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Student Wellbeing

Overview

At GCS Sixth Form, our students’ wellbeing is a top priority, as we understand the increased academic pressures of A-Levels can lead to heightened stress. The Sixth Form Team, working in conjunction with our student Welfare Ambassadors, have created a Wellbeing Charter which establishes the principles of our approach to student wellbeing. We aim to foster a feeling of belonging in the County community, understanding that students will have the best Sixth Form experience if their physical and mental wellbeing is healthy.

Wellbeing Charter

Wellbeing Charter

Welfare Ambassadors

Our Welfare Ambassadors are appointed at Easter in Year 12 and work alongside the staff leadership to enhance wellbeing provision across the school. 

Project Me

To support student wellbeing, we include 2 hours in students’ timetables each fortnight dedicated to enhancing their physical or mental wellbeing. This is for an activity aside from the students’ studies, it can be individual or as a group and could include examples such as: trip to a coffee shop to read a book, walk in the Surrey countryside near school, a hobby, chess or mindfulness. Project ME is monitored via regular 1:1s.

Welfare Ambassadors – Advice

  • Be active - Improved physical health can boost mental wellbeing.
  • Have some "me time" and try to reduce feelings of guilt - face masks, coffee date (solo or with friends), music, hobbies, Netflix/YouTube.
  • https://psychcentral.com/blog/reducing-your-guilt-about-not-being-productive
  • Breathing techniques such as box breathing (inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts, hold for 4 counts).
  • Gratitude.
  • Connect with others – call someone, organise a meet-up.
  • Set aside enough time to sleep each night (c.8 hours).
  • Never be afraid to reach out for help.
  • Efficient organisation of time can reduce stress when it comes to exams and upcoming deadlines.

Previous ‘This Week in Welfare’ articles

This week in welfare

Welfare Ambassadors – Phone numbers to contact

  • Childline 08001111
  • Mental Health Crisis line 0800 915 4644
  • Beat 0808 801 0677
  • National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247
  • Samaritans 116 123
  • Men's Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 (Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm)
  • The Green Hub Teen Garden www.greenhub.org.uk 
  • Nearby CYP Haven/Safe Havens (Guildford, Aldershot, etc.) 01483519436

Welfare Ambassadors – Useful Websites

Welfare useful websites

Mobile Apps

Calm

Telmi

Safespace

Mindshift

News

20th August 2026

GCSE Results 2026

Today has been a wonderful reminder of what makes County such a special community.  Our Particular thanks go to our Exams Team, whose considerable work behind the scenes ensured that this morning ran so smoothly and to our Sixth Form Team for managing the significant task of enrolment with such efficiency and care.  We also thank the many colleagues who came into school during their holiday to distribute results, speak with students and families, offer advice and, of course, to share in their celebrations.  Your presence matters enormously to our young people. Mr Steve Smith, Headteacher, commented that, ‘There will, rightly, be time for detailed analysis.  We will want to understand where outcomes have exceeded our expectations, where they have matched them and where they have fallen short.  That process is important because it helps us to become better at what we do.  What matters is that we approach it with the same openness and professional curiosity that colleagues have demonstrated today.’ He went on to say that, ‘Already, some really valuable conversations have begun about what we can learn from this year’s outcomes.  Our continued focus on the quality of classroom practice, the design and sequencing of our curriculum and strong partnerships with families, particularly when a child is beginning to fall behind, remains central to our work.  Alongside this, coaching gives us an increasingly powerful way to support one another in refining our craft.  It is through the disciplined, consistent application of these things that we will continue to improve outcomes for every child.  For the part that every one of you has played in these results, thank you.  GCSE outcomes may be published against individual subjects and students, but the education of a child is never the work of one teacher or one department.  It is a collective endeavour and today's successes belong to colleagues across the school.  And there are some exceptional individual successes to celebrate.’ Among a very strong set of performances, special recognition goes to the following students, each of whom achieved an average grade of at least 8 across their GCSEs: Alice Mala Feriel Grace Annabelle Alyssa Molly Daniel Edward Emilia Ada Liam Alice Jade Lauren We are also immensely proud of 13 students in Years 9 to 13 who achieved outstanding results in their Heritage Language examinations, including 3 out of the 6 taking a GCSE who gained a grade 9 and 5 out of the 7 taking an A level who gained an A* grade. Congratulations to them all. Mr Smith, concluded by saying, ‘While these headline successes deserve particular recognition, I am equally conscious that there will be many students whose names do not appear above but for whom today's results represent something deeply significant.  For some, a grade 4 secured after considerable perseverance will mean every bit as much as a grade 9 does for another.  Progress, resilience and achievement take many forms and I hope that our students leave us knowing that we recognise and value them all.  Today, then, brings one chapter of their education to a close.  I am tremendously proud of the Year 11 Class of 2026 and all that they have achieved during their time with us.  For those moving elsewhere, we wish them every happiness and success.  For the many who will continue their journey at Guildford County Sixth Form, for which we are still warmly accepting applications, alongside the new students who will join us in September, we look forward to welcoming them back for the next stage.  As pleased as we should be today, our ambition does not change. As we begin a new academic year, we will continue to strive for excellence for every child, ensuring that learning remains at the heart of our work and that County is a school in which every young person knows that they have a place and genuinely feels that they belong.  That work requires expertise, high expectations and relentless attention to the quality of education we provide. It also requires the care and dedication that I see from colleagues every day.  Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this year’s results and, more importantly, for everything that they have done for the young people behind them.’  Read Full Article
13th August 2026

A Level Results 2026

Today has given us the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our outgoing Year 13 students and the culmination of two years of hard work, determination and commitment.  Their results, the best at A level in our school’s history, reflect not only their own considerable efforts, but also the expertise, care and high expectations of the many colleagues who have taught, guided and supported them throughout their time in our Sixth Form. Sincere thanks go to our Sixth Form and Exams teams for the enormous amount of work that goes into preparing for results day and for ensuring that this morning ran so smoothly.  Thank you, too, to the many colleagues who came in early to help with the distribution of results and, importantly, to be there to congratulate, reassure and support our students as they considered their next steps. Headteacher, Steve Smith, said, 'There was a real sense of positivity around school this morning.  Alongside celebrating what has been achieved, I was particularly pleased by the quality of the professional conversations already taking place about the year ahead.  Colleagues were rightly proud of the considerable strengths within this year’s results, while also being keen to look beneath the headline figures, identify those areas in which we can improve further and consider how we secure even stronger outcomes for our new Year 13 students in the summer of 2027.' Mr Smith went on to comment, 'That balance is important.  We should take genuine pride in excellent outcomes and recognise the expertise and commitment that have made them possible.  Equally, our expectations of ourselves and of our students must remain exceptionally high.  Our ambition is always to improve and our collective drive for excellence must remain unrelenting.' 'Taken as a whole, this year’s results are truly exceptional.  They represent an enormous achievement for our students and for the colleagues who have supported them.  My genuine thanks and congratulations go to everyone who has contributed.  The table below provides the detail of our headline outcomes for your interest.' Of course, behind every percentage and headline figure sits an individual student and it is important that we do not lose sight of that. For some of our young people, the results received today represent the culmination of an extraordinary personal journey.  Their achievements have been made possible through their own hard work, alongside the expertise of their teachers and the support, encouragement and challenge provided by colleagues across the school and through our Governance model. We would like to congratulate all of our students for what they have achieved.  There are many individual successes of which we can be extremely proud and I share some of those with you here: Felix - A* A* A Nathan - A* A* A Aidan - A* A* A Aaron - A* A* A* Hannah - A* A* A Lara - A* A* A Anuthmie - A* A* A Oliver - A* A* A Lauren - A* A* A B Dylan - A* A* A A Douglas - A* A* A* Isabel - A* A* A* A* There are equally some wonderful stories within our students’ destinations data this year, whether they are progressing to university, competitive courses, apprenticeships, employment or other exciting opportunities. 88% of our cohort applied to university and 44% of our applicants, at time of writing, have gained entry into a Russell Group insututution. Further, we have three Conservatoire and three Oxbridge entrants. Our congratulations to them all. Conservatoire Felix  Leah  Jamie Oxbridge Noah  Oliver  Isobel  Results day is inevitably focused on grades, but today is about considerably more than a set of letters on a page.  It marks the conclusion of an important chapter in the lives of our students and the beginning of another.  We should be immensely proud of the young adults who leave us this summer, of what they have achieved and of the contribution that they have made to our school community. It is therefore a great pleasure to congratulate the Sixth Form Class of 2026 and to wish them every success and happiness as they take their next steps.  I very much hope that many will remain connected to the school through our alumni community, allowing us to follow and celebrate their achievements in the years ahead.  Read Full Article
26th June 2026

Proposed Crossing outside Guildford County School - Road Safety Consultation

The safety of our students, staff and wider community is always a key priority and this proposed crossing has the potential to make a significant difference to the safety of everyone travelling to and from school. We would be extremely grateful if you could take a few moments to scan the QR code on the attached poster and complete the consultation. It is vital that as many members of our school community as possible share their views so that Surrey County Council can fully understand the importance of this proposal. The consultation closes on Friday 24th July 2026, so please do respond before this date. Read Full Article
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