"We are very proud of everything this cohort has achieved.”

Welcome to Issue 9 of the UK Boarding Schools Week newsletter – a bumper issue not just highlighting the hard work of Year 13 #ALevel students but those who have been receiving their #BTEC and #universityfoundation programme results too.?We also look at the increasingly popular range of #apprenticeships.

We have been busy helping our parents with university choices as well as receiving new enquiries for September – for example we helped two families gain great #boardingschool offers within 48 hours.

This year the A Levels returned to normal.?However, “this year group is arguably the one whose educational experience has been most dramatically affected by COVID. Their GCSE exams were cancelled, due to lockdown, making A Levels and BTECs the first formal, external exams they have sat in their entire school career,” explains Simon Balderson , Deputy Head Academic at Westonbirt School & Westonbirt Prep .

He adds “that, combined with the much tougher stance exam boards have taken, as they try to return to pre-pandemic grading, has required them to show real #resilience and strength of #character as they approached these exams. We are very proud of everything this cohort has achieved.”

Finally, we were thrilled to receive this quote yesterday, “Mr Brooks is the real MVP (most valued player), he helped us sort out the school issue when we were at crossroads.?His wealth of knowledge and his vast networking skills cannot be over emphasised.” Full story in the Building Foundations article below.

Have a great week ahead!

Mark

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Grateful mum praises Truro High School for Girls, joining was the “best decision”

Joining Truro High School for Girls was the “best decision ever” says a mother from Ghana whose daughter achieved 3As in Chemistry, Maths and Physics at A Level.?

The delighted girl has accepted a prestigious offer to read Structural and Architectural Engineering at the University of Bath, a top 5 university.

“It was so lovely to receive this glowing endorsement all the way from #Ghana today,” Sarah Lillicrap , the school’s Director of Communications told us.

“#TruroHigh is all about helping girls thrive and achieve their best and it makes our hearts burst with pride each and every single time it happens.”

The mother explains that her daughter “switched her university course preference in the middle of Year 12 and it was just amazing how the school rallied around her to help with a new portfolio and her personal statement.”

“Looking at her A level results of all A's today, she couldn't have done it without the support of the school and the warm nurturing boarding staff. Thank you THS! You did this!” she enthuses.

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interview with Matt Hird of David Game College

Building a career on strong foundations

This week we were delighted to hear of superb results and feedback from a family from Nigeria who we helped transfer mid-sixth form studies to David Game College in London.

The student achieved AAB grades in Business Studies, Sociology, Quantitative Methods (overall Grade A) in her University Foundation at this leading Sixth Form College in the heart of #London.

She is now heading to the University of Reading?to study Business and Management (Data Analytics & Digital Business) with a placement year.

“The University Foundation Programme (UFP) at David Game is an intensive full-time course that offers students an alternative route to British University degree courses,” explains Matt Hird , David Game’s Director of Student Recruitment.?

“Students can join the UFP in September or January and choose from a variety of pathways allowing entry to almost all undergraduate degree courses.”

In terms of university destinations, “70% of our students progress to Russell Group and top 30 universities,” Matt adds.

The girl’s mother said; “Mr Brooks is the real MVP (most valued player), he helped us sort out the school issue when we were at crossroads.?His wealth of knowledge and his vast networking skills cannot be over emphasised.”

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A Level results day reception in two countries at same time a “huge success!”

On Thursday, Cardiff Sixth Form College celebrated the 2023 A Level results day in person in two countries simultaneously, both the #UK and #hongkong.

The three hour event, which was attended by 36 families and a total of nearly 130 people,?was a “huge success” says Gareth Collier, the college’s Principal.

“I was privileged to celebrate the success of our students with their families for the first time 'live' in Hong Kong,” he told us in an interview.?“I have been bowled over by the generosity of their welcome,” he added

“Being able to bring the excitement of another year of outstanding results to the families in person has been fully appreciated and has been a humbling experience for me,” Gareth concludes.

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Results round-up

Best Results in 10 Years – students at Lancing College have bucked the trend and have performed above and beyond the national narrative, producing another outstanding set of results.?“It is pleasing to see students choosing the highest-ranked universities, as gauged by the QS World Rankings. In addition, 10% of Lancing students are now choosing to study overseas, and this is a trend that we expect to grow in the years to come, says Dominic Oliver, Head Master

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Options reflect the opportunities – Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools were delighted with their overall A-level results, and four students will be taking their places at Oxford and Cambridge.?Whilst some leaving students will study Medicine and English Literature, others will be taking Music, Architecture, and Modern European Languages.?“The wide range of courses reflect the opportunities that were afforded them here, where they could explore their passions and interests,” said Bish Muir , Director of External Relations.?

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Scenes of celebration ?- #Westonbirt Sixth Formers are celebrating very good A Level and BTEC results, as many of them secure their first-choice university destinations.?Headmistress, Natasha Dangerfield , says “We are so incredibly proud of our Year 13 students and their achievements. As a school, our aim is to prepare them for life beyond Westonbirt whether that be university, an apprenticeship, gap year or career and to be the best versions of themselves.” Patricia Stevenson

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Girls lead the way in STEM - More than 50 per cent of the A* grades at Harrogate Ladies' College were achieved in Science, Maths, Engineering and Technology (STEM) subjects.?“We have watched with pleasure as these incredible young women have fulfilled their potential in an inspiring and supportive environment,“ says Sylvia Brett , Principal. Sarah Bowman

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Kingswood “breadth, balance and wellbeing” - Kingswood School students celebrate Excellent A Level Results, with over 80% of results at A* - B.?“These results are a cause for great celebration! I am delighted that our leavers are armed with both the excellent qualifications and personal qualities to influence the world for good,” said Headmaster and Principal of the Kingswood Foundation, Andrew Gordon-Brown .

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Aspiring space engineer, accountant or game programmer… an apprenticeship could be for you!

For those students looking to go straight into the world of work, #apprenticeship opportunities have transformed and modernised over the past few years.

They provide on-the-job training where apprentices can spend more than 20% of their working hours completing classroom-based learning with a college, university or training provider.?This leads to a nationally recognised qualification.

“There is a huge range of apprenticeships on offer, from Level 2 through to Level 7 and degree apprenticeships,” explains an expert in the sector we interviewed, Patrick Tucker MSc CMgr , a non-executive director and consultant, who focuses on global educational practice.

“Some examples of the higher-level pathways are solicitor, doctor, nurse, space engineer, accountant, robotics engineer, senior leader, chartered degree manager and game programmer,” he says.

Mr Tucker concludes: “apprenticeships are designed to provide individuals with a pathway to acquiring valuable skills, practical experience, and qualifications that can lead to a successful and fulfilling career in their chosen field.”

For more information go to https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/influencers/what-is-an-apprenticeship

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Have a great week!

Mark