Since 1998-99 we have collaborated with the local girls’ grammar school to broaden the academic curriculum for students at both schools and to develop wider opportunities for students to interact together in an academic and social setting. The collaboration has been and continues to be very successful, enriching the sixth form experience for sixth formers at both schools.
Almost half of post-16 subjects are involved directly in curricular collaboration between the schools. Some subjects are shared (eg Geology and Music), some subjects are taught at South Wilts and are open to boys (eg Psychology, English Language, French and German). Others are taught at BWS and are open to girls (eg Philosophy, Spanish, Economics, and Politics). A large number of boys and girls take collaborative subjects so that they have to travel to the other school’s site for a proportion of their learning time. The timetable has been constructed to make this possible and a pleasant riverside walk links the two sites.
There are many extra-curricular links between the two schools too – for example joint Language Exchanges, field trips, musical events, drama and expeditions. There are also joint social events during the year. Finally, the schools’ specialisms complement each other to enhance an already rich curricular and extra curricular provision on offer.
The South Wilts Sixth Form website can be viewed here