State sixth forms aren’t inspiring pupils, says new academy head

 
“Learning is amazing”: James Handscombe
Anna Davis @_annadavis16 October 2013

London state school students are failing to get into elite universities because sixth forms are not “setting their intellect on fire”, the head of a new academy set up by a top private school warned.

James Handscombe, who is founding a sixth form to help the capital’s poorest pupils win places at Oxford and Cambridge, said thousands of children are dropping out of education at 16 because schools are not “showing students that learning is amazing”.

The new Harris Westminster Sixth Form will open next year, aimed at poor, bright teenagers who want to get into top universities.

Westminster School is working together with the Harris Federation to create the sixth form, which will give preference to pupils on free school meals and those living in deprived areas. It will be academically selective, but all applicants will be interviewed to allow teachers to spot pupils with a passion for their subject that may not be obvious from their GCSE grades.

Mr Handscombe, who is currently deputy head of Bexley Grammar School, said: “A lot of London schools are not lighting the touch paper and not showing students that learning is amazing, and that the world is full of stuff you can learn that’s amazing.

“That’s what they need to get into those top universities. A lot fail to get in, not because they are not bright or haven’t learnt the syllabus, but because they have not had their intellect set on fire by the desire to know more.

“They see learning as something you do to pass exams rather than the reason we are here.”

The academy wants to learn from Westminster School, which sends around 90 pupils to Oxbridge each year — more than any other school.

Specialist teachers from Westminster are designing the new sixth form’s curriculum and the two schools will have the same chair of governors.

The academy aims to ensure children are given plenty of experiences that make them think “wow, this is pretty cool stuff”, Mr Handscombe said.

He pointed to government statistics that show the number of A-level students getting into elite universities varies hugely across London.

In Sutton, 22 per cent get places, compared with two per cent in Newham, and Barking and Dagenham. Mr Handscombe said: “It is statistically impossible that this is due to the mental inadequacies of those boroughs. It’s a failing of the system.

“There are some schools letting the kids down.”

Dr Stephen Spurr, headmaster of £30,000-a-year Westminster School, said he hopes the new academy will be his legacy after he retires this year.

He already runs a summer school for state school students, and was driven to set up the academy after being overwhelmed by applications for scholarships to Westminster.

He brushed off concerns pupils from the new school could take university spots previously given to his students.

“There have been occasional stories of preferential treatment given to pupils from state schools, but actually the top universities are looking for the best students worldwide,” he said.

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