Independent Learning

Introduction

Why Independent Learning Matters

In Sixth Form, you’ll spend less time in class and more time learning independently. This shift is essential preparation for life beyond school, whether that’s university, apprenticeships, or employment. The way you manage your time now can make a real difference to your results and your future.

Independent learning is not optional — it’s a central part of your course.
At Level 3, the expectation is that you take far more responsibility for your learning than you did at GCSE. The content is deeper, more demanding, and designed to stretch your thinking beyond what can be covered in lessons alone.

To put it in perspective, at Primary School and through Years 7 to 11, students receive around 25 hours of subject teaching and guided learning per week, plus around an hour of homework.
In Sixth Form, however, most students only have approximately 15 taught hours. That’s 10 hours less classroom time than before. If you only study during lessons, you’re actually doing far less academic learning than you were doing at Primary School.

To keep up, let alone progress, you need to actively bridge the gap with at least 12 hours of independent study each week. That’s the minimum to match your earlier years. To excel, you’ll need to go beyond that, revisiting material, reviewing feedback, practising questions, and extending your understanding.

Research shows a strong correlation between the quality of independent study habits and academic outcomes. Students who engage in structured, self-directed learning outside of lessons consistently outperform peers who rely only on class time and homework.

A 2020 report from the Education Endowment Foundation found that students who regularly review material and engage in active revision (e.g., quizzing, summarising, applying knowledge) demonstrate significantly higher retention rates and exam performance.

In short, developing your independent learning skills will improve your results, make you more confident, and better prepare you for life after Sixth Form.

Whatever your next steps, university, an apprenticeship, employment, or something entirely different, your time at St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School Sixth Form is a critical stage in preparing for your future.

These two years offer more than just qualifications, as you progress into adulthood, they’re a chance to shape your mindset, build independence, and develop the habits that will carry you through life.

Work hard, stay focused, challenge yourself, and embrace every opportunity that comes your way. What you do now will open doors later.

Mr Staddon
Director of Post 16 Studies

Independent Learning Guide

Please use Google Chrome to view:

independent learning guide.pdf