DGS Challenge Programme At Didcot Girls School we believe that all students should be provided with an education designed to help them achieve at the highest possible level. The programme of support designed for our Advanced Learners encompasses planned opportunities in class to extend and deepen their learning, personal mentoring and extracurricular enrichment activities. Together these create a culture of aspiration and challenge for our most talented students. At Didcot Girls School we strive to ensure that students receive an inspiring, rigorous educational experience that helps them to reach and exceed their aspirations. 3
Identifying potential and talent Advanced Learners are identified through the results of external tests and by teachers using agreed subject criteria which indicate flair or exceptional performance in that area. Generally Advanced Learners are those who are achieving, or who have the potential to achieve, at a level substantially beyond the rest of their peer group. The term encompasses students who are able across the curriculum as well as those who show talent in one or more specific areas. When your daughter enters the school, her achievements and attainment in primary school will be considered in teachers planning and her progress will be carefully monitored and regularly reviewed by subject staff. 5
Challenge: every lesson, every day At Didcot Girls School, students receive an education which takes account of individual needs and strengths and enables them to make the progress of which they are capable. Our teachers are passionate experts who are skilled at providing for the most able students and work hard to ensure that they are extending their knowledge and skills in every lesson. The Challenge Symbol is used extensively across the school to flag up challenging learning opportunities for those pupils able and ambitious to further their learning. Independence is valued and promoted through giving choices about homework tasks and links to further reading and study. Varied group work with designated leadership roles pushes students to develop as leaders as well as academically. 7
An ambitious curriculum At Didcot Girls School the curriculum offers the potential to challenge and extend students learning in all disciplines. From Year 7, students are placed in setted groups in English, Maths and Science to ensure that work is targeted at the right level for all students. A full academic curriculum enables students to study separate sciences at GCSE as well as Computing Science. There is a choice of four modern languages: Chinese Mandarin, French, German and Spanish. Students experience all four languages in Year 7 before making a choice about their preferred language(s) from Year 8 onwards when setting is introduced. In addition there is outstanding provision for students with talents in performing arts and sport. Each year students progress to the most prestigious universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. Many former students have progressed to high level careers and leadership roles in industry, science and technology, the arts, public services and the professions. 9
Key stage 3 Support and challenge inside the classroom is supplemented by mentoring programmes which aim to boost the achievements, aspirations and confidence of younger able students. In Year 8 the mentoring scheme pairs learners with trained, successful and ambitious members of the Sixth Form for weekly academic mentoring. Mentoring involves working on homework, encouraging the development of an area of interest beyond the curriculum, or giving a taste of what subjects are like as students progress through the school. Mentors in recent years have taught Chinese Mandarin, run science experiments, helped students develop sophisticated arguments in essays and have also built confidence and aspiration along the way. This focused support is further supplemented by school s KS3 Ulysses group. This challenge group offers enrichment, extension and support to the top academic performers in the school. Students from Didcot Girls School also participate in the prestigious Oxford University Young Ambassadors Scheme. This is a three year programme aimed at raising levels of attainment which recruits Year 9 students, and encourages them to become ambassadors for higher education amongst their families and peers. 11
Key stage 4 During Years 9, 10 and 11 students judged capable of achieving the highest grades are given additional support to focus on success in GCSE examinations. Their progress is carefully monitored so that they can be assured of achieving excellent grades. Year on year results for the highest attaining students are outstanding, with the proportion of A and A* grades increasing every year. Harnessing the aspiration cultivated in KS3, the KS4 Ulysses Group is designed to help our most able students in Years 9, 10 and 11 sustain their aspirations and develop their skills further through workshops, mentoring, and collaboration with Sixth Form Subject Ambassadors. The group is provided with effective guidance about course selection at GCSE, A Level and university courses as well as opportunities to develop wider interest in subjects. Extra-curricular events are also promoted and members are encouraged to extend their leadership skills by working with Advanced Learners in the lower school. Additionally, a programme of challenge and support is run through our Russell Group mentoring scheme which pairs ambitious Year 11 Ulysses members with academically successful Sixth Formers for a series of strategically focused morning mentoring sessions in the lead up to exams. 13
Key stage 5 The breadth of courses offered in the Sixth Form provides opportunities for able students to pursue their strengths to A Level and to explore high level concepts in depth. We are delighted to offer the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) which allows our most able students to research a topic of their choice and to gain the equivalent of an additional AS level. Russell Group universities look very favourably on the EPQ. Able students can also become Sixth Form Ambassadors for their subjects by working with KS3 and KS4 students. For those students with the potential to achieve a place at one of the UK s prestigious Russell Group universities (including Oxford and Cambridge) a bespoke support programme leads them through the application process. A dedicated Russell Group Leader co-ordinates the programme and also offers application and interview preparation. 15 The programme is delivered via meetings, seminars, email and visits. Students have the opportunity to visit both Oxford and Cambridge Universities to get an insight into applying to Oxbridge, the nature of the admissions tests and interview process and to experience a taste of university life. Year on year, over thirty per cent of successful university applications in the Sixth Form are to Russell Group Universities. More information about the Russell Group can be found on the Didcot Sixth Form College website.
Beyond the classroom Outside the classroom, students have a wide selection of enrichment opportunities designed to help Advanced Learners to extend their understanding beyond the curriculum, challenge themselves and develop leadership skills. This ranges from high performing sports teams, the Carnegie Book Awards, reading groups, Science Club, Chamber Choir, Engineering Club and Art competitions to influential roles in the School Council. Students are encouraged to hone their public speaking skills in a club co-ordinated by our Public Speaking Leader. Overseas trips and local visits to art galleries, university lectures and museums serve to broaden the horizons of all our students, including the most able. 17
Competing with the best Our Advanced Learners regularly compete with other schools in competitions and events that serve to instil school pride, personal confidence and self esteem. The Science Club has regular success in national competitions and many of our students succeed at the highest level in National Mathematics Challenges. Additionally, students compete in a range of public speaking competitions in and out of school and have their work published as a result of national creative writing competitions. Sporting triumphs are frequent, with girls succeeding at area and national levels in a wide variety of sports. Students with training commitments to local and national teams are provided with mentoring support to ensure that they are able to balance study with training and to keep their education and career options open. 19
Last word At Didcot Girls School we believe that all students are capable of developing their talents and abilities and achieving success. All students are equally valued and receive the highest quality education and support in and outside the classroom to enable them to fulfil their potential and realise their ambitions. Further information, including our policy, development plan and impact statement for Advanced Learners provision is available on the school website: www.didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk Should you wish to discuss our Challenge Programme in more detail, please contact: Mr E. Anderson, Advanced Learners Leader eanderson@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk Mr J Parkin-Haig, Russell Group Leader jparkin-haig@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk 21
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