It is a school priority to ensure that these students are identified at an early stage and provision is made for these students to have the opportunity to meet their potential. We identify our ‘High Starter’ students at the beginning of the academic year using a combination of Year 7 SAT test results, secondary transfer information and nominations from staff themselves. Approximately the top 10% of the year groups are identified as ‘High Starters’ and this information is retained on a register by the High Starters Co-ordinator and reviewed annually. Provision for ‘High Starter’ students is made on a day-to-day basis by differentiation of material in lessons, setting in some subject areas and targeted and personalised feedback from teaching staff. These students are also encouraged to develop their independent study skills by engaging with tasks from the super curriculum and contributing to the annual ‘Ignite’ journal. This is published every year and students are encouraged to submit independently written articles or artwork. We encourage students to have high expectations of themselves and many of our ‘High Starter’ students go on to read courses at Oxbridge and Russell Group universities alongside being accepted onto competitive apprenticeships. Students are encouraged to consider higher education and training by visits to universities in Year 10. In the Sixth Form, tailored and individual support is given to help students to make competitive applications and present themselves confidently at interview. We offer a very wide range of courses at Sandringham and through our 16-19 partnership with Beaumont and Verulam Schools which allows students to develop a personal curriculum which will allow them to thrive. More formal opportunities for independent work are offered for students who opt to undertake an Extended Project Qualification alongside their A-level courses, or at an earlier stage, alongside their Year 9 programme of study. This is a largely self-directed project from which students can achieve a formal qualification to recognise their achievements. A copy of our High Starters Policy can be found here.High Starters
As part of the school’s focus to deliver a ‘world class education’ for all of our students, we recognise that some students particularly excel in certain areas of the curriculum.
Sandringham School | Everybody can be somebody
The Ridgeway, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 9NX
Telephone: 01727 799560
Absence Line: 01727 799564
Absence Email: absence@sandringham.aetrust.uk
Email: admin@sandringham.aetrust.uk
Sandringham School is part of the
Ambition Education Trust