Dauntsey's
Sixth Form
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Introduction by the Head MasterAt Dauntsey' s we believe we should prepare students for their lives after school in the broadest sense. Our foremost aim is that students should fulfil their academic potential. However, it is a characteristic of Dauntsey' s students that their latent talent is developed in both their studies and their non-examinable pursuits. By the time students leave our upper sixth form we expect that they will have acquired more than academic knowledge: they should have developed an ability to study independently, as well as the social, personal and time-management skills to see them through higher education and, for many, demanding careers. To accomplish this we encourage students to take on responsibility. They learn to manage their own time around the busy schedule of school life. They look after younger members of the school, often as House and School Prefects, and also learn to behave in an adult manner at social events. Though Dauntsey' s has its delightful traditions it is not an overly formal school, nor is there a Dauntsey' s ' type' , which students feel they have to conform to. Its atmosphere is one of tolerance, encouragement and friendliness. We are always open to visitors. Quite rightly, visiting students and parents ask us many questions. This pamphlet sets out to answer some of the questions most frequently asked. What type of school is Dauntsey's and where is it?Dauntsey' s is a fully co-educational independent school of about 700 pupils, aged between 11 and 18. About half of its pupils are boarders. It is in West Lavington, a large village south of the town of Devizes, Wiltshire. Why should I choose Dauntsey's rather than some of the other independent schools in the area?Dauntsey' s has an excellent academic record, as do a number of other schools. However, very few combine academic excellence with the range of life-enhancing opportunities outside the classroom and, above all, the quality of the pastoral care, advice and positive relations with teaching staff that almost all students here comment on (both during their time here and, tellingly, after they have left). The school also enables sixth formers to make friendships that will endure; friendships often forged in a modern ' House' system that develops close communities within the broader school community.
Which subjects can I study?At present there are 23 A Level courses available at AS and A2 level. These are: Art and Design, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Classics, Computing, Design and Technology, Economics, English Literature, French, Geography, German, History, Latin, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Music, Music Technology, Physical Education, Physics, ' Religion, Philosophy and Ethics' , Spanish, and Theatre Studies. What are the School's results like?Impressive. Over 75% of our students achieve grade A or B in their A Levels.
What sort of help will I get with my studies?Students
are given much personal support in their learning and the boarding nature
of the School means that there is usually someone to turn to for help,
even out of school hours. Facilities are excellent. The Art and
DT Departments are available for students to work in during evenings and
weekends, as are the large new computing and library facilities.
Recent years have also seen new Music facilities, a roomy and separate
Art school, and an impressive new Science development of ten laboratories. What sort of help will I get in planning my future?Sixth formers undergo a programme of activities to guide them through their options and choices. Examples of activities are visits, seminars, an occupational analysis test, the UCAS Higher Education Conference and Dauntsey' s own Higher Education Conference (open to parents also). Gap year opportunities and electronic application through UCAS are also explained by the Careers Department.
Through both the pastoral system and the Careers Department advice is freely and frequently given. Aftercare extends well beyond the formal ending of schooldays, and former pupils frequently return both socially and also to gather job references. Leaving Dauntsey' s is just another step on the way and not the definitive termination of a relationship between school and student.
Where do students go after Dauntsey's?Virtually all our students go on to university, and around 90% of those read their degrees at well-established universities. About 70% of applicants attend the following Universities (most frequent destination first): Nottingham, Southampton, Durham, Cardiff, Bristol, Oxford, Imperial, Cambridge, Birmingham, Exeter, Reading, Manchester, Warwick, UCL, KCL, Sheffield, Brunel, Leeds, Bath and York. Degree choices reflect the breadth of student strengths in a wide range of disciplines, roughly equally divided between the sciences and humanities.
Are there disadvantages in being in a fully co-educational environment?Dauntsey' s was one of the pioneer schools in the development of co-education throughout the school. Thus we have enormous experience of both the value of co-education and some of the difficulties. With the latter in mind we have maintained single-sex boarding houses in the upper school. Pupils have separate house areas to retreat to should they wish to escape.
What do the houses do?Each sixth form student at Dauntsey' s is assigned to a House (either day or boarding) of around 50 pupils (aged 14-18) that is run by a Housemaster or Housemistress. These senior staff, along with their teams of tutors, are responsible for many aspects of a pupil' s development whilst at Dauntsey' s. They aim to help pupils flourish, both academically and generally. Tutors liaise with subject teachers, and so monitor academic progress, or help deal with problems. Advice can be given about many topics such as option choices, careers and university applications. However, the tutor can simply be a listening ear when there is a need for someone to talk to. The tutor is usually the person whom a parent would contact to discuss a student' s progress. A counselling service and a listening service are available, and the full-time Chaplain and school nurses are also at hand. Many sixth formers are invited to take on responsibilities in the running of Houses, mostly by peer nomination. This opportunity to have a say in the running of Houses, as well as to help younger students, can be a rewarding part of school life, and shapes students' attitudes for years after leaving us. Why would anyone choose to board?Some people are obliged to board given their family circumstances, but an increasing number of 16 year olds make a positive choice to board without that need. These pupils want to maximise their opportunities at school by cutting out travelling time and to develop some independence before embarking on university life. The boarding houses are run in a civilised manner by staff who are also teachers and in all cases have their own children. Thus the Houses become extended families and offer a unique social experience for all members; an experience that few predict when they arrive and few forget when they leave. There are plenty of activities at weekends (though students may go home if they wish) and parents are frequent visitors both on formal occasions and informally.
Do I have to go to religious services?The role of religion in education is controversial, but at Dauntsey' s formal compulsory services are part of a much broader approach to belief, morality and engagement with the world that is, sadly, often neglected in the modern curriculum. It is not about indoctrination but it is about reflection and understanding. Ideas are explored in collective worship held once a week. There is no attempt to proselytise, but there is an attempt to make young people look beyond the dominant material world of unabashed consumerism that is so pervasive.
Does Dauntsey's do much in the way of drama?Drama at Dauntsey' s is one of the most exciting areas of school life. There are numerous productions, which enable students of all ages to get involved. It doesn' t matter whether students are interested in comedy, serious drama or musical theatre: a varied programme goes on each year, and there are plenty of opportunities to be involved either on stage or behind the scenes. We also run clubs for those who don' t yet wish to be involved in a production, and the academic drama department has excellent results at both GCSE and A Level. Previous productions include Les Misérables, Amadeus, Sweeney Todd and Our Country' s Good. As well as the Memorial Hall, in which we consistently play to a full audience of 500, we also have a small intimate studio space (being developed in the near future), which is perfect for experimental and imaginative drama. Is there much music going on and, is it all Baroque?Music at Dauntsey' s encompasses almost every conceivable musical style, ranging from Rock to Classical, Medieval to Modern, Folk-Song to Music Technology. We average two events per week, such as musicals (e.g. Les Misérables, Sweeney Todd, HONK!), solo concertos (e.g. Saint-Säens Organ, Chopin 2nd Piano), choral spectaculars (e.g. Verdi' s Requiem) and the highly un-competitive “Battle of the Bands”. Instrumental Tuition is available on a full range of instruments, and students can take grade exams in Music and/or Music Theatre. Currently we give over 550 Musical Instrument lessons each week. 400 pupils learn one instrument, 150 learn two, two pupils learn three, and one pupil, until recently, learned five! Whatever the standard or style, all are encouraged to become actively involved and to make the most of their talents and the School' s excellent facilities.
What kind of sports and physical activities are on offer?At Dauntsey' s we recognize that by the time students reach the Sixth Form they have varied sporting interests and aspirations. Our games programme reflects this by providing a series of activities, both team and individual. While sport is a part of all students' lives at Dauntsey' s, enthusiasts for competitive sports are well catered for and compete up to national level. Hockey, netball, athletics and tennis are the main girls' sports, while rugby, hockey, cricket, football, athletics and tennis are those for boys. Other sports available include tennis, squash, judo, trampolining, modern dance, horse riding, golf, kick boxing, basketball, badminton, canoeing, conditioning, aerobics, water polo, lacrosse and fencing. Facilities include a floodlit all-weather Astroturf pitch, sports hall, heated 25 metre indoor pool, well equipped gym, a seven hole golf course, and, of course, a number of well-tended pitches and courts to support the yearly cycle of sports mentioned above.
Is there anything else to do?There are many clubs and societies at Dauntsey' s. Some of the more popular ones for sixth formers include The Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race, The Ten Tors Event, The Brecons Challenge, mountaineering with the Expedition Society and The Duke of Edinburgh' s Award Scheme. There are also academic societies and more purely cerebral societies, such as Chess Club. We pride ourselves that there is a niche for everyone. Perhaps the most unusual of Dauntsey' s clubs (ironically, given that Wiltshire is a land-locked county) is its Sailing Club. This sails and maintains the 1913 gaff-rigged pilot cutter Jolie Brise, the only vessel to win the Fastnet Race three times, and also a recent winner in The Tall Ships' Race. The opportunity to sail upon her makes the term 'unique' seem rather overused.
Are students obliged to pursue a wide range of extra-curricular activities?At sixth form level the school is a facilitator. Whilst pupils are encouraged to take on as many activities as they can without compromising their academic progress, it is recognised that we are all different. Some will never go on the Jolie Brise, never take a part in a school play, never lift a flute and simply do a little aerobics to break up the rhythm of their academic day. And that is just fine, but the pastoral system is structured in such a way that no pupil can pass through unnoticed or unvalued and thus miss out on the opportunity to do these things through lack of confidence or lack of knowledge.
Will I get time to relax?Life in Dauntsey' s Sixth Form is a chance to experience new activities and opportunities, as well as mixing with new people. Students integrate from different schools and in a roughly equal mix of day/boarding and male/female. House events are a key part of students' social lives, and the large boarding community ensures that the school week does not stop when lessons do. As well as events organised by houses the sixth form has the 17 Club. This has a social area where students can listen to music, play games and watch films. In the evenings students who are 17 or older can be served drinks under adult supervision. For many sixth formers the Club is the social hub of the school, where they can meet up with students from other houses. The Club is run by its own committee, who learn to work with a fair degree of independence in organizing events, such as an annual charity ball. A coffee bar and tuck shop are also available during breaks in the school day.
How much does it cost?Full details of current fees are available with the school prospectus (see below for further details). There is a 10% discount on boarding fees for the second or subsequent student from the same family attending Dauntsey' s at the same time.
Can I get financial help?At Dauntsey' s we are willing to give financial help to students who demonstrate excellence in any area of school life. We do this in two ways: In either case the student' s school is asked for an indication that they will cope well at A Level and perform well at GCSE. In both cases, if they wish, students may also have a specialist interview in Art, Design, Drama, Physical Education or Music, which will allow them to demonstrate their interest and skills in these areas. Awards and scholarships vary in value from 10% to a maximum of 50% of fees.
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Entry Details and Scholarship InformationOpen Mornings and EveningsHow to Find UsFeesContact
Us
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