Since year 8, five of our year 11 students have been taking part in the Forward-Thinking outreach programme run through the University of Birmingham. The programme works with students to develop an interest in potentially attending university later on in their education.
Over the past few years, they have participated in an event launch way back in year 8, with inspirational speakers, in year 9 they have attended a taster day and day in the life experience where they attended lectures and explored what it is like to be a student on campus. They have had exclusive mentoring from university a student for ten weeks during year 10, where they worked with the mentor to develop skills to help with revision.
Last night was their celebration for completing the programme, an afternoon of quizzes and fun followed by a light meal with family and then talks with a graduation event where students were presented with certificates for completing the programme, in the Great Hall where all University of Birmingham student graduate when they complete their courses.
With this programme, if they were to apply for a place at the university, they would be eligible for a two-point reduction on the qualifications needed to apply and almost three in medicine. They have worked hard and represented the academy well.