Course Guide 2015

Barrow Hall College

High Achievers Programme

Barrow Hall College High Achievers Programme 2015

After achieving 11 A* in my GCSEs at Great Sankey High School, I chose to continue on to Barrow Hall College where I studied Fine Art, English Literature and French. I had a great time at BHC and feel that I really achieved my potential – mainly thanks to the fantastic teachers and support that was offered. I was Col-lege President at BHC which was a great way to gain confidence and also to meet new people. Moreover, the college was really helpful in supporting my Oxford application - we were offered dedicated personal statement sessions and mock interviews which were so useful when it came to the real deal – in fact, my mock interview at college was perhaps more intense than the real thing! Since I’ve come to university I’ve realised just how supportive BHC is, especially when planning your next steps. Lots of people I’m now friends with (including some from elite private schools) were amazed at the levels of help and support that the college provides when you’re applying to university as they just didn’t have the same at their sixth-forms. BHC was a great place to spend two years and I can’t thank them enough for helping me to get to where I am now!

What do our

students say?

High Achievers Programme

The High Achievers’ Programme is primarily aimed at those students

who are aiming to achieve A*’s to A grades at GCSE although it may

be possible to join the programme based on internal mock

examinations or final AS grades in year 12. The programme itself

offers structured support for those students who:

have aspirations to study at Oxford or Cambridge

have aspirations to study at a Russell Group or other prestigious

universities

have aspirations to study Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary

Medicine

What will I be offered on the Programme?

What is the High Achievers Programme?

All students who join the High Achievers Programme will:

Be offered the opportunity to complete the Extended Project

Qualification (EPQ). This course, which is highly regarded by

Universities, allows students to select an area of particular

interest to them, produce a 5000 word study and present their

research to fellow students and course mentors at the end of

the academic year;

Be offered specialist support from the High Achievers’

Programme leaders with all aspects of your UCAS applications

including applications to Oxbridge, Russell group and other

prestigious Universities and

Medicine, Dentistry and

Veterinary Science courses.

Nathan Stazicker

History of Art Christ church Oxford

I took the EPQ as an extra option because

it is the most useful for university. Not

only does it give you an experience of

using you own initiative and researching

something you’re actually interested in, it

also prepares you for a similar style of

learning when you do go on to a

university. I was assigned a mentor for the

duration of the EPQ who I met with

regularly for support and guidance. Most

admissions centres say that although they

don’t base offers solely off it, it does make

you more likely to be accepted, with some

even giving you easier offers. This is very

helpful when applying as it seriously takes

the pressure off!

Pictured above from left to right are some of our current year 13

students who have applied for competitive courses:

Joe McCarthy– Cambridge Natural Sciences, Kieran Jones– Cambridge Mathe-

matics, Marcus Hemmings-Cambridge, Ben Hasson-Oxford Law, Amaan Din–

Oxford Medicine, Amber Gallimore—Manchester Medicine, Matthew Wright-

Sheffield-Medicine and Kateline Gallimore– Manchester Medicine

The High Achievers’ Calendar of Events

The High Achievers’ Programme at BHC is designed to give all enrolled students a

range of experiences providing guidance towards making decisions that are right for

you. Our calendar of events also covers the two years you will study with us.

Barrow Hall College High Achievers Programme 2015

What do our

students say?

Kieran is currently in year 13 at Barrow

Hall College studying Maths, Further

Maths Chemistry and Physics. Kieran

achieved A grades in all of his AS subjects,

is predicted A*’s for all four of his A2

studies and also achieved an A* for his

extended project.

Year 12 Year13 September– The Extended

Project

UCAS Personal Statement

support

October– Guest Lecture 1

Oxbridge

October– Interview clinics

December-UCAS Support/

Medlink

November– support with

UKCAT,BMAT and LNAT

February– Guest Lecture 2

Oxbridge roadshow

December/January-Mock

interviews

Pure Potential workshops/

opportunity to enter

academic competitions

February- Guest Lecture 3

June– Post 18 Day– Support

from ex students currently

studying competitive courses

June/July– Oxford

High Achievers Programme

Leaders Rhianne Bond and

Mike Whitehouse

Barrow Hall College

Barrow Hall Lane Great Sankey

Warrington WA5-3AA

01925-720-726 www.barrowhallcollege.co.uk

High Achievers Programme 2015

HI! I’m Ruhi and I am in my first year at Durham University studying applied psychology.During my time at Barrow Hall College I studied History, The Extended Project, Psychology, English Literature and Fine Art achieving A* in Fine Art and A grades in my other subjects. Being one of the top universities, getting into Durham is very competitive. Fortunately, the support I received at BHC was fundamental in terms of meeting my academic needs and also in allowing me to grow as a person and develop skills in a range of different areas. Of course, it was important that I achieved top grades; it was the facilities at BHC and the genuine desire of the staff, who want students to do well, which helped to nurture me so that I could achieve my goals.

Ruhi Bhalla

Durham-Psychology

What do our students

say?

The quality of teaching at

Barrowhall College has

been outstanding. I am

taught by specialist A Level

teachers who are flexible

with their time if I need

support, treat me as an

individual and who are

passionate about their

subject. It is obvious that I

am taught by people who

genuinely care about my

success.

When completing my

UCAS application, I was

provided step by step guid-

ance by a dedicated form

tutor which made the pro-

cess surprisingly easy. The

smaller class sizes in col-

lege provide a family feel

and a friendly atmosphere

to learn in.

Kateline Gallimore Year 13

For a student at any college,

understanding the UCAS

process, writing a personal

statement and applying for

university can be daunting!

However the constant help

from my various teachers and

form tutor made the process a

lot easier. I would definitely

recommend BHC to other

students!

Amber Gallimore Year 13

Hi my name is Mia and I am studying Art & Design, English Literature, History Tudor, Maths and the EPQ. After achieving 10 A*’s at GCSE, I chose BHC because of the friendly, familiar environment and the opportunities unique to the college. For example, the 'Young Artists In Tuscany'

course was not offered at any of the other colleges I looked at. Going to Tuscany was the most amazing expe-rience and I would highly recommend it if you love art.