The Howard School

At The Howard School, we are committed to ensuring every student reaches their full potential. The Aspire Programme is our dedicated initiative for supporting high prior attaining students, providing them with the stretch, challenge, and inspiration they need to excel academically and personally.

What is the Aspire Programme?

The Aspire Programme is a bespoke enrichment and support pathway for our most academically able students. It is designed to cultivate intellectual curiosity, academic ambition, and a love of learning that extends well beyond the classroom.

Throughout the academic year, students on the programme benefit from a wide range of opportunities including:

• University-style lectures and external workshops
• Cultural and academic visits
• Leadership and mentoring roles
• Targeted support to exceed attainment targets
• Personal development sessions focusing on confidence, resilience, and motivation

Who is it for?

Students are selected for the Aspire Programme if they meet one of the following criteria:

• They achieved a scaled score of 110 or above in both KS2 Reading and Maths, or
• They passed the Medway Test (or equivalent selective entrance test)

Selection is based on prior academic performance and potential, and is reviewed annually to ensure the programme remains inclusive and aspirational. Additional students may be added to the programme at key points in the year if their attainment or attitude to learning shows exceptional progress.

How does the Aspire Programme track progress?

High expectations are at the heart of the Aspire Programme. We closely monitor each student’s progress to ensure they are not only meeting but exceeding their potential.

Aspire students receive targeted academic support through:

• Regular Progress Meetings – annual one-to-one check-ins with Aspire leaders to review subject performance, attitude to learning, and personal goals
• Mentoring and Coaching – personalised guidance to help students develop their academic confidence, organisation, and independence
• Aspirational Target Setting – students are supported to set challenging but achievable goals, revisited regularly throughout the year
• Academic Monitoring and Intervention – early identification of students who may be falling behind, with tailored support plans and subject-specific interventions where needed
• Teacher Collaboration – Aspire leads work closely with subject teachers and heads of department to ensure students are consistently stretched in lessons and beyond
• Parental Engagement – parents are kept informed through reports, parent information evenings, termly newsletters and direct communication about their child's progress

We use both attainment data and attitude to learning scores to build a full picture of each student’s performance. Aspire students are expected to be role models in their commitment, curiosity, and conduct across the school.

What do Aspire students take part in?

The Aspire Programme offers a rich and varied calendar of events and opportunities designed to challenge, inspire, and support high prior attaining students throughout the academic year.

Activities include:

• Aspire Assemblies and Launch Events – inspiring talks and termly gatherings to set goals and celebrate achievements
• University-style Lectures – including in-school masterclasses and talks from external speakers across a range of disciplines
• Academic Visits and Cultural Trips – such as university visits, gallery and museum days, and enrichment trips linked to curriculum areas
• Careers and Futures Guidance – sessions that raise aspirations and explore pathways to top universities and competitive careers
• Stretch and Challenge Days – including maths challenges, science investigations, and humanities problem-solving tasks
• Cross-Curricular Projects – themed activities that develop creativity, collaboration, and independent research skills
• Leadership and Peer Mentoring – opportunities for Aspire students to support younger peers and take on visible leadership roles across the school
• End-of-Year Aspire Celebration Evening – recognising students who have demonstrated excellence, effort, and engagement

Every term brings a new focus, ensuring Aspire students are consistently engaged with meaningful, high-level experiences that deepen their knowledge and skills across the curriculum.

Aspire Staff
 

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