Bridge ProgrammeWidening Access
To help widen access to our school, in January 2020 Godolphin and Latymer launched the Bridge Programme which is an academic enrichment programme for Year 5 girls and boys from primary schools in the local area. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, nearly 40 students graduated from the inaugural year of the programme and the majority were awarded bursaries at independent schools.
The programme involves school children, nominated by their 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
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.
The aim of the Bridge Programme is first and foremost to provide academic enrichment for bright boys and girls from families who wouldn’t normally consider sending their children to independent schools. Parents are also be provided with advice and information about the financial support offered by independent schools and our aim is to demystify the whole application process.
The programme has continued to grow and in 2023 80 children are attending the programme from around 40 primary schools. 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.