Sights High Super Curriculum

Can lead to: Medicine, Dentistry, Biomedical Science, Pharmacology, Veterinary Science, Nursing

Big question to argue about: Should a doctor ever tell a patient less than the whole truth?

Spark

• The Life Scientific · BBC Radio 4
  Scientists talk about their careers and discoveries. Start with any episode featuring a doctor or biologist.
  Listen · Years 11–13
• The Body · Bill Bryson
  A lively tour of how the human body works, packed with surprising facts and medical history.
  Read · Years 11–13

Deepen

• Being Mortal · Atul Gawande
  A surgeon asks what medicine owes people at the end of life. Essential for thinking about ethics.
  Read · Years 11–13
• Do No Harm · Henry Marsh
  A neurosurgeon's honest account of the risks, mistakes and judgement calls behind brain surgery.
  Read · Years 11–13
• Bad Science · Ben Goldacre
  Learn to spot misleading health claims, weak studies and how evidence should really be tested.
  Read · Years 11–13
• Virtual work experience · Royal College of GPs: Observe GP
  Free online work experience showing life in general practice. Search 'Observe GP'.
  Do · Years 11–13

Stretch

• Biology Challenge · Royal Society of Biology
  An online competition for Years 9 to 11 that tests biology knowledge beyond GCSE.
  Compete · Year 11
• Biology Olympiad · Royal Society of Biology
  The national biology competitions for sixth-formers, with top scorers selected for international rounds.
  Compete · Years 12–13
• The Emperor of All Maladies · Siddhartha Mukherjee
  A Pulitzer-winning history of cancer and the people who fought to understand it.
  Read · Years 12–13
• UCAT practice · Official UCAT website
  Most medical and dental schools require the UCAT, sat in the summer after Year 12. Start the free practice tests early.
  Do · Year 12
• Health-in-the-news log · Independent project
  Each week, pick one health headline, find the original study and write whether the headline is fair.
  Do · Years 11–13

Can lead to: Chemistry, Natural Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy, Materials Science

Big question to argue about: Is there such a thing as a 'chemical-free' product?

Spark

• Periodic Videos · University of Nottingham (YouTube)
  A short video for every element, with real experiments and the stories behind them.
  Watch · Years 11–13
• The Disappearing Spoon · Sam Kean
  True stories of the periodic table: madness, love, war and discovery.
  Read · Years 11–13

Deepen

• Periodic Tales · Hugh Aldersey-Williams
  How elements shaped culture, art and history, from gold to plutonium.
  Read · Years 11–13
• Chemistry World · Royal Society of Chemistry
  The RSC's magazine with current research news. Read one article a week.
  Read · Years 11–13
• Top of the Bench · Royal Society of Chemistry
  A team chemistry competition for students aged 14 to 16. Ask your science teacher about entering.
  Compete · Year 11
• Kitchen crystal investigation · Independent project
  Grow crystals from salt, sugar or alum, change one variable, and write it up as a proper lab report.
  Do · Year 11

Stretch

• Isaac Chemistry · University of Cambridge
  Free problem-solving practice that bridges GCSE, A-level and university chemistry.
  Course · Years 11–13
• Cambridge Chemistry Challenge · University of Cambridge
  A demanding paper for Year 12 chemists, sat in school in the summer term.
  Compete · Year 12
• UK Chemistry Olympiad · Royal Society of Chemistry
  The national chemistry competition for sixth-formers. Year 11s can try early questions from past papers.
  Compete · Years 12–13
• Why Chemical Reactions Happen · James Keeler & Peter Wothers
  A short university-style text on bonding and energetics, ideal alongside A-level.
  Read · Years 12–13
• Nuffield Research Placement · STEM Learning
  A funded summer research project with a real scientist, applied for during Year 12.
  Do · Year 12

Can lead to: Physics, Mechanical, Civil, Aerospace and Electrical Engineering, Astrophysics, Architecture

Big question to argue about: Why can't anything travel faster than light, and what would break if it did?

Spark

• Royal Institution Christmas Lectures · Royal Institution
  Famous science lectures for young people, with past series free online.
  Watch · Years 11–13
• Sixty Symbols · University of Nottingham (YouTube)
  Physicists explain the ideas behind the symbols in physics and astronomy.
  Watch · Years 11–13
• Seven Brief Lessons on Physics · Carlo Rovelli
  Relativity, quantum theory and black holes in under 100 beautiful pages.
  Read · Years 11–13

Deepen

• Isaac Physics · University of Cambridge
  Free physics problem-solving, from GCSE through to university entry.
  Course · Years 11–13
• Spaghetti bridge challenge · Independent or with friends
  Build a bridge from dried spaghetti, test the load it holds, then redesign it and test again.
  Do · Year 11

Stretch

• Six Easy Pieces · Richard Feynman
  Classic lectures on the foundations of physics from one of its greatest teachers.
  Read · Years 12–13
• Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down · J.E. Gordon
  The classic book on how bridges, buildings and bodies carry loads.
  Read · Years 11–13
• GCSE Physics Challenge · British Physics Olympiad
  A challenging paper for able GCSE physicists, sat in school.
  Compete · Year 11
• Physics Challenge and Olympiad rounds · British Physics Olympiad
  Competition papers for sixth-form physicists, leading to national and international rounds.
  Compete · Years 12–13
• Arkwright Engineering Scholarship · Arkwright Scholarships Trust
  Prestigious scholarships for future engineers, applied for in Year 11 for sixth form.
  Compete · Year 11
• Headstart engineering courses · Engineering Development Trust
  Residential and online taster courses at universities for Year 12 STEM students.
  Do · Year 12

Can lead to: Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, Actuarial Science, Economics with Maths

Big question to argue about: Is maths discovered or invented?

Spark

• Numberphile · YouTube
  Mathematicians explain beautiful and strange ideas about numbers in short videos.
  Watch · Years 11–13
• More or Less · BBC Radio 4
  Checks the statistics behind the news. Great for thinking critically about data.
  Listen · Years 11–13
• Humble Pi · Matt Parker
  Funny real-life stories of what happens when maths goes wrong.
  Read · Years 11–13
• Alex's Adventures in Numberland · Alex Bellos
  A journey through the history and culture of numbers around the world.
  Read · Years 11–13

Deepen

• Fermat's Last Theorem · Simon Singh
  The true story of a 350-year-old problem and the mathematician who solved it.
  Read · Years 11–13
• How Not to Be Wrong · Jordan Ellenberg
  How mathematical thinking helps you make sense of everyday decisions and data.
  Read · Years 11–13
• NRICH problems · University of Cambridge
  Rich problems that reward thinking, not just method. Try the Stage 4 and Stage 5 sections.
  Do · Years 11–13
• UK Maths Challenges · UK Mathematics Trust
  The Intermediate (Year 11) and Senior (Years 11 to 13) Challenges, with Olympiad follow-on rounds for top scorers.
  Compete · Years 11–13

Stretch

• STEP Support Programme · University of Cambridge
  Free modules preparing you for the hardest university maths entrance papers.
  Do · Years 12–13
• MAT past papers · University of Oxford
  The Maths Admissions Test is sat in Year 13 for Oxford and Imperial. Practise from Year 12.
  Do · Years 12–13

Can lead to: Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Games Design, Electronic Engineering

Big question to argue about: Should an AI ever make a decision about your life without a human checking it?

Spark

• Computerphile · University of Nottingham (YouTube)
  Computer scientists explain how encryption, AI, networks and algorithms really work.
  Watch · Years 11–13
• Hello World: How to Be Human in the Age of the Machine · Hannah Fry
  How algorithms already shape justice, medicine and our everyday choices.
  Read · Years 11–13
• UK Bebras Challenge · UK Bebras
  Short computational thinking puzzles, entered through school. No coding needed.
  Compete · Years 11–13

Deepen

• The Code Book · Simon Singh
  The history of codes and code-breaking, from ancient ciphers to modern encryption.
  Read · Years 11–13
• Algorithms to Live By · Brian Christian & Tom Griffiths
  Computer science ideas applied to everyday problems like scheduling and decision-making.
  Read · Years 11–13
• Oxford University Computing Challenge · University of Oxford
  Computational thinking and programming puzzles, entered through school.
  Compete · Years 11–13
• Build a physical computing project · Raspberry Pi Foundation
  Free step-by-step projects using Python, Raspberry Pi or micro:bit.
  Do · Years 11–13

Stretch

• CS50: Introduction to Computer Science · Harvard University (free online)
  A full university-level programming course you can take at your own pace.
  Course · Years 11–13
• Advent of Code · Online, every December
  A daily programming puzzle through December. Solve them in Python and compare approaches.
  Do · Years 11–13
• British Informatics Olympiad
  A national programming competition for school students, with finals for the top scorers.
  Compete · Years 11–13
• Kaggle Learn · Kaggle
  Free short courses in Python, data analysis and machine learning with real datasets.
  Course · Years 12–13

Can lead to: Economics, PPE, Business, Finance, Accounting, Management

Big question to argue about: Should the government ever decide what something costs?

Spark

• Planet Money · NPR
  Short, story-led episodes explaining how the economy really works.
  Listen · Years 11–13
• Knowledge Bank · Bank of England
  Clear explainers on inflation, interest rates and money.
  Read · Years 11–13
• Freakonomics · Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner
  Uses economic thinking to answer surprising questions about everyday life.
  Read · Years 11–13

Deepen

• The Undercover Economist · Tim Harford
  Why a coffee costs what it does, and other lessons in how markets work.
  Read · Years 11–13
• Price-tracker project · Independent project
  Price the same 10 items each month at a local shop, calculate your own inflation rate and compare it with the official figure.
  Do · Year 11
• 23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism · Ha-Joon Chang
  Short chapters that challenge common economic assumptions. Argue back in your notes.
  Read · Years 12–13

Stretch

• Doughnut Economics · Kate Raworth
  A challenge to traditional economics. Read critically and decide if you agree.
  Read · Years 12–13
• Young Enterprise Company Programme · Young Enterprise
  Run a real student company: make a product, sell it and report to shareholders.
  Do · Years 11–13
• Target 2.0 · Bank of England
  Sixth-form teams act as the Monetary Policy Committee and present an interest-rate decision.
  Compete · Years 12–13
• Young Economist of the Year · Royal Economic Society
  An essay competition for sixth-formers. Year 11s can read past winning essays to prepare.
  Compete · Years 12–13

Can lead to: Law, PPE, Politics, International Relations, Criminology

Big question to argue about: Is it ever right to break the law?

Spark

• Law in Action · BBC Radio 4
  How the law works in practice, through current cases and debates.
  Listen · Years 11–13
• Prime Minister's Questions · UK Parliament
  Watch a session, then note which answers were evasive and why.
  Watch · Years 11–13

Deepen

• The Secret Barrister
  An anonymous barrister reveals how the criminal justice system really works.
  Read · Years 11–13
• Visit a court · Your nearest magistrates' or Crown Court
  Most court public galleries are open. Watch a hearing and note how each side builds its case.
  Do · Years 11–13
• Mock trial competitions · Young Citizens
  Take on the roles of lawyers, witnesses and magistrates in a real courtroom.
  Compete · Years 11–13
• Debating · School club or regional competitions
  Join or start a debating club. Arguing a side you disagree with is the best legal training there is.
  Compete · Years 11–13

Stretch

• The Rule of Law · Tom Bingham
  A former senior judge explains the principles that hold a fair legal system together.
  Read · Years 12–13
• Letters to a Law Student · Nicholas McBride
  A guide to studying law at university, written for sixth-formers.
  Read · Years 12–13
• LNAT practice · LNAT Consortium
  Many top law schools require the LNAT, sat in Year 13. Use the free practice papers from Year 12.
  Do · Year 12
• John Locke Institute Essay Competition · John Locke Institute
  An international essay prize covering law, politics, philosophy and more. Check the age categories.
  Compete · Years 11–13

Can lead to: English, History, Philosophy, Classics, Theology, Archaeology

Big question to argue about: Who gets to decide what counts as history?

Spark

• In Our Time · BBC Radio 4
  Three academics discuss one idea, person or event. Over 1,000 episodes to choose from.
  Listen · Years 11–13
• Crash Course History and Literature · YouTube
  Fast, clear introductions to periods, texts and big ideas.
  Watch · Years 11–13
• Oxplore Big Questions · University of Oxford
  Short debate-style questions such as 'Can money buy happiness?'
  Do · Years 11–13

Deepen

• A Little History of Philosophy · Nigel Warburton
  Forty short chapters, each on one great thinker. A perfect way in.
  Read · Years 11–13
• Sapiens · Yuval Noah Harari
  A big-picture history of humans. Read it critically and question its claims.
  Read · Years 11–13
• Museum visit and write-up · British Museum or a local museum
  Choose one object, research its story, and write 300 words on what it tells us about its time.
  Do · Years 11–13

Stretch

• A pre-1900 novel from The 99 · Sights High reading list
  Pick a classic you would not normally choose and write a short review.
  Read · Years 11–13
• Orwell Youth Prize · The Orwell Foundation
  A writing prize for young people on a political or social theme.
  Compete · Years 11–13
• Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) · Sandy Sixth Form
  Research a question you care about and write a 5,000-word dissertation. Valued by universities in every subject.
  Do · Years 12–13

Can lead to: Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology, Human Sciences

Big question to argue about: How much of who you are was decided before you were born?

Spark

• All in the Mind · BBC Radio 4
  The latest research on the brain, behaviour and mental life.
  Listen · Years 11–13
• Gapminder · Gapminder Foundation
  Interactive charts that test your assumptions about the world.
  Do · Years 11–13
• Factfulness · Hans Rosling
  Why we get the world wrong, and how to think about it with data.
  Read · Years 11–13

Deepen

• The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat · Oliver Sacks
  Real case studies of unusual brain conditions told with great humanity.
  Read · Years 11–13
• Free psychology short course · OpenLearn or FutureLearn
  Take an introductory online course and keep notes as you go.
  Course · Years 11–13

Stretch

• Thinking, Fast and Slow · Daniel Kahneman
  Nobel-winning work on how we make decisions. Demanding but rewarding.
  Read · Years 12–13
• The Spirit Level · Richard Wilkinson & Kate Pickett
  Uses data to argue that more equal societies do better on health and wellbeing. Weigh up the evidence.
  Read · Years 12–13
• Run your own small study · Independent project
  Design an ethical survey (for example on sleep and screen time), collect anonymous answers from friends and analyse the results.
  Do · Years 11–13

Can lead to: Geography, Environmental Science, Earth Sciences and Geology, Conservation, Urban Planning, Sustainability

Big question to argue about: Who should pay to fix climate change?

Spark

• Costing the Earth · BBC Radio 4
  Programmes on the environment, climate and how people are responding.
  Listen · Years 11–13
• David Attenborough documentaries · For example Our Planet or Planet Earth
  Watch an episode, then research one threat it mentions and what is being done about it.
  Watch · Years 11–13
• Our World in Data · University of Oxford
  Explore real charts on climate, energy, population and food.
  Do · Years 11–13
• Big Garden Birdwatch · RSPB (headquartered in Sandy)
  Take part in the UK's biggest wildlife survey each January and see how your data is used.
  Do · Years 11–13

Deepen

• Prisoners of Geography · Tim Marshall
  How mountains, rivers and seas shape the politics of every major country.
  Read · Years 11–13
• Not the End of the World · Hannah Ritchie
  A data scientist's evidence-based case for how we can build a sustainable future.
  Read · Years 11–13
• River Ivel fieldwork · Independent or with friends
  Measure width, depth and flow at three points along the Ivel and explain how and why the river changes.
  Do · Years 11–13
• Citizen science on Zooniverse · Zooniverse
  Help real researchers classify wildlife, galaxies, weather and more from your laptop.
  Do · Years 11–13

Stretch

• Young Geographer of the Year · Royal Geographical Society
  An annual competition on a set theme, with categories for GCSE and sixth-form students.
  Compete · Years 11–13
• Guns, Germs and Steel · Jared Diamond
  A big, debated argument about why societies developed so differently. Read critically.
  Read · Years 12–13

Can lead to: Modern Languages (French, Spanish, German, Mandarin and more), Linguistics, Translation, International Relations, Law or Business with a language

Big question to argue about: Does the language you speak change the way you think?

Spark

• Coffee Break language podcasts · Coffee Break Languages
  Short, friendly lessons in French, Spanish, German and other languages for the bus or walk to school.
  Listen · Years 11–13
• A foreign-language film each month · With subtitles
  Watch with subtitles, then note five new words or phrases.
  Watch · Years 11–13
• The Etymologicon · Mark Forsyth
  An entertaining tour of where English words come from, many of them from other languages.
  Read · Years 11–13

Deepen

• Start a new language · Free apps and courses
  Spend 10 minutes a day on a language you do not study at school. Track your streak.
  Do · Years 11–13
• UK Linguistics Olympiad · UKLO
  Crack puzzles in languages you have never seen. No prior knowledge needed.
  Compete · Years 11–13
• Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators · The Queen's College, Oxford
  A translation competition with categories for each key stage, including sixth form.
  Compete · Years 11–13
• Weekly news in your target language · Le Monde, El País or Deutsche Welle
  Read one article a week and summarise it in English and in the language.
  Read · Years 12–13

Stretch

• Write and publish in your target language · Independent project
  Write a 300-word blog post or review in your target language on something you love, and ask your teacher to correct it.
  Do · Years 11–13
• Oxford German Olympiad · Oxford German Network
  A creative competition for learners of German, with categories by age.
  Compete · Years 11–13
• A short novel in your target language · For example Le Petit Prince or Die Verwandlung
  Read a short classic in the original, with a translation alongside if you need it.
  Read · Years 12–13
• Through the Language Glass · Guy Deutscher
  Explores whether language shapes how we see colour, space and time.
  Read · Years 12–13

Can lead to: Music, Music Technology, Drama and Theatre, Acting, Film, Fine Art, Photography, Architecture, Design

Big question to argue about: Does art have to be beautiful to be good?

Spark

• Composer of the Week · BBC Radio 3
  Each week explores one composer's life and music. Try a composer you have never heard of.
  Listen · Years 11–13
• Gallery visit · Tate, National Gallery or a local gallery
  Many galleries are free. Choose one artwork and explain why it works.
  Do · Years 11–13
• See live theatre · Local and London theatres
  Many theatres offer cheap tickets for young people. Write a short review of the production choices.
  Do · Years 11–13
• Photo-a-day challenge · Independent project
  Take one photograph every day for a month on a theme such as light, shadow or 'Sandy'. Pick your best five and explain why they work.
  Do · Years 11–13

Deepen

• National Theatre Collection · National Theatre
  Filmed National Theatre productions, free for UK state schools. Ask your drama teacher for access.
  Watch · Years 11–13
• Learn the exposure triangle · Independent project
  Shoot the same scene changing aperture, shutter speed and ISO one at a time, and present what each setting does. A phone with manual mode works.
  Do · Years 11–13
• This Is Your Brain on Music · Daniel Levitin
  A musician and neuroscientist explains why music affects us so deeply.
  Read · Years 11–13
• Ways of Seeing · John Berger
  A short, famous book that changes how you look at images and adverts.
  Read · Years 11–13
• Write and stage a short piece · Independent or with friends
  Write a 10-minute play, monologue or piece of music and perform it for an audience.
  Do · Years 11–13

Stretch

• Sony World Photography Awards: Youth · World Photography Organisation
  An international competition for young photographers with a set theme each year. Check the age rules on the website.
  Compete · Years 11–13
• On Photography · Susan Sontag
  Classic essays on what photographs do to the way we see the world.
  Read · Years 12–13
• Arts Award · Trinity College London
  A recognised qualification for creative projects, with Silver and Gold levels suited to Years 11 to 13.
  Do · Years 11–13
• National Youth Theatre or youth music auditions · National Youth Theatre and others
  Audition for national youth companies, orchestras or choirs. Ask your teacher about current opportunities.
  Compete · Years 11–13
• Design portfolio project · Independent project
  Pick one problem in Sandy (a park, a bus stop, a shop front) and sketch, refine and present a redesign.
  Do · Years 11–13
• The Rest Is Noise · Alex Ross
  A history of 20th-century music and the world that shaped it.
  Read · Years 12–13

These programmes are open whichever pathway you choose.

• Russell Group Informed Choices
  Check which A-levels open the doors to the degrees on your pathway.
• University summer schools (Year 12)
  Sutton Trust summer schools, Oxford's UNIQ and many Russell Group universities run free programmes. Applications usually open in the spring of Year 12.
• Pembroke College, Cambridge: our link college (Years 10 to 13)
  Visit days for Years 10 and 11 and for Year 12, subject masterclasses, free online subject tasters each July of Year 12 and interview webinars in Year 13. Ask Sixth Form about the school visits.
• Academic Attainment Programme (Year 12)
  A free two-year Cambridge programme run by Lucy Cavendish College with Pembroke: subject tutoring, application guidance and a super-curricular project in arts, humanities, social sciences or clinical sciences. Needs at least five GCSEs at grades 8 or 9. Apply at the start of Year 12.
• STEM SMART (Year 12)
  The University of Cambridge's free 16-month online programme for state-school students taking maths and science, with tutorials, mentoring and an optional Cambridge residential. Applications open in the autumn of Year 12.
• Oxplore: The Home of Big Questions
  University of Oxford's site of debate-style questions across every subject.