Scholars and exhibitioners follow a bespoke programme of academic extension activities organised by year group.

Head of Scholars: Mrs Campion

News and Events

Academic Extension at Oxford

Third Form Scholars and Exhibitioners headed off to Oxford for a day of academic extension. They started by gaining an insight into the life of an Oxonian by visiting Corpus Christi College. They toured [...]

Climate Change Science Workshop

On Wednesday 15th January, the 4th Form Scholars took part in a Climate Change Science workshop led by Matthew Patterson, a researcher in climate physics at the University of Oxford. The scholars discussed how climate models [...]

Scholars’ Book Club

On Friday 10th January, 32 third and fourth form scholars took part in a special book club where they discussed the ‘The Boxer’ with its author Nikesh Shukla in a live Skype session. It [...]

Klaus Dodds Prize for Academic Extension

On Wednesday 8th January LVIth 60 scholars and staff enjoyed a formal dinner at Waterloo Hall as the conclusion of the inaugural Klaus Dodds Prize for Academic Extension. Last term scholars had carried out independent [...]

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Scholarship Programme

3rd Form Scholars

Head of 3rd Form Scholars: Mr Craig (English) and Mr MacCleod (History)

The Third Form Scholars and Exhibitioners meet weekly. During their first session they meet to discuss their summer reading. The purpose of this is to provide a forum for intellectually curious students to share their thoughts and get to know each other.

Academic scholars are encouraged to take an active role in the school’s academic extension programme. With this in mind during Michaelmas term the 3rd Form Scholars have taster sessions in a wide range of academic activities that take place at Wellington College. Activities include an introduction to; Astronomy, History of Art, Ecology, Existentialism, Economic Thought, Engineering, Music Technology, Shakespeare and Linguistics. This will then lead to further investigations in the Summer Term and a trip to the Globe Theatre. They also receive three hours of training by an external debating coach.

During Lent term the students take place in a series of workshops encouraging them to reflect on a range of challenging and controversial questions from the Junior John Locke Essay Competition. In 2021 students considered questions such as; Should we raise the voting age to 25? Is Oxford overrated? Have things improved? What should we do to improve the lives of poor people? Just because you’re a millionaire doesn’t mean you should get better healthcare than the rest of us, does it? The students are then encouraged to further research a question of their choice and submit an entry in the competition.

Scholarship Programme

4th Form Scholars

Head of 4th Form Scholars: Mrs Patterson (Biology) and Mrs Johnston (French)

During Michaelmas the 4th Form Scholars and Exhibitioners meet weekly to take part in discussions based on some pre-reading. The aim of these sessions are to encourage discussion on topics beyond those they encounter in the classroom and to develop strong skills in healthy debate, challenging and, sometimes, respectfully opposing the opinions of others as well as considering them with an open mind.

The students all attended a series of public speaking workshops with our Head of LAMDA, Mrs Hamilton. During these sessions they learnt various public speaking techniques, such as the use of rhetorical questions and signposting, the importance of body language and facial expressions and speaking audibly. This culminated in a balloon debate where each student represented a non-western thinker or activist, in 2021 there was a wonderful range of characters including Siddhartha Guatama, Harriet Tubman, Malala Yousafzai and Genghis Khan. The winner is awarded the Peter Mallinson Prize for Academic Extension.

During Lent term the students investigate Climate Change further through the medium of story telling and attend various workshops with external experts. The students are encouraged to enter a choice of external competitions such as  MiSAC Microbiology Competition.

The scholars take part in a series of Introduction to New Subject workshops. These are led by subject specialist who will introduce the students to Politics, Psychology, Economics, History of Art, Philosophy or Environmental Systems & Society (ESS). The scholars then carry out some independent research into one of these subjects over the summer and then meet with the subject specialists to discuss their research in September.

Scholarship Programme

5th Form Scholars

Head of 5th Form Scholars: Miss Spencer

We are mindful that Fifth Form Scholars and Exhibitioners undertake their GCSEs in Summer Term. We therefore provide a more flexible programme that allows scholars to focus on revision while allowing them the space to begin to specialise in a particular subject area, with a view to VI Form and university specialisation.

Over Michaelmas of the Fifth Form, scholars and exhibitioners undertake a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), provided digitally by universities, in a specialist area of their choice. Courses are taken independently and their choice is approved by the Director of Academic Extension. Students are encouraged to select MOOCs from major universities through providers CourseraFuturelearn and EdX. MOOCs undertaken this year include Particle Physics, Social and Clinical Psychology, The Ancient Greeks and Contemporary China.

Once students have completed their MOOCs independently, they join together in small groups (with similar interests) to create a presentation around an overarching theme. They present these in an evening at the end of Michaelmas with the winning group being awarded the Peter Frankopan Prize for Academic Extension

Scholarship Programme

Upper School Scholars

Head of Upper School Scholars: Ms Sagers

The Upper School Scholars’ Programme is designed to encourage students to develop their critical thinking skills, and to engage in inter-disciplinary learning. Admissions tutors at top universities frequently cite these areas as the most desirable skills for candidates to have, so, whilst we will be focusing on students’ enjoyment of this learning, it is my belief that this will also really help to prepare students for university applications, and the development of their own areas of interest and speciality. The programme is designed to complement subject specialist extension held within individual departments

Michaelmas – In the Michaelmas term, Upper School Scholars will discuss their summer reading – How Babies Think, and The Language Instinct. They will then explore a selection of academic articles – game changers in their field – discussing the issues they raise, debating the relative merits and shortcomings of these papers, and examining what lessons they might hold for us in any academic discipline. Through exploring questions such as what is the political or social meaning the word ‘community’, or how so we define what it means to be human in the face of artificial intelligence – they will learn about scholarship, the creation of knowledge, and critical thinking.

Towards the end of term the students will work together to write their own research papers. They will learn about research habits and resources, and students will have the opportunity to begin their own investigation into their chosen discipline. This work will continue independently over the Michaelmas break.

Lent Term – In the Lent Term, students will present their paper, and will be encouraged to drive discussion with the group afterwards. This process will encourage students to develop their skills in academic writing and will encourage flexible thinking by requiring them to hold their own in lively, academic debate. Further, students will have researched extensively into a topic of their choice, which will help them to prepare their personal statements. The skills that students have learnt here will also prepare them to enter external essay competitions organised by top universities. At the end of the term, the top three pairs will be chosen.

Summer – In the Summer Term, the top three pairs will present their papers at an Upper School Scholars’ dinner – the winner will be awarded the Klaus Dodds’ Prize for Academic Extension. Students also have the opportunity to organise and host an ‘Inter-School Academic Symposium’ on an inter-disciplinary subject of their choice