Space Studio West London partners with Royal Holloway University to provide students with guidance on next steps

Securing a place at university or contemplating the future after leaving school can be daunting for teenagers.

But for students at Space Studio West London, thinking about those next steps has been made easier following a partnership with Royal Holloway University.

The prestigious university, which is part of the acclaimed Russell Group, has provided a resident Widening Access Officer to be based at the school one day a week. 

It means Ebony Beckford’s door is open for all students at the STEM-focused school to pop in and ask for support or answers to questions about their options when the time comes for them to say goodbye to Space Studio West London. 

Royal Holloway, which is based in nearby Egham, Surrey, is committed to helping students in Feltham understand the opportunities that lie ahead for them and that university is an option for them. 

Explains Miss Beckford: ‘‘I am part of the Widening Access team at Royal Holloway and I am one of four officers and the only one to be based at Space Studio West London.

”Feltham itself is close to Royal Holloway and we know statistically there is a low progression rate of students and residents in this area going into higher education. Royal Holloway felt there is a responsibility to be able to work with the Feltham community and help them to make those decisions about university life and give them the confidence to know that university is a place where they belong if they want to go.

”I’m here to talk to students about personal statements if they consider applying to university and give them advice on options. I can also give them advice on funding which is available for students. There is still a stigma that university is for rich people and that is not the case.’’ 

Space Studio West London currently has places available in Years 10 and 12, September 2022 start. Find out more about the school, which specialises in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) at an  open evening and STEM experience event on March 14th which begins at 5.30pm. To find out more or to book a place, please email: office@spacestudiowestlondon.org or visit the website: spacestudiowestlondon.org

Under the partnership with Royal Holloway, Year 12 students at Space Studio have embarked on a two year programme which aims to give them a genuine taste of university. Royal Holloway Link aims to give students an insight into a chosen subject area and advice and guidance on the application process to higher education. 

Miss Beckford told the Hounslow Herald: ‘‘It’s about being able to support students with guidance and providing them with an opportunity to come and interact with academics and professors and get that university experience. Over this two year period, students will be able to attend masterclasses, have access to mentors and make campus visits. The aim is to help students at Space Studio realise the value of going to university. It is not about converting them or convincing them but helping them to realise why it is an option [they should consider].’’

Year 11 students at Space Studio also have the option of taking part in a two-day residential at Royal Holloway, take part in taster sessions and social activities to get a feel for life at university. 

Space Studio West London is home to 300 students aged between 14 to 18-year-olds and class sizes are kept to no more than 25 pupils.

There is an emphasis on one-to-one learning and a teaching model that aims to nurture the engineers, scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs and aerospace experts of the future.

Annual school trips include a 10-day US visit to NASA and the itinerary involves behind-the-scenes visits to Johnson and Kennedy Space Centers. Students also have the chance to liaise with scientists and engineers.

Students regularly secure places at prestigious Russell Group universities and Cambridge.

The last academic year (2020/2021) saw an impressive 47% of their A-level candidates achieve a grade A* or A. Some 69% scored A* to B and 89% achieved grades A* to C.

Year 11 students also enjoyed impressive GCSE success with 70% achieving a Grade 4 or above in English and Maths.

Some 41% scored a Grade 5 or above in English and Maths, 77% scored a Grade 4 or above in Maths and 60% a Grade 5 or above.

Over 35% of students taking Biology, Physics and Chemistry achieved a grade 7+ or above. Over 70% of students taking these subjects scored a Grade 5 or above.

Space Studio has close links with employers in the aerospace, science and technology sectors providing plenty of opportunities for students to secure valuable work experience. Surrey Satellite Technology Limited, British Airways, BP, Heathrow, the National Space Academy and National Physical Laboratories are just some of the businesses the school works with.

Principal Andy Morgan said: ‘‘Space studio is a calm, safe and productive learning environment where pupils work collaboratively with each other, their teachers and industry mentors. Expectations are high. Opportunities for project-based learning with industry professionals, and work placement are numerous.’’