Pupil Aspirations

Year 10 pupils are encouraged to join the ‘Scholars Programme’ which fosters critical thinking, leadership skills, public speaking and future goal setting. Pupils who opt to join this cohort partake in enrichment opportunities such as A-Level taster sessions at local colleges and an independent Sixth Form (Bolton School). Independent study is honed by facilitating pupils in pursuing their own areas of academic interest through research, project-based learning and presentation tasks in the style of seminars and university assessment.

Furthermore, we have fostered partnerships with a number of prestigious independent schools, allowing us the opportunity to share good practice and offer enrichment opportunities to our pupils.

Eton College

Boys in Year 10  participated in a residential visit to historic Windsor and Eton College. Throughout the two-day visit, pupils explored Windsor Castle, watched a theatre performance and immersed themselves in school life at Eton by partaking in sessions on AI, public speaking and self-leadership.

Teaching staff from Holy Cross have also attended a number of  Teaching and Learning conferences hosted by Eton Star and contributed to research through Eton’s Centre for Innovation, Research and Learning (CIRL).

CIRL research report

Harrow School

Harrow School’s Regional Access Officer has visited Holy Cross on a number of occasions to speak with KS4 pupils about aspirational pathways and bursary opportunities at Harrow.

Boys in Year 10 have also visited Harrow School as part of a three-day residential visit which also included a visit to Bletchley Park (home of the WWII codebreakers) and historic Windsor. Whilst visiting the school, pupils were able to explore the extensive facilities, marvel at the speech room where seven previous British Prime Ministers had sat before them and see where the iconic ‘Wingardium Leviosa’ scene from Harry Potter and Philosopher’s Stone was filmed.

Cheltenham Ladies’ College

Girls in Year 10 attend a two-day residential visit to Shakespeare’s Stratford-Upon-Avon where they consolidate their study of Macbeth and enjoy live theatre before engaging with a day of lessons at Cheltenham Ladies’ College. During the day at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, pupils consider future study and career pathways, how to confidently argue a viewpoint and how to conduct meaningful research.

As part of our ongoing partnership with Cheltenham Ladies’ College, we are also fortunate to host their Director of Admissions to speak with girls and their parents who may be interested in pursuing a bursary award to study at Sixth Form.

Bolton School

As part of the Scholars Programme, pupils in Year 10 routinely visit Bolton School to participate in A-Level taster sessions. Pupils are exposed to traditional subjects they have encountered at Holy Cross but also more wide-ranging options such as Politics and Classics.

Year 9 Pupils have also visited a Healthcare Careers event hosted by the school and pupils across a range of year groups have participated in MACE style debating with the girls’ division.

Stonyhurst College

Through our shared Catholic identities, Stonyhurst College and Holy Cross have come together to collaborate on a visit for Year 8 pupils. Pupils in Year 8 have the opportunity to explore Stonyhurst’s vast museum collections where they learn about: the reformation; Romeo and Juliet; Shakespeare’s First Folio and the History of Medicine. These sessions utilise artefacts from the school’s collections and link explicitly to Year 8 schemes of learning in English, history and RE – interdisciplinary learning in action!

Our pupil librarians also have the opportunity to visit Stonyhurst’s impressive libraries which date back to the 17th Century.

Additional aspirational visits and enrichment talks that took place in 2025-2026 were:

• Year 9: The University of Greater Manchester (Murder on Campus – focus on careers in the police and criminal justice system)
• Year 9: Runshaw College Oxbridge day
• Year 10: Product Design pupil visit BAE, MBDA and Leyland DAF
• Year 10: University of Liverpool science festival
• Year 10: PE A-Level taster day at Runshaw College
• Year 10: European Day of Languages visit to Runshaw College
• Year 10: Computer Science MEGA Hub visit
• Year 10: Applying to medical school event at St John Rigby College
• Year 10: Forensic psychology and criminology masterclass at Wigan and Leigh College
• Year 11: Young Scientist Centre at the University of Lancashire

The partnerships we foster with independent schools allow pupils to explore opportunities to study at independent educational institutions through bursary and scholarship pathways and enlightens them to a broader range of post-16 options which prepares them for applications to elite universities and ambitious employment opportunities.

We are delighted that two pupils from the class of 2026 successfully secured bursaries to study A-Levels at Eton College and Cheltenham Ladies’ College.

Clayton is studying A-levels in French, maths, further maths and economics at Eton College.

After a highly competitive application, advanced testing and multiple interview process, Clayton was awarded an Orwell Award bursary. The Orwell Award is extremely selective and recognises outstanding academic potential, character and leadership.

Aleksandra is studying A-Levels in maths, biology, chemistry, Spanish and an AS-Level is further maths at Cheltenham Ladies’ College.

Following a rigorous and highly competitive application process including academic assessments and interviews, Aleksandra was awarded a Beale Award bursary. The Beale Award is awarded to girls who demonstrate exceptional academic promise, intellect and potential.