Mercia Collegiate Sixth Form opened in September 2023 with our inaugural cohort of Year 12 scholars. The process of recruitment for next year’s intake begins this term. We are confident that many of our existing Year 11 pupils will remain with us for A Level study, but also hope that pupils from across the city will be interested in joining our school at a vital moment in their educational career.

Vision and Ethos

MCSF is academically rigorous in its focus. Our scholars study A Levels in academic subjects, that are facilitating courses, with the aim of reaching the best universities in the world. Our courses are taught by our extremely well-qualified staff, who have studied at some of the world's finest universities. Although we are in the pursuit of the highest grades, we strive to offer our scholars an academic encounter that enables them to also flourish at university. Character development continues to play a huge part in our offer. After all, we know grades get you an interview, and your personal qualities secure the job.

This offer is unique to the city. We do not compete with local offers and facilities. Indeed, our appeal is to a niche market that until now has not been provided for. Essentially, we seek to attract the truly academic pupil, who is aspirational for top university courses, including at Oxbridge. We work to attract and retain pupils who collectively share this aspiration. We are not attractive to ‘general’ applicants who want to study A Levels, but rather those who seek an intense academic challenge and are willing to work for it. 

Our culture is king and our Sixth Form scholars work hard and understand the expectations we share with them. Successful applicants will be joining a community of scholars, where academic excellence is both the collective and individual goal. Our scholars read extensively and work each day to go beyond the standard in their A Level courses; we know that access to super curricular opportunities are key to success.

Our scholars are steadfast in their determination to succeed. Such success at A Level comes only with genuine application. The step-up from GCSE is clear, the workload reflects this, including extensive independent study, which is timetabled and supervised in our Silent Study Room and Collaborative Study Room.

Pupils read around their subjects, extending their knowledge, and gaining greater depth. The elite culture has been developed alongside high quality networking and connections to offer scholars the wider support required to take up the very top places. We recognise that cultural performance is just as necessary as academic.

Mercia Collegiate Sixth Form is not about social events and common rooms. We are about academia and hard work. We are the home of the most diligent children in our great city. If children want to gain access to great universities and apply for most prestigious careers, this is the home for them. Those who join our Sixth Form will be surrounded by supportive and like-minded scholars and staff so that their intellectual curiosity can be fulfilled. We teach beyond the A Level and set the ethic and approach required to ensure university is not a step too far. Some drop-out rates at universities are troubling - especially for working class pupils. Our scholars’ experience at Mercia Collegiate Sixth Form complements the culture and approach of university life, so it feels like a natural graduation. Societies, seminars, lectures... our elite offer is designed to replicate what is ahead for our pupils.

Our reputation is one that precedes us. We are known for our academic rigour, exceptional high standards and our focus on enriching the lives of our pupils. Mercia Collegiate Sixth Form is no exception. Our Sixth Formers are ambassadors for the school and academia. They volunteer to support the community, have networks in their chosen professions and also contribute to wider school life. We are building their character and CV alongside the A Level itself.

Our facilities are second to none; our scholars experience a calm environment conducive to high attainment. Of course, we support and offer guidance, like all schools. Ultimately though, our selling point is our relentless focus on success through hard work. Mercia Collegiate Sixth Form is a provision like no other in the area; it is based on the very best Sixth Forms in our country.

This is not ‘more of the same’. This is a unique offer that should appeal to all quarters of the city, irrespective of location. We know that pupils travel from further afield for this, and we welcome that.