At Gordon Primary School, we are always looking for ways to engage, motivate and inspire our children with creative and aspirational learning, in and out of the classroom. Each year, a group of Year 5 pupils take part in our Scholars’ Programme. The Scholars’ Programme was established by a charitable organisation that seeks to increase fair access to highly selective universities, by placing PhD students in schools to deliver university-style teaching to high-performing pupils.
During the year, the Year 5 children visit a university campus and glimpse what life is like when studying in a higher-education establishment. The children receive tutorials from PhD students. Establishments visited by pupils in Clementswood Federation have, in the past included: The University of London’s SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) Campus; Newnham College, Cambridge; King's College, London; and Goldsmiths, University of London.
The children are taught by a PhD tutor, who delivers a university-style module, which is a specially designed programme. At the end of the programme, our scholars write a 1000-word assignment based on their learning. They are all then given university-style grades and attend a graduation ceremony.
We hope that participating pupils find the programme inspiring and aspirational and that it gives them an opportunity to consider taking their learning to the highest levels.