The NAGTY (National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth) Summer School is aimed at pupils aged 11-19 who are in the top five per cent of the country’s academic ability range. Many of these pupils risk underachievement through low aspiration, lack of opportunity or financial circumstances. To help overcome this, the academy aims to help further pupils’ educational potential and development. The School takes place for two weeks from Sunday 22 July to Saturday 4 August.
The School offers a choice of six challenging courses: Into the Heart of Matter, Classical Studies – The Ancient World, Innenansichten (German) - Experiencing the German Speaking World from Within, Insight into Economics, Maths in Modern Engineering and Medical Sciences. Forensic science, mysterious substances, DNA, digestion, robotics, earthquakes and archaeology are just some of the topics pupils will have the opportunity to discover more about.
Pupils will stay in student residences and will have a wide range of social activities to choose from during recreation time, including planned sports and trips. At the end of the School, all pupils will take part in a graduation ceremony where they will be presented with certificates of achievement by Bristol University lecturer and TV presenter Dr Alice Roberts.
NAGTY is a government-funded nationwide programme open to all secondary schools. Established in 2002, it currently runs eight summer Schools with 1,050 places. There are 50,000 NAGTY members and membership is open to students from all walks of life, though currently 90 per cent are from state schools.
Lucy Collins, the University’s Head of Widening Participation and Undergraduate Recruitment, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the young people to gain a greater insight into the study of their chosen subject, to work with academics and make new friends during the course of their two weeks at the University of Bristol.”
Children normally join NAGTY through teacher recommendation and must be able to demonstrate high academic ability.