Welcome to the online home for the Pre-GCSE Inspire Programme!
Spring 2021 Video Sessions
Over the next few weeks, we will be bringing you some brand new video classes specially prepared by the Inspire Programme, looking at some of the themes and topics that you are likely to encounter in your GCSEs, to help you with your studies as you return to school.
In addition to these subject-focused classes, we have also partnered with an organisation called Positively Mad, to bring you a number of self-guided sessions on study skills and wellbeing, to help you manage your learning and your mental health, particularly in this time of ongoing disruption.
All of these sessions come in the form of videos which you can watch at home in your own time, alongside downloadable information packs, competitions and exercises.
You can access each of the sessions when they are released by clicking on the links below. Please note, you will need a password to access the ‘Positively Mad’ sessions, which you will receive from your Inspire Teacher Coordinator. Alternatively, you can email inspire@sjc.ox.ac.uk if your teacher is unable to help.
Recent and Upcoming Classes
Wednesday 17th March 2021
- English: Why poems are like spells: Magic, Macbeth, and Rhyme
- Positively Mad session: Resilient (password required – see above)
Tuesday 30th March 2021
- Maths: Mathematical Modelling in Sport: How to take the perfect penalty kick
- Positively Mad session: Motivate (password required – see above)
Wednesday 21st April 2021
- Maths: Mathematical Modelling in Sport: Maths and the Marathon
- Positively Mad session: Study (password required – see above)
Competitions
We encourage you to participate in as many competitions as you can, but they are not compulsory. To enter a competition:
- Complete your competition entry and make sure it follows the guidelines listed for that competition
- Fill out the competition cover sheet
- Email your entry and your cover sheet to us at inspire@sjc.ox.ac.uk
The top entries to each competition will receive prizes in the form of Amazon vouchers and will be featured on Inspire Digital!
Spring Term 2021
Class 6: Books, Literature and Leisure (PDF)
Release date: 20 January 2021
Competition deadline: 3 February 2021
Class 7: Adaptation and the Human Mind (PDF)
Release date: 3 February 2021
Competition deadline: 24 February 2021
Autumn Term 2020
Class 1: Volcanoes in the Sciences (PDF)
Class 2: Volcanic Documents and Depictions (PDF)
Class 3: Evolution in science and technology (PDF)
Class 4: Evolution in culture (PDF)
Class 5: Evolution and volcanoes in review (PDF)
Virtual Summer School
Monday 3 August – Friday 7 August 2020
Spring – Summer Term 2020
Class 1: Computer Science (PDF)
Class 2: English & History (PDF)
Class 3: Medicine & Psychology (PDF)
Class 4: Language & Linguistics (PDF)
Class 6: Economics & Law (PDF)
Latest News
2022 Spring Term Card Out Now
Our 2022 Spring Term Card term card sets out all of the exciting outreach events, opportunities and resources on offer from St John’s, as well as across the University of Oxford. The information is particularly relevant to teachers and pupils in our link regions of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex, Southampton, West Sussex, and the…
Mathematical Modelling in Sport: Competition Results
Following the pair of Pre-GCSE Inspire talks delivered by Dr Tom Crawford on Mathematical Modelling in Sport – ‘How to take the perfect penalty’ and ‘Maths and the Marathon’ – we’re delighted to announce the winners of the two competitions following these classes! Both competitions were about how we can use Maths to help make…
‘The Magic Number’: Competition results
Following the Pre-GCSE Inspire talk delivered by Sammy Wright on ‘Why poems are like spells’, we’re delighted to announce the winners of the ‘Magic Number’ competition! This challenge was all about numbers in literature. If you look closely, there are certain numbers – such as two, three, seven, nine – which you will find recurring…