College Champions Student Ambition with Leading Supra-Curricular Programmes

5 June 2025

Birkenhead Sixth Form College continues to raise the bar for student development and academic enrichment with a suite of exceptional supra-curricular programmes. These initiatives are tailored to nurture ambition, unlock potential, and provide students with a competitive edge as they prepare for university and beyond.

The College’s supra-curricular programmes span a diverse range of professional sectors, including medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science, healthcare, education, and selective higher education. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all model, College has developed a plethora of bespoke pathways designed to meet the specific requirements of each discipline.

These programmes offer practical insight into what careers and academic environments entail. Through structured preparation for university admission examinations, targeted personal statement workshops, academic enrichment, mentoring, and access to external placements and professional networks, students gain valuable exposure to the demands and expectations of their chosen fields.

For example, those pursuing careers in Medicine, Dentistry, or Veterinary science benefit from clinical shadowing and UCAT admissions test preparation, while aspiring teachers receive early classroom experience through the Tomorrow’s Teachers programme developed in partnership with TES. Students applying to Oxford, Cambridge, or other Russell Group institutions access advanced academic mentoring, and admissions guidance designed to mirror the expectations of competitive universities.

These bespoke programmes play a crucial role in helping students move beyond abstract ambitions toward clearly defined goals. The opportunity to engage with professionals, participate in university-led activities, and reflect on their personal strengths enables students to make informed decisions about their next steps.

The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), for example, allows students to conduct independent, university-level research on a topic of their choice. This not only strengthens their academic profile, but also fosters critical thinking, autonomy, and subject-specific insight that can shape their future academic or professional focus.

“I originally chose to do an EPQ because it’s worth another half of an A level, and it also helps you to prepare for the jump to university, so I thought it would be really useful” – Georgie, current Year 2 student.

By embedding progression support into the fabric of college life, College ensures that students’ progress with a strong sense of direction, increased self-belief, and the skills required to succeed in the next phase of their journey. The College’s supra-curricular programmes play a vital role in preparing young people not only for the challenges of higher education and employment, but for fulfilling and impactful careers.