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Aim High for Higher Education

Aim High is a programme intended for those targeting the most demanding courses.

Oxford and Cambridge Universities, medical and veterinary courses, and some courses in architecture and the creative arts, all ask to interview their applicants, and this is only the last stage in a process that requires developing an outstanding UCAS application - a process which needs to begin well before Year 13. If this applies to you there are many ways to get involved in the Aim High programme.

Alcester Grammar School runs a bespoke series of events and activities for students in Year 10 and upwards to inform them of what they need to do to put themselves in the best possible position to make an application to these courses, as well as help them prepare themselves intellectually. There are also a number of events at which parents can inform themselves of these requirements. These will:

  • make students in Years 10, 11 and 12 aware of the nature, availability and requirements of HE courses offered by Oxbridge, Russell Group, Medical and Vet Schools,

  • develop focus and high performance at GCSE,  AS and A Level,

  • explain criteria in choosing AS levels to maximise HE opportunities

Click here for a chronology of Aim High Events.

Click here for a prezi that details what is available for both internal and external students from year 10 to 13.

Notable events and opportunities include:

  • Targeted, subject/attainment specific opportunities via school email.

  • Trips to Oxford and other leading universities from year 11 upward.

  • Mock interview provision and test preparation support for year 13.

  • Personal statement support for years 12 and 13.

  • Work experience and referencing assistance.

  • Academic societies for focused, subject area specific groups to share experience and strengthen their applications.

How do I ‘join’ Aim High?

The simple answer is you don’t. When there are suitable opportunities for you, you will be contacted by email. You can also seek out opportunities via the Aim High board or student societies.

Click here for a presentation which gives you the key information about what kinds of courses Aim High can prepare you for, and what you need to do if you’re interested in applying for them.

For more information please contact Mr Gill: c.gill@alcestergs.com

Thinking Skills AS level

Alcester Grammar School Sixth Form offers an additional AS in thinking skills to the highest achieving year 11 students which runs from year 11 to year 12. This course teaches critical thinking, problem solving and gives students an edge in highly competitive application processes. This course is open to both internal and external students. Thinking Skills AS level is delivered at AGS as monthly twilight seminars outside exam seasons. Places are limited so this is by application only. More information on the course and the syllabus can be found on the Cambridge Assessments website here.

Applications for the 2026 exam cohort are now open! To apply, please complete this application form. The application requires you to send your latest report, likely to be the end of year 10, along with a short description detailing why this course would be useful to you. Any problems with the form please email c.gill@alcestergs.com.

Applications close on Friday the 22nd of November.

Academic Societies

Alcester Grammar School offers six academic societies. Our medical society (MedSoc) and law society (LawSoc) are the most established with the recent founding of societies supporting Engineering (EngSoc), Languages (LangSoc) Literature (LitSoc). These organisations are run by students for the benefit of their members to help them achieve places on specific highly competitive courses. These Aim High societies do a range of things including share resources, invite in speakers, go on visits and enter competitions.

The medical society has already visited an anatomy and surgery training event at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire as well as being visited by Warwick Medical School admissions staff. The LawSoc has started a library of law texts and has begun planning for entering debating competitions. Both EngSoc and LangSoc have had external speakers visit them and more societies are emerging all the time. Times and places as follows:

  • EngSoc: A society supporting those interested in a course in all types of engineering. Thursday, 1pm, Dt1.

  • LangSoc: a society for all things linguistics and translation. New, LA3

  • LawSoc: A society supporting those with legal or political ambitions. Friday, 1pm, RE2

  • LitSoc: A forum for discussion of literature for those with creative or literary aspirations. New, location TBC

  • MedSoc: A society supporting aspiring Medical, Veterinary and Dental candidates. Monday, 1pm, SC2.

  • SciSoc: A society for discussion of cutting edge science for those with scientific ambitions. Wednesday, 1pm, SC7

If you have an idea for a society please contact Mr Gill to discuss setting one up.

Pre Admissions Testing

Click here for more information.

Mock Interviews

Click here for more information.

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