Flashback to 1923 to this photograph of the first Sixth Form here at SGS, before the school became co-educated in 1980. Just three full subjects were offered for the new Higher School Certificate: Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics and Physics. All were taught by Headmaster Daniels.

By remarkable contrast, current SGS sixth form pupils have the option to choose from twenty-five A Level courses!  Furthermore, whilst in 1923 there was a purely academic offering, programmes of study are now personalised to suit individual interests and aspirations – whether that be academic, sport, music, theatre or a combination that suits.

Beyond the classroom, pupils today also have a vast number of extra-curricular opportunities available to them; including participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, Young Enterprise, National Citizen Service (NCS) and many more besides. A whole new world of possibilities!

A point of note, two of the boys pictured went on to study Mathematics at Cambridge, with great success; J.G Adshead of Caius College (middle row, third from left) eventually became Professor of Mathematics at Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia; W.L Edge of Trinity College (middle row, second from right), held a similar post at the University of Edinburgh. Both were holders of the John Benjamin Smith Exhibition from School, and both won other Exhibitions and Scholarships during their Cambridge careers. When Edge graduated, he was one of the two Smith’s prizemen in his year.