, career planning and general reading. The  Careers Area has extensive reference material to enable students to develop their higher education and employment plans and, ultimately, progress onto the right career path.

Benefit from opportunities

Sixth Formers are very much part of the school. Challenging opportunities exist for involvement in many areas of school life, not least through the positions of Head Boy and Girl, the house system, prefect system, peer mentoring and our community service scheme.  All these possibilities create chances for students to assume responsibility, develop leadership skills, show initiative and provide a service to the school and wider community.  As such they are important aids to personal development outside the purely academic - and rewarding ways to extend the Sixth Form experience.

Sixth Form Leadership Training

The Thomas Mills Sixth Form is a chance to make new friends.  One focus is the common room but there is also a whole host of formal and informal events organised by the Sixth Form, such as the Leavers’ Ball. The atmosphere encourages easy mixing whatever the background or former school of students. We are keen to promote social activity and interaction as important facets to Sixth Form life.

Leavers' Ball

Sixth Formers can take part in numerous individual and team sports.  Our range of sporting activities and fixtures provides a breadth of  opportunities for students of all abilities, from those who wish to keep fit using the fitness suite to those who are committed sports players.  Students from the Sixth Form regularly obtain recognition at County and National levels.  Sports Leader Awards are available for those who wish to obtain recognised qualifications.

Life after Sixth Form

Sixth Formers from Thomas Mills succeed. Every year some 80% of our Upper Sixth move on to further and higher education at universities and colleges throughout the country. They also find employment in their chosen careers. We maintain close links with our former students, and are proud of their achievements.

In short, at Thomas Mills Sixth Form we expect all our students to reach their full potential.