Twenty-five high-flying students have joined Barrow Sixth Form College’s Honours programme after achieving top grades in their GCSEs at school.
They are from schools including St Bernard’s, Dowdales, Walney, Furness Academy, Chetwynde and Ulverston Victoria High School.
Honours students have the chance to specialise in their favourite A Level subject, from across more than 20 offered, with additional mentoring from expert tutors who challenge the students to bring out the best in them academically.
Many will also complete the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), which is equivalent to half an A Level and enables student to pursue a research project related to their future ambitions.
Lily Melvin, who joined sixth form from St Bernard’s School, is studying A Levels in accounting, biology, and maths alongside the EPQ.
“My career ambition is to be a vet or paramedic and I am wanting to study these at UCLan or Manchester,” she said. “Being on the Honours Programme is great for me because I am getting more careers advice and there is a big focus on my next steps.
“The Honours programme gives me the opportunity to study an EPQ which will help me when I am applying to university as this can be something they look out for.”
Aspiring teacher Greg Barnard-Mackenzie is studying A Levels in English literature, politics, sociology and the EPQ and said it was exciting to be part of the Honours programme.
“It’s a great achievement to be on the Honours programme it helps you with your future and applying for university and you get extra support with lessons. You get specialist advice with a focus on university which will help me.”
They both said they have been looking forward to receiving their Honours hoodies, presented this term, before they even started college after they had heard about them while attending Honours events in Year 10 and Year 11.
Head of Faculty for Sixth Form Hilary Johns, who runs the Honours programme which is in partnership with Lancaster University, said the programme provides extra stretch, support and challenge for the most capable students.
“Our Honours students are a great group this year whose enthusiasm for learning really shines through. This programme will provide them with opportunities outside their classroom learning and give them a chance to show what they can achieve. We are really looking forward to working with them.”
Honours students are identified by their school in Year 10 and nominated for a place, with meetings taking place in Year 10 and Year 11. To be accepted onto the Honours Programme, students need to achieve an average GCSE score of at least 7.0, which means mainly grades 7, 8 or 9 (legacy GCSEs at A or A* grades).
More information about the Honours programme will be available for pupils and parents at Barrow Sixth Form College Open Evening tomorrow Wednesday (November 9th) from 5-8pm. See www.furness.ac.uk for more details or to register.
