Governors Report 2005/2006

Masterclasses

Students come from all over the Corby and Kettering catchment areas to attend Masterclasses at the College.

Brooke Weston not only nurtures and fosters its own students, it also teaches 300 students per week under its Masterclass programme. The scheme, which has been running for ten years offers tuition for gifted and talented students in six subject areas. The aim is to enthuse and challenge students in a group of like-minded individuals and its popularity and success is evident from the high turn out of students and the enthusiasm they display while in the lessons.

Masterclasses are run in maths, science, English, ICT, French and Spanish and students are nominated by their head teachers before they can attend the free tuition. Students come from all over the Corby and Kettering catchment areas. Masterclasses cover two age ranges; primary and secondary. Both age ranges study the same topics, but at levels and in ways appropriate to their knowledge and skills. For example, a science lesson might explain earthquakes; the primary students may collect the data and draw rudimentary diagrams while the secondary students would be expected to collate data into bar charts and analyse information from it.

The lessons, which run for 20 weeks of the year are intended to be fun, but also to stretch and challenge students so they get a better understanding of the subject area. Masterclass co-ordinator, Peter Tiktin said: 'A student might be the only gifted and talented scientist in his or her primary school. If 40 schools each send their students then they will all then be working with those with similar abilities and interests.

'Masterclasses support students and increase their self-confidence; they allow students to be challenged. The fact that the vast majority give up their Saturday mornings voluntarily to attend for all 20 weeks means that students obviously find the work interesting.'

Regular teachers from Brooke Weston, along with former teachers from the College, come in to teach the Masterclasses, aided by some sixth form students. Peter said: 'Each week we have eight sixth form students who help out. They have experience of working with those students, which may help them with their university applications or their future careers, but it also gives them money in their pocket. They're invaluable; if you've got a class of 35 doing ICT, then to have other students in there who are familiar with the computers is very beneficial.'

Since the inception of Masterclasses ten years ago there have been many changes. Originally they were only available in maths, but their range has been expanded with Spanish being a new addition for 2006. The practical, accessible format of the Masterclasses is one that works, and they may be offered in even more subjects in the future. While attendance of Masterclasses has no bearing whatsoever on whether students will get a place at the College, there is no doubt that the ethos and teaching methods of Brooke Weston carry over into the Saturday Masterclasses.

Peter Tiktin said: 'If you've got IT, technology and science you're onto a winner because you've got hands-on stuff but the French and Spanish rates are going to be phenomenal this year. If you watch students in the Spanish class, they're happy, they're bouncy, they're excited by it. In English the students are smiling, it's phenomenal the work that's going on.

'Some of the teachers just love coming here on Saturdays because it's a wonderful experience. As the students come here voluntarily and are interested in their subject areas then they are really exciting students to teach.'