S6 Responsibilities and Leadership Opportunities
Choosing to continue into S6 is an exciting step—and one that comes with new freedoms, fresh responsibilities, and meaningful opportunities. This year is designed to help you make the most of your final stage at school, both academically and personally, as you shape your future.
S6: Your Year to 'Lead, Learn, Grow'
S6 pupils enjoy a more flexible timetable ( one or two free timetable columns), giving you space to deepen your learning, pursue personal interests, and contribute to the wider school community. Whether through leadership roles, mentoring younger pupils, volunteering, or creating your own initiatives, we encourage you to step forward and make an impact. These experiences not only strengthen our school ethos but also help build a strong portfolio of skills valued by universities, employers, and training providers.
S6 is about becoming career and life-ready—something that looks different for everyone! From gaining further qualifications to developing practical life skills and preparing for the world of work, this year is your bridge between school and what comes next. We're here to support you with a wide range of opportunities, including workshops, guest speakers, and flexible learning pathways. And where possible, we invite you to shape your own journey.
This is your year—let's make it count!
S6 Core Reponsibilities and Commitment to Our School Community
As an S6 pupil, you hold a unique and important role within our school. You are leaders, role models, and ambassadors of the values we stand for—kindness, perseverance, fairness, and curiosity. Choosing to stay on for a final year brings both privileges and responsibilities, and we expect all S6 pupils to actively contribute to a positive and purposeful school environment.
Your S6 year is a living example of our school vision: Together We Thrive. This means supporting one another, stepping up when it matters, and helping to build a culture where everyone feels valued, encouraged, and empowered to succeed.
Your S6 core responsibilities include:
Creating a Positive Ethos: Lead by example in attitude, behaviour, and actions. Help set the tone for younger pupils by demonstrating respect, inclusion, and integrity in all areas of school life.
Attending Classes and Finishing What You Start: Your academic journey remains a priority. Make the most of your learning time, meet deadlines, and show commitment to completing courses and qualifications.
Contributing to School Life: Whether through supporting school events, mentoring others, or volunteering your time, your involvement helps build a stronger, more connected community.
Using Time Well: With a reduced timetable, you'll have the flexibility to consolidate learning, explore interests, and engage with others to achieve shared goals. Use this time wisely—to learn, to lead, and to grow.
Demonstrating Our Core Values: Every day is a chance to show kindness in your interactions, perseverance in your goals, fairness in your decisions, and curiosity in your learning. These values will shape not only your year, but your future.
Preparing for Life Beyond School: S6 is your launchpad into adult life. From developing employability and life skills to gaining experience in leadership, responsibility, and independence, your actions this year lay the foundation for what comes next.
When S6 pupils choose not to engage fully with their responsibilities, the impact is felt across the whole school. Instead of becoming a year of growth, leadership, and preparation for the future, S6 risks becoming a missed opportunity—and one that affects both the individual and the wider school community.
Here's what S6 can look like when expectations are not met:
A Weakening of School Ethos: Without positive role models, younger pupils lose direction. The supportive atmosphere we work hard to build begins to erode.
Missed Learning Opportunities: Reduced timetables can become wasted time. Instead of consolidating learning or developing new skills, students fall behind, miss deadlines, or fail to meet the expectations of their courses.
Lack of Contribution: When S6 pupils don't give back—avoiding corridor duties, ignoring leadership opportunities, or showing disinterest in school life—it sends the message that contribution doesn't matter. This can create a divide between year groups and a sense of disconnection within the school.
Damaged Reputation: Disengaged S6 pupils can negatively influence how the year group is perceived by staff, pupils, employers, and universities. The final year should enhance your personal profile—not undermine it.
Erosion of Core Values: When kindness, perseverance, fairness, and curiosity are not lived out in daily actions, they become just words. Without these guiding principles, S6 becomes less purposeful, less supportive, and less effective at preparing pupils for life after school.
Unprepared for What Comes Next: Perhaps most significantly, failing to take S6 seriously leaves pupils underprepared for work, further study, or adult responsibilities. Opportunities are missed, skills aren't developed, and confidence can take a hit.
Identifying When S6 May Not Be the Right Fit
The signs in the section above can help us identify when a pupil may not be getting the most out of S6. Persistent disengagement, poor attendance, lack of contribution to school life, and failure to uphold the values and expectations of S6 can signal that further support—or reflection—is needed.
In some cases, these concerns may form the basis for a conversation with the pupil and their parents or carers to assess whether S6 is currently the right path, and to explore what changes or alternatives might be more beneficial for the young person's future.
S6 is a privilege, not a right. We are committed to supporting every pupil to succeed—but success requires commitment in return.
S6 Prefect Team: Your chance to Step Up!
Alongside the Core Responsibilities above, S6 students have the chance to apply for a range of formal leadership roles. By successfully stepping up and applying for one or more of these roles, you will also then take on the formal position of Prefect. Prefects are S6 students who have stepped up to take on a leadership position, act as role models, support others, and help lead aspects of school life — a key part of our wider leadership structure.
These roles are designed to help you build valuable skills, take on responsibility, and make a real impact within the school community. Many of these leadership positions also link directly to our Linlithgow Academy Pupil Parliament
Each Prefect leadership opportunity is different, and by clicking the links below, you can view the role descriptions. Information on how to apply and the process involved can also be viewed below. We also welcome your ideas, your initiative, and your voice in shaping your final year so if you have additional ideas for how you can lead an areas of improvement this year please let us know and we can add to below.
Prefect Leadership Roles 2025.2026
Job description
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Leadership skills focus | Effective communication You will be able to liaise and communicate confidently with students, staff and the wider community. You will have excellent interpersonal and leadership skills.
Teamwork and collaboration It is vital you are a team player and have the influence to ensure your team is working effectively. You will be able to work successfully with others to contribute to and lead school events.
Reliable You must carry out your duties consistently and throughout the full academic year.
Supportive You will motivate, support and inspire other students through your approachable and friendly nature.
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Other Skills/qualities | Excellent organisational skills Respectful, polite and well mannered Innovative, creative and resourceful
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Job description
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Leadership skills focus | Effective communication
You will be able to liaise and communicate confidently with students, staff and the wider community. You will have excellent interpersonal and leadership skills.
Teamwork and collaboration
It is vital you are a team player and have the influence to ensure your team is working effectively. You will be able to work successfully with others to contribute to and lead school events.
Reliable You must carry out your duties consistently and throughout the full academic year.
Supportive You will motivate, support and inspire other students through your approachable and friendly nature.
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Other skills/ qualities | Excellent organisational skills Innovative and creative Respectful, polite and well mannered
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Job description
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Leadership skills focus | Effective communication
You will be able to liaise and communicate confidently with students, staff and the wider community. You will have excellent interpersonal and leadership skills.
Teamwork and collaboration
It is vital you are a team player and have the influence to ensure your team is working effectively. You will be able to work successfully with others to contribute to and lead school events.
Reliable You must carry out your duties consistently and throughout the full academic year.
Supportive You will motivate, support and inspire other students through your approachable and friendly nature.
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Other skills/ qualities | Excellent organisational skills Innovative and creative Respectful, polite and well mannered
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Job description
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Leadership skills focus | Effective communication You will be able to liaise and communicate confidently with students, staff and the wider community. You will have excellent interpersonal and leadership skills. Teamwork and collaboration It is vital you are a team player and have the influence to ensure your team is working effectively. You will be able to work successfully with others to contribute to the good order of the school. Reliable You must carry out your duties consistently and throughout the full academic year. Supportive You will motivate, support and inspire other students through your approachable and friendly nature.
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Other skills/ qualities | Excellent organisational skills Innovative and creative Respectful, polite and well mannered
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Job description
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Leadership skills focus | Effective communication You will be able to liaise and communicate confidently with students, staff and the wider community. You will have excellent interpersonal and leadership skills. Teamwork and collaboration It is vital you are a team player and have the influence to ensure your team is working effectively. You will be able to work successfully with others to contribute to the good order of the school. Reliable You must carry out your duties consistently and throughout the full academic year. Supportive You will motivate, support and inspire other students through your approachable and friendly nature.
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Other skills/ qualities | Excellent organisational skills Innovative and creative Respectful, polite and well mannered
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Job description
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Leadership skills focus | Effective communication You will be able to liaise and communicate confidently with students, staff and the wider community. You will have excellent interpersonal and leadership skills. Teamwork and collaboration It is vital you are a team player and have the influence to ensure your team is working effectively. You will be able to work successfully with others to contribute to the good order of the school. Reliable You must carry out your duties consistently and throughout the full academic year. Supportive You will motivate, support and inspire other students through your approachable and friendly nature.
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Other skills/ qualities | Excellent organisational skills Innovative and creative Respectful, polite and well mannered |
Job description
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Leadership skills focus | Effective communication You will be able to liaise and communicate confidently with students, staff and the wider community. You will have excellent interpersonal and leadership skills. Teamwork and collaboration It is vital you are a team player and have the influence to ensure your team is working effectively. You will be able to work successfully with others to contribute to the good order of the school. Reliable You must carry out your duties consistently and throughout the full academic year. Supportive You will motivate, support and inspire other students through your approachable and friendly nature.
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Other skills/ qualities | Excellent organisational skills Innovative and creative Respectful, polite and well mannered |
Job description
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Leadership skills focus | Effective communication You will be able to liaise and communicate confidently with students, staff and the wider community. You will have excellent interpersonal and leadership skills. Teamwork and collaboration It is vital you are a team player and have the influence to ensure your team is working effectively. You will be able to work successfully with others to contribute to the good order of the school. Reliable You must carry out your duties consistently and throughout the full academic year. Supportive You will motivate, support and inspire other students through your approachable and friendly nature.
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Other skills/ qualities | Excellent organisational skills Innovative and creative Respectful, polite and well mannered |
Job description
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Leadership skills focus | Effective communication You will be able to liaise and communicate confidently with students, staff and the wider community. You will have excellent interpersonal and leadership skills. Teamwork and collaboration It is vital you are a team player and have the influence to ensure your team is working effectively. You will be able to work successfully with others to contribute to the good order of the school. Reliable You must carry out your duties consistently and throughout the full academic year. Supportive You will motivate, support and inspire other students through your approachable and friendly nature.
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Other skills/ qualities | Excellent organisational skills Innovative and creative Respectful, polite and well mannered |
Job description
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Leadership skills focus | Effective communication You will be able to liaise and communicate confidently with students, staff and the wider community. You will have excellent interpersonal and leadership skills. Teamwork and collaboration It is vital you are a team player and have the influence to ensure your team is working effectively. You will be able to work successfully with others to contribute to the good order of the school. Reliable You must carry out your duties consistently and throughout the full academic year. Supportive You will motivate, support and inspire other students through your approachable and friendly nature.
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Other skills/ qualities | Excellent organisational skills Innovative and creative Respectful, polite and well mannered |
Job description
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Leadership skills focus | You will motivate, support and inspire other students through your approachable and friendly nature.
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Other skills/ qualities | To be successful in this role, you should demonstrate:
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Job description
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Leadership skills focus | You will motivate, support and inspire other students through your approachable and friendly nature.
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Other skills/ qualities | To be successful in this role, you should demonstrate:
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Job description
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Leadership skills focus | Effective communication You will be able to liaise and communicate confidently with students, staff and the wider community. You will have excellent interpersonal and leadership skills. Teamwork and collaboration It is vital you are a team player and have the influence to ensure your team is working effectively. You will be able to work successfully with others to contribute to the good order of the school. Reliable You must carry out your duties consistently and throughout the full academic year. Supportive You will motivate, support and inspire other students through your approachable and friendly nature.
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Other skills/ qualities | Passionate about environmental sustainability Excellent organisational skills Innovative and creative Respectful, polite and well mannered
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Post Description
Job description
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What S1 pupils need from you | A Buddy/Coach for Improvement needs to:
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Skills/qualities | You should be:
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Job description
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Leadership skills focus | Effective communication You will be able to liaise and communicate confidently with students, staff and the wider community. You will have excellent interpersonal and leadership skills. Teamwork and collaboration It is vital you are a team player and have the influence to ensure your team is working effectively. You will be able to work successfully with others to contribute to the good order of the school. Innovation You are able to imagine new ways of doing things to bring about positive change. You can apply your creative thinking skills to generate solutions to problems and come up with new ideas. Reliable You must carry out your duties consistently and throughout the full academic year. Supportive You will motivate, support and inspire other students through your approachable and friendly nature. |
Other skills/ qualities | Excellent organisational skills Innovative and creative Respectful, polite and well mannered
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Linlithgow Academy is committed to creating an inclusive, safe and supportive learning environment for all pupils. As part of this, we believe that it is vital our staff, pupils and wider community are aware of the effects of poverty and how it impacts our young people attending school.
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Leadership skills focus | Leadership You will lead Challenge Poverty week events, including assemblies, dress down days, fundraisers and drop-in sessions. Communication Skills You will communicate with staff, pupils and outside organisations (WL Foodbank for example.) Team Working Reliable Supportive Organisational Skills |
Other skills/ qualities | Excellent organisational skills Innovative and creative Respectful, polite and well mannered |
Job description
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Leadership skills focus | Effective communication
You will be able to liaise and communicate confidently with students, staff and the wider community. You will have excellent interpersonal and leadership skills.
Teamwork and collaboration
It is vital you are a team player and have the influence to ensure your team is working effectively. You will be able to work successfully with others to contribute to the good order of the school.
Reliable You must carry out your duties consistently and throughout the full academic year.
Supportive You will motivate, support and inspire other students through your approachable and friendly nature.
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Other skills/ qualities | Excellent organisational skills Innovative and creative Respectful, polite and well mannered
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Job description
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Leadership skills focus | Effective communication
You will be able to liaise and communicate confidently with students, staff and the wider community. You will have excellent interpersonal and leadership skills.
Teamwork and collaboration
It is vital you are a team player and have the influence to ensure your team is working effectively. You will be able to work successfully with others to contribute to the good order of the school.
Reliable You must carry out your duties consistently and throughout the full academic year.
Supportive You will motivate, support and inspire other students through your approachable and friendly nature.
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Other skills/ qualities | Excellent organisational skills Innovative and creative Respectful, polite and well mannered
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Job description
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Leadership skills focus | A Peer Learning Supporter needs to:
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Other Skills/qualities | Excellent organisational skills Respectful, polite and well mannered Innovative, creative and resourceful
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Job description
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Leadership skills focus | A Digital Lead needs to:
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Other Skills/qualities | Respectful, polite and well mannered Resourceful and good problem-solving skills Team player with good leadership skills |
Job description
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Leadership skills focus | A Communication Leader needs to:
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Other Skills/qualities | Respectful, polite and well mannered Resourceful and good problem-solving skills Team player with good leadership skills
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Job description
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Leadership skills focus |
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Other skills/ qualities | Excellent organisational skills Innovative and creative Respectful, polite and well mannered |
This role could be especially meaningful for pupils with an interest in history, heritage, or community engagement, and offers a valuable leadership opportunity as part of their S6 experience.
Application Process for these Leadership/Prefect Positions
Application Process for these Leadership/Prefect Positions
We continue to review and update our application and selection process based on previous experience and feedback from S6 pupils. Our current processes for the academic year can be viewed below.
You can apply for a maximum number of different leadership positions. The application form is the same for all roles meaning you identify which options you are intererested in applying for on the same form.
| S6 Leadership Role | Application Process | Selection Process |
School Captains (2) School Vice Captains (2) | Staff will vote for their School Captain nominations up to a maximum of 10. S6 pupils will vote for their School Captains nominations for S6 up to a maximum of 10. Votes will be weighted in favour of staff. Following nominations,10 students will then be invited for interview.
| Interview with HT and Year Head (June) |
| House Captains (2 per House) | S6 application form. Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | Interview with House Head (June) |
| Sports Leaders | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | Interview with PE teacher co-ordinator (June) |
| Health & Wellbeing Leaders | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | |
| Equality and Diversity Leaders | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | |
| SCQF Leaders | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | |
| 'F1 In Schools' Ambassadors | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | |
| Drama Ambassadors | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | |
| Reading Ambassadors | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | |
| Language Ambassadors | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | |
| Science Ambassadors | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | |
| Humanities Ambassadors | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | |
| Sustainability Leaders | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | |
| Buddies: Coaches for Improvement | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | |
| Faculty Ambassadors | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | |
| Equity Leaders | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | |
| Zone Leaders | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | |
| Pupil Digital Leads | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | |
| Pitch Pals (astro) | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | |
| Peer Learning Supporters | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | |
| Communication Leaders | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below | |
| Linlithgow Heritage Ambassadors | S6 application form: Click this link S6 Prefect Application Form (opens new window) or scan image below |
Frequently Asked Question About S6
| Why does my child have to choose and maintain 4 subjects in S6? | We ask S6 students to take four subjects because this provides a balanced and manageable timetable. These four subjects account for 20 periods, which covers just over three days of directed teaching each week. This leaves time in the schedule for two additional columns that offer flexibility for personal study, independent learning, or opportunities to contribute positively to the school community. We believe this structure supports academic success while also encouraging personal growth and responsibility. Regardless of the subjects or levels chosen, this timetable provides a fair and appropriate balance of study and non-teaching time. As such we would not expect S6 pupils to drop below this teaching time. |
| My S6 child has driving lessons. Can they be taken during the school day? | Yes your child can take driving lessons during their non allocated teaching periods. There should be no reason for missing classtime to take driving lessons. |
| My S6 child has a part time job. Can they be employed during the school day? | |
| My S6 child is lucky enough to have a car. Can they park it in the school carpark? | Our carpark is full. We would ask pupils lucky enough to have a car to find a parking space outwith our schools grounds and car parks. |
| How is my S6 child's attendance recorded when they only have 4 subjects? | Your child's attendance is monitored through their timetabled class register. Attendance and Latecoming is monitored and recorded as per any other year. Concerns around attendance/Latecoming will be discussed with the S6 pupils and parents/carers as required. |
| Can my S6 child sign out of school during the school day? | |
| My S6 child does not have a class period 1. Can they come in later in the morning? | |
| Are there study booths or classrooms my S6 child can revise in? | Yes there are study booths at the front of school and in Science which S6 pupils can utilise for quiet study. If they wish to socialise then they should use the S6 area in the dining hall. A schedule of 'free classrooms' is produced each year and given to S6 pupils which illustrates free classrooms that can also be used for private study during each period of the week |
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