Find out more
From the Government’s mini-budget to screen printing and trigonometry identities, there was a wide range of topics on the agenda at a special study day at Wellington College this week.
Ten students travelled to the college on Wednesday to take part in the first Wheeler Programme study day of this academic year.
Drawn from nine different state school sixth forms, including one in South Wales, the Year 13 students took part in lessons related to their sixth-form studies as well as one-on-one coaching sessions to help them decide on their next steps.
Student Jordan, who took part in sessions in maths, physics and economics, said: “It was real advantage to be in such small classes – just me and one or two others with the teacher – and I feel I can go back to school and answer a lot more questions.”
Fellow Wheeler student Jamie enjoyed learning about how the media collect data and use it to target their advertising.
He said: “The creative media session was really interesting. I learned a lot and I got to speak a lot more because of the small classes. It was different to school.”
All the students also learned about the importance of a good night’s sleep and got expert advice on how to write applications for Higher Education courses.
One student also spent the morning working with children at the college’s partner school Eagle House as part of her plan to work in early years education.
Head of the Wheeler Programme Sue Parker said: “It was great to hold our first study day of the year and see the Year 13 students, who attended small subject lessons in their A level subjects and discussed the writing of personal statements.
“These students have been with us since they were in Year 9 and it is fantastic to see how they have matured through the process, learned many valuable skills and hopefully even made lifelong friends.”
Paul Jennings, Head of Educational Developments and Partnerships, added: “My sincere thanks to my colleagues Gareth, Cherry, Alice, Joshua, David, Claire, Simon, Chris, James, John, Eddie and Emma who facilitated these brilliant young people at various stages throughout the day.
“The event has helped the students enhance their thirst for learning during the early stages of what is an important academic year for them.”
Established in 2017, the Wheeler Programme is a fully-funded educational programme for around 100 selected state school pupils.
Twenty-four students are selected in Year 9 and the college helps support them until their graduation from the programme at the end of Year 13.
Partner state schools include St Crispin’s and The Holt Schools in Wokingham, Farnborough Sixth Form and Brakenhale in Bracknell.
The programme includes a mixture of group activities, visits to workplaces, universities, organisations and people; talks, lectures, workshops and discussions; individual coaching, and tailored mentoring.
