Sixth Form: Electives, Enrichment and Apertura

We want our students to be able to thrive in whatever future pathway or career they choose. We offer this cultural preparation by giving students opportunities and experiences that would not otherwise be accessible to some students.

In order for our students to open the door to the future of their choice, it is paramount that we also assist students in recognising the full spectrum of choices that are available to them.

The key aims of the AE&A programme at Laurus Ryecroft Sixth Form are:

• To assist students with accessing both broader and more in depth knowledge within their chosen areas
• To ensure that students maintain a broad outlook outside of their studies and are aware of current affairs
• To prepare students for interview processes, either for universities, higher apprenticeships or jobs
• To give students access to specialist preparation for entry to the most prestigious universities

Four Cornerstones

The four Cornerstones underpin everything we do. These are: Academic Aspiration, Culture, Creativity & Rhetoric, Competition & Physical Endeavour, and Leadership & Service.

Enhance

We believe that students should have access to high quality enrichment opportunities and experiences.

Our Electives programme is carefully planned around the Four Cornerstones. We want our students to discover new talents and interests and develop existing ones, so to this end, Laurus Ryecroft Sixth Form students are expected to take part in weekly enrichment activities as part of our co-curricular offer.

Below is a representative example of these:

Aspire

Our Aspire Programme is a carousel of workshops and activities in addition to the main A Level curriculum to support students with applications for the future. This includes, but is not limited to:

• careers focus groups with local practitioners (e.g. law firms, medical practices, accountancy companies, engineering firms and other companies students may be interested in)
• careers advice and guidance
• visiting speakers from universities
• UCAS guidance on Higher Education options
• writing a personal statement and a CV
• Oxbridge entrance preparation
• early entry support for Medicine and Veterinary Sciences
• study and research skills workshops
• critical thinking workshops
• preparing for job interviews

Apertura

September 2020 saw the launch of the Apertura programme. Taking its name from Latin, meaning “opportunities about to open”, Apertura is a Laurus super-curricular programme designed to expose high achieving students to academic dialogue and independent research in preparation for applications to competitive universities such as Oxford and Cambridge.

Through lectures from visiting academics, small group supervisions and independent research, Apertura students are widely engaged in academic thought and conversation. The programme runs through Years 10, 11 and 12, mirroring the three years of a traditional undergraduate Oxbridge college community.

The programme of study is broad and is designed to afford freedom for students, lecturers and supervisors. Apertura students will encounter and investigate a variety of topics taken from different subjects across three strands, each year.

Alongside supervisions and lectures, the Apertura Research Project provides an opportunity for students to pursue an area of their own interest. At the end of each year, students share and discuss their research findings with an audience from the Apertura community.

Apertura students are supported through the programme in other areas too, to build their confidence and resilience and ensure their wellbeing.