With over 50 years of success in providing Post 16 education to our students, Rainford High Sixth Form is proud to be able to celebrate decades of achievements. Our students leave us to pursue a range of Higher Education and apprenticeship options, leading them onto some fantastic careers. From doctors to lawyers, from engineers to actors, Rainford High Sixth Form is proud to have such talented and successful alumni to look back upon.
DID YOU STUDY AT RAINFORD?
If you were a student at Rainford High Sixth Form and would like to share your story, please get in touch. We would love to hear from you!
Rainford Alumni form
LUCY HARRISON
Lucy studied Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry, Physics and EPQ whilst at Rainford Sixth Form and achieved an A* in all subjects. She then went on to study Physics at the University of Birmingham.
Lucy says of her time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
I absolutely loved my time at Rainford, and the open-door policy really helped when trying to understand the most difficult concepts at A-level, especially in the lead up to exams. The atmosphere was always very friendly and the support from both the Sixth Form staff and the teachers was incredible throughout the whole of my two years there. In addition to this, the trips such as the CERN trip consolidated my knowledge and were a great experience.
NATHAN KELLY
Nathan studied Mathematics, Philosophy and Ethics and History whilst at Rainford, gaining two As and two A*s. He also achieved an A* in his Extended Project qualification and General Studies. Nathan went on to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Durham.
Nathan says of his time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
When I think of my time at Rainford, I feel no tinge of regret, I am left with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Support was a constant, including issues such as university applications and exams. If the metaphor of a Sixth Form being a springboard to university and adult life were to be one in which I indulged, I could only conclude Rainford to have the firmest springs of all.
ALANYA HERBERT
After leaving Rainford with three A levels in Philosophy & Ethics, Maths and Biology, Alanya went straight into a full-time Traineeship in Design & Civil Engineering for one of the UK’s largest housing developers. This involves dealing with the design of external infrastructures that are essential for residential areas such as roads, sewers, services (gas, water and electric), whilst also assessing these works as they progress on site.
Currently alongside employment, Alanya attends college one day a week to study towards a Higher National Certificate in Civil Engineering. This will lead on to attend university and Alanya will study towards a degree, having all student costs funded by the company.
Alanya says of her time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
All of the staff at Rainford were very supportive and always appreciated students for their hard work and effort – not just for the grades that they achieved.
LIAM KING
In his final year at Rainford, Liam combined his academic studies of Business Studies, Food Technology and History with the development of his technical skills whilst training to be a chef during his spare time. Within 8 months, Liam had progressed from trainee to restaurant proprietor. After achieving his A-Levels, Liam secured a higher apprenticeship with Stockport Council. Liam’s role involved working with young people in order to develop their employability skills, securing them apprenticeship positions. In September 2016, Liam was chosen from a pool 40,000 applicants to achieve a Business Consultancy position with Deloitte, the world’s largest professional services organisation, within their London based practice.
Liam says of his time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
Everybody can succeed but they’ve got to want to, and everybody wants to succeed in something. Without support, success cannot occur. Rainford supported me in the pursuing of my goals, whether they were academic or non-academic. This continued long even after I had left the Sixth Form.
WILL FAIRHURST
Will studied BTEC Sport, A Level ICT, A Level Media and A Level Business. After leaving Sixth Form, he secured an apprenticeship as an IT/Operations Technician at GPW Recruitment, a recruitment agency based in St Helens. As part of his apprenticeship training Will is currently working toward Level 3 Diploma in IT Users with St Helens Chamber of Commerce and will become permanent member of staff upon completion.
Will says of his time at Rainford Sixth Form…
Rainford is a great college! I really enjoyed my time here. All the staff are friendly, helpful and offer you support no matter what. The opportunities that Rainford offered me really have helped me in later life, I can apply skills I have learned within college to my every day duties at work, this is something that shouldn’t be taken for granted, and I really do thank Rainford for this.
AMBER ALLFORD
After completing four A Levels at Rainford Sixth Form, Amber went on to study at Bangor University studying Criminology and Criminal Justice. After graduation, Amber is hoping to complete a Masters degree in Criminology before working towards becoming a Criminal Profiler for a federal body within the criminal justice system. During her first year at university, she was awarded Female Fresher of the Year and represented Wales in the Tri-Nations Swimming Championships
Amber says of her time at Rainford Sixth Form…
At Rainford, all staff are willing to help. Due to the Sixth Form being so small, there is always somebody to talk to when you need them; the support I received was unquestionable.
CHRISTOPHER HIBBERD
After leaving Rainford with an AS level in Music and A levels in Geography, maths and Chemistry, Chris applied to join the army in the corps of Army music having already been part of the reserves and a member of the band of the Duke of Lancaster based in Liverpool. He completed army basic training at Pirbright and upon passing out from there was posted to the Band of the Grenadier Guards in London in January 2018. Some of the highlights of his career so far have included numerous changing the guard ceremonies at Buckingham Palace, Trooping the colour in the presence of HM the Queen and the remembrance parade at the Cenotaph in November 2018.
Chris says of his time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Rainford both in the classroom and participating in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme where I gained my Gold award.
FERGUS POWELL
Fergus studied Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry, Physics and the EPQ whilst a student at Rainford Sixth Form. He excelled in all areas, gaining an A* in all subjects. He went on to study Natural Sciences at Cambridge University.
Fergus says of his time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
I have so many happy memories of my time in Rainford Sixth Form – they were honestly two of the best years of my life. I have made some great friends; who I hope I will remain friends with for a long time to come. The staff were all really supportive, especially throughout my university application. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them, so thank you for everything.
CHANTELLE BALLESTEROS
Chantelle studied A levels in ICT, Health and Social Care and Media Studies. After leaving Rainford she went on to study Health and Social Care for Individuals, Families and Communities at Liverpool John Moores University. Chantelle is due to graduate in July and plans to pursue a career working with young people.
Chantelle says of her time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
Although A Levels can be difficult, Sixth Form was an enjoyable time for me as I have lots of happy and funny memories. The staff were really supportive and always encouraged us to achieve our full potential, which I am extremely grateful for. I also want to say a special thank you to Miss Trivedi for all her support as I really wouldn’t be where I am today without her, thanks for everything!
HOLLY KILSHAW
Holly studied Maths, Further Maths, Spanish, EPQ and General Studies.Holly is studying Mathematics and Spanish at the University of Liverpool and is currently living in Madrid and working as an English Language Assistant in a secondary school.
Holly says of her time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
“The support received at Rainford was second to none, be it subject support or help with university applications, all the staff were always available to answer any questions I had. The smaller class sizes, especially for languages, was invaluable as it allowed us to focus more on areas we were struggling with and feel fully prepared for the exams. The many opportunities for extra-curricular activities such as the Gold DofE and Ghana trip, allow you to become more rounded as an individual and not just focus on exams”.
ELLE WALKER
Elle studied A-Level Maths, English Literature and Psychology during her time at Rainford Sixth form before going on to study Mathematics at the University of Greenwich. During her second year at university Elle began working part time as Junior Associate for the global investment bank Macquarie and has since secured a full time position at the firm.
Elle says of her time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
I had three wonderful years at Sixth Form and although I re-sat my first year, I wouldn’t change it for the world. Each day was guaranteed laughter and the relationships built between both staff and students were one of a kind. I made my best friends at Rainford and have so many fun memories of my time there.
GREGORY LOWE
Gregory studied ICT, Maths Chemistry and Physics and achieved As in all subjects. After his A-Levels he joined the Aerospace company Airbus for a 3-Year apprenticeship to train as an engineer. Through this apprenticeship he was able to gain vital work based experience, earn a competitive salary, and gain a first class degree in ‘Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering’, amongst other qualifications such as various NVQs in leadership. Gregory is now working with Airbus as a qualified engineer working as a NC Programmer.
Gregory says of his time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
I firmly believe I made the best decision choosing to further my studies at Rainford Sixth Form. I always felt I was in a safe, friendly and extremely supportive environment which allowed me to achieve my full potential. The smaller class sizes made me feel much more than just a student in a classroom; I found they aided in developing a sound rapport with the teachers who were able to cater for individual needs and offer tailored academic support. I always felt confident that there was someone there to speak to should any issues arise.
MARK HARDY
Mark achieved the following results at Rainford Sixth Form: Maths (A), English (A*), Geography (A), Business Studies (A), EPQ (A*), General Studies (A*). After leaving the Sixth Form, Mark went on to study Business Economics (BA Hons) at University of Liverpool and graduated in July 2016 with a first class honours.
Mark says of his time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
“Whilst I was at Sixth Form, I started volunteering as part of enrichment at a local primary school. The same school have now chosen me as one of their forthcoming trainee teachers. This demonstrates why extra-curricular activities are just as significant as exam results. My two years at Rainford Sixth Form were my favourite years of education. The personal help and support at the core of Rainford Sixth Form is the reason for my academic success.”
RACHAEL GLOVER
After leaving Rainford with four A-levels, Rachael studied Law at the University of Liverpool and was a caseworker on the Hillsborough Inquest. Rachael was awarded the Sir Robert Micklethwait Memorial Scholarship in 2015 from The Honourable Society of Middle Temple to study the Bar Professional Training Course in Manchester. She was called to the Bar of England and Wales in November 2016 and intends to practice in Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence. Rachael currently works at leading law firm, Clyde & Co LLP, as a Professional Support Lawyer Paralegal in Casualty and Healthcare and is a Civil and Commercial Law Mediator.
Rachael says of her time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
My tutors were extremely supportive and encouraging which gave me the confidence to pursue a career in Law.
BRIONY MACHIN
Briony studied Art, English, Biology and Health and Social Care. She went on to study Art at foundation and degree level and is now a self employed artist, creating her own collection of ceramics and collagraph prints. As well as delivering art workshops to schools and groups, she also works part time at a local gallery.
Briony says of her time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
When I started Sixth Form, I was unsure what I wanted to pursue at degree level, hence the mix of subjects! However, my time at Rainford allowed me to explore my options and the Art department allowed me to develop my own personal style and confidence, which helped me enormously whilst studying on my foundation course and at degree level. College can be a stressful time and so pastoral support is critical. Without the support I received during my time at Rainford, I would not have achieved the grades that I wanted, or needed.
CHARLOTTE WIGGINS
Charlotte studied Textiles amongst her A Level choices and was discovered by a modelling agency whilst on a Sixth Form trip to the Clothes Show Live in Birmingham. She currently works for Select Management and has starred in campaigns for Burberry, Topshop, F&F clothing and Stella McCartney.
IMOGEN KENT
After leaving Rainford with three A Levels in History, Philosophy and Ethics, and English Language, Imogen went on to study her undergraduate degree in History and Philosophy at Lancaster University. She then studied for her PGCE at Liverpool Hope University in 2014 and started to work as a History and R.E. teacher at Rainford High in 2015.
Imogen says of her time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
I loved the friendly support that was always given from the teaching staff and pastoral staff at Rainford Sixth Form. The staff and teachers truly cared about every student. That is one reason I was delighted to return here as a teacher myself!
JONNY LOMAX
After juggling rugby with his academic studies, Jonny signed with Saints RLFC when he left Rainford. As well as playing over a hundred matches for St Helens, Jonny has also gained four England caps.
Jonny says of his time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
Rainford was really good to me in accommodating my extra rugby commitments. They remained flexible and understanding and provided me with extra help when it became harder to make all my classes due to rugby commitments. I think this was a big factor in helping me achieve the A-level grades I did. I have some great memories from Sixth Form, and made many friends that I am still in constant touch with.
DANIEL HARRISON
Daniel studied Maths, Further Maths, Biology, Physics and Chemistry and achieved A’s in every subject. He then went on to study Medicine at University of Sheffield.
Daniel says of his time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
The benefits of attending Rainford Sixth Form became clear to me as soon as I started studying Medicine at university. The combination of relatively small class sizes, excellent support from teaching staff and gaining the ability to work independently, meant that the transition to a highly demanding course was easier for me than those who had not had that advantage. When I look back at my time at Rainford, I remember a great mix of hard work and good fun!
Dr Daniel Harrison
MbChB, BMedSci (Hons)
GRAHAM HOBBS
Graham studied A levels in Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and General Studies and achieved an A in each of them. He went on to study Maths at Oriel College, Oxford and graduated in 2012. He is currently completing a Maths PhD at Warwick University. Some of this PhD research has been published in the scientific journal, Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis.
Graham says of his time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
I had a great time at Rainford, I liked that it is quite small so you get to know everyone. The teachers were fantastic and I got excellent support when applying to Oxford. I left very well prepared for university.
MATTHEW HOBBS
Matthew studied A levels in Pure Mathematics (A), Chemistry (B) and Biology (C). He then went on to study Chemical and Biological Engineering at Sheffield University. After completing his undergraduate degree, Matthew progressed to Postgraduate study in Water Processes at Cranfield University. He is still based at the University and is currently working towards an EngD as part of the STREAM programme, a collaboration between 5 UK universities, water companies and industrial partners. Matthews research focuses on the use of Advanced Oxidation Processes to remove pesticides from drinking water and he will graduate in 2017.
Matthew says of his time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
I really enjoyed my time at Rainford High Sixth form. I thought the smaller class sizes provided a great learning environment and meant better interaction with the teachers. One of my memories of studying at Rainford was that the difficult transition of going from GCSE studies to A Levels was highly emphasised to us. I was well supported at Rainford to make it through this transition, which represented learning how to make the most of your time in lessons to support an increase in studies outside of the classroom. This allowed me to begin to develop a studying skillset which translated on to university. Rainford prepared me well for my further studies and research.
SARAH WREN
Sarah Wren achieved a first class honours degree in Human Geography from Northumbria University. Sarah was a dedicated student throughout her time at Rainford High, leaving for university in 2007.
Sarah says of her time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
Some of my fondest memories include my time at the Sixth Form, especially spending time with friends and the fantastic Leaver’s Dinner at Haydock Racecourse. I will never forget the Glaciation fieldtrip to Bowscale Tarn in Year 13, and the hard trek up to where we stopped for lunch. I decided to continue studying Geography at university because of the diversity of other subjects it covers, because Geography is everything! I developed an interest in other cultures and realised that taking a Human Geography degree would allow me to work and travel in different places. Over the last three years while studying and living in Newcastle upon Tyne, I have travelled to Spain and the Netherlands to conduct fieldwork.
CARLY ELLIS
After leaving the Sixth Form, Carly attended the University of Westminster, and gained a first class with honours for her collection and design portfolio as part of her degree in Fashion Design. Carly’s designs have appeared on the front page of the New York Times and she has received ‘rave’ reviews for her work. She has recently graduated from Parsons School for Design, New York with an MFA in Fashion Design, after earning a full scholarship.
Carly says of her time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
“I look upon my time as a Rainford High Sixth Former as the best years of my life. I think of hanging out in the common room with my best friends, who are still my best friends now. I also remember all of the teachers that really made me want to learn, and made me want to be there. I was excited to go to Sixth Form every single morning”.
RUTH WATSON
Upon leaving Rainford, Ruth attended the University of Salford, where she gained a degree in English and Journalism. Ruth is now a successful copywriter in a branding and design agency in Manchester.
Ruth says of her time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
I look back on my time at Rainford Sixth Form with fond memories and remember all the life lessons that have helped me muddle through to where I’ve ended up today. I’m thankful to all of the teachers that helped me to grow and discover new ideas and ways of thinking. I don’t think I’ve changed too much in the ten years since I left the comfort of the common room, and it’s my love of English and creativity that’s stayed with me to help me build an interesting and creative career.
COUNCILLOR MICHAEL HAW
After leaving Rainford Sixth Form with three A-levels, Michael studied Politics at the University of Portsmouth and the University of Liverpool respectively and gained a first class Bachelors and Master’s degree.
Following university, Michael worked for the Liberal Democrat Party in Westminster, Liverpool and Manchester, before joining leading public affairs company, Lexington Communications, in 2014 as a political consultant. Through this role, he provides political and media relations advice to national and international companies across all sectors of the property, transport, health and energy market.
Michael is also an elected District and Parish Councillor representing the ward of Eccleston on St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council and Eccleston Parish Council. In addition to this, he also sits on the governing body of Eccleston Mere Primary School and is a member of Rainhill Rotary Club, raising funds for charities and organisations based locally, in the UK & abroad.
Michael says of his time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
I have many happy memories of my time at Rainford Sixth Form – the staff were all really supportive, even when I might have been, shall we say ‘demanding at times’. Their time and dedication equipped me with skills and experience about how to be an independent learner, which proved invaluable when I went on to study at university. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them, simple as!
RACHEL THOMPSON
Rachel studied A Levels in English, French and Theatre Studies and then went on to Hull University to study Drama. She now works as Head of Production for an independent television production company in Media City.
Rachel says of her time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
Sixth Form seems like another world now, but I have so many fond memories of Rainford. Everyone was very friendly and supportive – it was a nice environment. A lot of fun, laughter… and study, of course!
ANDREW BAILEY
After leaving Rainford with four A-Levels, Andrew studied Music and English Literature at Middlesex University and completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism at City University in London. Andrew, an award winning broadcaster and journalist, is currently Head of News at national radio station Absolute Radio where he also presents bulletins on the Christian O’Connell Breakfast Show. Andrew met his future wife Lucy at Rainford High in 1987 when they were just 12 years old, and they married in 2008. Their daughter Holly was born in 2010.
Andrew says of his time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
We were treated like adults not children, which made a real difference to my wider experience as a young adult.
MARTIN WILKINSON
Martin studied A Level Biology, Physics, Pure & Applied Maths, Chemistry and General Studies. He then went on to Liverpool University to study Molecular Biology, graduating in 1992. After his degree, Martin decided that he wanted a career in teaching and studied his PGCE at Liverpool University. In 1993, Martin returned to Rainford High as a Science teacher.
Martin says of his time at Rainford High Sixth Form…
Rainford High Sixth Form has always had a great reputation and continues to go from strength to strength. I only wish I had had the fantastic opportunities and support that the current students now receive.
NIGEL SEDDON MBE
After leaving Rainford with A-Levels in Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry, Nigel attended Reading University where he studied for a BSc in Physics, followed by a PhD in Laser Physics. For the past 28 years he has worked in research and development for BAE Systems and its sister companies. Most of his work has been on electromagnetics, for example high power lasers and radar, and he has been lucky to work with scientists from the USA, Europe and Russia. Nigel was awarded the MBE in the 2008 New Years Honours list.