High Performers Programme

A year of challenge, opportunity and achievement for Birkenhead Sixth Form College's most ambitious students.

Introduced in 2025, the High Performers Programme was created to provide an exceptional experience for Birkenhead Sixth Form College's most academically ambitious students.

Designed for those aiming for leading universities, competitive degree apprenticeships and professional careers, the programme goes beyond outstanding teaching to develop the knowledge, skills and experiences that help students stand out in an increasingly competitive world.

Now, one year on, we're celebrating the achievements of the first students to complete the programme. Their success demonstrates how the High Performers Programme is already helping students broaden their horizons, build impressive academic profiles and make highly competitive applications to universities, degree apprenticeships and future careers.

A Year of Exceptional Opportunities

From the very beginning of the programme, students have taken part in a carefully planned series of experiences designed to broaden their horizons, deepen their academic curiosity and prepare them for success beyond sixth form.

Academic Challenge

Students have:

developed advanced critical thinking and analytical skills through specialist workshops
undertaken independent academic research
completed or begun the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) or an equivalent independent research project
explored super-curricular learning through wider reading, online courses, podcasts and documentaries
participated in prestigious academic competitions across subjects including Economics, Physics, Classics, History, Chemistry and Mathematics

University Experiences

Students have:

visited leading research-intensive universities including Oxford, Cambridge and Lancaster
developed university-level research skills using higher education library facilities
attended university open days matched to their future aspirations
taken part in the College's Higher Education Week, meeting representatives from more than 20 universities, including many of the UK's most competitive institutions

Learning from Experts

Students have benefited from a regular programme of visiting speakers, hearing directly from professionals working in areas including:

Medicine
Dentistry
Veterinary Medicine
Law
Engineering
Scientific Research
Russell Group universities
Oxbridge graduates and admissions specialists

These experiences have provided invaluable insight into university study and professional careers while helping students make informed decisions about their future.

Building a Competitive Application

Students have also:

completed the first draft of their university personal statement before the summer holidays
explored university and degree apprenticeship pathways
prepared for admissions tests including UCAT, LNAT, TMUA, ESAT and STEP
secured high-quality work experience in areas such as Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Engineering and scientific research

By the start of Year 13, High Performers students are already well ahead in preparing competitive applications for higher education and future careers.

What Students Have Achieved in the First Year of the Programme

The first year of the High Performers Programme has already delivered exceptional outcomes.

1,452+ hours of higher education outreach completed by High Performers students.

95% of students achieved the nationally recognised benchmark of at least 11 hours of higher education outreach activity — a level identified by the independent Higher Education Access Tracker (HEAT) as significantly improving progression to leading universities.

20 students secured places on prestigious university outreach and access programmes, including:

University of Oxford UNIQ
University of Cambridge HE+
Liverpool Scholars
Sutton Trust Summer Schools
OxNet
Arts Emergency
Pathways to Engineering

Students also:

completed three visits to research-intensive universities
attended at least two visiting speakers every half term
gained valuable work experience in highly competitive professional sectors
achieved awards and commendations in national academic competitions
participated in subject competitions organised by leading universities and national academic organisations

Preparing Students to Succeed

The High Performers Programme is about much more than securing university offers.

It develops the confidence, resilience, intellectual curiosity and academic independence that enable students to thrive at university, in degree apprenticeships and throughout their future careers.

Whether a student's ambition is to study Medicine, Engineering, Law, Languages, Sciences, the Arts or another highly competitive subject, the programme provides the challenge, experiences and personalised support needed to help them achieve their goals.

Student Voices

"The opportunities available through the High Performers Programme have given me experiences I simply wouldn't have had elsewhere."

Sophia, Year 2 student

Could You Be One of Our High Performers?

If you enjoy being challenged, are curious about the world around you and aspire to study at a leading university or pursue a highly competitive career, the High Performers Programme could be the perfect next step.

Join a community of ambitious students who are supported to think more deeply, aim more highly and achieve more than they ever thought possible.

Because exceptional students deserve exceptional opportunities.

Click here to view the High Performers Programme news story.