60 Seconds With Mrs Gillings, Head of Sixth Form

I feel very fortunate to have worked in secondary education for most of my career and I’ve taught at KC for ten years. Although a great deal has changed since I first stepped in front of students in Vienna in 1994, some things never really do — not least, exams!

Recently, I completed a two-year horticulture course, which gave me a real reminder of what it feels like to sit exams again. Sitting in a large room with my candidate number, a clear water bottle and a loudly ticking clock, I was suddenly taken straight back to that pressure. I still feel a slight sense of panic thinking about trying to recall all those Latin plant names! It was challenging and it really brought home what our students experience during GCSEs and A Levels.

Alongside teaching English, I have the privilege of leading KC’s Sixth Form and our Sixth Form Centre. Tilley, is a busy and fun place to work! These two years are such a pivotal and exciting stage in a young person’s life. I love seeing students take on new challenges, grow in confidence and independence and start to shape who they want to become. Supporting them through this time is a big responsibility, but also one of the most rewarding parts of my role.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

For me, it always comes back to the books. Although I really value my role as Head of Sixth Form, there is something incredibly special about being an English teacher and reading together. If you think about memorable teachers in films or books, they’re so often English teachers!

While I can see the benefits of setting reading in advance, I’m always a little reluctant to do it. There’s something quite special about experiencing a text together in the classroom - sharing the twists in the plot, getting to know the characters and not quite knowing how things will turn out. The only challenge is making sure no one watches the film at home before we’ve finished!

Of course, exam skills are important, but that shared experience of reading is often where real engagement and lasting understanding begins.

What top advice would you give to students studying your subject?

My advice is twofold.

Firstly, read widely. Encounter stories from different cultures, perspectives and voices. Our students study Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk The Danger of a Single Story, which captures this idea beautifully: a limited perspective restricts understanding, while multiple stories deepen and enrich it.

Secondly, seek out experiences beyond the classroom, whether through volunteering or work experience. There is growing recognition of the importance of this. For example, the University of Manchester has recently announced its intention to embed meaningful work experience into all degree programmes.

While this intention is encouraging, such opportunities should begin much earlier and form a core part of all young people’s education. At KC, this is central to our approach. As part of our ASPIRE framework, we encourage students to be purposeful citizens, engaging meaningfully with their communities and pursuing experiences that challenge and inspire them. These opportunities help students make informed and confident decisions about their futures.

What are the department highlights and upcoming events?

One of our favourite moments each summer term is celebrating with students in the Sixth Form Centre after their Lower Sixth exams — a chance to recognise all their hard work and enjoy some time together.

We then look ahead to the rest of the term, with students heading out on work experience placements. These opportunities give them a real insight into life beyond school and help to build confidence, independence and a broader perspective.

I will then make sure I have chosen some good books to read over the summer.