More Able (MA) Support at FUS
Mr. O Timmis
Programme Lead
More Able students excel at a wide range of activities in school, often achieving great scores in academic tests, and/or excelling within sports, PE and Arts subjects.
Ferndown Upper School supports these more able pupils with a range of activities, including internal speakers, exam support, MENSA testing within school, additional support for post-18 choices and offers to join two external programmes:
- The Brilliant Club is an external organisation that can support More Able pupils in years 9 and 12 to independently research and write a university-style essay with support from a PhD tutor. Completed essays are marked to university degree standard and awarded a completion certificate at a UK university.
- Year 10 pupils will have the opportunity to apply to the Exeter University Scholars Programme and attend a 4-day residential course in the Summer between years 10 and 11. Additional support in year 11 and 12 will allow pupils to attend subject-specific activity days with current students at Exeter University, and in year 13 receive a reduced offer if applying to Exeter University.
More Able pupils are identified early in year 9 by using data from middle school assessments, then reviewed annually at the start of years 10, 11 and 12 based on internal and external testing.
| Year 9 | Year 10 | Year 11 | Year 12 | Year 13 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term | Pupils selected for MA group (based on middle school data) Application to join the Brilliant Club | Review of MA group (based on end of year 9 results) Convergent/Divergent thinking – Ben Myers | Review of MA group (based on end of year 10 results) Exam support (November mocks) Hot choc with Head (after mocks) | Review of MA group (based on GCSE results) Application to join the Brilliant Club [Exeter Scholars] Subject activity days on campus | UCAS application support [Exeter Scholars] Reduced offer if applying to Exeter University |
| Spring Term | Start work on the Brilliant Club with input from PhD tutor | MENSA IQ testing at FUS Hot Choc with Head | JP Morgan interview day [Exeter Scholars] Brightspace interactive courses with current university students Exam support (March mocks) | Start work on the Brilliant Club with input from PhD tutor Oxbridge talks and visits [Exeter Scholars] Subject activity days on campus | Exam support (A-levels) Preparation for university talks (sixth form team) |
| Summer Term | Brilliant Club graduation at UK university Hot Choc with Head (following completion of Brilliant Club) | Application to join the Exeter University Scholars Programme (4-day residential course in Summer holiday) Exam support (end of year 10 mocks) | Exam support (GCSEs) [Exeter Scholars] Brightspace interactive courses with current university students [GCSE study leave] | Brilliant Club graduation at UK university [Exeter Scholars] Subject activity days on campus Exam support (Continuation exams) (University Admission tests) | [A-level study leave] |
Brilliant Club graduation at The University of Surrey – Year 9
Brilliant Club graduation at The University of Surrey – Year 12