The MRC Grammar Stream
What is the Grammar Stream?
The Grammar Stream is a group of thirty-two academically exceptionally able students, who will be taught with a more in-depth approach from the start of their journey in Year 7 onwards until the end of sixth form. In addition, students will have access to a programme of extracurricular opportunities that will put them on the path to the world’s best universities.
Why do we have the Grammar Stream?
Grammar Stream students have excelled throughout primary school and have continued to demonstrate this during their transition to Midhurst Rother College. These students thrive on exploring new knowledge and require additional challenge to reach their potential.
The program aims to provide this extra level of challenge to help prepare them to excel at A-levels, university, and beyond, competing favourably with Grammar School and privately educated peers.
The Grammar Stream is a fluid system with students having the opportunity to join at points throughout their time at Midhurst Rother College. All students, regardless of background, may benefit by aspiring and working hard to achieve the grades required to access the Grammar Stream.
Specific Focus
Naturally, we have high aspirations for all students at Midhurst Rother College to achieve their very best. For our students in the Grammar Stream, we will be focusing on:
• Gaining a set of GCSEs at grades 7-9, including a language and humanity subject.
• Achieving A levels at grades A* and A.
• Raising their aspirations to the highest level in their chosen field.
• Supporting and fostering a clear path through education for each student, helping them have the plans to meet their goals.
• Participating in a range of extracurricular opportunities that will help them to develop their own passions and become responsible citizens.
Achieving these goals will be supplemented by giving the students opportunities to enrich their school experience. Such as:
• National competitions throughout the year to achieve awards in a variety of different disciplines
• Go on trips to broaden their education out of the classroom in a wide range of venues
• Attend visit days organised by universities
• An exclusive enrichment programme where they will be assigned different roles in a team. Where they aim to explore a topic that they would not usually encounter in the standard curriculum. Then students will present this topic to the rest of the class.
Entry procedure
Year 7
Students will undertake a cognitive aptitude test before they join year 7. This is the same test taken by all year 7 students on entry. Students will also be invited to a taster day at the school where they will be immersed in what the Grammar Stream could offer them.
- Students that are identified via the cognitive ability test to benefit most from the Grammar Stream are then invited to complete a one-page essay discussing a selection of topics. Students should conduct research into the topic and present a justified conclusion.
- The Grammar Stream class is then selected from the suitable entries from these essays.
- Suitable essays are not solely judged on writing capability but more on the thought process of the student when faced with a problem.
A fluid system
Although initial entry to the Grammar Stream is based primarily on the cognitive aptitude test, students will have the opportunity to move into the Grammar Stream based on their end of year assessments. At the end of year 7, 8 and 9, the top 32 performing students will form the next year’s Grammar Stream.
The Midhurst Scholars
Any student who is a part of the Grammar Stream at any point throughout their time at Midhurst Rother College will gain the title of Midhurst Scholar. This title will stay with them throughout their school journey regardless of their current participation in the Grammar Stream. As a Midhurst Scholar the students will have further opportunities to participate in enrichment like the ones in the Grammar Stream*.
*This will be offered on a first come first serve basis.