Most Able Students
At HASN we have cultivated a rigorously enriched curriculum and we strive to ensure every lesson has the appropriate level of stretch and challenge for all students.
Upon arrival at HASN, we use an identification criterion based on assessment data and mindset to determine who the most able 5-10% of students in each year group are. Throughout their time at the academy, these students are then selected for academic and cultural enrichment programmes designed to further prepare them for applying to Oxbridge and Russell Group universities.
What are the opportunities for the Most-Able students at HASN?
Year 8 Scholars Programme
Over the Spring and Summer Term, 12 Year 8 students participated in the Scholars Programme which is a course run by a PHD student in a series of weekly seminars. The final assignment is a piece of independent research and an essay marked in the university format. Our course was run by Natalia, on the incredibly relevant topic of How to Prevent Disease Transmission. The students learnt all about the way a virus spreads, the methods used to detect them and how scientists work on preventing that spread. We had some brilliant final submissions, with Julian especially achieving a phenomenal mark of 84 (a very high grade at university)! Here’s why the SP was great in the words of some participants:
‘My favourite part of the SP was the debates about different scientific topics because I could interpret my classmates’ views on something and consider a perspective that may differ from my own.’ - Julian.
‘Some of the research tasks required us to unlock our creative minds and do something out of the box which I liked and got inspired from. One skill that I gained from the Scholarship Programme is to put my mind into everything. I also learnt to make my learning and revision more fun and more creative.’ – Heli
‘The part I found the most enjoyable in the Scholars Programme was answering the lesson enquiry questions. The discussion sometimes ended up being humorous as well as situations as really insightful.’ – Ryan
Progress scores provided by the Scholars Programme shows overwhelmingly positive results for our students.
Year 9 Harris Experience Events
This year has been full to the brim of HE events for our Year 9 contingent. They have had two sessions from the Kalisher Trust on what it takes to be a criminal barrister. In this session they worked on a real criminal case and delivered their cases to qualified QCs! Alongside this there have been two sessions from prestigious art auctioneer house Christie’s. The first of these took the students on a tour of art history throughout the last two thousand years, the second focused in more detail on the art auctioneering process itself (and some of the eye-watering sums paid!).
Year 10 Imperial College London STEM Event
30 Y10 students attended a morning of lectures and seminars from current PHD students from one of the most prestigious universities in the world, Imperial College London. These were focused on STEM subjects and included expert speakers on Quantum Computers, the use of concrete in nuclear energy, and biomedical research. Attendees experienced what world-leading research looks like and got the chance to ask experts in research techniques what it is like to study at such a prestigious university. Those interested in medicine will be doing a follow-up session later this term.
Year 10 Trinity College Cambridge Target Oxbridge
Congratulations to the following Year 10 students who were selected for Trinity College, Cambridge University’s Target Oxbridge Programme. This selective online course aims to help Black African and Caribbean students and students of mixed race with Black African and Caribbean heritage increase their chances of getting into the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge. A huge congratulations to Josh, Julie, Rosa, and Mirable.
Year 10 Globe Theatre Virtual Tour and Shakespeare Session
12 Y10 MA English participated in a session run by the Globe Theatre in which they had a virtual tour with the historical context of the theatre. They then used some techniques to dig deeper into the texts of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
Y10 students get to grips with Romeo and Juliet
Year 12 Harris Experience Advanced
Alongside their diligent research and application processes, this year’s HEA cohort have participated in virtual tours and lectures from Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge. Students experienced first-hand the intellectual level of world-leading professors in the fields of medicine, engineering, chemistry and history. These will prove invaluable as they prepare their UCAS applications for next year!
- The Harris Experience – In year 9 the Most-Able Students from across the Federation are selected to be placed on this programme which is designed to expand and broaden their cultural experiences through events such:
- An introduction to the study of Philosophy and Ethics
- An introduction to Law and being a solicitor
- Lectures on Art appreciation and History
- Trips to concerts, theatres, art galleries and museums
- Masterclasses on challenging extra-curricular topics and careers advice
- The Harris Experience Advanced – This programme builds on the Harris Experience, encouraging these students, once in Sixth Form, to apply for the top universities in the country. Medicine and Oxbridge candidates will receive mentoring and guidance on their personal statement and application process, involving interview preparation and practice.
- Scholars Programme – selected KS3 Maths and Science students will be mentored through an assignment on Code Breaking in World War 2 by a PhD research student.
‘The Year 9 Harris Experience cohort: Tyrese, Maddie, Cindy, Maggie, Shariq, George and Alans’.
The Harris Experience https://www.harrisfederation.org.uk/211/the-harris-experience-is-a-two-fold-programme-over-five-years
The Scholars Programme and Brilliant Club https://thebrilliantclub.org/
