Summer Residential Blog 2
With an action packed schedule, the pace of life on an APP residential is high, but the sense, as ever, is that the experience is proving fulfilling for all involved.
One of the key elements of the APP model which allows it to be such a success is the facilitation of interactions within and between cohorts, and between the students and their mentors. It has been fantastic to witness the ways in which the cohorts (both in Cambridge and Tonbridge) have worked together over the first couple of days this week, and it is great to see students help and support each other through their shared experiences as they strive to fulfill their ambitions. Ultimately, our students are a key resource to each other on their journey towards Higher Education, and protecting the intimate nature of the programme is fundamental to what we are trying to achieve.
Monday evening saw talks at both venues, with one of our mentors (Sammi, a Classics graduate) talking to those in Cambridge about the ancient representation of human appearance before Kevin Kester from the Education Faculty shared his research on education and the UN. This kind of extension is very important to the programme, showing the students there is an academic world above and beyond what they may study at school, further widening their horizons in the process. At Tonbridge, Cath Nicholson, former England Hockey Player and teacher at Sevenoaks School spoke about realizing and following your dreams, and balancing different commitments to maximise your potential, another great message!
The students in Cambridge continued their work with the Brilliant Club on Monday morning – tutorials in the morning are followed by research and preparation time later in the day, allowing our students to experience a University style of learning first hand. English, Maths, Science and Drama were on the agenda at Tonbridge, all of which were taught by regular contributors to the scheme from Tonbridge and Sevenoaks Schools. The continuity provided by teachers who understand the programme and the students involved is invaluable.