Bridge ProgrammeWidening Access
The aim of the Bridge Programme is first and foremost to provide academic enrichment for bright boys and girls from state primary schools, particularly those whose families wouldn’t normally consider independent or academically selective secondary school education.
The programme involves Year 5 children, nominated by their primary school Head teachers, coming to Godolphin and Latymer on one Saturday every month from January through to December. There are a total of 12 sessions, taught by Godolphin and Latymer teachers, with each session consisting of Maths, English, and other lessons or activities on rotation, such as History, Geography, Music or debating. The goal is to give the pupils a taste of what secondary school teaching and learning is like, and to inspire and enthuse them in the subjects. Lessons have included:
- Ice cream making and balloon powered cars – Physics
- Flame testing metals – Chemistry
- A source-based enquiry – History
- A memory map activity – Geography
- Cryptography – Computing
- Plato’s cave allegory – Philosophy
The programme includes a joint venture between the G&L Futures programme and the LSE where students participate in a workshop to gain an insight into the world of entrepreneurship.
In addition we have partnered with Keystone Tutors to provide two weeks of booster sessions: one at the end of the summer holidays and another during autumn half-term. These are intensive, 5-day courses delivered by experts in independent education. Parents are also provided with advice and information about the financial support (means-tested bursaries) offered by a broad range of London independent schools, not just Godolphin, and our aim is to demystify the whole application process.
Almost all Bridge students go on to apply to selective schools across the capital. We currently have more than 20 Bridge students at Godolphin and Latymer, with eight more set to join in September 2025.
Below you can hear from the Bridge students about their experience of being part of the programme.
If you are a Head of a State Primary School who would like to hear more about the Bridge programme, please email us at: office@godolphinandlatymer.com If you are a parent, please speak to your Head Teacher.