Personal Development

At Harrow High Sixth Form students have the opportunity to attend Personal Development lessons once a week with the Sixth Form Learning Mentor. This is a great chance to take a break from the curriculum to discuss current affairs, mental health & wellbeing

Personal Development is a vital subject to have incorporated into the sixth form timetable and it's an opportunity to enhance communication and networking skills. We aim to do this by going through different activities and having class discussions and debates when students can express their views and opinions. This helps to boost students’ confidence when speaking in front of a number of people.

During these lessons we often realise that a large number of us go through the same stresses and emotions, and it is a good way to share experiences.

We also use Personal Development lessons to gain a greater insight into life at university and spend lots of time focusing on students' university applications & personal statements. Through these lessons, students are supported to find the right course, university and/or apprenticeships. Students have access to online webinars/lectures from universities such as Brunel/Queen Mary so that they get a better feel of what the system of education is when they go to university. There are lots of opportunities for students to ask questions and gain advice during UCAS week, which is a week full of information, research and completing applications.

Wider reading

Wider reading around students’ academic subjects is so important for students aiming for A*-B or Distinction/Distinction grades. It will help develop students' vocabulary, familiarity with contextual information, and develop further ideas covered in class, which will help with examinations and coursework. Similarly, competitive universities will want to know what engagement students have with subjects that they intend to study at university, and reading a related book is great evidence for this.

Attached is a list of subject-specific books which Sixth Formers will enjoy reading, some of which can be found in the Harrow High School or Gayton libraries. All sixth formers should try and read one related book per term.