Academic Extension and super curriculum

We believe that all students should be extended beyond the ‘normal’ classroom curriculum, and to this end we offer a number of exciting opportunities. The below is not an exclusive list:

• Clubs, societies and meetings – whether involving just BMS students or indeed students from various schools in the local area
• Links to external bodies, reading and websites away from the classroom to promote further enjoyment of subjects
• Trips to museums, galleries and other places of educational interest, whether they be in Britain or overseas
• A large, well-equipped and well-staffed Library, where students can develop existing or discover new academic passions.

Academic Extension Days

Academic Extension Days are arranged for whole year groups, once a year, for Years 7-11, and throughout the year other events are organised which are carefully planned to inspire and stretch students.

Examples of whole-year days include a Forensic Sciences day for Year 8 students.

Projects

We offer the Higher Project Qualification (HPQ) to Year 10 students, run by AQA. This is an exciting opportunity for students, in conjunction with a supervisor who is a member of the staff, to pursue an area of interest outside of the curriculum; it is also worth the equivalent of half a GCSE. Participation in the HPQ is optional but is an ideal way to develop skills that will make the transition to the Sixth Form easier.

In the Sixth Form, we offer the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). This works in a similar way to the HPQ, but is more demanding. Increasingly, universities are recognising the EPQ (worth 28 UCAS points) as proof that the student has the requisite transferable skills to make a success of undergraduate life.

Academic Performance Programme

We believe that our most academically able students should receive specific, targeted opportunities to ensure that they are stretched and challenged. The Academic Performance Programme (APP) is targeted at the most able in any year, ensuring that these students are stretched and extended as a group in their own right (though any student is welcome to come to APP meetings).

We identify these students in a variety of different ways, and then offer specific support to them, such as:

• Differentiated challenge and opportunity in lessons, including setting in some subjects
• Promotion of external competitions like Maths Olympiads, essay competitions run by universities, and other such challenging opportunities
• Specialist Oxbridge, Vet and Medical preparation in the Sixth Form.

If you have any questions about Academic Extension please contact Mr M McIntosh (mmcintosh@bedmod.co.uk).