A Warm Welcome: Starting in Bloxham’s Sixth Form

Rawdon, an enthusiastic member of Bloxham Sixth Form, reflects on his decision to join the School and how the experience has exceeded his expectations. From the welcoming community to the variety of academic and extracurricular opportunities, Rawdon describes what makes Bloxham stand out. 

What motivated you to join Bloxham’s Sixth Form?

I think what motivated me was a combination of strong academics, really impressive facilities, and some really nice people. Oh, and the amazing grounds—those definitely stood out.

How has your experience been so far since joining in September? Has it been what you expected?

Yeah, I think so. The experience has been really good. Bloxham, as a school, makes sure that everyone is involved in some way with school life, whether it’s choir, orchestra, Prefect roles, or the compulsory service activities. I think those things bring about great personal and social benefits, definitely.

Did you look at any other sixth forms? Was there a reason why Bloxham stood out?

Yes, I did look at quite a few schools, actually, but I think the small size of Bloxham, combined with the variety it offers, was something that really stood out.

What was your first impression of the school when you first looked around?

I remember thinking it was very broad in its focus without feeling overwhelming.

How did you find the process of settling in and making new friends?

To be honest, joining any new school is going to be a bit nerve-wracking—it’s not a seamless experience. But something that definitely helped was the House structure here. It really helps with making friends. Once you’ve made friends, you feel like you really slot in, and then you can even joke about things like finding platform 9¾!

What subjects are you studying at the moment? And why did you chose them?

I’m doing A Levels in music, economics, and maths. Music was an obvious choice because the music department here is so vibrant—there’s always something going on. Economics was partly because there’s an economics classroom right in my Day house, which is handy! And maths—well, one of the reasons is that you get two teachers for maths, which I think is great and you get to experience two different teaching styles.

What kind of support have you received so far from teachers and students here? Has it been good?

Yes, very good. The rewards ‘star’ system is fantastic. There’s nothing quite like kicking off a Monday morning by getting a virtual star! The students are really helpful too, so if you need help, there’s always someone you can ask.

What do you enjoy most about being at Bloxham, if you had to pick one thing?

That’s a tough one because it’s all so good, isn’t it? But I’d say the community—it’s just amazing.

What advice would you give to any other student who might be considering coming to Bloxham?

I’d say to keep in mind that Merton is the best House—obviously! But seriously, I’d advise working hard, making new friends, and just enjoying the final few years of secondary school.

Back to all stories