News from the School
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Masterclasses and Residential Courses, for Years 12 and 13
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Villiers Park specialise in running these courses for students in Years 12 and 13 only. The courses are subject specific and represent content that goes beyond the A level curriculum and are aimed at students who are capable of achieving an A or A* grade at A level taking them to the limit of their ability. They also gain an insight in to university level material and teaching. Two students give their opinions below:
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I attended the Villiers Park Course on Environmental Chemistry and it was one of the best 5 days that I’ve had away from home! The course was located in Foxton on the outskirts of Cambridge and 24 people from all around the UK attended. We had 2 or 3 lectures a day taught by students from Cambridge University making it easier to ask questions and have discussions as they were quite young and relatable to us. We carried out debates about climate change, studied topics such as ozone depletion and sustainable energy, prepared group presentations and visited Sizewell B power station.
If anyone is considering doing a Villiers Park course, I would highly recommend it as you get a lot for what you pay and get to spend time with like-minded people who are interested in the same subjects as you.
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Wenxi Li
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I went on a Villiers Park Course for an English Literature, called 'Exploring Shakespeare', to study three of Shakespeare's plays: The Tempest; Love's Labour's Lost and Macbeth, where two university tutors taught us about English Literature at degree level. It was an amazing week and has given me insight as to what English Literature at university would be like. The course included applying literary theories to Shakespearean texts, e.g. applying post-colonialism to The Tempest. It was interesting and challenging, because we were working at the same level as undergraduates. We were also taken to see Love's Labour's Lost, at the Royal Theatre, Haymarket, in London, and we visited an art gallery, squeezing in shopping, before and afterwards.
If you have had your heart set on a subject for years and believe you may take it at degree level, I thoroughly recommend going on a Villiers Park course.
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Jasmine de Verre
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Remembrance Day Display
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The Art Department installed a stunning display of themed artwork at County Hall as part of the "Art in Essex Schools" initiative. The artwork was formed of hundreds of small canvases depicting poppies, each produced by a different student or member of staff.
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