Lavington School to open new Sixth Form, welcoming new and existing students

Lavington School is set to open its own sixth form next September. After years of planning, the school is preparing to welcome its first cohort of A-level students, offering a fresh option for post-GCSE education. 

The school will be holding an open evening on Tuesday, 22nd October, to give parents and prospective students a chance to explore the new opportunities.

Headteacher Ralph Plummer expressed his excitement about the new development: “For many years, we’ve been hopeful of launching our own standalone sixth form, and now we’ve got the green light,” he said. “We will be taking our first students next year, opening the doors to young people who are currently doing their GCSEs and offering an excellent range of A-levels.

“The new sixth form will focus on delivering traditional academic subjects, including maths, English and the sciences, as well as subjects like economics and computer science. We also have a strong reputation in design and graphics which we will be building on which will excite students interested in creative fields. We won’t be offering a lot of vocational courses, the local colleges do that very well. Instead, our focus will be on high-quality academic A-levels.”

The sixth form experience at Lavington, though, will be about more than just academic study. The school has carefully curated a calendar of events and experiences to enrich students’ lives beyond the classroom. From a post-16 ski trip and the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award to a Ten Tors expedition, students will have a wealth of opportunities for personal growth and adventure. “It’s the experience that really matters,” added the head. “We want our students to look back on their time here with fond memories.”

Lavington School has a strong track record of success, with students consistently achieving excellent results. Over the past three years, the school’s staff have worked in partnership with Devizes School to deliver a range of post-16 courses, helping Year 13 students secure places at their first-choice universities and top apprenticeships. With this experience under their belts, the school is confident in offering a sixth form that can rival the best in the area. “We’ve got a really passionate team of teachers with extensive A-level experience,” said Ralph Plummer.

“In addition to strong academic support, the school will offer a comprehensive programme to guide students through the UCAS process, particularly encouraging applications to Oxbridge and red brick universities. We’re keen to ensure that students from Wiltshire’s rural communities aren’t disadvantaged and have the same ambitions and opportunities as those from cities. The new sixth form is also looking to the future with ambitious plans to develop a purpose-built centre on the school’s farm site. We’ve had an architect draw up plans for the sixth form centre, and we’re eager to bring those to life as soon as possible. It will be exciting to see how the sixth form evolves, and the first students will play a key role in shaping its future.”

Heading up the new sixth form is Alison Silto, who has already been working hard behind the scenes to ensure everything is ready for the grand opening.

“The school’s open evening on 22nd October will be the perfect opportunity for interested families to learn more about what Lavington School’s sixth form has to offer,” added the head. We’ve been planning this for a long time, and we have the structures in place to offer an outstanding education. We are really excited about what we can offer and can’t wait to welcome our first students.”

For more details, visit the school’s website, email enquiries@lavington.wilts.sch.uk or call 01380 812352.

Pictured: From L-R: Florence Kibby, deputy head student; Dara Tiernan, head student; Paul Skipp, CEO of The Equa Mead Trust; Ralph Plummer, headteacher; Dylan Mead, head student; and Jared Kelly, deputy head student