About the Programme

Our Aspire programme is dedicated to providing exciting and challenging academic opportunities for our highest ability students.

Our commitment to providing motivating and broadening academic and extra-curricular opportunities for all students, however, remains at the core of our ethos. The majority of our trips and visits will remain open to whole cohorts.

Our Aspire opportunities are focused on extending knowledge and understanding, providing stimulating and demanding academic challenges, and, ultimately, inspiring students to apply for the most competitive courses at the most prestigious institutions.

Pupils on the programme participate in off timetable activities to expand their knowledge and skill set. They then put their new-found knowledge to the test through a competition or activity.

Some of the activities taking place this year include entering national debating competitions, visits to the British Library, live life drawing, and attending Christ’s College, Cambridge, for a day on Oxbridge applications.

Parents won't need to apply for this. Instead, teachers will invite pupils directly to take part, notifying parents when they do so and explaining any expectations.

Some of the initiatives held to date or planned include: 

• Art: Life Drawing, Years 9-13.
• Business and Economics: KS5, Wilkin Chapman talk on mergers and acquisitions.
• English: Year 8s, visit to British Library.
• English Speaking Union: KS3 heats.
• Geography: Year 9s, urban fieldwork.
• History: Year 13s, 'Great Debate' at Lincoln University.
• Oxbridge: Years 10-12, visit to Christ’s College, Cambridge; Year12 Oxbridge Conference.
• Performing Arts: KS3, 'Moana' performance.
• Psychology: KS5, Psychology Live Conference, Paris.
• Science: Year 7s, Magna Centre programme.

Aspire runs alongside our Academic Scholars Programme.  

We are currently developing an area in the school internet site to promote and record activities associated with this initiative and we will be letting you know about further developments as they occur. 

Oxbridge and Medicine: Support at Lincoln Minster

Helping students with their applications to Oxbridge or for medical-related careers - such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary science - is an important component of our support at Lincoln Minster School.

Our support is in three main areas:

1. Inspiring students with the ambition to aspire to the most competitive courses and institutions.

2. Helping students to develop their independent ‘super-curricular’ academic interests and expertise.

3. Practical support with all aspects of the process, from the initial stages to the application, and beyond.

1. Inspiration.

· Through our general approach to classroom teaching and our wide-ranging trips and visits offer, we seek to inspire all our students. We try to help them to develop a real interest in their subjects and to engage beyond the classroom.

· Through our Aspire programme we offer a stimulating range of activities to stretch our most able students and to support them in developing an independent academic commitment.

· We take our students to Christ’s College, Cambridge to meet former and current Oxbridge students and to gain an insight into the high academic standards Oxbridge is looking for, and hear something about the experience of undergraduate life.

2. Super-curriculum.

The super-curriculum is defined as independent work beyond the core subject curriculum. Developing an independent engagement in areas of the super-curriculum is not only fascinating in itself, but is vital for any successful application to the most competitive courses and institutions.

What aspiring students should do varies depending on the course being applied for. In some areas, for example medicine and engineering, work experience is vital. In all areas, however, engaging with more demanding materials beyond the subject course is important.

Further information, including detailed suggestions for a large number of subject areas is available in the following locations: · Unifrog, Sign In - Unifrog, is not only a fantastic tool for all aspects of the UCAS application process. It also has bespoke links to Super Curriculum activities for a wide range of subjects and courses. · FutureLearn, FutureLearn: Online Courses and Degrees from Top Universities is the portal we use at LMS to support UCAS applications. It also contains bespoke links to a wide range of Super Curriculum courses and activities.

· Surbiton High School’s Super-curriculum bible, developed by a leading United Learning school, has kindly been made available to our students. It contains numerous ways in which to develop Super Curriculum engagement. Please contact Mr Boot or Miss Wills for further information.

· Academic podcasts, often identified in some of the above sites, can be a great way to develop subject knowledge. Links may also be found in, for example, the BBC, academic institutions, Apple, and other websites and providers.

· The EPQ is an excellent way to develop precise subject knowledge and vocabulary, help prepare for interview, and to demonstrate interest in and commitment to the course. · LMS’s Aspire (Aspire Programme (lincolnminsterschool.co.uk)) is also important in helping students expand their experience and develop their academic potential.

3. Practical support.

Oxbridge: see also our Early Entry Support Programme – Oxbridge.

Year 13:

• On-going support with all aspects of the UCAS application as in Year 12.
• Tailored support with personal statement; guidance with choosing a college.
• Support with admissions tests.
• Staff-student mentoring.
• Mock interview support.

Year 12:

• General UCAS support; expert application guidance from Varsity Scholars.
• Support on building super-curriculum engagement and evidence.
• Visits to Christ’s College, Cambridge and to the Lincolnshire Oxbridge Conference.
• Careers support including advice on work experience.
• Bespoke support and guidance from the UCAS, Careers and Sixth Form team and from expert subject teachers.
• Other Oxbridge outreach opportunities.

Year 11:

• Careers interview including guidance about A level choices, work experience and future options.
• Super-curriculum guidance.
• Participation in the Lincolnshire Oxbridge Conference.

Year 10:

• Visit to Christ’s College, Cambridge.
• Careers interview.
• An introduction to the super-curriculum.
• Medicine: see also our Early Entry Support Programme – Medicine.

Year 13:

• On-going support with all aspects of the UCAS application as in Year 12.
• Tailored support with personal statement; guidance with choosing a Medical College; advice and guidance on applying overseas.
• One-to-one mock interviews and mock MMIs (Multiple Mini Interviews).
• Support with admissions tests.
• Med-Soc (student-staff medical society) including staff-student mentoring.

Year 12:

• General UCAS support; expert application guidance from Varsity Scholars.
• Support on building super-curriculum engagement and evidence.
• Careers support including advice on work experience.
• Medic Mentor online conference; NHS Talent Academy opportunities including Aspiring Medics.
• Bespoke support and guidance from the UCAS, Careers and Sixth Form team and from expert subject teachers.
• Other medicine-related outreach opportunities.

Year 11:

• Careers interview including guidance about A level choices, work experience and future options.
• Super-curriculum guidance.
• Participation in MedSoc.
• Medicine-related Aspire opportunities.

Year 10:

• Participation in MedSoc.
• NHS Careers Fair.
• Careers interview.
• Medicine-related Aspire opportunities.