Scholars Programme

Leading the Scholars' Programme is immensely rewarding. We have established partnerships with many industries, universities, authors, scientists, sports people and business leaders. However, the greatest reward is the development and enjoyment of our students as they grow in confidence and widen, both their aspirations and confidence.

Paul Dearing - Scholars' Coordinator

Scholars' Vision

The vision behind our Scholars’ programme is to offer more of our young people the opportunity to find their true vocation and passion in life. We have designed the programme, alongside top educational specialist, Andy Griffith, who has advised Comic Relief and is a bestselling author. The aim is to provide unique experiences to our pupils, which inspire and motivate them. The course will develop their character strengths, understanding of how their brain works, improve their confidence and communication skills and broaden their horizons. We want to nurture a sense of wonder and questioning in our students and to help develop their cognitive skills to enable them to reach their academic potential. The programme is a combination of class led sessions and enrichment experiences. Over the first nine years of the programme, Scholars have outperformed all other groups in the school.

We have developed strong links with superb local sixth form college, Carmel Catholic College and with some of the best universities in the country. These links will ensure that our students have a greater awareness of academic and career progression, as well as fostering a lifelong love of learning. Our partnerships are aimed at encouraging students and parents, to be ambitious about their futures and to, “Dream Big.” As part of the programme we have established strong links with parents, through launch and review evenings; informal and interactive parent sessions, where parents set the agenda to be discussed and pupil/parent university visits on Saturdays in the summer term.

It is hoped and has proved thus far, that by developing the course that it has led to the growth of opportunity throughout the whole school. This is clear in the Shaping Futures academic skills course in Y11, the university trips for all year groups, the sixth form talks and career guidance as well as HE assemblies in all years.

We will offer a varied set of opportunities to our Scholars over a 4 year period, from January of Y7 until the end of Y10. Clearly it has the endorsement of OFSTED, parents and, most certainly, our pupils themselves.

We regularly seek students’ views on the Scholars’ Programme in order to refine and improve their experience. This is just some of the feedback:

"Debating skills with Knowsley Youth Parliament has given me confidence and taught me how to plan a logical argument."
"Calligraphy with the Confucius Institute at Liverpool University was great. Loved it!"
"I understand what university is all about now and I am determined to attend university."
"I have a much greater understanding of the career opportunities that are available to me."
"The visit to Oxford University reaffirmed my wish to attend a top university. It has encouraged me to believe anything is possible."
"I enjoyed listening to the author, Cathy McPhaill, and her advice about becoming a writer."
"I was greatly inspired by the variety of clubs available and the diversity of students."
"I feel inspired by this event to work hard and create my own future."

Revision

There is no way round it: revision is tough but essential to success. The earlier you can help your child to build their work ethic, with the habit of wider reading and knowledge of the world, the more successful they will be academically. The best revision is time consuming and studies show that reading, writing notes, more reading and spot quizzes are best. You can help with this by establishing an environment which enables them to work to the best of their ability.

Revision for GCSE subjects needs to start straight away in Year 10, with daily re-reading over subjects on top of any homework they may have. Not all pupils work in the same way and so there should be flexibility. Breaks and rewards are something which you can build in to give your child that added incentive they may need.

The links below should be helpful in generating some ideas.

Please remember:

Revision needs to be done, constantly working on embedding knowledge slowly.
Ensure children have proper time and space to work without distraction.
Organisation is key: deadlines must be met. Check planners and QUESTION.
All Year 11 pupils have a mentor to support them.
Wider reading is essential for top grades, to gain improved vocabulary and understanding of global issues.

Support at Home

Try to start the process of establishing curiosity in the world around us. Liverpool is blessed with a variety of world class free museums and sharing these experiences can help start a lifelong love of learning. Encourage them to read different newspapers, such as: The Guardian, The Times, Telegraph and The Independent, as well as watching the news regularly, Channel 4 news is good at extended interviews. These will help them see the global connections and interactions. Watching TedX videos are also a great way to open our eyes to new ideas and ways of looking at the world around us.

Encourage Reasoning and Use of Memory

Ask questions such as:-

“What do you think will happen next?”
“Why do you think that is?”
“How do you think…?”
“Where have you seen that before?”
“When do you think that will happen?”
“Can you remember when…?”

Encourage Reasoning and Use of Memory

Take them to museums, galleries, theatres, cinemas, sports centres, parks, farms, activity centres, factory tours and any other places of interest you can think of, and then talk about what they have seen and done there. Encourage them to create their own amusements rather than relying on commercially produced entertainment.