In addition to their academic studies, students take part in a tutorial programme which consists of three core elements:
a) Pastoral Tutorial
b) Academic Tutorial
c) Inspire Talks
The pastoral, academic and inspire curriculum combine to provide students with a broad range of information, guidance, support and inspiration. It is on this foundation that their current, and future academic success is built.
Our pastoral scheme of work is a key part of our commitment to supporting students in more than just their academic lives. We strive to encourage them to leave EMS as well-rounded, conscientious citizens with both the skills and confidence to contribute to their community.
“The pastoral curriculum is very enlightening and well-tailored to our age group”
[EMS Student, 2020]
Students attend ortnightly pastoral assembly, all of which use the Common Inspection Framework for further education as their main reference, while keeping in mind the outcomes for young people as per Every Child Matter criteria. We cover a breadth of topics including an exploration and understanding of fundamental values, equality and diversity, combating discrimination, and democracy and law. Personal and social skills, physical and mental well-being, and an unwavering antibullying message are all at the centre of our pastoral curriculum. This goes hand-in-hand with signposting and referral to additional support wherever possible. We also run sessions around sustainable living and student finance. Our assemblies are totally student-centred: they provide an opportunity for students to discuss, explore and share ideas in a non-trivialising and non-judgemental space.
“Pastoral assemblies comfort us in the knowledge that we never struggle alone”
[EMS Student, 2020]
In our assembly curriculum, we also go beyond the universal, government-advised topics and cover issues that we feel are relevant specifically to our students at EMS. These assemblies are about offering them an opportunity to apply their quick-thinking mathematical brains to varied and challenging perspectives, explore points of view different to their own, and encourage flexible thinking and questioning beyond just an academic remit. An example from Autumn Term 2020: we have been exploring with students the concept of gender in education and the role it plays in the world of STEM in particular. We have drawn into question the historical underrepresentation of women in STEM subjects, the possible reasons why and — crucially — what students and staff alike can do to tackle it.
A safe space for discussion is what it’s all about. The pastoral curriculum is there to support students during their time at school and to prepare them for life beyond EMS.
These often informal lessons provide the opportunity for teachers and students to come together to review academic progress, consider careers, develop study skills, discuss targets and identify academic support needs.
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Whilst EMS is primarily established to nurture Mathematical talent, it also has a responsibility to provide students with the opportunity to develop their appreciation of the wider world and to encourage the development of skills beyond the mathematical.
Hand in glove with the students’ own creative outlet of the Exeter Mathematics Certificate projects is the need to enable them to make the connections between their different spheres of knowledge that give rise to true innovation. One of our mechanisms for fostering our budding polymaths and reinforcing our unique learning atmosphere is the simply named `Inspire’ lecture series.
A place to broaden and round the education received by EMS students, `Inspire’ consists of a two – year programme of fortnightly talks across the spectrum of Philosophy, History, Politics and Art. Often research fellows, professors and lecturers, our previous speakers have expounded on topics as varied as “Proof of 1+1”, “Time travel for the uninitiated”, “Levels of Truth” and “The Seaton Down coin hoard”.
These lectures are designed to expose and illustrate the deep links between all things and Mathematics, whilst also breaking down the traditionally rigid boundaries between, for example, Biology and Physics. They also provide students with inspiration for their own future; in the summer term of year 12 the focus shifts towards careers based topics with speakers from industry, degree apprenticeship providers and our own alumni.
