Interview with a representative of one of the largest boarding schools in the UK, Queen ethelburga's College.

Recently, in the office of company "Aspect", I held a meeting with the representative of one of the ranking schools in the UK, Queen Ethelburga's College. The school is located in the suburbs of York, according to the "Time", is ranked in the top five schools in the North of England. I, first of all, interested in the ability of our students to enroll in school to get secondary education on such a high level.

In the interview we discussed what the benefits of the campus of one of the largest boarding schools in the UK, why are different requirements for admission to the academic programs of the College and the faculty, as well as whty such high ratings Queen Ethelburga's College are due.

About the campus and the students of the school Queen Ethelburga's College

L: Tell us about your campus

P: The school Campus is located in the suburbs of York, and this I can say the best placement of the school for teenagers. I worked at the school, which is located in the heart of London near the Big Ben. Indeed, the location is awesome. But whether it is suitable for Teens 14, 15, 16 years? The campus of our school is the optimal location. Children will not be alone in the city but they have enough freedom of movement and proper supervision of school staff. If students want to go to the movies, to a small group of students led by an adult, going to a movie. Of course, we let out the kids from school, otherwise the school will resemble a prison. On Saturdays we have organized trips on buses, on Sunday, the students themselves manage their free time. The campus, I would say we have one of the best in Europe. Large investments were made in its renovation. Now it looks like a small town.

L: How many students do you have? Are you trying to attract more foreign students now?

P: We teach more than 1500 students, of which 1100 students live on campus. The rest are local children, who every morning are brought by yellow buses. Now the ratio of British to foreign students already 50/50. There are students from 62 countries. We even had a girl from Ukraine she's 6, and she is the youngest international student, who lives in our residences. But we ask that international students at least a year having studied in the school at home, so the whole process was not new for them. Now the policy of the school is such that trying to attract more new students from Ukraine and Eastern Europe. We have a lot of children from Asia, mainly from Hong Kong.

A large number of students require advising and the number of the school staff. We have them 850. For example, in elementary school 1 adult (houseparent) is responsible for 6 children. In high school already significantly less supervision – 1 adult to 16 children. We also select teachers for children by age – we employ young teachers at the age of 30, that children felt more freely and on equal terms with them.

Requirements for admission to Queen Ethelburga's College. The faculty or College?

L: Tell me how Ukrainian student can enter secondary school?

P: Atn the program in middle school we teach children ages 11-14. All 350 pupils, 26 – Russian speaking students. By the way, in school they make up 6% of the students. In 13 years, before students make a choice – where to continue studying further: the program College or Department.

If we are talking about students that come from abroad, including Ukrainian schools, then their own selection criteria are created for them. To enter for GCSE in College, we put a minimum requirement on knowledge of English – 5.5. IELTS. The average grade in Ukrainian schools should be at the level of the highest marks in England - A (score 10-12). If children do not meet our admission requirements, the English and the average score is lower, we will consider these students for our program faculty.

L: What is the difference between the program of the College or faculty? It seems that College is only for strong students?

P: College children teach 10 subjects at GCSE. For many students such a program is difficult. Faculty children will study 7 or 8 subjects at GCSE, meaning they can avoid difficult subjects, such as history, foreign language or other. This is done in order to pick up students with the optimal rhythm of learning, and not to keep delving into those subjects that are difficult or not interesting for them. After graduating from the faculty with A-grades (a minimum of 4 disciplines that they want to take at A-level), students can enter A-level already in College. We accept on the faculty with GCSE scores A and B, if there is C, we offer the B-Tec program. The ratio of students at faculty and College is 50\50.

If students do not have enough English when applying for GCSE, we offer them to complete 1-year Foundation, and then take 1 year GCSE with the study of 6 subjects. To study at A-level, students must pass IELTS at least 6.0 for both the college program and the faculty program.

L: I was faced with the fact that the results of B-Tec are not accepted by British universities, and it is only for students who intend to work immediately after graduation.

P: Not really. Yes, B-Tec is not an academic program, a mix of theory and practice that is more common for programs in technical College. We have a popular programme B-Tec in business: children receive excellent practical skills and can enter University programs in business. Only the three leading British University does not accept the results of B-Tec, we warn kids and their parents.

L: Let's say Ukrainian student 13-14 years, from grades 8 and 9 in school, will you consider him only for the faculty? Does he have a chance then to go to College.

P: Yes, such students we accept to the faculty program, but he will have the opportunity to get to A-level in College. Indeed, academically, these programs are at different levels but do not think that the faculty is only for weak students. Some of our strongest students just studying at the faculty. For example, one student at A-level has already received an offer to study at the University of Oxford. He studies only 3 subjects at A-level because he is involved in sports professionally. All of our athletes, as well as students who study drama and art, engaged faculty. So they have more time for their extracurricular activities.

About high school ratings

L: What is the rating of your school according to the results of GCSE exams?

P: The results are quite good, but there is no single rating. Since some schools use the iGCSE, for example, Eton College, and according to this rating they are 8th, and we occupied 2-e a place. Among British schools, ratings are based on A-level results.

L: Then, what are general school results, including faculty and the college students?

P: We do not have such a count. There are some results in faculty and college. Most evaluations of college graduates are the highest A*-A. At the faculty, our students combine A-level and B-Tec.

The results

• Queen Ethelburga's College has positioned itself as a traditional British boarding school – residences of this school accommodate 1100 children. Really, it's a huge campus that looks like a small town. There are enough school staff to pay attention to the children. At the same time, the accommodation of foreign students possible from 6 years, I am inclined to think that for children this age, this school will do just fine. British students make up half of the students and the Russian speaking students in school is 6%. It's a lot, considering that the percentage will increase soon.
• The feature of the school is a division of educational programs into the faculty and the college. Admission to the academic programs of the college (GCSE, A-level) only available to excellent students, while children with lower academic performance are accepted by the faculty. I was assured that this is not the division into strong and weak students, but the opportunity to balance study and professional interest in sport, art or the absence of a need to study the full range of GCSE subjects. You can gain practical skills, studying subjects on the program for B-Tec. But you need to remember that not all universities accept the results of the course.
• The school caught my attention for its high ratings, ahead of some positions even Eton College. But during the interview it became clear that only college students' scores are taken to calculate the results, which will certainly be higher than the scores of students of the faculty.

Find out more about the school on aspect.ua