Although the vast majority of leavers from St George’s go on to Higher Education, we encourage and provide resources to enable our pupils to explore the full range of post-18 options.
Increasingly, girls are considering undertaking degree apprenticeships or joining companies as school leavers and we fully endorse and support every girl’s own informed decision. We work closely with Unifrog who provide an excellent resource to help girls research, choose and apply for a range of post-18 options.
For those looking to go to university, we run a programme as part of our Sixth Form Enrichment that provides advice on choosing the right course at the right university and obtaining all the available information necessary to make an informed decision. Having made that decision, girls are then guided through the UCAS application process by the Sixth Form staff team.
We arrange visits to Higher Education Fairs, where girls can attend talks on a wide range of topics, meet university recruitment teams and collect information and prospectuses. For universities, it is important that girls are able to demonstrate evidence of co-curricular activities such as sport, music or Young Enterprise as well as work experience and skills such as teamwork and leadership. We encourage the girls to take advantage of the many opportunities available to them at St George's as well as gaining relevant work experience and community service before submitting their UCAS form.
Some university applications require extra preparation and support. Girls who would like to apply to Oxford and Cambridge or are looking to study abroad are given specialist guidance and support and focused advice on the interview process. Their application path is overseen by the Deputy Head (Co-curricular and Connections), an Oxford graduate, who helps guide and prepare each pupil through the application process.
St George’s has an excellent record of girls achieving places at some of the top universities in the UK. 11% of our 2020 Upper Sixth form leavers were awarded places at Oxford University whilst other pupils have been successful in their applications to universities such as Imperial College London, UCL, Edinburgh and Bath.
In most years we have girls who continue their study of Fine Art at prestigious art schools such as Central St Martins, or on foundation courses.
St George’s has an excellent record of girls achieving places at some of the top universities in the UK including the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, LSE and Durham.
Each year we also have girls who continue their study of Fine Art at prestigious art schools such as Central St Martin’s or Chelsea College of Art, go onto study drama or music or study sports science at prestigious universities such as Loughborough.
In 2020, 93% of our leavers achieved their first or insurance choice of university place, 67% have taken up places in Russell Group universities and a further 11% have entered competitive courses at Bath University. Three of our girls have taken up places at The University of Oxford to read Economics and Management, History and Philosophy and Theology. Successful Georgians have also gone up to Edinburgh, UCL, Imperial College, Durham, Warwick, Newcastle and the University of Arts, London to study a diverse range of courses; from Chemistry to Sociology; French and History to Film Production; Pharmacy to Business Management.
In 2021, girls from St George’s secured a number of places at selective universities. Seven girls achieved places at Durham University, with further successes at Russell Group universities such as Edinburgh, Exeter and Leeds. All the girls achieved the grades required for their first or insurance choices.
Girls who would like to apply to Oxford and Cambridge are given specialist guidance and support and focused advice on the interview process. Their application path is overseen by the Deputy Head (Co-curricular and Connections), an Oxford graduate, who helps guide and prepare each pupil through the application process.
Applications to top universities are becoming increasingly competitive and the School helps prepare girls for the different stages of the admissions process. Girls thinking of applying to Oxbridge are also strongly encouraged to contribute to Sixth Form Discussion evenings, establish clubs and attend lectures at universities.
All pupils interested in Oxbridge attend a Student Conference at Epsom Racecourse and are then encouraged to visit the universities on Open Days. A series of interview seminars are held to develop the girls’ abilities in academic discussions before an interview swap is conducted with two local girls’ schools where our pupils will be asked questions by a member of staff at a different institution.
We encourage and support girls who are looking to apply to prestigious American institutions by attending the Fulbright Commission US Colleges Fair.
We have a link with the University of William and Mary in Virginia, USA and Sixth Form students have an opportunity to spend a week there as a student during October half term. Pupils attend classes and seminars, use the amazing Swem Library and are able to socialise with current students. In addition, we are fortunate to have access to the university library for the rest of the academic year, which has proved particularly useful for EPQ research.
