Serious Fun @ Westminster School
The grant recipient
Westminster School has a reputation for academic excellence and encouraging students to think for themselves, to question and argue things out. The Independent Schools Inspectorate report that the school offers an outstanding and cutting edge educational experience with inspirational teaching, excellent resources and an emphasis on raising pupils' expectations, broadening their horizons and developing talent.
Westminster Summer School programme
- runs for a week during July
- for 80 gifted students in year 11 (15-16 year olds) from state secondaries and colleges in the London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Westminster
- delivered in partnership with Future Foundations - a company specialising in motivating and equipping young people to make the best higher education and careers choices
- based at Westminster school with academic sessions led by Westminster staff and personal development, coaching and careers sessions lead by Future Foundations
- aiming to motivate and help equip students to apply to research-led universities
Latest results
- one student recently gained a full scholarship to another top London independent school; he attributes this in part to the interview practice and 1:1 support he received at the summer school
- overall student rating for the school was 9.4/10
Click here to read what one student thought of the 2009 programme.
The funding
SHINE has made a grant for set up and running costs. The London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Westminster are all contributing financially to the scheme and Westminster school is providing a high level of in-kind support.
Funding: £57,805 to Westminster School, over three years (2009-11)
View photos from the 2009 summer school: http://www.flickr.com
Visit the website for Future Foundations: http://www.future-foundations.co.uk
"We have many years of successful experience in preparing pupils to thrive in years 12 and 13 and to aspire to the leading universities in the UK. Having seen the transformational effect that confidence and success can have on young lives, we are committed to sharing this experience and expertise as effectively as we can."
Dr Stephen Spurr, Westminster Headmaster
"An outstanding and mind-opening experience where you can learn in depth about what you want to do at university. An inspiring experience."
Summer school student
"It has really inspired me to reach for the very top universities."
Summer school student
"They have really helped me to know what to focus on and what I need to do to get to where I want to be."
Summer school student
Quotes
"We have many years of successful experience in preparing pupils to thrive in years 12 and 13 and to aspire to the leading universities in the UK. Having seen the transformational effect that confidence and success can have on young lives, we are committed to sharing this experience and expertise as effectively as we can."
Dr Stephen Spurr, Westminster Headmaster
"An outstanding and mind-opening experience where you can learn in depth about what you want to do at university. An inspiring experience."
Summer school student
"It has really inspired me to reach for the very top universities."
Summer school student
"They have really helped me to know what to focus on and what I need to do to get to where I want to be."
Summer school student