Gifted & Talented Excellence Programme (GATE)

As a member of the Sixth Form Academy, you may be eligible to apply for our Gifted and Talented Excellence (GATE) programme. This is a structured specialist programme of support for those learners with exceptional GCSE results (a minimum of 3 A*s and the rest A grades at GCSE). Those applying to competitive universities, particularly those in the Russell Group, Oxford and Cambridge, will receive personalised support through our Gifted and Talented Excellence programme. Application to competitive universities is about more than excellent grades. You must make an informed choice regarding the subjects you want to pursue, understand the competitive selection process and systems, submit a polished application and excel at interview. While on the GATE programme, you will be placed into a specific tutorial group which will cater to your needs and aspirations. The aim is to broaden your horizons beyond your chosen subjects and to promote analytical reasoning and discussion. These are invaluable preparations for university interviews. Some of the areas covered during tutorial sessions will include:

  • Political processes and goals
  • Beliefs, values and moral reasoning
  • The ethical and environmental implications of scientific development. These issues are linked to current events.

As a GATE student, you will be able to choose to study 3 or 4 A Levels alongside the new Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales Qualification, as the Individual Project is highly regarded by universities. The aim is to broaden your horizons beyond your chosen subjects and to promote analytical reasoning and discussion. If you are incredibly well organised and highly driven, you will also have the opportunity to undertake the Extended Project Qualification alongside your 3 or 4 A levels and the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales Qualification. The EPQ will enable you to further enhance your critical thinking, research and evaluation skills. The EPQ also allows you to achieve extra UCAS points.

By completing this qualification, you will:

  • Become more critical, reflective and independent in your learning
  • Develop and apply decision-making and problem-solving skills
  • Increase your planning, research, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and presentation skills
  • Learn to apply new technologies confidently
  • Demonstrate creativity, initiative and enterprise.

The GATE programme will also allow you to further enhance your skills through additional qualifications and competitions.

The Seren Network

NPTC Group of Colleges is part of the Seren Network: Supporting Wales’ Brightest Programme, which is designed to support Wales’ brightest students, achieve their academic potential and gain access to leading universities. As part of the hub, students will have access to:

  • Accurate information
  • Provision of super-curricular activities
  • A peer group of high-achieving students
  • Links to university students and recent graduates from similar backgrounds.

Through the Seren hubs, we can offer students additional practical help and guidance that they need throughout the application process. This will prove to be advantageous when applying to top universities. It provides such a great opportunity for pupils to be a part of a network of like-minded students who share similar goals.

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