Improving Your Sixth Form: Three Tried and Tested Leadership Strategies

Foreword from John Philip, Alps Senior Education Consultant

I originally wrote the first edition of 99 Ways to Improve Your Sixth Form in the early 2000s while still teaching at Little Heath School. That decade brought two Ofsted Outstanding judgments, a second SSAT specialism, and a journey that connected me with Alps and PiXL, both of which played significant roles in the development of our sixth form. 

The success of that sixth form and the insights gained from working with schools across the UK and beyond led to what’s now a well-travelled piece of work – continually updated to remain relevant. What strikes me most after 20 years of policy shifts and social change is how enduring the fundamentals of a great sixth form really are.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL VERSION OF “99 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR SIXTH FORM – ENGLAND” HERE

DOWNLOAD THE FULL VERSION OF “99 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR SIXTH FORM – WALES” HERE

Improving Your Sixth Form: Tried and Tested Leadership Strategies

Improving a Sixth Form is rarely about dramatic overhauls – it is about getting the fundamentals right, staying focused on what matters most and using clear insight to guide purposeful action. Drawing on over two decades of experience supporting high-performing post-16 providers, at Alps Education we know that the strongest Sixth Form combine strategic leadership with evidence-informed decision making and a relentless focus on student progress.

The three strategies below distil some of the most impactful habits we see in successful schools and colleges, offering a practical starting point for leaders looking to strengthen their post-16 provision and drive meaningful improvement year on year.

Strategy One: In schools, make sure the ‘Sixth Form Matters’

• Does the CEO, Headteacher or Principal personally prioritise raising achievement post-16? 

• Is the same priority given to robust data analysis / support / intervention as happens at KS4? 

• Is post-16 improvement a clear priority in the School Improvement Plan? 

• Is the Head of Sixth Form / Post-16 Raising Standards Leader on the Senior Leadership Team? 

Strategy Two: Effective Self-Evaluation

Effective self-evaluation is critical. Make sure you know your strengths and weaknesses and that you can evidence your judgements persuasively. Ensure you are on top of what your Ofsted Inspection Data Summary Report (IDSR) and your Progress scores, bandings and average grade suggest about your sixth form. 

Ensure there are clear action plans to deal with any weaknesses and that these priorities form part of the overall school or college improvement plan.

Strategy Three: Utilise Your Value-Added Analysis

Receiving value-added analysis set against national benchmarks before the new year starts each August by using Alps Connect and Alps Summit (if you are a MAT, Trust or another contracted group) is crucial as mid-year summative judgements, for example, the DfE Post-16 Progress scores and the IDSR are released way too late to feed into school or college improvement at the start of each academic year. 

You need Alps to ensure that you ‘hit the ground running’ based on sharp analysis of your strengths and areas for improvement. 

The academic year often begins with in-depth evaluation of results in Raising Standards meetings with subject leads. 

In my view, these meetings also need a focus on your new Y13, where they appeared to be based on Y12 assessment and how best to move forward effectively.

Closing Thoughts from Alps Education

At Alps, we know that great Sixth Form leadership is built on clarity, consistency and a deep understanding of student progress. The strategies shared in this blog reflect what we see every day in high-performing schools and colleges: when leaders prioritise post-16 outcomes, embed robust self-evaluation, and act on timely value-added analysis, Sixth Forms thrive. 

For over two decades, our mission has been to give schools simple, powerful tools that make this work easier. With easy-to-use analysis, national benchmarks and our well-known thermometer, Quality Indicator and ‘What If’ modelling tools, Alps empowers leaders and teachers to make informed, timely decisions that genuinely shift outcomes. 

And, because improvement doesn’t happen in isolation, every Alps subscription includes expert training and support, termly webinars and practical on-demand materials – helping you turn insight into action with confidence. 

Whether you are refining your Sixth Form strategy, responding to an Ofsted inspection cycle, or looking to ‘hit the ground running’ each September, Alps gives you the clarity you need to drive meaningful change. Thousands of schools, colleges, and Trusts already rely on our trusted methodology to support their ambition and to unlock the full potential of every student. 

If you’re ready to strengthen your post-16 provision and take the next step on your improvement journey, we’re here to help. Book a demo with our expert team and discover how your sixth form can drive excellence, year after year.

About the author: John Philip

John started working with Alps in 2008, while he was working at Little Heath Comprehensive School. At Little Heath, John used Alps to achieve top 2% performance in value-added progress. Whilst at Little Heath, John worked with schools regionally and nationally through the SSAT Raising Achievement Partnership Programme. Since leaving Little Heath in 2010, John additionally worked as an associate for many secondary schools through PiXL.