We are a very special Sixth Form that aims to serve the community, improve opportunity for our community and also reflect our community through our diverse and ambitious curriculum, as well as through our diverse staff and student bodies. We hope that you, too, feel that specialness when you visit us; a specialness that encompasses care and compassion, a genuine delight in young adults’ contributions and a drive towards “success for everyone”.

We have a long and proud history, having educated local students for over 100 years: we have been a technical school; reported as the most improved boy’s school in the country; a community school and now an academy; a single school and now the founding ‘brother’ to our sister school, Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls. We have year-on-year exam results at A Level and BTEC that make us, our students and their families rightly proud. Yet our relentless focus is upon the futures of our current students as we counsel them through their educational careers to be the most successful version of themselves. This is evident in year-on-year increases in students accessing courses at Oxbridge, in medicine and at prestigious Russell Group universities, as well as high-end apprenticeships in finance.

To support your son or daughter through their Sixth Form education, we have firm foundations in exemplary pastoral care and expert teaching. Safeguarding our students is the absolute priority that informs the behaviours we demonstrate in the staff and student bodies. Our pastoral care and personal development programme are student-centred, empathetic to individual young adults’ needs, recognising their challenges and assisting with overcoming them, supporting our students in becoming independently-minded, self-sustaining ambassadors of our Sixth Form motto, “tomorrow’s leaders”.

We care; we listen; we understand context, and we actively build meaningful relationships with every student, something that I have no doubt our current sixth formers would report should you wish to visit our open evening.

Our teaching is equally student-centred, offering support and challenge as required to ensure that all our students achieve the grades they need to pursue the courses and careers they aspire to with confidence. Our ambitious and academically rich curriculum offer is designed to stimulate a culture of curiosity and questioning so that all our students leave us as well-rounded, caring members of the community, ready to navigate the adult world safely, critically and knowledgeably, whether that be the world of work or higher education.

We also recognise that student development is enhanced through pleasure, and we therefore cater for their personal interests with an extensive enrichment programme, including wellbeing days, year 12 work experience, curriculum and university trips and a variety of clubs. There are always opportunities for your son or daughter to have their voice heard, whether through the Student Council or more informal feedback to tutors, teachers and head of year or our dedicated student voice co-ordinator.

We are looking forward in 2024 to welcoming as many Woolwich Poly girls as boys: it is my ambition that the Poly girls see our sixth form as much as their own natural destination as our boys. Yet, at the same time, we wish to embrace our wider community as we expand in numbers over the next few years. This mix of different experiences enriches the experience for all.

Mr Lawrence - Headteacher

Welcome!

At the Poly, we take pride in our legacy of success. Students have celebrated their final moments with us on A Level results day, moving on to some of the top universities and apprenticeships in the country. Our alumni have gone on to study medicine at Cambridge, History of Art at Oxford, Economics at LSE, and have secured exceptional apprenticeships with companies like Pricewaterhouse, JP Morgan, and BBC Ofcom.

Our most recent OFSTED evaluation rated us as 'Outstanding,' a testament not only to our students' academic achievements but also to their personal growth. We believe that nurturing character is as equally important to academic success. Our students have plenty of opportunities to enhance their knowledge and skills beyond the classroom, including two weeks of work experience in Year 12, a student leadership body, the chance to apply for our Access Project (a two-year program offering free tuition), and a variety of workshops and educational visits tailored to their interests.

We have an exceptional professional team dedicated to supporting your pastoral and academic needs, transition and progress. Our structure reflects a 'university style,' with form classes organised by faculties. This approach allows you to connect with peers who share your interests during form time, and ensures that assemblies and faculty extracurricular activities align with your future goals.

Our motto, 'Tomorrow’s Leaders,' embodies our commitment to nurturing articulate, mature, kind, and successful individuals in our 6th form. You'll find a wealth of information on this site about the life of a Poly Sixth Former. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out via email or phone.

Welcome to our Poly family!

Ms A. Bassi

Director of Sixth Form

Deputy Headteacher of Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys

The Sixth Form pastoral team are looking forward to welcoming you to our community, where our focus is on success for everyone. We hope that you will join us to thrive and become one of tomorrow's leaders.

Our friendly student support team are here to provide guidance and advice in the classroom and beyond.

Woolwich Polytechnic Sixth Form

“Tomorrow’s Leaders”

The Student Leadership Team is an integral part of the school’s daily life. They have committed to taking on responsibility and authority within the school, working directly with the Headteacher and Head of Sixth Form. 

The Student Leadership Team genuinely shapes the future of the school and leaves a lasting legacy.