Galileo Project

* for the brightest and most creative young people around the world to work together

* to engage in intellectual activity at the highest level, developing leadership, self-confidence, higher-order thinking, communication & inter-disciplinary skills

* to engage in debate with guest experts from the University of Oxford and other universities

* to participate in challenging research projects

* for students to develop specialist areas of knowledge

* for students to join an elite, but not elitist group whose aim is to provide an environment in which very able children can thrive

* for students to experience an informal introduction to university-level thinking.

Each month, on our online learning platform, we provide a new programme of activities designed to stimulate and motivate very able young people. Activities vary according to age groups, but include:

* The Debating Chamber
* research opportunities and collaborative projects
* The Book Club
* The Thinking Lab (where students can create their own groups)
* visiting academics, authors and subject specialists
* collaborative writing projects
* creative writing
* competitions & family activities
* intellectual challenges

Our community is split into two groups, according to age.

Dr Sarah Dauncey, who leads the 11 - 14 year old group is one of the most in-demand academics in the country. The nature of her academic background, her contagious passion for innovation in learning, and her incredible enthusiasm for raising standards mean that she is ideally suited to run a community such as this.

Sarah studied English Literature at the University of Warwick both as an undergraduate and postgraduate, obtaining her PhD in 2004. Her research interests include modernist narratives; literary fiction and theory; ethics; and the relationship between science and literature.

In addition to pursuing literary research, she has designed and developed virtual learning environments to support and stimulate gifted and talented learners. She established and ran two online communities for the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth (NAGTY)-an Online Reading Group and Creative Writing Forum- which each had over 1000 members. In 2006, NAGTY commissioned her to write three papers on the value of e-learning and this led her to pursue e-pedagogy in greater depth.
Sarah knows exactly how to get the best out of each and every one of her students and her students look forward to working with her time and time again.

Jen Oakton, who leads the Juniors (for ages 7 - 10) is a dynamic, inspirational teacher with an unbounded enthusiasm for her role as community leader.

Jen is our writer for critical reading master-classes such as those exploring The Butterfly Lion, The Sheep Pig, Stormbreaker and Fantastic Mr Fox. She is the creator of The Business Challenge, the Introduction to Debating and the Introduction to Philosophy.

An exceptional teacher, she combines her expertise in e-learning pedagogy, gained from her years as a software writer, with her genuine passion for teaching. Her particular strength is in raising children's own expectations of themselves.

She is always thanked for her capacity to improve a child's self-confidence, her enthusiasm, her patience and her very practical understanding of the needs of gifted children.

We welcome academically able learners aged 7 - 14 who have either already gained, or who are targeted to gain the following UK National Curriculum Levels:

* L3 Writing by the end of KS1
* L5 Writing by the end of KS2
* L7 Literacy by the end of KS3

We also welcome students who have already participated in OLP courses and non-UK students who are already enrolled on a recognised gifted programme. If there is any doubt about eligibility, do ring us for an informal chat.

The community is available 24/7 and 365 days per year and students can come and go as they choose.

Activities are refreshed on a monthly basis and all activities are optional.

Using surveys, questionnaires and polls, we constantly evaluate the programme and ensure that the students are involved in its planning and development, enabling them to take ownership of much of the project.

Online.

The learning platform is accessed via the Internet and students can participate at any time, without any special equipment other than an Internet computer.

£22 GBP subscription per month

Please email us requesting an application form, or call us on 00 44 (0) 1295 780247 if you would like to join over the phone.

Contact details:

Director of Education: Coral Milburn-Curtis

Academic Office:
Oakenstone House
Ferris Court
Sibford Ferris
Oxon OX15 5QR, UK

Telephone: 00 44 (0) 1295 780247

Please email us for further details.