SCHOOL leavers have been given a taste of college life as a sixth form opened its doors to learners.
Year 11 students descended on Richmond School and Sixth Form College for a day of further education to help them decide on the best environment for future learning.
Students from Wensleydale School, Bedale High School and Richmond School mixed with students moving into the area to enjoy a day in the sixth form centre meeting staff, hearing about courses and getting a taste for life in Years 12 and 13.
They got to experience some A Level lessons, check out the facilities Richmond Sixth Form has to offer and try enrichment activities they will be able to access outside of their studies.
Assistant headteacher in charge of sixth form Leslie Richardson said: “We love welcoming the Year 11s to our sixth form centre which offers them something different to the school environment they have been used to.
“Our sixth formers are offered a unique experience. The sixth form centre gives them a defined area outside of school but if they want or need to they can remain part of the wider community with real bonuses if they want to develop their mentoring skills with younger children.
“Being smaller than many standalone FE colleges, they also get so much more contact time with tutors who know and understand their every need and can develop coursework and academic support bespoke to their strengths.”
Tom Walker, 16, of Richmond, said: “I am really impressed with the sixth form centre and am looking forward to starting in September to study maths, further maths and economics A Levels.”
Eliza Hack, 16, of Brompton-on-Swale, added: “I’m planning to come here to study English, art and textiles and can’t wait to get started.”