Welcome to Sixth Form
at Dame Elizabeth Cadbury
Our curriculum encourages students to think harder, so they know more.
It aims to develop the knowledge, skills and experiences, to enable them to become upstanding citizens who make informed and ambitious choices.
We take immense pride in ensuring all our students develop academically and as people, which is why alongside top-quality teaching, students engage in daily tasks both in and out of the classroom that drive personal development.
Our students leave us well prepared for life beyond Sixth Form, whether that be at university, enrolling onto an apprenticeship or securing employment.
At Dame Elizabeth Cadbury we support all our students to lead happy and healthy lives and to aspire to a career that is fulfilling and makes a real difference to their local and wider community.
If you are someone with high ambition; are determined to do your best and persevere when things are challenging; and want to be part of a growing, caring and extremely ambitious Sixth Form, then you are perfect for Dame Elizabeth Cadbury Sixth Form.
We are intending to close the sixth form at Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School. Despite everyone’s best efforts, it is no longer viable.
This means that the current Year 12 will be the last new intake of sixth formers. These Year 12s will be able to complete their Year 13 studies at Dame Elizabeth next year. However, we will not be recruiting new sixth formers from the current Year 11.
Student numbers have declined year on year due to the significant competition from other sixth form providers right on our doorstep. As this competition has grown, Dame Elizabeth’s numbers have decreased. As a consequence, our curriculum offer has had to reduce because we cannot afford to fund a wide range of subjects. We are projecting an even greater reduction in the subjects available next year, if we were to keep the sixth form open.
Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School is already by far the smallest sixth form provider in the area, with other providers having between 275 and 2000+ students on roll. Because of their size, these larger providers are able to offer a much broader range of courses.
Rest assured that we will ensure that the closure of our sixth form will not disadvantage any Dame Elizabeth pupils. All of this year’s Year 11 pupils - and all of our pupils in future - will receive high quality, detailed careers guidance so they can make informed choices about their futures.
The Department for Education specify a six- week consultation period. Therefore, if you have any responses, please send them to consultation@decschool.co.uk by 3.00 pm on Tuesday 23rd December 2025.
16-19 Bursary Fund
If you are in a household with an income of below £30,000 you may be eligible. Complete the MS forms link in the presence of your parents/carers (you will need to do this as access to RM Unify is required when uploading evidence). Applications can be completed at any time throughout the academic year but must be completed in both year 12 and 13.
Reimbursements: In cases where students prefer to pay up-front cost of items that they require, the school will reimburse them upon completion of a claim form and provision of an itemised VAT receipt or invoice (screengrabs are not sufficient). Please be aware that, although the finance department will endeavour to process BACS forms and pay as soon as possible, it could take up to 30 days to make payment.
Support in-kind: In cases where students are unable to pay up-front costs of items, the school will order items on their behalf. The school may also choose to place orders on students’ behalf for course books and other materials.
