Potential High Achievers

At The City of Leicester College, we believe in ambition for all. This means that meeting the needs of our more able students is an integral part of the school’s curriculum. We refer to such students as ‘Potential High Achievers’ (PHA), an acknowledgement that success is not guaranteed but must be earned. Through our whole school curriculum and specialist PHA programme we aim to support these students to achieve their full potential.

Potential High Achievers (PHA) at The City of Leicester College will demonstrate academic excellence across the curriculum. In pursuit of truth, knowledge and understanding they regularly seek to go beyond their timetabled learning activities. They will be inspired to undertake their own research and read widely, challenging themselves to develop new skills. They will make links within and across the curriculum and are likely to pursue a hobby or hobbies to a high degree of expertise.

PHA students will embody the TCOLC Character Pillars:

They will be able to self-regulate and self-direct their own learning, identifying areas of weakness and improvement, developing learning techniques such as research and extended writing skills to allow them to explore topics in greater depth. (Performance Character)
They will be able to clearly articulate considered opinions on a range of academic topics and engage in lively, thoughtful academic debate, whilst respecting the opinions of others. (Moral Character)
They will appreciate the opinions of others, adopting a mature and empathetic approach to their work with others (Community Character)
They will regularly pursue their own learning for learning’s sake, without the need for close teacher-direction. (Intellectual Character)

Students are identified as Potential High Achievers in Year 7 based upon their academic performance at KS2. During lessons, teachers stretch and challenge the students through their learning. Outside of lesson time, these students benefit from a range of supra-curricular activities such as masterclasses, workshops, and university visits. We aim to run a coherent programme that supports PHA students at every transition point during secondary education: beginning Yr7, Yr9 option choices, GCSE/L2 outcomes and entry to sixth form. In the sixth form PHA students will join our “Aim Higher Group” which will support them to apply to the highest achieving universities.

Further Information

Supra-Curricular Resource Directory

Supra-curricular Challenge - Year 7-Year 11

PHA Students will be invited to complete the Supra-curricular challenge every year.

Term 1 - Explore

Students will browse resources in topics that interest them. Read books from the suggested reading lists, watch documentaries and presentations on topics that interest them. To complete this section students will submit a written review of their research.

Term 2 - Develop

Students complete a research based curriculum project. These are online projects created by the charity AccessEd. Students will request their chosen course and then download the project.

Term 3 - Specialise

Students to complete an AQA unit award scheme qualification on a subject of their choice. The scheme allows students to engage with learning and have their achievements formally recognised.

All students have access to the Unifrog website. It is a great place to explore various educational and Career opportunities. PHA students will be directed to personalised supra-curricular resources on the Unifrog platform.

This program targets high-achieving Year 10 students, offering them the opportunity to engage with and learn about Oxford University. It supports students from Year 10 through to their University applications in Year 13.

Research-Based Curricula (RBCs) are digital resources designed for Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 students. RBC's allow students to engage in university style study while exploring new and intriguing topics of their choice.