Tormead provides a broad and balanced, stimulating and forward-looking education, combining expert school-based teaching with a stimulating variety of extra-curricular activities.
Every girl in the Sixth Form is encouraged to choose from a varied programme, including Young Enterprise, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award scheme, Debating, a Sixth Form expedition, British Schools Exploring Society, Schools Without Walls, Wings of Hope, as well as music, drama and a wide choice of sports.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme:
Gold Award
Gold Duke of Edinburgh will allow you to challenge yourself whilst having fun. The Gold Award is a fantastic chance to take part in physical activity, volunteering and learn and improve skills.
The Gold programme involves:
- Volunteering for 12 months
- Doing a physical activity and skill, one for 12 mths one for 6 mths
- A residential section (four nights away from home)
- A practice expedition
- The real expedition
You will begin planning for your expedition in October and this will be a consistent process right up until when you leave. This process requires dedication and commitment but is well worth it in the end.
The Gold Award differs from Bronze and Silver in that you and your team are much more independent and are given more responsibility for your expedition. You are given the chance to plan your own route from scratch. The Gold Award also involves a project on the area visited and you can choose what you want your project to be about providing you with much scope for personal interpretation.
D of E is a brilliant opportunity. It allows you to work within a team and learn to cooperate with others in order to get your ideas across. It provides the chance to bond with others and gain and strengthen friendships.
The expedition itself is a great experience and it is something you will never forget. The tough times teach you perseverance and determination and the sense of achievement at the end is well worth the effort!
It is also a chance for you to get out there and enjoy the great outdoors in beautiful countryside
| "Gold D of E gave me the opportunity to take part in something I wouldn't otherwise have done. It challenged us as a team but we pulled together to create an experience we will never forget. I highly recommend it to everyone" |
Even if you haven't done the Bronze or Silver award you can still participate in the Gold Award as a direct entrant
Wings of Hope Achievement Award (WOHAA)
The Wings of Hope Children’s Charity sponsors the free education of children in India and Malawi and also runs WOHAA in the UK.
The WOHAA scheme is offered to pupils in the Lower Sixth and is a great way to form a fundraising group with fellow students.
The WOHAA project begins in October and runs until March when each group have to submit a ‘snapshot’ project to display all the fundraising they have achieved. This can be shown in a scrapbook, a video, or collage etc.
Once projects are submitted, WOHAA select semi-finalists to present a 5 minute presentation of their group’s work to a distinguished panel of judges in the House of Lords.
The results of the competition are announced at an annual awards ceremony to which all participants in WOHAA are invited.
In 2011 Plume captured the judges’ attention by performing the Jai-Ho dance from the film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ in various locations throughout London. They later performed the dance at the House of Lords semi-final event and were presented with the "Most Innovative Award" at the annual award ceremony at Wembley Stadium
In the past Tormead groups have also done well - Flourish won the Best Presentation category in 2010, Ark were runners up in the Best Presentation category in 2008/2009, and Phoenix were winners in the Most Innovative category in 2007/2008.
YOUNG ENTERPRISE
Young Enterprise’s mission statement is "to inspire and equip young people to learn and succeed through enterprise."
The Young Enterprise Scheme allows students to create their very own business. This includes electing a board of directors, raising share capital, and creating, selling and marketing their products to generate profit.
The scheme is first and foremost a competition, with awards given to companies for Most Innovative Idea and Best Overall Company. Taking part in the scheme requires commitment to at least one meeting per week with the Young Enterprise advisors and Link Teachers and also a meeting during the school week with Company members only.
Despite the economic doom and gloom, the Sixth Form Young Enterprise companies have all proved their professionalism as well as their financial and business acumen with recent successes.
In 2011 Tormead swept the board at the Surrey Young Enterprise Trade Fair, held at the RGS known as The Y Factor, which showcases the students’ business projects, by winning 3 out of the 4 awards.
Radar won 2 awards: the Alexander Dennis Award for best manufactured product/most innovative idea for their luxurious chocolate flavoured spoons that melt into hot drinks and the award for Best Electronic Advert.
Moie won Best Stand Competition and received the ISS Cup and cash prize of £100.