SUCCESSFUL ADMISSION TO THE BEST UNIVERSITIES WORLD-WIDE

DR STEPHEN SPURRGROUP EDUCATIONAL DIRECTOR

REDDAM HOUSE

GLOBAL OUTLOOK

• Pupils of today the global citizens of tomorrow

• The international labour market

• Competitive qualifications both undergraduate and postgraduate

• Admission to the best universities

- the measure of success

BEST UNIVERSITIES

• Global Rankings

• Recruitment of best pupils world-wide

• International and transnational

• Courses taught in English

RECENT PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES

• Head Master of Westminster School

• Governor of Royal Ballet School

• Group Educational Director of Reddam House

RECENT PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES

A-LEVEL RESULTS STILL MATTER

• Recent Cambridge Study: A* good predictor of success at university

• Conference at Cambridge on 18 November

ETHOS

• Not ‘How intelligent is he or she?’

• But ‘How is she or he intelligent?’

• Room at the top for everyone

BUILDING INDEPENDENCELIBERATING THE INDIVIDUAL

• Start early

• Confidence

• Celebration

• Blended Learning

EXAM PREPARATION

• Cycle Tests

• University prize competitions

• National and International Competitions

CURRICULUM STRUCTURE

• Formal: examined national/international syllabuses leading to school-leaving examinations

– Less flexible

• Informal: essential broadening of knowledge, experience and awareness for an international world

– School-devised, adaptive and flexible

• Do not overcrowd either!

THE INFORMAL CURRICULUM

• Baccalaureate in style

• Statistics for Historians

• History for Economists

• Literature for Scientists

• Cultural Perspectives

• Civic Engagement

INSTILLING STUDY HABITS

• Enduring Habits of Mind• Socrates and Confucius

TEACHERS ARE STILL THE BEST APP

• Outstanding

• Professional Development

• Internal benchmarking

• Benchmarking against best schools world-wide

UNIVERSITIES ADVICE

• Continually updated knowledge of entry requirements – both to each university and the individual subject departments - to be shared with all staff

• Focused additional teaching and mentoring in the light of this

• Associated careers advice and work experience

GET BETTER!

The unexamined life is not worth living

I hear and I forget.

I see and I remember.

I do and I understand.