Supporting High Flyers

hWe run an extensive programme to ensure our High Flyers receive the support, experience and knowledge necessary to stand out from the crowd and achieve their ambitions. Whether it be applying to a top university or preparing for a medical career, we will be there every step of the way.

High Flyers in High School

We get to know many Worcester high flyers before you even start College by
inviting you to take part in a range of events during Years 10 and 11.

These are likely to include:

  • Masterclasses for Year 10 pupils
  • Annual visit to Oxford University for Year 10 pupils
  • Higher Education Evening for Years 10 and 11 students that is run by admissions tutors from Oxbridge and Russell Group Universities

These activities are a great way to make a flying start to your studies at College.

The Ambition Programme

If you achieve a good range of levels 7/8/9 at GCSE and if you are considering making an application to a competitive university, we will invite you to take part in The Ambition Programme. The programme comprises an additional lesson per week that will help you to become

  • More informed about university choices
  • An attractive applicant to a competitive university

This is achieved through a combination of presentations by teaching staff and help with applying for enrichment opportunities, such as residentials at Cambridge University and summer schools at top universities. We also arrange Open Day visits and provide extensive individual guidance. We also focus on the development of thinking skills, discussion and debate that builds up your confidence and which is particularly useful if you are planning to take entry tests for university courses such as LNAT (Law) and UCAT (Medicine).

This programme is an ideal preparation for the Extended Project in the second year of your studies at College. From the summer term of Year 1 onwards, there is an emphasis on supporting students to write top quality UCAS personal statements, complete application forms and to prepare for university interviews through individual presentations and mock interview practice.

Supporting your Progress

All students at Worcester Sixth Form College have individual target grades for each of the subjects they study and you will review your progress regularly with your subject teachers. You will identify targets to work on that are stored in your personal area of the College Dashboard and you can update these targets at any time. These are personal and individual to you.

Your personal tutor has an overview of your progress in all subjects and will work with you to plan your next steps with regard to careers planning and making applications. They will also help you to take advantage of the wide range of support that is available.

Specialist Careers Advice

Careers advice is available to all students throughout the College week and you can book an individual appointment with specialist advisers in Student Services. This includes help for students who may wish to study in Europe or in America. You may also wish to take advantage of:

Professional Programmes are run by Student Services to help
students to prepare for applications to specific competitive fields,
including Law, Science and Engineering and Medicine. The programme includes:

  • Specialist programme of educational visits
  • Access to specialised university taster sessions
  • Advice on work experience and volunteering
  • Individual and mock interviews

Early Applicants' Day is run in early September just before the official timetable starts to provide specialist guidance if you need to make an early application (October deadline). This would apply if you are a potential Medic, Vet, Dentist or applicant to Oxford or Cambridge University. We are extremely fortunate that so many of our ex- students, who have made successful applications in the past, volunteer to return to mentor current applicants.

Mock Interviews – the most competitive and prestigious universities and courses select their students by interview. We understand that irrespective of success at GCSE and A Level, students need thorough preparation to enable you to shine at interview. Depending upon specific requirements, we organise mock interviews with specialists in the November of Year 2.

Extended Project Qualification

The Extended Projects Qualification (EPQ) leads to an exciting qualification, equivalent to half an A Level.

An Extended Project gives you the opportunity to research a topic of your own choice, and present it as a dissertation, investigation, or for the more creative, as a performance or artefact.

The Extended Project provides you with the opportunity to develop and demonstrate your skills of independent research and is particularly well regarded by Oxford, Cambridge and the Russell Group universities. An increasing number of universities now include the EPQ in their offers to students.

Professional Programmes

Professional Programmes at the College are an exciting opportunity to take part in a flexible package of studies that are in addition to your A Level studies and that will help you to prepare for your application to specific courses and careers.

Each programme will be followed for one lesson per week and we will tailor the programme to meet your needs as far as possible.
Professional Programmes are available in:

  • Teaching
  • Nursing, Midwifery & Paramedic Science
  • Law
  • Medicine
  • Physiotherapy

Thinking Outside of the Box

Enrichment

Top universities often prefer students who show they are keen to ‘think outside the box’ and develop new skills and interests. It is vital that you make the most of your talents, skills and experiences to secure a place.

Taking part in enrichment is also a great way to meet new people with similar interests, make new friends and have fun. At Worcester Sixth Form College we offer a wide range of enrichment opportunities, to help students achieve this.

Young Enterprise

The ultimate enterprise experience. Students are mentored by a Young Enterprise Business Adviser and Business teacher to set up and run their own real company over a year. Students get to learn about business in a very real way outside of the classroom situation from initial business ideas, marketing, sales, managing the finance and human resources.

Students will participate in Young Enterprise fairs and competitions and mix with students from other colleges and schools, sell their products and hopefully make a profit.

Student Union

The Student Union represents the voice of all students in the College and plays a significant role in consulting with senior management helping to make active changes in College.

Student Union is open to all students in the College. Not only do you get to influence the way the College is run, you also gain invaluable experience and skills for your CV and/or UCAS application.

The Student Union supports and funds a wide range of exciting student-led activities such as charity fund raising events for local, national and international charities.

Sports Academies

The Sports Academies offer the chance to combine full-time study with sporting development and enable participation in regular challenging fixtures.

Participate in one of the following Sport Academies:

  • Athletics
  • Hockey
  • Basketball
  • Netball
  • Football

Specialist Academies

Maths

You will have timetabled sessions for a minimum of one hour a week for two years. There are three main focuses:

1. Developing skills in mathematical thinking and problem solving
2. Preparation for entrance examinations and interviews
3. An introduction to some specialist topics of use beyond A Level

Students are introduced to non-standard maths problems.

Students start developing the skills necessary for tackling these as they are led through solutions. The sessions include group activities with students working on problems together.

This encourages mathematical discussion, a great aid to understanding. There is also opportunity to present their individual ideas verbally.

Students are also supported in their Sixth Term Examination Papers (STEP) which regularly forms part of a conditional offer to read mathematics at the top universities.

Medical Insight Programme

This enrichment is for aspiring medics and for students interested in medically- related careers. The Medical Insight Programme will involve ethical discussions, case studies, additional dissections, uses of medical
equipment and other aspects of interest, going beyond the current A Level specification.

Biology Olympiad

High achieving Biology students will be invited to take part in the Biology Olympiad. These are advanced problem-solving competitions that test students’ practical and theoretical skills. The competition
brings together students from around the world to both challenge and stimulate their curiosity in the biosciences. It is an opportunity for students to expand their talents.

Physics Academy

Students will complete a research project. They will develop their data analysis skills, research skills and communication skills. They will have the option of completing research projects such as cosmic mining,
where they have the option to analyse the data from stars forming and fading in our galaxy and beyond or Earth observation, where they use satellite data to investigate the effect of human advancement on
the landscape of our changing world.

Performing Arts

The Performing Arts Academy offers a diverse range of productions and activities across the fields of Dance, Music and Drama, and will provide you with the opportunity to take part in performances in front of an audience, to enrich your experience of the performing arts, to gain a practical knowledge and understanding of performing, to develop both personal and team working skills, to enhance your CV and improve your prospects for entry into higher education.

Academy time will fit alongside your academic subjects to form your programme of study. As a large sixth form college with several sets in most subjects, we have the advantage of being able to offer you not only a wide range of subjects, but also
combinations not available elsewhere.

Students don’t have to be studying a Performing Arts subject to take part which makes for an interesting mix of personalities.

Work Experience

Student Services have dedicated Work Experience Officers that can help you secure a work placement in an organisation relevant to your chosen career path.

A research study by HighFliers said that, “graduates who have had no previous work experience at all are unlikely to be successful during the selection process and have little or no chance of receiving a job offer from their organisations’ graduate programme.”
(SOURCE: The Graduate Market in 2018, High Fliers Research Limited)

A week long work placement or even a day shadowing with an employer can help you:

  • Identify your own skills and perhaps even highlight the areas that you need to build on
  • Develop a better understanding of a job role/career
  • Gain transferrable skills that employers look for such as problem-solving, teamwork, communication and time management.
  • Show you have motivation and commitment.

During out Impact Week in June, year 1 students are expected to arrange a minimum of two days work experience.

University and Careers Event

Our annual University & Careers Event runs in the summer term and hosts 50+ universities, employers and apprenticeship providers. The event covers all of your careers and university needs, from key speakers on relevant topics to one to one help with making career/course choices. It’s an opportunity to meet employers/universities and gain an insight into becoming an attractive and successful applicant.