Schools and Colleges in England

English Education System

Education at school is obligatory until the age of 16. After this age students either look for employment, seek professional training or, if they are academically inclined, progress to the Sixth Form (or Year 12). In England and Wales there are two types of Sixth Form.

Firstly a student may go to a State school with a Sixth Form attached to it, such as the Thomas Adam’s School. The advantage here is that the student remains in a familiar environment and benefits from an all-day programme, typically from 9.00 to 16.00. The second possibility concerns a State Sixth Form College which is not an extension of a particular school but is an educational establishment in its own right and may have a broader choice of subjects than a school Sixth Form.

In the Sixth Form, students prepare for their GCE A Level examinations over a period of two years. They select four subjects which they study in depth and they take examinations at regular points during the course. At the end of the first year they are awarded an AS diploma, with relevant grade, in each subject. At the end of the second year an A2 diploma is obtained in each subject i.e. a full A Level.

During the course of their second A Level year, students can apply for entrance to the universities of their choice. Upon examining the student’s application and academic history, each university offers a place to the candidate dependent upon examination results. The highest performing universities such as Oxford or Cambridge will demand that the applicant obtains A grades in each of his/her four subjects. Other universities may be less stringent and may demand 2 A’s and 2 B’s or, for example, B,B,C,C.

Reviews of education performed since 2000 have highlighted a need for more 16-19 year olds to prolong their education, especially in professional/vocational fields. Consequently a number of reforms have been planned, which also concern A Level programmes. These reforms will commence from 2008 and for A Level subjects involve the introduction of an A* grade for the best students, more challenging examinations and a new extended project for which students will receive an extra qualification.

These reforms will be introduced gradually to ensure that the changes are smoothly integrated.

Our Partner Schools

We co-operate with several Independent and State partner schools/colleges in Shropshire each of which offers high standards of education, facilities and support. This selection of schools enables us to place our students in the most suitable and effective environment for their educational needs.

State Schools

A typical example of a State Partner School is Adam’s College. Adam’s College was founded in 1650 by Sir Thomas Adam to provide first class education for local children. Today, it has a thriving Sixth Form College which combines the traditional values of academic excellence and self-discipline with a caring concern for its pupils. The College is for those aged 16-19 and there are usually 300 students attending of whom about 60 are International Students from Europe, Africa and Asia.

Up-to-date Science laboratories, Music rooms, Information Technology and Media Suites, plus a multi-track recording studio are testimony to the College's commitment to provide the best facilities for its students. There are also well-stocked libraries housing ample computers for student use, a drama studio and extensive playing fields. The College has an excellent orchestra, well known to the people of the county, and students have the opportunity to play in concerts both in England and abroad. Adam's is distinctive from our other colleges in the respect that it also has a State Boarding House facility as an alternative to Host Family accommodation.

All students are encouraged to play a full part in school life and to take advantage of the numerous clubs and the regular educational visits. Music, drama and sport are all available at both recreational and competitive levels.

Independent School

As a new addition to our programme, we are delighted to be able to offer school places at a traditional Independent Boarding School for Girls. Here girls will experience small class sizes, individual attention and tuition, plus excellent teaching and facilities, all in a most beautiful setting near to Shrewsbury. The school enjoys some of the best A Level results in our region and also provides a broad range of extra-curricular activities which help the girls to achieve a balance between academic, sporting and social aspects of their lives. Under a special agreement Shrewsbury Education Service has with the school, we can offer to all female applicants specially reduced fees of £4300 per term for tuition with full boarding accommodation. Please contact Shrewsbury Education Service directly for further details of this opportunity.

Sample Directory of Subjects

A Levels

Art	Film Studies	Music
Biology	Geography	Photography
Business Studies	Geology	Physical Education
Chemistry	History	Physics
Drama & Theatre Studies	Applied ICT	Psychology
Electronics	Mathematics	ReligiousStudies
English Literature	Further Mathematics	Sociology
English Language	Law	Technology – Product Design
English Combined	Media Studies	Technology - Textiles
General Studies	Modern Languages: French, Spanish, German	Travel & Tourism

Most subjects are available at each school

Professional Courses

Art & Design	Agriculture & Engineering
Health & Social Care	Animal Management and Welfare
Football Academy	Business Administration & ICT
Sport & Exercise Sciences	Countryside and Environmental Management
Travel & Tourism	Equine
Accounting & Finance	Horticulture & Floristry
Engineering	Computing
Hospitality & Catering

Qualifications

The most common qualifications offered are:

GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION (GCSE) Pupils take GCSE exams at 16, normally in eight subject areas. With good grades they can continue to study at A level.

A LEVEL - (Level 3 Qualifications) These exams in four subject areas are usually taken at the age of 18 after two years of study. Depending on the results students can then apply to study at University during their second year. Grades range from A to E. At the end of the first year of study at A level students can obtain an AS level in each of their chosen subjects. An AS diploma has half the value of the full A level.

BTEC NATIONAL DIPLOMA AND GNVQ ADVANCED DIPLOMA - (Level 3 Qualifications) These are professional qualifications, typically in areas such as Travel and Tourism, Hospitality & Catering, Business or Computing. (see Schools & Colleges page for a full list of courses.) It is possible to study at University after obtaining these diplomas.

European qualifications are accepted by each Member State and we have many students who, for example, study with us at A level and return to their own country to study at University. It is however sometimes the case that subject combinations are prescribed by individual European countries and students should check with their Ministry of Education to ensure that their chosen subjects are acceptable. All our courses are supplemented with English for Speakers of Other Languages leading to diplomas which are recognised worldwide and are a pre-requisite if students wish to study at an English speaking university. In addition all the A Level and BTEC National courses we offer lead to study at university.

CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATES IN ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (EFL) These ESOL examinations are set by the University of Cambridge at 5 levels of increasing difficulty. They are recognised throughout the world by universities and employers alike and are linked to the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework for Modern Languages. Each level of the examinations tests the four language skills of Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing.

i) Key English Test: KET is the first level basic Cambridge exam in English for Speakers of Other Languages.

ii) Preliminary English Test: PET is an intermediate level Cambridge exam at a simple level.

iii) First Certificate in English: Designed for learners whose command of English is adequate for many practical everyday purposes, including business and study. This Certificate is taken by more than 270,000 people each year in more than 100 countries and is a valuable qualification for anyone who wants to work or study abroad or to develop a career which requires language skills, including business, medicine, engineering and many other professions. Employers throughout the world recognise this level. It indicates sufficient proficiency in English to be of practical use in clerical, secretarial and managerial jobs in many industries, in particular tourism, where contact with English speakers is required.

iv) Certificate in Advanced English: CAE is for learners who are reaching a standard of English that is adequate for most purposes, including business and study. Success at this level indicates the ability to use English effectively and perform confidently in social and professional situations, and in higher education. CAE is taken by more than 60,000 people each year in more than 60 countries and is seen by institutions of higher education in many countries as proof of adequate language skills for courses taught and assessed in English. Almost all universities in the UK and a growing number in the USA recognise CAE, as do many employers throughout the world.

v) Certificate of Proficiency in English: CPE is for learners who have achieved a high level of language skills and are able to function effectively in almost any English-speaking context. Successful candidates at this level are approaching a standard of English similar to that of an educated native speaker. Every year over 45,000 people take the CPE exam in more than 80 countries and success at this level represents a significant personal achievement. CPE Certificates are recognised by institutions of higher education in many countries - including almost all universities in the UK and a rapidly growing number in the USA.

INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTING SYSTEM (IELTS) IELTS is a test of English language proficiency and is jointly managed by University of Cambridge Examinations (ESOL) and the British Council. Candidates who intend to apply to universities should opt for the Academic Module. IELTS is accepted by most English speaking countries and an increasing number of academic institutions in the USA as well as a variety of professional organisations worldwide.

At each level the examinations test the candidates’ ability to listen, read, write and speak in English.