Pre-Graduate

During the American Studies enrichment you will explore American culture and history though their representation in film. In lessons we will talk about the American West, Civil Rights, the Vietnam War and Colonial America and for each topic, watch a film voted for by
students which deals with relevant issues. Past film choices have included Blackkk Klansman, Platoon, The Witch and The Magnificent Seven.

This enrichment will provide you with an extended knowledge of the bodily structure and physiology of humans as well as other
living organisms, revealed by dissection, microscopy, research and video. You’ll study the anatomy of different organisms in detail and make comparisons identifying the differences between structures to determine how and why each organism has evolved the physiology it has. The study of the causes and effects of disease or injury on organs such as the eye, heart, lungs, kidney and liver will also be incorporated, mostly through the analysis of blood, tissue and fluid samples as well as extending understanding into some less wellstudied afflictions including Neglected Tropical Diseases. This enrichment is ideal if you already study A level Biology or Applied Science (BTEC) and want to deepen your knowledge beyond the standard curriculum, especially if you wish to pursue a degree in Biology, Medicine or Veterinary Science in the future.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You will be expected to take part in lessons on dissection. It is recommended that if you are susceptible to fainting and/or nausea due to blood, then this course may not be suitable for you.

Considering becoming the next Indiana Jones, or simply want to widen your historic knowledge? If so, this short enrichment course in archaeology could be useful to you. In the Archaeology enrichment, students will focus on ritual and religion, beliefs systems, and the actual activities related to such beliefs including mortuary practices and their related structures, such as cremation and inhumation, including the construction of elaborate funerary monuments within the British Isles. As a result, Archaeology is a suitable enrichment for students wanting to study Anthropology, Archaeology and History as well as some science-based subjects, due to the wide scope in the subject that many students find interesting that can be taken further at degree level.

Through an Introduction to Astrophysics you will learn about the amazing things we do know about the Universe, such as the science behind rockets and black holes. But you will also learn about the things we have yet to discover such as whether life exists, whether we live in a simulation and what we know about dark matter and dark energy.

This enrichment will prepare you for a competition whereby you will go head-to-head with other schools to prosecute and defend cases. It will allow you to gain a real insight into how the legal system works. You will be allocated a role in the trial (such as a Barrister, defendant, victim, witness etc.) and with your team, will be expected to research and prepare a legal argument for two cases which you will then present in the competition. Throughout this enrichment, you will be encouraged to think critically, build arguments and oracy skills, and boost your confidence – each skill being particularly useful if you want to read Law at university, or become a Solicitor or Barrister in the future. This experience will help you develop a sound knowledge and understanding of the role of law and the justice system in our society.

This course aims to deliver a practical approach to solve chemical and biological problems applicable to many fields such as medicine, agriculture and in many chemical and health related industries. Students will develop a plethora of transferable skills including analytical, evaluative and practical skills. You will be working with other students in a safe, accurate and methodical manner. You are given the opportunity to develop and carry out a range of techniques such as chromatography of amino acids, titration to find the vitamin C content in orange juice, analysis of drugs using chromatograph and DNA extraction of strawberries/kiwi. In addition you have access to making aspirin, purification of aspirin, use of melting point apparatus, making biopolymers and azo dyes!

You will follow a series of experimental painting workshops that explore Bob Ross’ signature style. The enrichment will help you develop techniques in painting landscape, seascape, floral and wildlife scenery using the wet-on-wet technique that allows you to develop pieces in a short period of time. You will delve into technical elements such as tool application, layering and mixing to build those iconic ‘happy trees’, ‘almighty mountains’ and ‘fluffy clouds’. You will also gain valuable insights into the professional artist’s life and learn to work with freedom and expression through mark making and textural paint quality. Just bring yourself and we will provide everything you need to explore a memorable painting experience.

Engage with one of the most pressing issues of our time in our Climate Change enrichment course. With climate change frequently in the media, this course offers a unique opportunity to dive deep into the data and effects surrounding this global challenge. You will evaluate current research, analyse relevant data, and gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact climate change has on our planet. Through conducting your own analysis, you’ll explore actionable strategies to help reverse the detrimental effects of climate change. Join us to become an informed advocate for a sustainable future.

A philosophical and insightful course which lets you explore and link the cause of the consciousness and the relationship with the cosmos, enriching your wisdom in the chaotic world. This enrichment is suitable for anyone interested in Philosophy, Physics or Mathematics.

CREST Award is an independent investigation into a science related topic of your choosing. CREST gives you the opportunity to submit an academic report to obtain a gold, silver or bronze award. CREST will provide you with the skills required for further study and equip you with the tools to carry out investigations and create coherent scientific reports. This enrichment runs for both term 1 and term 2.

In this course you will explore definitions of crime and how crime can vary over time, place and culture. You will learn about some of the key techniques involved in criminal investigations and examine their usefulness. You will consider the structure of the Criminal Justice System and the role each organisation plays in controlling crime. You will also get to hear from people working within the police and probation service. Finally, you will explore different punishments for criminality and assess their effectiveness. This course is ideal for anyone wanting to study any humanities subjects at university as well as Law, Criminology or Sociology.

This course will help you select the most sophisticated work for your portfolio depending on your chosen career or university. You will get the chance to explore best practice examples of how this might look, ultimately helping you to arrange your composition of digital work. Throughout the enrichment, you will develop an understanding of how to present, order and annotate your portfolio in the correct format for the universities you are looking to apply to. By the end of the course you will have a narrative of the finished product creating a polished end product.

This course will explore the culture and history of a range of different countries though their representation in film. In lessons we will talk about the slum gangs of Brazil and their presentation in City of God, class conflict in South Korea and the psychological homeinvasion drama Parasite, 90’s Paris as shown in the quirky love story told in Amelie and fascist Spain in the creepy fantasy, Pan’s Labyrinth.

12,000 years ago, the first human of our kind was born. Homo sapiens spent thousands of years roaming the land, hunting and foraging, wearing furs, and living in groups of about thirty. Today, people can live in one place their whole lives, we have mega-cities with millions of people, we manipulate the entire planet to suit our needs, and we spend more time admiring the beauty of screens than the beauty of nature. How did we get here? This anthropology course will look at ten of the most important changes that happened to humanity and took us from living in caves to living on couches. This includes the invention of money, religion, farming, language, and more. You should choose this if you ever look at parts of life and think ‘why is that a thing?’, ‘how does that work?’, or ‘why can’t we do this better?’.

This enrichment course will broaden your perspective on how gender impacts the world in which we live. You will explore a range of different gender issues in contemporary society; some of these areas are gender, sex and bodies; gender and violence; and work and gender. If you are passionate about exploring complex societal issues and challenging the status quo, then this is an enrichment that will give you knowledge that goes beyond traditional A level subjects. This course may interest those who are studying Psychology, Sociology, Law, and Health and Social Care, as there is significant overlap with these subjects.

In this enrichment you will be introduced to some of the fascinating and varied topics you would study in a university Mathematics degree. Topics will include investigating the different sizes of infinity and looking into the beautiful world of fractals. If you are considering doing a degree in Mathematics in the future or if you just love Mathematics then this enrichment is perfect for you.

This enrichment opportunity will provide you with an extended knowledge of theoretical zoology. Students will investigate the evolution of life on Earth and the significant events which have led to the formation of key phylogenetic groups which are still present today. We will also study key events in the evolution of symmetry and the introduction of the vertebrates both on land and in the water, revealed through a number of sources including simulations, videos, live webinars, scientific articles as well as interactive activities. This enrichment course is ideal if you study Applied Science or Biology and want to deepen your knowledge beyond the standard curriculum as well as those students wishing to pursue a degree in Veterinary Medicine or Science, Zoology, Conservation or Ecology in the future.

Are you an aspiring Doctor, Dentist or Vet? Then this is the enrichment for you! We will show you how to choose the correct university course for you, then we will skill you up to give you the best chance of successfully applying. You will learn about how to tackle the UKCAT and BMAT tests, the different styles of learning on offer at different universities, how to decode the jargon, multiple-mini-interviews, medical morals and ethics and how, where, why and when to apply for work experience. You will be given advice and guidance on how to write an eye-catching personal statement and work with like-minded individuals to improve your presentation and research skills. This enrichment will run from January in year 12 through to year 13, when you have completed your UCAS application.

This enrichment will look at some basic microbiological techniques and how students can undertake aseptic laboratory techniques to isolate microbes. There will be a focus on environmental microbiology and techniques used to isolate them. Presentation and communication will also be developed through research and a wider project on environmental microbiology.

This course offers you a comprehensive introduction to key philosophical concepts and questions for students who have no prior knowledge of philosophy. You will begin with an overview of western philosophy, learning about its history and how to construct philosophical arguments. The course will then delve into platonic thought, questioning whether our world is merely an imitation of a higher reality. The course also covers moral philosophy, providing frameworks for making ethical decisions. To conclude, there will be a small research project on a philosopher of your choice!

Are you addicted to social media? Do you ever find yourself scrolling endlessly with no track of time? In this enrichment, you’ll discover what changes occur in the brain due to excessive social media use. You’ll discover how we become addicted and what strategies social media companies are deploying to manipulate you and bring you back for more screen time! Using psychological theories and concepts you’ll look at the inner workings of the brain and how these change as a result of social media. You will build analytical skills, problem-solving skills, research, and creative development skills to prepare you for university.

Is being a psychopath actually helpful? Is there such thing as free will? Can you diagnose personality disorders? In this topic we will explore, discuss and review research into all these areas and more, in a dive into the most weird and wonderful areas of behaviour, providing you with an insight into highereducational study, as well as providing an awareness of what potential careers in psychology could involve.

Do you enjoy solving puzzles in magazines, newspapers, online, or in books? If you enjoy the challenge of logic puzzles, then this enrichment is for you. You will be presented with a wide variety of puzzles to solve and you will work in groups to pit your wits against these challenges. You will employ some ingenious techniques, out-of-the-box thinking and a healthy dose of logic to solve these problems. The logical thinking skills you will develop in this enrichment are useful for many degree courses and are often part of graduate job selection processes.

This is the perfect enrichment for anybody who has an interest in examining a director’s work more closely to determine what makes a director an auteur. A French word meaning author, these sessions examine closely Tarantino’s auteur status through reviewing his films to see what reoccurring themes and stylistic devices are across such modern classics as Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs and The Hateful Eight. You will be equipped to review your own favourite directors and filmmakers whilst being able to critically, using film language, discuss what makes up Tarantino’s universe whilst also recreating the famous editing techniques on Premiere Pro.