AN ELLESMERE school has adopted a new approach to ensure it continues its open evening during lockdown.

Ellesmere College Sixth Form Open Evening is still going ahead despite the Covid-19 pandemic – but it is now online and this time it will last longer than one evening.

Present Covid restrictions mean visitors are not be able to attend the event in person, but instead the College utilised digital media and students’ own perspectives to showcase all the courses available.

Dr Tom Gareh, head of Sixth Form at the College, wanted to offer parents the opportunity to engage with teachers despite the current restrictions.

He said: “In response to the latest Covid restrictions on schools and colleges, we have had to be innovative in our approach to the Sixth Form Open Evening this year – we are still keen to show parents our wonderful school and an online open evening is the next best thing.

“The virtual event has all the information required for parents looking to place their child with us in our nationally recognised Sixth Form.

“Our self-guided virtual tour is one of the first steps in getting to know the College and checking out the key areas of the school including our unique flexi-boarding options for pupils who wish to take advantage of the College facilities during the week.

“It’s also a great opportunity to meet and talk with our staff – something we can continue through virtual calls until such times as things return to some sort of normality.

“Something we hope will not be too far away.”

The College has created a series of videos to showcase all A Level, International Baccalaureate (IB) and BTEC subjects as well as the state-of-the-art sports and boarding facilities.

The information was posted on the website last week and will stay online permanently, so parents and pupils can ‘visit’ any time they like through a link on the college website by searching Sixth Form choices.

Parents can hear from key members of Sixth Form staff, view presentations by staff and pupils of each subject area and take a virtual walk through the school.

Dr Gareh said he is very proud to be able to offer this experience and it gives parents an excellent insight into the kind of life Ellesmere College is creating for students.

“Ellesmere College has a proud academic, arts and sporting tradition providing the best environment for young talent to express themselves, grow and ultimately be in the best position to deal with the next stage of their education or other life choices and be truly Life Ready,” he added.

“Many of our students spend their whole education at Ellesmere College while others come here from across the UK or internationally to take advantage of our excellent teaching, co-curricular, arts and sports programmes.

“The diversity of the Sixth Form journey at Ellesmere gives everyone a unique platform to nurture their own individual talents and to excel in the areas of which they wish to follow.

“From medicine to engineering, from Oxbridge and Russell Group Universities to Conservatoires, to professional sport; this pupil centred approach is very much at the heart of what we do, day in and day out.”

For more about the online Sixth Form Open Evening, visit Sixth Form Choices, for general enquiries telephone 01691 626510 or email registrar@ellesmere.com