Nexus Prospectus

NE X U S HOME OF THE GIFTED STEM PROGRAMME

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N E X U S Meaning: Central or focal point firm foundation for belief or action.

D I RE C TO R

O F

NE X U S

at CSIA and the Gifted STEM Programme

DR. JOANNA FOSTER

I am absolutely delighted to welcome you to Nexus, Camborne Science and International Academy’s Centre of Excellence for STEM. Nexus is home to CSIA’s Gifted STEM Programme, a unique programme that offers students who are especially able in Science, Technology and Mathematics a chance to thrive and shine in their chosen field of study through a bespoke curriculum designed to engage and challenge gifted learners. Alongside this specially designed curriculum, students experience a rich co-curricular programme that complements the curriculum and deepens and develops the scholarship of these students.

Our aim is to develop young learners who are able to pick and choose from the best courses at the very best Universities worldwide; young people who have a wealth of research experience from working with some of the best academics in their field of interest. These young people will be amongst those who devise the solutions for the most pressing problems faced by mankind, and Nexus will equip them for this bright future. We are particularly keen to encourage girls into the Gifted STEM Programme.

Nexus is a very special place. From the purposeful productive atmosphere with an extended day every day, to the bright modern space designed for learning, Nexus is a place where the most able young people have the environment and support to develop into the learners and leaders of the future.

Please come and see Nexus and the Gifted STEM Programme for yourself; come and meet our exceptional students and staff who radiate enthusiasm and a love for learning.

TH E

GIFTED

Stem Programme

The Gifted STEM Programme gives the most able students the opportunity to deepen and broaden their understanding and application of STEM subjects through a bespoke STEM curriculum, which has been specially designed for the most able in these subjects.

In Years 7 and 8, students who are part of the Gifted STEM Programme spend two days per week studying Science and Maths at Nexus with those who are the most able at these subjects, and the remaining three days of the week studying all their other subjects at the main CSIA Campus. As students choose their GCSE subjects, they are likely to spend more time over at Nexus. Students of the Gifted STEM Programme are completely integrated into the life of the main school, with a tutor group on the main campus, and studying subjects other than Science and Maths with a variety of students, not just those from the Gifted Programme.

THE

DAY

AT

N E XU S

On the days that students from the Gifted STEM Programme spend entirely at Nexus, the day begins with Assembly based on STEM Leadership. Science and Maths lessons, which may be integrated with each other, depending on the topic, take place during the day. Lunch is served in the Nexus Refectory. At 3pm, tea is served to students and staff in the Refectory, and the co-curricular programme begins at 3.20pm. The day at Nexus finishes at 5pm.

On the days that students have been studying at the main CSIA Campus, they will be transported from the main CSIA Campus to Nexus at 2.50pm for tea and co-curricular activities. Where students have sporting commitments on the main CSIA campus, these take priority over the co-curricular programme.

EDUCAT IN G

GLOB A L

C ITIZENS

The International Science Schools Network is an organisation of forty leading Science and Mathematics specialist schools that promotes and celebrates this outstanding provision. ISSN organises an annual International Science Schools Fair, where students from these schools can showcase their recent research projects. Students can also take part in a wide range of collaborative and cultural activities with other talented students. The International Science Fair is held at prestigious venues worldwide such as Japan, Singapore, Bangkok, Adelaide, Winnipeg, Moscow and Melbourne. CSIA hosted the 2013 event, which was attended by over 200 students and educators.

CSIA has a well deserved reputation for its outstanding International Programme. Nexus offers further opportunities for students to engage and collaborate with other top schools on the International stage, such as the Australian Science and Mathematics School, Ritsumeikan School in Japan, National Junior College Singapore, John Monash Science School in Australia, Korean Science Academy of KAIST, National University of Singapore Maths and Science School, the High School affiliated to Beihang University in Beijing and many others.

Our relationships with these leading international schools is well established. Students can embark on joint research, exchange visits and other collaboration with students from these schools.

C O -CU RRIC UL A R Programme

The co-curricular programme at Nexus is second to none. A wide range of STEM based activities and courses are available. Each activity is run by an expert in that field. Students who are not already at Nexus will be brought across to Nexus from the main CSIA Campus. Examples of co-curricular activities and programmes planned for 2016-2017 are: Microbits and Raspberry Pi, Astronomy, Coding and Game Development, Mandarin, Helicopter Engineering and Robotics. Co-curricular time can also be used for music lessons and practicing musical instruments.

THE

CU RRIC ULU M

The Gifted STEM curriculum is the only one of its kind in the UK. Best practice in teaching the most able and in STEM education come together in a learning experience that gets the very best from Gifted learners. Expert staff deliver engaging and challenging content that ensures learners make excellent progress in both Science and Maths, while developing independence and scientific thinking. The curriculum is compacted and much of the repetition is removed, which makes space for students to explore the application of the Science and Maths they are studying, and to experience how this Science or Maths is applied in the world of work and industry.

The Gifted STEM Programme is unique in the UK, and was described as ‘mindblowing’ by the CEO of NACE, the UK charity for the most able children in education. Hilary Lowe continued: “The plans for Nexus are visionary and represent the highest aspirations for the young people of Camborne Academy, with a programme which will offer incredibly exciting, cutting edge opportunities to challenge and engage students capable of exceptional achievement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.” industry.

RESEARC H

BASE

Research is an important part of the curriculum for students in the Gifted STEM Programme. Each topic within the curriculum has a research project associated with it, and some of these will involve collaboration with research groups at Universities and Colleges in the UK and overseas. Academics who will be working with the Gifted STEM students in 2016-2017 include Professor Dudley Shallcross from Bristol University and Professor Simon Colton from Falmouth University. Other research projects will involve students in working with and developing new technologies, through IT and Computer Science or more practically in our fully equipped Design Technology laboratory.

VI

FO RM

For students in the VI form, Nexus offers a variety of incredible opportunities to develop their understanding and provides a wealth of relevant experiences. Working Groups in areas such as Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science are focused on developing skills in these areas.

For example, students in the Medical Working group will meet with practicing Doctors, have lectures from researchers at the cutting edge of Medical Science and will spend time in the Skills Lab at Royal Cornwall Hospital, where students studying for their degree in Medicine learn how to liaise with patients. Top University Club ensures students are able to secure places at the most competitive courses at the best Universities.

In addition to these opportunities, students can apply to be part of the Gifted STEM Programme in the VI Form, and can access an Oxbridge-style tutorial programme to support them in their VI Form studies, as well as a huge number of additional opportunities such as work with University research groups, international collaborative projects and ‘working lunches’ with academics to enrich and deepen their learning and experience in their area of interest. For further information about our Nexus VI Form Programme, please see our separate Nexus VI prospectus.

COMMU N IT Y

H U B

Nexus is a resource for the whole community.

Co-curricular activities at Nexus are open to all students of CSIA so that all can benefit from the experiences on offer. CSIA are also working with local primary schools to develop practical support for Science and Maths teaching, as well as opportunities for their most able students in STEM to spend time at Nexus partaking in exciting and engaging STEM activities to challenge them.

Nexus is an opportunity for students to shine, regardless of their background. As part of our drive to encourage girls into STEM, we are working with organisations such as WISE (Women into Science, Technology and Engineering). We are running STEM Summer Camps for girls in Years 5 and 6 from Summer 2017. Nexus is also likely to become a hub for excellence in teaching the Most Able and we work closely with NACE (National Association for Able Children in Education).

AD MIS S IONS to the Gifted Stem Programme

The Gifted STEM Programme is available to CSIA students and access to it is through aptitude testing and interviews which are usually held during the first half of Summer Term. Information on the application process and dates are included in the CSIA Admissions Pack.

Students who are already at CSIA can apply or re-apply for a place in the Gifted Programme each year. Further information can be found on the school’s website.

R EACH IN G

U S

BY ROA D: Nexus is 5 minutes off the A30. Come off the A30 at the Camborne (West) exit. Follow the road round to the left. Take the first exit at the first roundabout by the Premier Inn. At the next mini roundabout, take the second exit.

Follow this road passed the fire station and towards town. At the mini roundabout, turn right in front of the opticians. Follow this road to the roundabout at the end, opposite the police station. Turn left. You will approach a zebra crossing and a small double mini roundabout. At the first roundabout, turn right up Trevu Road.

Proceed passed Camborne Railway Station on your right, across the railway line, Nexus is immediately on your right. There is limited parking at Nexus. If parking in this area is full, there is further parking adjacent to the station.

BY RAI L: Nexus is less than 1 minute on foot from Camborne Railway station.

Regular trains run from Penzance to London, offering easy access to Nexus from much of Cornwall, as well as further afield. It takes only 19 minutes to travel from Truro to Nexus or Penzance to Nexus by train.

BY AIR: The nearest airport to Nexus is Newquay, which is 40 minutes from Nexus by car. There are regular flights into Newquay from Manchester, Birmingham, London and other major cities, and car hire available at the airport.

T. 01209 712280 | E. enquiries@cambornescience.co.uk Nexus | CSIA STEM Centre of Excellence | Trevu Road | Camborne | Cornwall | TR14 7AD Camborne Science & International Academy is part of The CSIA Trust, a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales | T. 07551989 | Cranberry Road, Camborne, Cornwall, TR14 7PP

NEX US

NE X U S cambornescience.co.uk