Ambition Bluecoat is our in house-programme delivered by Bluecoat Sixth Form designed to nurture the academic talents and raise aspirations of our most able students, guiding them to think about future choices and equipping them with the information and resources that they need to realise their ambitions.

This is realised through various workshops around super-curricular exploration, research skills, and education around what to do beyond Post-16.

Over the course of a 10 month programme, students also attend a series of masterclasses delivered by subject specialists from across Archway Learning Trust, as well as information and guidance sessions from Bluecoat Sixth Form.

Ambition Bluecoat students also access priority invitations to events such as the annual Oxbridge and Medicine evenings, as well as relevant opportunities offered by university links.

Ambition Nottingham: Sutton Scholars is a scheme run by The University of Nottingham, with the support of local schools. It aims to provide information, advice and guidance to ensure that students are making informed decisions when choosing future options, increase their confidence in selective universities and to support them in their current studies. All sessions are designed to support students through their current studies and give them an insight into higher education. The activities range from taster academic sessions, sessions on student life, information on choosing options to curriculum based revision sessions.

Ambition Nottingham Website

Lauren Oldfield (Enterprise Coordinator) works with Archway Learning Trust staff to provide further employer engagement.

Futures careers advisors offer 1:1 interviews, advice and support for priority 1 Year 11 students.

The Secondary FOCUS Programme is a structured series of workshops for Years 7-13. The programme involves two workshops per year, focused on developing key skills and providing information and advice on future options. These workshops are designed to relate to a particular stage of students’ learning and are planned so as not to disrupt preparation for exams. For example, students in Year 7 will think about taking responsibility for their own future and how to adapt to the changing workload, whereas Year 11 students work to understand how their post-16 options impact on future education and career opportunities.

Providing outreach opportunities for students in all years to learn more about further and higher education:

• Year 7: Journey to higher education
• Year 8: Myths about higher education
• Year 8: Campus Experience
• Year 9: Your skills, your future
• Year 10: Your future, your choice
• Year 11: What is success? GCSEs and beyond

Parexel International is an American provider of biopharmaceutical services. It conducts clinical trials on behalf of its pharmaceutical clients to expedite the drug approval process.

Alison Ritchie (Director, Global Head Sensor Solutions) works with Bluecoat Wollaton Academy to provide STEM opportunities for our students.

The Scholars Programme provides pupils the opportunity to work with a PhD researcher to experience university-style learning. It helps them to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to secure a place at a highly-selective university. They support pupils aged 9-17, to make an informed choice at 18 but also to ensure they develop the skills needed to excel in their next phase of education. The programme is structured around seven tutorials, complemented by two trips to highly-selective universities. Twelve pupils are in one placement, taught in two smaller groups of six. Pupils work towards completing a challenging final assignment, which is marked and moderated using university grades.