Ashbourne College

About

Ashbourne College was founded 1981 and has since grown into one of the best private sixth form colleges in London for A levels and GCSEs. Its students consistently achieve outstanding A level exam results, (50% A*/A over the past 5 years), helping it to remain in the top two of similar private high schools in London for many years. Ashbourne is also placed in the top 5% of UK schools and colleges that offer A levels as a result of the level of performance improvement it achieves, or ‘value added’. More than half of its graduates go on to study at Russell Group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.

Its aim is to help students develop their self-confidence both personally and academically so they can achieve the very best results and take responsibility for their own success.

Required documents:

• Copies of academic records
• An academic reference from a teacher at the school
• A personal statement of achievements, interests and ambitions (500 hand-written words)
• Enquiry form
• A photocopy of their passport and UK visa page (if they have one already)

Note: the applicant could also be asked to take an admissions test, which may be subject specific. If the applicant wants to study Drama and Theatre studies, then they will be asked to attend an audition. Similarly, applicants hoping to study Art related subjects (Fine Art and Graphic Communication) may be asked to provide samples of their previous work.

Courses

Most students take two-year A-Level courses, but there is also a small number of GCSE students (known as the Middle School).

For their GCSE middle school, they provide a one year intensive course. Students take five core subjects: Maths, Science, English Literature, English Language and a major European language. They can also choose from a range of optional subjects. Students also take part in PSHEE (personal, social, health and economic education) and PE (physical education) for two hours each per week. Lessons take place between 9am and 4pm, including one hour lunch break from 1pm to 2pm. Each subject receives four hours’ teaching per week. Where there are fewer than three students in a class the teaching time per subject is two hours.

For sixth form they offer standard two year courses, as well as intensive programs which are either a one year or 18 month course. These may be useful for either international students who are looking to enter the British education system, or if they are looking to retake their A levels.

Specialized Pathway Programs

They have developed extra-curricular programs in the areas of medicine, finance, engineering and art to help students enhance their knowledge and understanding of their prospective university pathways. The programs include workshops, group activities amongst other external opportunities such as public competitions.

Extra-curricular activities

Ashbourne offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities, ranging from critical thinking seminars and an astro particle physics club to Bollywood dancing and Go Karting. There is an annual Christmas revue and several overseas trips each year.

Fees and scholarships

The tuition fees for 2017–18 are £8,000 per term for UK students and £8,500 per term for overseas students. Ashbourne offers a limited number of partial scholarships, particularly in Drama and Music.

Accommodation

There are various accommodation options for anyone studying at Ashbourne. Nearby are several hostels where students from Ashbourne and other colleges reside. Students may also choose to stay with a host family where they can study whilst experiencing life as part of an English family. The College has about 75 students who live in these types of accommodation, with almost equal numbers in hostels and homestays.