At HSDC we recognise that all students are individuals and that high-achieving students often need some specialist support to help them meet their full potential. As such, we offer a special Be Aspirational Programme which our gifted and talented students can attend alongside their study programme. The programme is designed to ensure our students maximise their potential and go on to study at Russell Group or Oxbridge universities. As well as working with you in curriculum areas to help you achieve top grades, we will also encourage you to extend your studies through the Extended Project Qualification and enrichment activities.
Whatever your plans, we are committed to helping you meet your potential and achieve your goals.
This programme provides support for students who wish to progress onto competitive, prestigious and specialist future opportunities. Students can expect:
- Arranged visits and talks from leading universities
- Bespoke support for Oxford and Cambridge (Oxbridge) applications
- Be Aspirational mentoring
- Specialist careers advice
If you are looking to stand out from the rest, there are opportunities to take on additional courses and qualifications that complement the subjects you have chosen to study. We encourage academic students to undertake MOOCs (Massive Online Open Courses), which are offered in a whole range of interest areas.
Unlock your potential and get a head start on your career with our Aspiring Teachers course.
Gain Real Classroom Skills: Learn behaviour management and lesson planning.
Build Your CV: Stand out on university and job applications.
Get Expert Mentorship: Connect with experienced, passionate educators.
Lead with Confidence: Practice public speaking and communication skills.
Some universities and courses require students to sit an admissions test alongside their application. HSDC will support all students through the admissions test process, in addition to application support, to ensure that you are fulfilling your potential.
You can create an outstanding piece of personal study worth half an A Level by engaging with our Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) initiative. As well as giving you the ability to explore an area of study-related interest, the EPQ will give you academic credit and a notable addition for your CV. This means it will help you stand out on your university or job applications and interviews. The EPQ is open to all A Level and Vocational Level 3 students who are predicted to achieve a certain grade. The EPQ can be:
- An extended essay of 5,000 words
- An artefact (e.g. a piece of art or music)
- A performance
- A multimedia item (e.g. a short film)
In some curriculum areas there is the opportunity for you to take part in regional, national and international competitions which promote excellence in the field of skills and competence development. Exceptional students will be selected to represent HSDC, giving you the opportunity to demonstrate your technical abilities through completing specific challenges, either individually or in a group. As well as WorldSkills, our students get involved with a number of highly commended academic competitions, such as:
- CodeQuest
- CyberQuest
- The Senior Mathematics Challenge
- The Lincoln Physics Challenge