Higher Education 

Higher Education 


The first cohort of pupils from PACT schools to go to university was in 2019, and since then, the majority of pupils from The Laurels and The Cedars have applied to Russell Group universities and have been accepted at their first choice university. 

 

Starting with our Sixth Form Induction Days, we provide pupils with the knowledge, inspiration and guidance to aim high and to formulate their own goals for Higher Education through 

  • An Induction presentation on 'Making competitive applications to top universities.' 
  • Attending Q&A panel sessions with The Laurels and The Cedars alumni currently studying at top universities 
  • Presenting pupils with a comprehensive timeline for university applications. 

 

All students receive one to one support with their applications from the Director of Higher Education in addition to group sessions and online directed learning using the Unifrog Platform. 

 

We seek to instil in our pupils the conviction that it is they who write their own UCAS reference - from Day One of the Lower Sixth - through: 

  • their commitment to their studies, day to day 
  • by reading around and beyond their A Level subjects 
  • our rich co-curricular provision, in particular, attending and delivering Becket Seminars, attending talks and lectures given by outstanding professionals and participating in the Careers Programme 
  • their generous participation in the life of the School. 

 

Oxbridge Preparation Programme 

We warmly encourage all our high-achieving pupils to consider making an Oxbridge application and offer one-to-one and group support sessions from the beginning of Lower Sixth. 

 

Key Stage Four 

  • Identification of potential Oxbridge candidates 
  • Encouragement to attend university summer schools and taster sessions 
  • Setting of goals and extended work by relevant subject teachers 

 

Sixth Form Induction Days (June) 

  • See above 
  • Meeting with Director of Higher Education and summer goal setting 

 

Lower Sixth – Michaelmas Term 

  • Oxbridge presentation for parents of prospective Oxbridge applicants 
  • Personal goal setting - formulating a super-curriculum - with Tutor and relevant Subject Teachers 

 

Lower Sixth – Hillary and Trinity Terms 

  • Preparing for Oxbridge seminars: 
  • What does it take to get into Oxbridge?   
  • Building your own super curriculum 
  • the Oxbridge Interview – the interviewer 
  • the Oxbridge interview – the interviewee 
  • Open Applications or Choosing a College 
  • Sharing of Oxbridge application timeline and reading lists 
  • Timeline for Oxbridge applications  
  • Reading lists  
  • Monitoring of super-curriculum / EPQ 
  • Cycle of interdisciplinary study topics  
  • STEM Masterclasses for Y5 pupils  
  • University visits  

 

Lower Sixth Trinity Term and Upper Sixth Michaelmas Term 

  • Delivery of TWO Becket Seminars
  • Two-weekly student-led seminars for Oxbridge & other applicants for top universities on interdisciplinary themes 
  • student presentations  
  • topic discussion  
  • teacher feedback  
  • Examples: ‘What is beauty?’. ‘Did Darwin kill God?’. ‘Transhumanism: should we be worried?’ ‘Artificial Intelligence’. ‘Human Rights, Human Wrongs – an historical overview’. ‘Standards in Public Life: who decides?’. ‘Beyond “Just War” Theory’.  

 

Upper Sixth – Michaelmas Term 

  • Interview Practice  
  • Admissions Test preparation  
  • Early Application submission. 


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