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 extra-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

Suggested Reading Lists

Please find our suggested reading lists for PHA students in Key Stages 3-5. These lists cover a wide range of subjects, including some that do not form part of the main college curriculum. Many thanks to our partners at Charters School, Ascot for sharing their reading lists with us.