SIXTH fORM

Sixth Formers’ Perspectives

As some of our students prepare to leave Down High for pastures new, they reflected on their time here and agreed to share their thoughts and memories.

FERGUS LEWIS
“It is still difficult for me to comprehend that I have entered into my final year at Down High. It feels just like yesterday when I visited the school as a P7 pupil, unsure about what the future would hold for me. Seven years on and I have grown so much as a person by experiencing the many opportunities offered by the school.

Being able to be part of the outstanding Art department is just one of my highlights. Working in ceramics and learning the intricacies of the medium are moments I will never forget. In all departments the teachers have boundless enthusiasm for their subjects, offering constant support and help. I believe this is part of the reason for the school’s academic success along with pupils’ constant hard work and determination.

I feel very lucky to have been able to be part of the Duke of Edinburgh Silver and Gold award scheme within school. The four day trip to the Lake District was fantastic, despite battling blisters and the unpredictable weather. The euphoria of completing the expedition cannot be beaten.

Down High School has given me so much and its memory will stay with me forever. I am thankful for the opportunities it has given me and the friendships I have made along the way. I don’t want this experience to end."

 

REBECCA ORR
“I certainly have been kept very busy over the past seven years at Down High. Between enjoying the spectacular view over the Italian Alps while skiing, surfing in the Mediterranean and playing hockey in Glasgow, my extra-curricular time has been well spent. Add to that the countless hockey, netball and tennis matches, field trips, concerts and prize days - that’s only a small glimpse of what I get up to at Down High School!

However, this school isn’t just about the vast array of extra-curricular opportunities it offers, or the staggering academic success you can gain. What sets us apart here at Down High are the relationships between our teachers and pupils, which are based on a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect. I have felt welcome from my first day here.
As an Upper 6th student, I am due to leave Down High in a few short months. I will leave feeling very proud of what I have been a part of, and I’m not just saying that because I was given the honour of being Head Girl.”

 

JAMES BOGIE
“Asked to reflect on some of my fondest memories about my time at Down High, I’m finding it nearly impossible be selective. Whether it was my first time on stage with the Drama Society, the elation of receiving the GCSE’s I wanted after waiting the whole summer, or our school ski trip to Italy, Down High has always been an embracing, encouraging school, where pupils can find their niche in music, the arts, sport or science. The societies available to all ages range from the student-run Scripture Union to the rigorous rugby training, and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting involved in as many as I could.

As I have progressed through the school, I have been able to see the genuine enthusiasm the teachers have for their subjects. I think it is in Down High’s favour that there is such a committed, hard-working staff, which shows in the academic results of the school, and in the character and atmosphere within the classroom.

It’s strange and worrying to think that in no time at all I will have left Down High and entered the real world. I will always be thankful for the head start Down High has given me, and I can leave with many fond memories of my time here.”