Climbing Higher
To attract teenagers into school on Saturdays, sometimes you need to offer something a little special. Climbing Higher, run by Watford Grammar School for Boys, features a 10 metre high climbing wall. The idea is that scaling the wall will require the local students on the project to develop a level of confidence, concentration and focus that will also serve them well as they prepare for their GCSEs.
The project also includes personal tuition, peer mentoring and family support. Watford Grammar already has a solid track record in providing educational outreach programmes to its local community and we are confident that this project will help its participants scale new heights (!) of achievement.
To read more about Climbing Higher in SHINE\'s 2010 Supporters\' Magazine (page 9), click here. Download Now
The grant recipient
Watford Grammar School for Boys is a partially selective, state comprehensive school judged by Ofsted to be \'outstanding\' and with previous experience of running educational outreach programmes in its local community.
Climbing Higher
What it aims to do
- deliver a Saturday school for 30 weeks each year
- provide intensive personalised tuition, physical learning and family learning support to 30 disadvantaged local students
- help the students achieve their predicted five or more GCSEs at grade C
How it works
Climbing Higher works with underachieving 15-16 year olds from four local secondary schools. It comprises one-to-one and small group academic sessions run by sixth form mentors and teachers from Watford Grammar; it also offers them enrichment activities in the form of a 10 metre high indoor climbing wall. The scheme will also include seminars for the parents of participating students, covering areas such as revision techniques and IT skills.
Results
Results are not due until summer 2011. Initial results:
- early indications in GCSE modular exams suggest that the majority of those who attend the Climbing Higher Club are achieving at least a grade higher than predicted
- 83% have attended over 90% of Saturdays
- 96% students rate the club between 4 and 5 (5 = maximum satisfaction)
The funding
SHINE\'s grant will cover the costs of this programme in its first three years.
Funding: £164,677 to Watford Grammar School for Boys, over 3 years (2010-13)
"There\'s nothing radical about this; it\'s about hard work and commitment and a bit of excitement and clear pathways towards achievement. These kinds of things can be replicated across the country, and that\'s what we\'re hoping to do; develop a model that is sustainable."
Martin Post, Head of Watford Grammar School for Boys
"I enjoyed Ms Carver explaining osmosis. I didn\'t think I could ever understand it but now I do."
student
"It\'s really useful, It\'s helped me get a higher grade in my exams. I\'d recommend it to pupils next year."
student
"The Climbing Higher Club has been very good for our students in raising their confidence and progress in core subject areas; the most progress has been noticeable in maths and science."
Teacher
"The Climbing Higher Club is useful as it helps me to achieve good GCSE grades and understand the topics. It\'s enjoyable as we have the climbing wall and exercise in the gym."
student
Quotes
"There\'s nothing radical about this; it\'s about hard work and commitment and a bit of excitement and clear pathways towards achievement. These kinds of things can be replicated across the country, and that\'s what we\'re hoping to do; develop a model that is sustainable."
Martin Post, Head of Watford Grammar School for Boys
"I enjoyed Ms Carver explaining osmosis. I didn\'t think I could ever understand it but now I do."
student
"It\'s really useful, It\'s helped me get a higher grade in my exams. I\'d recommend it to pupils next year."
student
"The Climbing Higher Club has been very good for our students in raising their confidence and progress in core subject areas; the most progress has been noticeable in maths and science."
Teacher
"The Climbing Higher Club is useful as it helps me to achieve good GCSE grades and understand the topics. It\'s enjoyable as we have the climbing wall and exercise in the gym."
student