girls start boarding at age 11 (Year 7) and the “years” go up to year 11 (age16). Year 11 is when girls sit their GCSE's an exam which will define the subjects and number of subjects they can study for their A-levels which they prepare for in the final two years and sit in the final year. The final two years are referred to as the lower sixth and upper sixth ages 17 & 18.