EDUCATION
WITH SEVENOAKS SCHOOL
EDUCATION
EDUCATION
Q & A
WITH SEVENOAKS SCHOOL
Give us a brief introduction about Sevenoaks School ?
Sevenoaks is an independent co-educational day and boarding school combining 600 years of heritage with a contemporary , forwardthinking approach .
What is school life at Sevenoaks School like ?
Sevenoaks is an international , educational powerhouse trailblazing an IB education and beyond . But on a day-to-day basis , we are a busy , happy six-day a week school . Lessons take place every morning from Monday to Saturday , and in the afternoon pupils are either in lessons or take part in sport and service activities . We offer a wide range of activities outside the classroom encompassing music , sport , art and drama , CCF , DofE , voluntary service , trips and expeditions , and a huge range of clubs and societies .
Pastoral care is at the heart of Sevenoaks School . Each student is tutored in a small group who meet every day ; this enables the tutor to know them extremely well and to support and guide them , and it enables friendships to flourish . All this we believe contributes to the particularly happy atmosphere at Sevenoaks and our values of compassion , open-mindedness and trust .
What sets you apart from other schools ?
Sevenoaks School was founded in 1432 and is one of the UK ’ s oldest lay foundations . It is an ancient school with a modern outlook and a liberal , unallied ethos . Sevenoaks is one of the world ’ s leading IB schools and fosters open-mindedness , tolerance , breadth , academic excellence and a global outlook . We were one of the first schools to adopt the IB ( 1978 ), and one of the first schools to drop A levels completely ( 1999 ), with the final A level taking place in 2006 .
The IB provides a foundation for our strong global outlook , and with international students of over 40 nationalities comprising some 23 per cent of the pupil body , Sevenoaks provides a British education within a cosmopolitan melting pot . The school has been described as a microcosm of the real world .
Tell us more about the IB diploma you offer ?
The IB diploma is a two-year exam programme taken in Years 12 and 13 .
It is distinctive for the breadth and depth of study it offers , and for enabling students to develop a wide range of skills and abilities . IB diploma students take six subjects : English , mathematics , a science , a humanities subject , a modern or classical language , and finally a creative arts subject or a second language , science or humanity . They take three subjects at Higher Level and three at Standard Level , which gives them the opportunity to specialise in subjects of their choice , drawing on their personal strengths and interests .
All students write a 4000-word Extended Essay on a topic of their own choosing . This is a key feature of the IB diploma and allows students to develop as independent learners in a genuine and meaningful way . In addition , they pursue a course in critical thinking called Theory of Knowledge .
IB students also extend their learning out of the classroom and into the community through the completion of the creativity , action and service ( CAS ) programme .
How did the school perform in the most recent examinations ?
We only offer the IB diploma in the Sixth Form at Sevenoaks , and our cohort is one of the largest of UK IB schools . In 2016 the average IB diploma score was 39.8 points ( nine points
above the world average ). Seven students achieved the maximum 45 points , with 21 securing 44 points . 120 students achieved 40 points ore more .
92 % of the IGCSE , GCSE and SSC examinations taken were awarded A * or A grades , and 59 students gained ten A * s or more each .
Sevenoaks School Certificates ( SSCs ) are our own public examination courses , recognised by UCAS as a Year 11 qualification , and developed to provide rigorous , inspiring Middle School curricula that encourage independent learning and personal engagement , and incorporate digital skills and critical thinking .
What exciting developments does the future hold for Sevenoaks School ?
Our current major development project is a Science and Technology Centre and Sixth Form Centre . Our vision for the centre is that it will enable us to inspire curiosity and scientific enquiry , foster specialist and interdisciplinary approaches to science , encourage technological innovation , prepare students for the transition to higher education and a career , support outreach , and set the highest standards of environmental sustainability . By 2018 we will have a worldclass facility for students , the community and science professionals to enjoy .
Our Sixth Form Centre for our thriving international Sixth Form will help us to cultivate excellent study and research habits and a clear understanding of the 21st century workplace , easing the transition to undergraduate and postgraduate education and careers , and offering outstanding new facilities .
www . sevenoaksschool . org
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