May 19, 2020

Journey to the Future

Our Upper Sixth and Year 11 students began a new academic adventure on Monday 11th May as the launch of the Bridging Programme set out their schedule of endeavours over the coming six weeks. Determined to ensure that students in these key year groups are engaged in activities that are both stimulating and rewarding, Head of Teaching and Learning, Jenny Powlesland, and Head of Economics, Michael Liggins, have worked with our Heads of Department to create timetables which appeal to the intellectual and vocational aspirations of those set to take their public examinations this summer.

The Upper Sixth have been offered an incredible selection of eleven modules designed around the university courses chosen by this year group and described by Jenny as “high-level and cool”. The academic element is complemented by a twice-weekly compulsory Transferable Skills programme, covering communications, university readiness, employment prospects and career guidance, together with other essential information for succeeding beyond school. The academic modules available include Writing/Mixing your own Commercial Music Track, Health Psychology, Feminist, Marxist and Post-Colonial Critical Thinking and an exploration of The Butterfly Effect. The modules are project-based but offer students eight timetabled lessons per fortnight to introduce relevant topics and support their independent research.

“This year group are in a unique position and we wanted to give them a challenge that is meaningful for their future pathways at a time when the pressure of the journey to their academic peak has been destabilised by Coronavirus,” explained Jenny. “We want to stimulate their interest and test their capabilities with a programme that combines choice, support, independent research and opportunities to present back to their peers. It’s a dynamic process enabling arguments, ideas, debate and discussion and we hope they will find it fun to be challenged at this higher level as they head for university or employment in the autumn.”

Upper Sixth Former, Klara, enthused, “I’m enjoying the Bridge programme, I’ve chosen the Critical Theory module as it looks at Philosophy and culture, which I want to study in my Liberal Arts course next year. We’ve looked at feminism, Marxism and post-colonialism already, which are topics I am very interested in and hopefully will be ones I study at uni, so it’s been good to learn about them now! And it means we have something to do at the moment.”

Year 11 students are taking their their educational journey to the next level  through participation in either the A Level or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). Helen Taylor, Head of Sixth Form, has developed bespoke timetables to support the course options of both current students and those joining the School in September from around the world. Excited by the prospect of beginning the Bridge Programme, new student Anne-Marie commented, “I have logged onto all of the classrooms and can’t wait for the lessons to start. Thank you so much for your help in setting up everything! I really appreciate it.”

There are two lessons a week for each A level and IB subject and students can attend sessions for the subjects they will study in the Sixth Form. They can also dip into additional lessons if they wish in order to ensure they have made the best choice of subjects. The academic curriculum is supplemented by two lessons each week of Skills which provide a smooth transition to Sixth Form study.  The Skills element offers guidance on wider reading, note taking, motivation, organisation, concentration and study skills plus careers advice with details of apprenticeships and university courses and an introduction to UniFrog for research purposes. All Lower Sixth Formers also have Games sessions on Monday and Wednesday afternoons to keep fit and access to the extensive virtual co-curricular.

“These students haven’t had the opportunity to prepare for exams, hone their study skills and revise their course content as they normally would in sitting for GCSEs.” commented Helen, “The Bridging Programme aims to replace that experience for them, to ignite their interest and curiosity and ensure they are ahead of the game in reviewing the material they will need next year. It also means that students who are uncertain about their choice of subjects can actually start off studying more and choose next term. I’m pleased there has been such a good uptake because you can’t make anyone do anything remotely if they don’t want to!”

 

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