First 'Future Pathways Challenge' is great success

The Future Pathways Challenge, the first event run by the newly formed Independent/State School Partnership, took place at Wellington College over half term and was a great success.

One hundred and ten gifted and talented students from 17 schools in the Surrey Heath, Wokingham and Bracknell Forest areas visited the school for four days of challenging activities in maths, science and foreign languages.

The programme was designed to raise aspirations and attainment amongst all able students in the region and to raise the students' awareness of their own potential. Activities included presentations from Oxford University, science lectures from Bristol University on climate change, 'WOW' science experiments and the opportunity to learn a new language such as Chinese. Also on offer were activities on physical maths, teambuilding and sessions on personal development.

"It was a good use of my half term. I had a great time and learnt loads!!" is how one of the students described the Future Pathways Challenge.

The activities were led by specialist teams of teachers from Wellington College and the partnership schools, further enhancing the aims of the Partnership to strengthen networks between schools.

The next ISSP event will be the Future Pathways Summer School for gifted and talented students in Years 11 and 10. This will be a residential programme to be held at Wellington College from Monday 29th June - Thursday 2nd July.

For further information please contact Sue Parker at Wellington College on 01344 444000 or email to WISSP@wellingtoncollege.org.uk