Academic Scholarship

The Muse Programme at SCHS is a distinctive academic scholarship and advancement initiative that provides a diverse range of exciting and enriching challenges for all our students, extending their learning experiences beyond the classroom.

In ancient Greek mythology, the Muses were revered as the source of knowledge, credited with inventing the theory and practice of learning. They played a pivotal role in the accumulation and transmission of knowledge across generations, representing the arts, literature and science.

Scholars are added to a Muse Scholars Team where they will be able to find a range of resources, and be informed of meetings and opportunities.

They will access a range of activities that they should complete in order to obtain a Muse certificate, which includes extension or challenge work in lessons, entering a competition, a relevant trip or visit, and a related co-curricular club.

Scholars have a passport on Teams/OneNote to complete whenever they complete an activity, either in or out of school. There is space in the passport for reflection and mentoring meeting notes. Positive points are available for any activities that they complete, logs and reflect upon.

Academic scholars choose up to three subjects to focus their scholarship upon and these will be monitored by the relevant departments and class teachers to ensure that they are regularly offered challenge and extension activities in their lessons and homework.

Students’ specialist subject choices are communicated to all subject teachers and teachers will monitor challenge and extension activities for these students.

Activities in each subject for students in KS3, 4 and 5 are released and added to the Muse Scholars Team before the Christmas, Easter and Summer holidays. At least one of these should then be completed each term and added to passports with a reflection of what they learned and gained.

Year 12 and 13 students will act as subject mentors and will work with a small group of subject specific scholars. These will meet once a half term during a form time for a discussion of their subject, provision and engagement.

Students are expected to write at least one piece for ‘Musings’ magazine or contribute an artefact per year.

At the end of each term, students’ passports are reviewed and Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Muse certificates will be presented at celebration assemblies, with two, three, five or ten positive points awarded for each level of certification.

At the end of every term, all scholars meet with the Head of Scholars or their Head of Year to review their engagement and parents are sent a short report, detailing progress and engagement.

From Easter, scholars in Years 7-10 complete a Muse project in their chosen field and this should be completed and handed in to the Head of Scholars. The projects are rewarded with positive points and a winner is chosen from each year group, as well as an overall winner. These are presented at Speech Day. The winning entries are displayed for the next academic year. All scholars who participate receive a certificate for their project.

At the end of each year, a scholar report is sent home with full student reports, detailing their involvement and engagement in the programme. At the end of Year 9 and Year 11, scholarships are reviewed and students are invited to re-apply for scholarships.