Skip to content ↓

The Achievement Plus Programme (APP)


What is the Achievement Plus Programme (APP)?

The Achievement Plus Programme is West Hatch High School’s provision for our more able learners.

You may be familiar with the term “gifted and talented”, but this tends to be a judgement based on students’ excelling at one or two specific subjects. We use the term “more able”, as APP members are performing above average in more than one or two subjects: they are the students who show the greatest potential, across the greatest range of subjects.   

 

The foundation of the APP is to develop the skills students require to succeed: study skills, oracy skills and critical thinking skills.

Students are then given the opportunity to put these skills into practice, whilst engaging with global topics and current affairs. This is done through regular debates and lectures, focusing on a wide range of topics.

Finally, students will take part in various events and competitions, which are aimed at stretching and challenging them and providing opportunities for them to learn new things and have more experiences.  

Alongside this, each Year will have a ‘core focus’ which will run throughout the year.

Membership of the APP will last for one academic year. This means that students can leave and join throughout their time at West Hatch and will still have the opportunity to engage with the foundations of the programme: building the skills required for success.

The three core foundations of the APP are:

  1. To develop essential educational skills
  2. To practise those skills and engage with the wider world.
  3. To embrace challenges and opportunities to learn.

The five steps to the APP are:

  1. Identify those with the potential to achieve.
  2. Engage members with the programme, via their chosen pathway and input.  
  3. Challenge members through various events and opportunities.
  4. Support members to make informed decisions about their future.
  5. Achieve the best possible grades and a competitive advantage over others.

 

Membership of the Achievement Plus Programme (APP)

Membership of the Achievement Plus Programme is based on the following criteria:

  • Students’ SATs/CATs results
  • Students’ Progress Checks
  • Feedback from staff

Decisions are not based on a single factor, therefore students with the highest SATs/CATs results or best Progress Check data are not guaranteed a place on the APP – we look at the whole picture.

However, members of the APP are usually within the top 10% of their Year, with approximately 20 APP members per Year group.  

Membership of the APP is reviewed annually. This means that students could join (or re-join) the APP throughout their time at West Hatch High School.  

 

The Achievement Plus Programme (APP) Expectations and Events.

Whilst we want to provide APP members with a competitive advantage, we do not want to limit or restrict those who are not involved in the Achievement Plus Programme. Therefore, it is important to note the following:

  1. Teachers will “stretch and challenge” all students, with high expectations and support, regardless of whether they are a member of the APP.
  2. All students will have access to our school-wide Pastoral support and Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance programme.
  3. APP members will not be in separate classes or groups; they will not follow a tailored timetable. Whilst some subjects/classes will be “set”, membership of the APP does not guarantee students will automatically be in the top sets, nor does it mean members of the top sets are automatically members of the APP.

The Achievement Plus Programme provides targeted opportunities, in addition to the support offered to all students. This means we can change the APP membership, without this having an impact on students learning/curriculum choices; it also means all students have an opportunity to become a member of the APP, depending on their progress and achievement.  

We run various APP events throughout the year, including:

  • Study skills workshops
  • Options support
  • Applications and transition Support
  • University talks (including Oxbridge)
  • Competitions: Young Writers, British Biology Olympiad, Junior Mathematics Challenge etc.
  • Independent Research Project and Creative Showcase
  • Educational Visits

 


If you have any questions about the Achievement Plus Programme, please contact Mr G. Towsey (gtowsey@westhatch.net) 

Cookie Policy