Stretch & Challenge Summer School 2026

Aspiring students from Solihull Sixth Form College have been getting a head start on their post-college plans by attending the Stretch & Challenge Summer School, which aims to extend their knowledge and prepare them for the challenge of Higher Education applications.

The highest achieving students in Year 12 at the College signed up to additional subject sessions and guest lectures to stretch their learning beyond the A level curriculum. With many of these learners aspiring to apply to prestigious Russell Group universities, requiring early applications, interviews and admissions tests, these sessions challenged them to think critically and explore topics outside their current areas of study.

The two-day Summer School began with a visiting speaker from a Russell Group university. Dr Steve Hewitt from the University of Birmingham delivered a lecture on the History of Terrorism, which explored how it all started and how it has changed and stayed the same over the years. Sarah Large from Mansfield College at the University of Oxford was also involved. Her online presentation advised students about making applications to Oxbridge and other highly competitive universities.

Other visiting speakers at the Summer School included Dr Danny Fitzpatrick from Aston University, who delivered an online Social Sciences lecture entitled ‘Swifties, Sport and Solidarity’. Meanwhile, O’Bryan Grandison from Birmingham City University delivered a lecture on Policing and Criminology and Richard Cust from the University of Birmingham presented a talk on Queen Elizabeth 1.

College teachers were also part of the Summer School and delivered workshops on Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, English, Humanities, Mathematics, Media, Modern Languages, Physics, Psychology and Social Sciences.

Event organiser and Curriculum Leader for English and Modern Languages Jane McCard commented:

"Most of our learners aspire to progress to university, and staff across the College are committed to helping them realise that goal. For those targeting the most competitive institutions, the journey can be particularly demanding, with early applications and significant challenges along the way. The Stretch & Challenge Summer School is one of the key ways we support these students in securing offers from Russell Group universities. It encourages them to step beyond their comfort zones and develop the mindset of an undergraduate, preparing them for the expectations ahead. The academics who generously dedicated their time to this initiative, particularly given the very hot weather we had, have played a vital role in helping our young people distinguish themselves and succeed in the future."

29 June 2026