A total of 25 high-flying students have joined Barrow Sixth Form College’s honours programme after achieving top grades in their GCSEs at school.
The programme, which is in partnership with Lancaster University, gives the new students the chance to specialise in their favourite A-Level subject out with additional mentoring from tutors.
Some students will also complete the Extended Project Qualification, which is equivalent to half an A-Level and allows students 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.
She said: “My career ambition is to be a vet or paramedic and I am wanting to study these at UCLan or Manchester. 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.”
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 programme.
He added: “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.”
The pair said they were also looking forward to receiving their honours hoodies, that are presented before the term starts.
Head of faculty for sixth form Hilary Johns, who runs the Honours programme, said the programme provides extra stretch, support and challenge for the ‘most capable’ students.
She said: “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, the equivalent of GCSEs at A or A* grades.
The new cohort are from schools including St Bernard’s, Dowdales, Walney, Furness Academy, Chetwynde and Ulverston Victoria High School.
