Future Scholars Programme
The Future Scholars Programme initiative runs across Future Academies and is designed to inspire and support high‑achieving students from early secondary school through to Sixth Form. The programme nurtures ambition, academic excellence and confidence, helping students gain access to top universities, elite apprenticeships and competitive career pathways.
Through carefully chosen academic enrichment, early and sustained university engagement and expert guidance, Future Scholars are equipped with the knowledge, skills and self‑belief needed to thrive in highly selective academic and professional environments.
Our partners include universities like Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and Imperial and organisations that push academic growth and curiosity like The Brilliant Club and opportunities through Unifrog.
The Programme at FAW
Scholars at Future Academies Watford are identified early in the academic year in Years 8–10 through a combination of assessment data and professional teacher judgement. These students meet fortnightly during form time to deepen their super‑curricular understanding and nurture a genuine passion for their subject beyond the classroom curriculum. Sessions are led by experienced educators, mentors, and academic partners who provide high expectations alongside personalised support, enabling scholars to thrive academically and intellectually.
University visits, academic experiences and aspiration‑raising have been supported by the Gregson Scholarship from the University of Oxford’s Balliol College, the link college for Hertfordshire schools. This generous support has enabled our students to access world‑class academic environments and establish strong Oxbridge foundations for the Future Scholars pathway.
Future Scholars Highlights
Summer Term 2024
University of Essex Visit – Year 10 (21 June 2024)
Year 10 students took part in subject‑specific academic sessions and campus exploration at the University of Essex. The visit supported informed decision‑making about GCSE performance, post‑16 pathways and future university options.
University College London Visit – Year 8 (3 July 2024)
Year 8 students visited UCL to experience a leading Russell Group university early in their secondary education. Campus tours, academic activities and engagement with student ambassadors helped normalise higher education and build early aspiration.
Autumn Term 2024
Royal Holloway, University of London Visit – Year 9
Students explored the historic Founder’s Building, attended a mini‑lecture and spoke with undergraduates. This visit introduced university‑style learning and strengthened confidence in accessing higher education.
Get Into Medicine Conference
Aspiring medics explored medical ethics, real case studies and admissions guidance, helping to demystify a highly competitive pathway and reinforce the importance of academic excellence in Science and Maths.
New Scientist Live (Selected Students)
Students engaged with cutting‑edge research across STEM disciplines, broadening horizons and encouraging ambition towards scientific study and careers.
Spring Term 2025
The Brilliant Club Scholars Programme – Years 9 and 12
Selected students completed university‑style academic study with PhD tutors, developing advanced reading, critical thinking and academic writing skills. Students produced a final assessed assignment exploring “Is there a new cure for blood clots?”
Brilliant Club Graduation – Jesus College, University of Oxford (19 May 2025)
Students graduated in a formal ceremony at Jesus College, Oxford, celebrating their academic achievement in a world‑leading university setting and strengthening confidence and academic identity.
Summer Term 2025
University College London Visit – Year 8 (18 June 2025)
A new cohort of Year 8 students visited University College London to experience a leading Russell Group university first‑hand. The visit introduced students to academic environments through campus exploration and structured activities, helping to build confidence and early familiarity with university life.
University College London Visit – Year 7 (9 July 2025)
Year 7 students experienced an early introduction to university life, ensuring aspiration‑raising begins from the very start of secondary school.
Balliol College, University of Oxford – Discovery Programme (Year 10)
Twenty Year 10 students were selected for Balliol College’s Discovery Programme, an academically rigorous initiative supporting high‑potential students. Participants engaged with Oxford‑style learning, academic skills development and collegiate life, strengthening readiness for elite university pathways.
Autumn Term 2025
Future Scholars Programme Launch – Structured Pathways (Years 8–10)
The Future Scholars Programme formally launched as a structured pathway, building on strong foundations established through earlier scholarship‑supported work. Students were introduced to clear, progressive academic routes designed to support ambition, planning and access to competitive futures.
Ms Gardner and Mr Matthews welcome the new Future Scholars cohort at the beginning of the year.
- Introduction to Unifrog:
Students across Years 8–10 were introduced to Unifrog, a comprehensive careers and destinations platform. Through guided use, students began exploring university pathways, apprenticeships and career options, learning how subjects link to future opportunities and developing the habit of long‑term academic and career planning. - Step into the NHS Competition (Years 8 and 9):
Year 8 and Year 9 students are currently participating in the Step into the NHS Competition, researching healthcare roles, identifying real‑world health challenges and designing innovative solutions. The project develops teamwork, research, problem‑solving and presentation skills while providing early insight into professional careers. - Oxplore Academic Debate (Year 10):
Year 10 students are preparing a structured academic debate using Oxplore, the University of Oxford’s outreach platform. By exploring the question “Do aliens exist?”, students engage with scientific, philosophical and ethical perspectives, developing critical reasoning, academic reading and confident discussion skills.
Spring Term 2026
The Brilliant Club Scholars Programme – Years 9 and 12
A new cohort began university‑style academic study with a PhD tutor, focusing on the theme “Gender and Peace”, developing intellectual independence, academic confidence and advanced writing skills.
Gonville & Caius College, University of Cambridge Visit (5 February 2026)
Students visited Gonville & Caius College and the Whipple Museum of the History of Science, experiencing an elite academic environment and strengthening confidence in accessing highly selective universities.
Looking Ahead
The Future Scholars Programme continues to grow, with new academic opportunities, university partnerships and enrichment experiences added each term. This page will be updated regularly to reflect students’ ongoing journey.
In Summary
The Future Scholars Programme empowers high‑achieving students with the knowledge, confidence and support needed to achieve ambitious academic and career goals. With strong early support and a clearly structured pathway now in place, Future Academies Watford is proud to provide a programme that opens doors and prepares students to succeed at the highest levels.
