Our 52+ and HE+ Programme

52+ is the name of our aspirational and academic support programme in our Sixth Form designed to help develop high achievers from GCSE.

Students who achieve an average 52+ points at GCSE (hence the name) will automatically join this programme which aims to stretch, challenge and inspire them to reach or surpass their academic potential throughout their sixth form experience.

Examples of what the programme entails are outlined below. Students are offered opportunities to develop skills, subject knowledge and personal qualities, along with much encouragement and support to apply for the top universities in their chosen field, if this is their post-18 goal.

As with all of our students in the sixth form, their academic progress will be tracked and monitored regularly to ensure they meet / surpass their target grades.

We trust this support will also instil within these students a self-belief and confidence in their academic ability that allows them to expect the very best from themselves and their sixth form experience at ABS.

• Identified in the autumn term to staff and parents.
• Regular meetings with Head of Year
• Subject staff stretch and challenge in lessons
• Subject staff identify A* requirements with the student
• Support from our Careers ‘Planning for the Future’ system
• Aspirational UCAS applications and open day visits
• Close report-tracking to avoid ‘coasting’
• Intervention through study support
• HE+ Cambridge masterclass programme offered to the top 10 52+ students
• UNIQ Oxford summer school opportunities

HE+

HE+ is a collaborative project run by the University of Cambridge with groups of schools and colleges in several regions of the UK. IN 2013, 1600 Year 12 students in over 50 schools and colleges participated in the initiative. 10 students from our top achievers are invited to become part of this group each year.

Through the HE+ project, the University of Cambridge and its colleges are working together with state schools and colleges to:

• help students to develop their academic skills
• inspire students to aim as high as possible when making their university choices
• support students in preparing competitive applications to highly selective universities
• encourage students to challenge themselves and each other in an academically supportive environment

The overall goal of the project is to encourage and prepare more academically-able students to compete for places at top universities.

Your son or daughter will be invited to a series of after-school sessions, each an hour and a half long at one of our participating schools throughout this academic year. These sessions include activities such as group projects, challenging subject tutorials and talks with Cambridge University representatives.

For further information about either of these groups, please contact Ms McGowan our 52+ / HE + coordinator on 0151 233 7373.