Update from Head of INSPIRED Sixth Form, Mr Oracz

27/06/2025

Whether it’s a northern trait or simply part of being British, I think it’s fair to say that many of us have a love-hate relationship with the weather. In much the same way that the nursery rhyme legend Goldilocks enjoyed that perfect temperature porridge made by the baby bear, when faced with hot and cold extremes either side of that, we Brits can sometimes find the simplest of chores a challenge. Therefore, when every weather report was stating that one of the hottest days of the year was going to coincide with Sixth Form Induction, I was moderately concerned, knowing the action-packed schedule we had in store for our students.

The entire afternoon was due to be spent out in the open on the field, with students taking part in a series of energetic activities, so I was naturally concerned that the heat might get the better of our newest Sixth Form recruits and potentially cut proceedings short. However, with barrels of chilled cordial and water provided by Thomas Franks to quench their thirst, and all of the steel, grit, resilience and camaraderie we nurture at Westholme, the inductees were not fazed by the heat and immersed themselves in the afternoon events, building on an impressive start to their new A Level classes in the morning.

The day was an absolute success and I could not have been more impressed by all of those in attendance, be they our own Year 11 transitioning into the Sixth Form, those joining us for the first time, or our Year 12 leaders welcoming them to the Common Room environment. We run the day as one big competition, with incredible prizes up for grabs: vouchers for The Ivy, Selfridges, Wagamama, Pizza Express, Nandos, Shajan (my personal pick) and much more. Students throw themselves into their A Level lessons and additional activities to win raffle tickets, all aimed at them taking home one of the coveted prizes. I had the pleasure of going into many of the A Level lessons in the morning and it was impressive to see students so engaged with the subject-matter, immersing themselves in group discussions, asking probing questions and diving into practicals, performances, productivity and presentations.

It can be easy to take your foot off the gas following the GCSE exams, quite rightly taking a well earned rest. However, the students were eager to jump into the next gear, hit the ground running and not wait for September before starting each course. Our inspirational teachers likewise did not beat around the bush, realising the desire of their new classes to get going with their A Levels, so obliged in kind and put on exciting lessons that really stretched each child with that A Levels mindset required for success at a higher level. With a midday interlude of an incredible barbecue courtesy of Thomas Franks and a former Westholme parent arriving with an ice-cream van, students rushed into the afternoon sunlight and enjoyed a competitive mock-Sports Day, complete with an Inflatable Assault Course, Gladiator Dual, Tug-of-War, Sumo Suits, and the chance to kick a football at me as I braved the goal in a Penalty Shootout competition.

Following the final athletic races and fun events, we held our prize draw in the Common Room, congratulating each other following a fantastic induction. A huge thanks to all of the staff who put on an amazing first day for our new Sixth Form students, and congratulations to next year’s Year 12; your positivity, enthusiasm, work ethic and absolute willingness to get stuck in was a pleasure to observe and I look forward to seeing you all make your mark in September as the newest members of our INSPIRED Sixth Form.

Mr Oracz