Year 7 is all about “Joining In.” To ensure students in Year 7 get off to a good start, it is vital they participate and try new things. We hope they will make the most of the vast number of clubs and sports available at both lunch time and after school. They should also try to be a committed member of the form group, showing their commitment to the school community. But most importantly, they should be open to new ideas and join in with new lessons, opportunities and friends.

Year 7 presents students with a variety of challenges: new friends, new teachers and new lessons. Year 7 learn the importance of living the school values of justice, compassion, forgiveness and trust which they take throughout the school journey.

We encourage all Year 7 students to partake in at least one extracurricular activity per week. There is something for everyone from the very popular retro gaming club, to trampolining and debate club. In order to celebrate those who are really taking advantage of joining in with extra-curricular programs we are launching our ‘Super 7s challenge’. This will be the students who have attended the most clubs overall and will win a prize at the end of the half term.

Bewerley Park is the highlight of the autumn term. Those attending have the opportunity to spend time with students in other form groups in their bands as well as teachers they perhaps have not met yet and get to know them in a very different setting than school. At Bewerley Park students will embark upon gorge walking, caving, canoeing, abseiling and much more.

Beyond this, students will have lots of chances to join in with trips, visits, enrichment days and clubs throughout their time in Year 7. Have a look around the rest of the AHS Journey to see what is on offer.

Year 8 is all about building on the opportunities they are given and making the most of the extra-curricular opportunities in KS3. We work hard to ensure students in Year 8 have the opportunity to try lots of new sport, arts and creative opportunities. We also promote lots of different trips, including local, national and international trips. Year 8 is also the year where students will reflect upon future career opportunities and start exploring leadership opportunities. In particular, we hope that Year 8s will become ambassadors for the school, helping at Open Evening and supporting the transition period in Year 7.

The Year 8 students are now our role models in key stage 3 and are a credit to themselves, especially those who support the Year 7s as buddies. I am looking forward to seeing them continue to mature over the course of the year and to support and encourage them to take the many opportunities available to them here at Archbishop’s. We will continue with our ‘Super Club Challenge’, expecting all children to attend one club a week, and with over 40 clubs to choose from, they will be ‘spoilt for choice’.

Year 8 is a Year of opportunity. Have a look around our AHS Journey to explore all the opportunities on offer!

Year 9 is all about “Understanding yourself and others”.

This is an important transition year and students need to spend time reflecting upon their own values and beliefs as well as understanding how their values fit into the wider ideas of society. We have introduced a new weekly lesson called “Character and Culture” in Year 9 for all students. These are standalone lessons where students explore issues and topics which are important to them. This is their opportunity to find out about the world they will live in. This half term is centred around “What is power?” allowing students to explore a range of related topics: discuss different concepts of power; gain an overview of the political spectrum; understand and explore the human rights; debate the significance of “in and out groups” and the growing cultural concerns around gang culture. Each half term has an alternative focus, tailored to students’ needs. This sits alongside students PSHE lessons, providing what we believe to be a full and culturally relevant curriculum.

Year 9 will also have opportunities to explore their values in a range of cultural enrichment days which will be spread throughout the year. Here, all students in Year 9 will have the opportunity to experience different culture and experiences in a range of cities across the UK. Furthermore, students will also explore the importance of leadership and engagement with others through the Young Leader’s Award this year.

Finally, during this transition year, students are expected to continue their “extra-curricular” interests. Students in Year 9 are challenged to sustain their attendance at clubs and activities and achieve their “9 by 9 awards”.

Year 10 is all about developing “resilience” and “responsibility”. Students will have lots of opportunities to develop vital skills for life, in particular in the preparation for work experience and as they start to deepen the study of their chosen GCSEs. Students will also have the opportunity to become leaders within school, applying to be prefects, volunteering to mentor other students and taking challenges such as the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. They will also deepen their resilience as they develop independent study habits whilst exploring a wider range of career possibilities. Year 10 sets the foundations for the challenges in future years.

There is no denying that it is going to be a challenge sustaining this level of commitment and hard work and that is why the focus of the year group, whilst on their journey at Archbishop’s, is resilience and responsibility. Taking responsibility for their everyday lives at school remains of paramount importance and students will be supported, throughout the year, to be resilient to the challenges this year may bring, whether this is work experience, pre-public examinations, Duke of Edinburgh or continuing a range of extra-curricular activities.

Year 11 is all about the careful preparation for the next steps in life, regardless of what these are. We believe, as a school, our job is to show students the choices which are theirs to make. Much of Year 11 is spent ensuring the have the necessary tools and opportunities to make these choices. This include intense preparation for public examinations but also a period of focused reflection. Reflection upon what they have learnt throughout their AHS Journey, what they want from life and where their next steps will take them.

As part of the “Next steps”, students will receive support and guidance throughout the year, whether they wish to join the Archbishop Holgate’s Sixth Form, take on an apprenticeship or join the world of work with part-time education or training. Recently, students took part in the school’s IAG Day to experience life in the Sixth Form. The day gave students an opportunity to try the vast number of subjects we have on offer in a mixed curriculum of A Levels and BTEC courses that has produced truly outstanding outcomes for our students in recent years. Beyond this, if your child would like more help and guidance regarding ‘Next Steps’ and careers, please book an initial appointment for your child with Miss Robinson (Careers Education Lead), or direct your queries to Mr Avery (Assistant Head: Student Support). Furthermore, whilst this is a busy time for Year 11, please speak regularly to you child regarding careers as the best conversations towards futures usually begin at home.

Year 12 sees students becoming ‘examples to follow’ and begin to consider and explore plans for their future. Year 12 students are role models and ambassadors for the main school. As “student leaders”, students will work with students on key areas, including mentoring, mental health awareness, anti-discrimination whilst providing support with key school events. However, Year 12 will also spend time looking at examples they wish to follow beyond school. They will reflect upon what inspires them, what they want to achieve and how they need to start to do this. Career guidance will help support these examples as they explore industries and professional environments they want to work in. Students can also find examples in each other as they work together on weekly enrichment activities to broaden their personal and academic interests. The weekly Enrichment Programme is a really exciting way to find out more about personal passions and interests beyond the curriculum.

For more information about what happens in Sixth Form life, have a look at our specific Sixth Form pages.

Year 13 is, in many ways, the conclusion to the AHS Journey but also the start of the next steps. Students will spend considerable time this year preparing for life after school. There is extensive UCAS support provided by the Year 13 team. Further to this, all students will receive personalised career guidance and support with whatever they decide to do next. All this work sits alongside excellent teaching and learning in preparation for final summer examinations. However, it is also a time for reflection: students will explore their own values and priorities, considering what they have learnt, beyond the curriculum, during their time with us and how this has shaped their future plans and priorities.

For more information about Sixth Form, UCAS and next steps, please have a look at our specific Sixth Form pages.