The Sixth Form years are among the most exciting and rewarding of your school journey. At Southend High School for Boys, our Sixth Form community brings together around 450 students in a warm, welcoming, and down-to-earth environment. Our Sixth Form is based in a dedicated, purpose-built centre, which includes a large common room with its own canteen, several study rooms, an ICT suite, the pastoral office, and a dedicated Sixth Form study area within our state-of-the-art school library in the main school building.
Our academic results speak for themselves – consistently among the best in the area – with growing numbers of students each year securing places at Oxford, Cambridge, and other leading Russell Group universities. But Sixth Form life at SHSB isn’t just about academic achievement. We place real value on personal growth, aiming to support students in becoming well-rounded, principled, and confident individuals who are ready to make a positive contribution to the world beyond school.
Pastoral support is a key part of this. Our experienced and approachable staff are always on hand to offer guidance – not just academically, but emotionally and personally too. We’re especially proud of our Personal Development and Health & Wellbeing programmes, which include everything from cooking, mindfulness to volunteering in local primary schools, taking part in team sports, completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and working towards an Extended Project Qualification.
The Sixth Form plays a vital role in the wider life of the school. Our Year 12 and 13 students are at the heart of many key initiatives – from serving as prefects and mentoring younger pupils, to leading committees such as Fairtrade and Charity, raising thousands each year for good causes both locally and internationally.
Our students leave us ready to take on the world – confident, capable, and community-minded. To support this, SHSB offers a wide range of opportunities to help every student explore their next steps and find the path that’s right for them.
Mrs Layla Ryan, Head of Sixth Form