Hartlepool school aims to fill in gaps in learning

Dyke House Sports and Technology College has introduced the Future Scholars initiative in an attempt to provide students with a wide ranging academic knowledge outside of the curriculum.

The school has forged strong links with Durham University and the programme was officially launched by Professor Tom Ward, who highlighted the importance of the scholarship in his keynote speech.

Andrew Jordon, the school’s executive principal, said: “The Future Scholars programme at Dyke House encourages pupils to become tenacious, committed and open-minded learners in order that they may, in time, achieve their long-term academic inspirations.”

The school made the move to create Future Scholars after research from the Sutton Trust demonstrated the gap between state school and private school pupil progression to university.

The research showed that many capable students in the state school system do not continue to university, despite having the grades and potential to do so.

Dyke House aims to give students an experience of university life, as well as equipping them with the knowledge to make high quality applications, by providing a series of weekly lectures, fortnightly seminars, university visits and academic opportunities.

The school’s aspirations coordinator, Sally Holt, said: “It is important to stretch and challenge our students to ensure that everybody is aspiring to achieve their potential.”