We have a fantastic academic community, with small classes and seminar style student-centric learning, and which is leading to excellent academic outcomes, with students securing top universities and their first-choice destinations. We also have an outstanding Ofsted rating.
You’ll find an excellent culture at Chesterton; all students understand what their purpose is and they are very much known member of the school community.
When you walk into the common room you will see a very studious but relaxed environment with students studying, socialising, playing chess, or reading; it is very calm. You’re treated like adults and there is a mature mutual understanding between staff and students.
Please take a look at the following frequently asked questions to find out more about life at Chesterton Sixth Form.
Courses, Teaching & Academic Support
Small group provision, collaborative learning in a seminar style where the students can discuss their ideas with each other and the teacher. Students are at the heart of the learning and they utilise the expert knowledge of the teacher. Learning is engaging and deep and our goal is to build a love for learning well beyond the classroom; empowering students to build their academic minds.
Yes, you can study 4 A levels at Chesterton. There is no ‘reason’ to study 4 A levels as you will only require 3 A levels for progression but we will support students in doing this. Often Further Maths is the subject that makes the 4th A level subject.
Not necessarily because we provide transition work over the summer that supports students in creating a base knowledge to transition to A level content.
Class sizes range between 10-15 students per class on average. More popular subjects at the top end of this. There are some more neiche subjects that have c. 8-12 students in a class. Our ideal class size is 15 and our provision is based on small group provision.
Each fortnight, students have 500 minutes of lessons per subject; 200 minutes of enrichment; and between 200-600 minutes of guided study periods. This equates to around 2100 minutes of timetabled sessions out of a total of 3000 minutes.
Typically, students have two timetabled sessions per day, meaning there is plenty of flexibility in timetables.
The school day is made up of 3x 100 minute lessons, with a 20 minute break and 35 minute lunchtime. On some mornings there is a 20 minute tutor period.
2024 Results
| % | A* | A*-A | A*-B | A*-C | Pass | Average grade |
| National | 9 | 28 | 54 | 76 | 97 | C |
| Chesterton | 4.8 | 24.7 | 72 | 90 | 100 | B |
2025 Results
| % | A* | A*-A | A*-B | A*-C | Pass | Average grade |
| National | 9 | 28 | 55 | 78 | 97.5 | C |
| Chesterton | 12 | 36 | 72 | 90 | 100 | B |
Independent Study, Homework & Workload
Both! Students are set a range of tasks to be completed independently, this might include:
Success at A level cannot be achieved by purely attending lessons and there is an expectation that students are working hard outside of the classroom. This is especially prominent at Chesterton because we are aspiring to achieve the very best grades, which enables as many progression options as possible. Students utilise their study periods for this. It would be expected that students complete at least 5 hours of independent work per subject, per week.
Students start Y12 with 5-6 guided study periods on their timetable, this is study on-site in one of our sixth form areas. Guided study periods can reduce as and when students evidence that they have developed appropriate independent study skills.
Support, Wellbeing & SEND
Both the Directors of Sixth Form are also SENDCOs, so the SEND support for students is good. The default model of small group provision supports many students with SEND without having to make further adaptations to the learning environment. Students with SEND have a student passport which outlines specific requirements and teachers have access to this.
The sixth form team is large for the number of students and therefore students can access staff easily. We monitor students closely and implement personalised support where appropriate or required. Students will have a 1-1 mentoring session with their tutor every 3-4 weeks.
Exams access arrangements that were in place for GCSEs will usually be in place for A levels. If required, we can screen students if there is evidence to suggest that exam access arrangements are required.
UCAS, Careers & Destinations
From the January for Y12 there will be a focus on futures, where there will be a lot of exploration around progression options and UCAS. Students will be supported through the UCAS process.
Over 90% of students received their first-choice university. 65% of students have progressed onto a Russell Group (+Leicester) or Oxbridge Uni. 6.25% of the whole cohort were placed at Oxbridge. 75% of Oxbridge offers were converted.
Other destinations:
We have a big push on students gaining work experience, whether it be virtual or in person. We do not have a specific week or time period for work experience, as many of the opportunities are throughout the year. In this sense, we will support students to complete work experience in term time. We also produce a termly opportunities newsletter, that has lots of work experience and super-curricular opportunities available to students.
Students who are interested in an Oxbridge or early entry (medicine, veterinary, dentistry) application can apply to be a part of our early entry programme.
This programme supports students with a mentor who they meet regularly for supervisions to build their academic knowledge. Students will be support with interview preparation and with any admissions tests required. We have had brilliant success with our early entry programme, with 8% of the cohort in 2025 securing either an Oxbridge or medicine place, with 75% of offer being converted. We currently have 8% of our current (2026) cohort holding an Oxbridge offer, with all those that secured interviews progressing to the offer stage.
EPQ (Extended Project Qualification)
Yes, we offer EPQ, core maths, and oracy qualifications. These qualifications are all worth half an A level and can be studied alongside A level subjects.
EPQ, core maths, and oracy are all optional courses.
Yes, but a conversation about workload would be had to ensure that no one subject is affected by the study of the others.
Enrichment, Clubs & Extra-Curricular
We have an enrichment period built into the timetable each week. We run a two-week timetable and in the first week we have a traditional style enrichment, where a range of activities can be participated in; such as sport, art, reading, gym, etc. In the second week we have societies focused enrichment. These sessions are more student led and support students to be a part of a society which is always helpful for a CV. The societies can be focused on any interest with some examples being: medicine/dentistry society; Go/chess; rock metal society; ancient world; and explore Cambridge.
Students can also access the full range of after school clubs run by subjects, such as debate club. Some sixth form students just attend and some students run the clubs for younger students in the lower school.
Yes, we offer the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Music and drama opportunities are plentiful at Chesterton, and both the music and drama departments run very high-quality productions.
There are a range of trips available to sixth form students, with many subjects running both local trips to Cambridge and London, as well as further afield, such as the Classics trip to Athens. There are three flagship trips available to sixth form students:
Facilities & Spaces
Sixth form students have exclusive use of the common room, a silent study room, and the sports centre cafe. Sixth Form students also have access to the library throughout the day.
All sixth form students get a free gym membership
Students do require an electronic device, and we would suggest a laptop, as this has the best accessibility. A tablet may be appropriate for subjects where extended writing tasks are not commonplace. Working phones is not appropriate for A levels. Support for an IT device can be provided if required.
Food & Catering
Yes, a conversation is all that is required with the canteen for specific needs.
Students can get food from the school canteen, a lot of students bring their own lunch, and others leave site at lunch time – it all depends on what suits the individual.
Transport & Access
Chesterton is easily accessible and a number of bus routes stop close to the sixth form, including both the A and B routes of the guided bus. The town centre (Drummer Street bus station) is walking/cycling distance from the sixth form. Cambridge North station is a short cycle from the Sixth Form; it is also walkable too and takes around 15-20 minutes. We have students attending the sixth form from right across Cambridgeshire and into Suffolk.
About 30% of the sixth form is made by Chesterton students, 10% private school, 2-4% international and the rest from state secondary schools across Cambridge and the surrounding villages and towns. We have a diverse make up and this makes our community even stronger.
Student Life & Independence
Yes, of course. Free periods are there for students to determine how they use their time, students are welcome to stay in site during free periods, use the gym, or go off site.
You will be assigned a tutor who will be your supporter for the whole of your journey through sixth form. They run 1-1 mentoring sessions with students every 3-4 weeks and they deliver all of the skills programme.
