Future Ready Week 2026
10 June 2026 - Sixth Form
At the end of May, the Lower Sixth (LVI) took part in Future Ready Week, a carefully designed programme aimed at preparing pupils for university study and life beyond school.
The week began with the Leadership Summit, attended by LVI pupils alongside 40 students from John Hampden Grammar School. Pupils were inspired by a keynote address from endurance explorer James Benson-King, before taking part in outdoor activities designed to challenge leadership and teamwork skills. The ‘Escape Room’ activity, featuring cross-curricular puzzles, proved particularly popular, and James later supported pupils during the ‘Island Hopping’ exercise.
The following day, pupils attended a series of talks from expert speakers. Mike Nicholson spoke about admissions to competitive universities, Graham Waton offered guidance on choosing the right course and institution, and Celia Higson explored gap years and opportunities abroad. Joined by students from John Hampden School and RGS High Wycombe, the sessions encouraged pupils to reflect carefully on their post-school options.
This day also marked the start of the UCAS application process, giving pupils the opportunity to begin exploring university choices and developing their personal statements. It concluded with a Seniors Forum, featuring Wycombe Abbey alumnae studying a wide range of courses across the UK. A question-and-answer session provided pupils with valuable insight into university life and the application process.
The week ended with a Department Day, featuring 19 academic departments that offered tailored sessions. Pupils engaged in subject-specific discussions, received advice on personal statements, and developed a clearer understanding of different university courses. Some pupils also took part in mock university assessments, experiencing the demands of time-pressured admissions tests.
Wycombe Abbey also hosted James Darley from Transform Society for a dedicated careers day focused on the modern graduate job market, during which pupils explored current recruitment trends and took part in mock interviews and group exercises supported by parent volunteers.
Thank you to our guest speakers for their time and contributions, and to the Sixth Form and Careers teams for organising and delivering such a successful week.
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