Tournament which takes place in the school for the U14s and U16s. It is normally held at the end of the Spring Term. A level and Essential Skills assessments Boys usually choose four subjects which will be studied for AS, but may drop one for A Level, either voluntarily, or because it does not appear that they can continue with outstanding performance in the subject. These subjects can, liable to some controversy, only be chosen after receiving offers of study, commonly referred to as 'recommendations', in those particular subjects. Given the large number of students who achieve many, sometimes straight, grades 8 or 9 at GCSE, achieving an outstanding grade in a given subject at GCSE level is not sufficient to judge suitability for A Level. Instead, students must show that they have the 'essential skills' required to thrive at A Level in the subjects. Once departments are confident that a student possesses the required 'essential skills', only then will they issue a recommendation. To judge this, criteria are set by each department which must be met either in regular end-of-topic tests during the GCSE course, or by 'Essential Skills' tests which are sat exclusively to measure performance against these criteria. A minority of recommendations are issued to those who have met the criteria in November of year 11, but most will have an opportunity to meet further criteria in further tests, often including the GCSE mock exams, to then get a recommendation in February. Around 2/3 of all recommendations are given in February as opposed to November. One of the main focuses of sixth form is preparation for entry into higher education. As a result, the school focuses on career advice, the UCAS application process, personal statements, finance and other things related to university entry, which are often covered in PSHE lessons (known internally as Personal Development time or PDT) which take place in tutor groups once a week, as with lower years. The school also encourages that students partake in a wide range of extracurricular activities both outside of and during school time, such as the recommended 30 hours of volunteering. Founder's Day fête The Founder's Day fête, and the preceding service of celebration at St John the Baptist's Church, Barnet, is the largest cultural event in the school calendar. It is held every year, regardless of weather, on the third Saturday in June, and celebrates the founding