Plus One Programme

Mr T Fell

Mrs H Nelson

Plus One Programme

Alongside their three A Level courses, students will undertake our specially created ‘Plus One’ programme, which is designed to complement the academic courses and to provide each student with a range of co-curricular and super-curricular enrichment activities and opportunities across three strands. Lessons will be timetabled for these activities. 

Programme content

1. Academic

Research Skills - There will be a timetabled lesson each week dedicated to helping students develop essential research skills, including an introduction to text and online resources, effective research methods, referencing styles and methods and how to incorporate academic research into your own writing.

Following the study skills sessions, there will be a weekly timetabled lesson focused on an Extended Project Qualification in the form either of an essay or an artefact. The EPQ project can be focused on any topic that interests the student, and when complete, will provide a qualification valued and recognised by universities, and which delivers UCAS points, equivalent to half an A Level. There will also be opportunity for those studying four A Levels to undertake an EPQ.

ICT Skills – There will be a timetabled lesson each week dedicated to acquiring and developing IT and key study skills via online workbooks. There are also opportunities to complete an industry recognised Digital Marketing qualification and Coding qualifications.

2. Super Curricular

This section of the Plus One incorporates weekly involvement in student-run societies across a wide range of options – from Law and Medicine Societies to Craft and Foreign Film societies. There is scope for students to establish and run their own societies within this session.

Students will also undertake Russell Group university online courses (MOOCs) as well as wider reading around subject specialisms, to help develop the academic reading or research into their subject specialism as well as completing university essay competition entries.

3. Co-curricular

This section will involve students undertaking a set number of hours of co-curricular enrichment activities each week. These may include:

  • approved and monitored volunteer work (either within school or in the wider community)
  • approved and monitored regular work experience opportunities
  • contribution to activities within or outside school such as drama, music, sport, Young Enterprise, Duke of Edinburgh, Princes Trust, Bar Mock Trial
  • leadership work such as mentoring and supporting younger students, coaching younger students within or outside school, leading societies or activities
  • helping to organise and run house or other activities This programme will offer our Lower Sixth students valuable opportunities to gain new skills and qualifications, enhance and demonstrate skills and personal qualities for a CV or university applications and to engage fully in the life of the community around them.

RGS Headmaster’s Award

The combination of a students’ Co-curricular, Super curricular and Academic achievements on the Plus One programme is recognised with the RGS Headmaster’s Award. The RGS Headmaster’s Award seeks to embody the school ethos encouraging students to lead and serve within the school and wider community. It is the expectation that all Lower Sixth Plus One students will engage with the award and at the end of Lower Sixth, students will receive either a Bronze, Silver or Gold certificate presented by the Headmaster in a special assembly.

Careers Support

All sixth form students receive regular sessions with our Careers department to explore possible routes and opportunities beyond school