Earlier educational naming conventions inpublic schools termed every two years of education "forms" (itself sometimes said to be fromform(“bench”), where students of certain ages would sit together,[1] though disputed,[2] or alternatively fromform(“established method of expression or practice”)),[3] where Years 12 and 13 (i.e. ages 16 to 18) was the "sixth" and final form. State schools adopted the term "sixth form" and retained it when the rest of the form structure was dropped.
sixthform (countable anduncountable,pluralsixth forms)
- (UK except Scotland, education) The final two years ofsecondary education, during which students of about 16 to 18 years of age prepare for theirA-level examinations or equivalent qualifications.
1653,Corderius,Colloquia scholastica Anglo-Latina, […] 1653[2], page220:Nathaniel: Maister, there is nobody to teach in thesixth form.
Maister: What a thing is this?
N: He is sick in bed.
M: How do you know?
N: One of the scholars in his house told me so.
- asixth form college.
final two years of secondary schooling
- ^Hensleigh Wedgwood (1871)A Dictionary of English Etymology[1], Sense 2., page274:
The name offorma was also given to the seat of the choristers in a cathedral and the desk in front of them.Formula, a stool to kneel on.—Duc. There can be no doubt that this is essentially the same application with the name of the classes at our public schools, firstform,sixth form, &c., but whether the class is calledform from sitting on the same bench, or whether the bench is so designated from being occupied by a single class, may be a question. It seems certain thatforma was used for class or order in the lower Latin. 'Supernumerarii sacri ministerii primæ vel secundæformæ,' of the first or second order.—Cod. Theodos. de Castrensianis in Duc.
- ^“sense I.6.b.” under “form”, inOED Online
, Oxford:Oxford University Press, launched 2000: “The word is usually explained as meaning originally ‘a number of scholars sitting on the same form’ (sense II.17); but there appears to be no ground for this.” - ^Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “form”, inOnline Etymology Dictionary: “From 1550s as "a class or rank at school" (from sense "a fixed course of study," late 14c.)”
, Oxford:Oxford University Press, launched 2000: “The word is usually explained as meaning originally ‘a number of scholars sitting on the same form’ (sense II.17); but there appears to be no ground for this.”