We aim to achieve the following objectives:

• To identify pupils with high prior attainment
• To address the needs of pupils with high prior attainment by providing support and teaching which makes their learning challenging, engaging and enables them to reach their full potential
• To provide enrichment activities outside the classroom to support self-reliance and independent learning
• To raise aspirations of pupils who have high prior attainment
• To liaise with parents of pupils with high prior attainment

Our pupils are identified through various sources of information, including:

• KS2 SATs Scaled Score Validated Result
• SPARX Reading tests
• GCSE results for Year 12 and 13 students
• Baseline Data used for Assessment in Year 7

Supra-Curricular Activities across all different subjects to support deepening knowledge and understanding - these activities will also support students to build a strong base for future interviews and personal statements for applications to their next steps.

• View our Supra-Curricular Booklet here.

High quality teaching for pupils with high prior attainment is the same as high quality teaching for all our pupils. These strategies are outlined in our main Teaching and Learning policy. Strategies include:

Ensuring there is clear progression within our curriculum model.

• Checking pupils have the knowledge base to succeed. In order to do this, all teachers need to ensure they have outstanding subject knowledge. This is achieved through our professional development programme.
• Identifying what excellence looks like in each subject area and sharing this with pupils.
• Assessing students according to our curriculum model. Have students learnt what we wanted them to learn?
• Encouraging students to use their metacognition to recognise when they are struggling and utilise resilience to approach solutions to this. This may be through the content of our lessons, encouraging students to elaborate and explain their thinking during questioning or through feedback which enables students to learn from their mistakes.
• Avoiding cognitive overload by presenting material in small steps.
• Encouraging pupils’ metacognition and teaching pupils how to learn effectively. For example, using visualisers to live model teacher thinking and teaching pupils about the importance of retrieval practice and organisation.

All identified High Prior Attaining (and Top-End Middle Prior Attaining) students have the opportunity to participate in workshops throughout the year to support their knowledge and understanding of how to further challenge themselves across their different subjects. These sessions involve supporting students to better understand metacognition and how they can enhance their mental models, as well as raising aspirations for these students with a look at possibilities for their future steps.

There are a specific range of trips, clubs and programmes available to all students. Here is a small example of what we have offered previously:

Young Enterprise Programme: High prior attaining students in Years 12 – 13 will have the opportunity to participate in this programme in which they will form their own company, creating their own product and fulfilling various industry specific roles to successfully market and sell it through a variety of different platforms. The programme aims to empower young people to discover, develop and celebrate their skills and potential.

UKMT Maths Challenge: High attaining pupils in mathematics are regularly entered for the UKMT Maths Challenge. This is a national mathematics competition organised by The University of Leeds. We enter pupils into the individual challenges, as well as entering pupils for the Maths Team challenge events at a regional level. Many pupils achieve Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates in the individual challenges, and a few go on to participate in the more advanced stages of the competition. Lesson time is dedicated to helping pupils prepare, through modelling and discussing strategies, whilst looking at an array of problems. Pupils are also invited to further preparation sessions if they are entered for subsequent rounds.

Musical Production: Each year the Drama Department joins forces with the Music department for a whole school production. This allows us to showcase the talents of more pupils across the school with a public performance. Pupils with high learning potential and a curiosity for performing arts are encouraged to participate in the musical in addition to attending Drama and Music clubs.

Science Department: The department organises a number of events to support pupils with high prior attainment. KS4 and KS5 pupils are often invited to participate in Biology or Physics Olympiad competitions. This has the aim to challenge and inspire with unique opportunities encourage pupils to push themselves further and excel in science.

Oxplore: Oxplore is an innovative digital outreach portal from Oxford University. As the ‘Home of Big Questions’ it aims to engage those from 11 to 18 years with debates and ideas that go beyond what is covered in the classroom. Big questions tackle complex ideas across a wide range of subjects and draw on the latest research undertaken at Oxford. Oxplore aims to realise aspirations, promote broader thinking and stimulate intellectual curiosity. Students have opportunities through Tutor Time and PSHE to discuss questions like these “Big Questions” to broaden their knowledge. 

At Stourport High School, we have designed a super-curricular activity booklet for parents to support pupils with high learning potential. These activities have been carefully selected by subject teachers to enhance curiosity and challenge our pupils beyond the classroom.

• View our super-curricular booklet here.

We have high aspirations for all our Sixth Form pupils and support our pupils with high learning potential in applying to Russell Group Universities. This support includes the Extended Project Qualification which allows our pupils to embark on a largely self-directed and self-motivated project. Pupils must choose a topic, plan, research and develop their idea and decide on their finished product.

In addition, we offer the following opportunities to pupils with high learning potential at Sixth Form:

• Individual help with Summer School applications
• Visits to Oxbridge link colleges
• Preparation for Oxbridge Entrance exams and mock interviews
• Regular academic mentoring from tutors
• Parent Information Evenings on UCAS and University Admissions/Finance
• Additional Key Stage 5 Supra-Curricular Activities