Preparing for University: The Sixth Form Transition at King’s College Taunton

For ambitious pupils entering Year 12, the final two years of education represent a transformative bridge between childhood and adulthood. At King’s College Taunton, we view the Sixth Form experience as a launchpad for success, a period where pupils transition from following a set curriculum to taking the helm of their own intellectual and personal development. 

As a leading private Sixth Form in Somerset, we provide an environment where expectations are elevated, and the culture shifts toward mutual respect, autonomy, and a genuine love for learning.

A Culture of Autonomy: The New Sixth Form Centre

The physical and cultural shift at King’s is deliberate, designed to treat young people as the individuals they are while preparing them for the independence of higher education. 

This philosophy is embodied in our recently completed £6m Sixth Form Centre, a significant investment that serves as the academic and social heart for our senior pupils.

Designed to mimic a modern university campus, the centre features creative learning rooms and versatile breakout areas that prepare pupils for the freedom of university life. Within this facility, a dedicated silent study space ensures pupils can cultivate the deep focus required for advanced research, while an on-site café provides a professional space for socialising and informal collaboration.

In this setting, Sixth Formers are challenged to take ownership of lesson content while learning the vital skill of managing their own free time effectively.

World-Class Facilities 

Our commitment to excellence is reflected in ongoing, planned investments to ensure our twin sites remain fit for purpose and stay at the forefront of educational advancements. We provide a state-of-the-art educational offer that utilises both our historical Victorian buildings and our cutting-edge modern additions.

Creativity is nurtured in our arts studio, which offers a large open-plan working space and mezzanine for diverse disciplines such as sculpture, printmaking, and textiles. This is complemented by our Design & Technology department, which is widely recognised as one of the most highly acclaimed and best-equipped in the UK.

 For those in the performing arts, imagination is turned into reality through our wonderful amphitheatre and professional-grade equipment for set building, lighting, and costume design. 

Furthermore, King’s remains a nationally renowned centre of sporting prowess, offering elite facilities that support our reputation for excellence, particularly on the cricket pitch.

Academic Mastery and Tailored Learning

The academic leap to A Levels or BTECs requires a fundamental shift in engagement, moving toward a seminar-style environment. Our small class sizes allow highly qualified specialists to go above and beyond the prescribed syllabus, sharing their passion for individual subjects during every lesson.

Pupils can choose from over 20 A Level subjects and two specialised BTEC programmes in Sport and Business Studies. This learning is augmented by the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and subject clinics that provide the intellectual stretch required for elite university applications. 

The results of this approach speak for themselves. In 2024, 80% of our pupils accessed their first-choice university, with half of those pupils attending prestigious Russell Group institutions.

The Futures Programme: Expert Guidance for Success

Securing top grades is only one piece of the puzzle, as we believe in nurturing well-rounded individuals with a true sense of purpose. Our pioneering Futures Programme, operating out of a dedicated room within the Sixth Form Centre, is designed to make our pupils “Real World Ready”.

Through this programme, we provide personalised, one-to-one guidance for pupils applying to Oxbridge, specialised career courses, or institutions abroad. To ensure our pupils have a competitive edge, we leverage our unique global family of schools with campuses in Doha, Riyadh, and India which provides outstanding networking opportunities for all pupils and alumni.

Leadership, Community, and Leaving a Legacy

The Sixth Form at King’s is a time for pupils to step up and lead, serving as standard-bearers for our culture of kindness and courage. Senior pupils can learn invaluable life skills by serving on the Prefects Team or acting as academic and sports mentors to younger pupils.

Our expansive co-curricular options, ranging from the CCF (Royal Navy, Marines, and Army) to community service in local hospitals and charity shops, encourage the development of resilience and empathy. 

All of this is underpinned by exceptional pastoral care, for which we consistently receive the highest accolades in ISI Inspections. This ensures that every pupil is known and valued as an individual within our close-knit, 24/7 boarding community.

Experience the King’s Difference

King’s College Taunton is a place where pupils are encouraged to fulfill their potential and make a real difference in the world. We invite you to experience our warm atmosphere and state-of-the-art facilities in person to see why we are the school of choice in the South West.