Taster Sessions

In order to support parents in their decision to select the academy as their school of choice, prospective Grammar Stream pupils are invited to attend a series of Taster Sessions which will be held at Swindon Academy and Marlborough College.

We highly recommend that your son/daughter attends one, two or all of the taster sessions. At these sessions, prospective pupils will enjoy a series of stimulating and fun learning activities, meet other prospective pupils, demonstrate their current ability level to teachers and have a chance to get to know the school environment and teachers.

Parents of pupils who are due to begin Year 7 in September 2020 are now invited to register for their child to attend one, two or all of the taster sessions.  

These Taster Sessions are designed to help parents by answering their questions and providing feedback on how well their child is likely to cope with the demands of the Grammar Stream.

Who are the Taster Sessions for?

Pupils who are interested in attending the Grammar Stream and are due to start Year 7 in September 2020 (in Year 6 from September 2019).

What will children do during the taster session?

Prospective pupils will enjoy a morning of interesting, subject-relevant activities that will challenge their existing knowledge and demonstrate their current level of learning.

During the sessions, pupils will:

• Enjoy activities that are designed to stretch their current knowledge, share new knowledge and develop their reasoning skills;
• Spend time getting to know other children who would like to apply to the Grammar Stream;
• Be observed by teachers in order to gauge the ability levels needed to succeed in the Grammar Stream.

By the end of January, we will be able to give parents feedback on how their child has coped with the Taster Sessions.

Will parents be required to stay for the duration of the Taster Sessions?

Parents are not required to stay for the duration of the Taster Session, they are required to collect their child at the end of the session.  Teachers will be available at the end of the session to give parents feedback on how their child has engaged in the morning’s activities.

When and where will the Taster Sessions be?

There will be three Taster Sessions held between September 2019 and January 2020.  Parents are welcome to register their child to attend one, two or all three of the sessions.  The Taster Sessions are planned as follows: