The main aim of Cherwell’s Easter Course is to provide an uninterrupted week of very intensive study and revision concentrated on an A-level (AS or A2) subject (or two subjects for GCSE pupils).

Each subject course is organised and taught for the most part by Cherwell’s own highly qualified and experienced Heads of Department, closely supported and assisted by their staff of skilled graduate tutors. The teaching staff will oversee some 35-40 hours of timetabled study with preparatory work assigned for the evenings.

The day for residential and non-residential pupils may well commence with a one-hour timed trial examination, involving the answering of one or two past examination questions under supervised conditions. During this time or perhaps later in the day the course tutor will endeavour to meet individual pupils for discussion of particular problems. The test questions will be marked by the tutor, who is well experienced in understanding the demands of the examiner upon the candidate, and then either returned to the pupil with detailed comment or alternatively appraised in the final report sent home to parents.

Usually, after the trial examination there will follow a small group tutorial and then a topic central to the examination syllabus/specification. The rest of the day’s study will involve tuition in small groups with particular emphasis paid to a study of past examination questions and examination preparation and technique, essay writing and problem solving skills, developing a style of writing under timed conditions.

The number of pupils in each group will be kept small in order to maximise the effectiveness of personal contact with the subject tutor.