Shiplake College

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Shiplake College welcomes applications from international students. Our international pupils represent approximately 5% of the school population at present and can join any year group, subject to a place being available. Pupils usually join us at 13+ (Year 9, 14+(Year 10) or 16+ (Year 12).

Some of our international students are British but resident overseas whilst others come from across the globe. For those for whom English is an additional language we offer specialist tuition however pupils must have a reasonable level of fluency on arrival. EAL pupils will be tested as part of the interview process and again on arrival to ensure that we can offer the appropriate provision for their needs.

For entry into Year 9 or 10 we expect pupils to have a good understanding of English language in order that they can access the curriculum. Students wishing to join the Sixth Form in Year 12 must take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination and we would expect them to achieve a mark of around 5.5-6 as a minimum.

All international students at Shiplake College need to have a UK-based guardian if their parents are not living in the UK.  Shiplake is pleased to introduce you to Bright World Guardianships, a well established and fully AEGIS accredited guardianship company who will take on the important role of guardian to your child while they are with us. 

The Bright World Guardianship programme offers a total care package from day one of a student’s stay in the UK and throughout their study period. An important part of  their job is to find a host family for your child during holiday times when they have to leave school.

To find out more about Bright World and to see their website, please visit www.brightworld.co.uk

Higher Education Week 2012

Dear Parents,

Further to another extremely successful HE week (programme found here), I have great pleasure in attaching the presentations that were given during the week.
These were:-

1. Applying to University – an overview given by Julian Lovelock from Buckingham University
2. Applying to American Universities given by Anthony Nemecek (an American University Consultant and Author on this topic.
3. Apprenticeships – a great idea for young people given by Alexa Volker from the ‘National Apprenticeship Service
4. Arriving and Surviving – the transition from school to university given by Katherine Lloyd Clark (Head of Admissions, University of Bath)
5. Shiplake HE Week Overview given throughout the week by Mr Mackey and Mr Pavey.

Unfortunately Maastricht University were not able to attend this year’s event but they did send through a presentation and an information sheet for those interested in applying to universities in Europe.

As well as the presentations above we also completed exercises in ‘searching for courses and universities’. You can also follow this link to an example of a personal statement and a proforma detailing how to write these important documents. All Y12 pupils moving through to Y13 are expected to arrive back in September with a carefully thought through draft of their statement.

I hope that those of you who managed to attend the various sessions found them useful. Please note that we are not trying to push students in any particular direction but we are making sure that they have as much information as possible when making these difficult decisions.

Any questions or comments regarding the HE week would be gladly received.

Regards
Brendan Pavey
Head of Sixth Form

Resources from Previous Sessions

Resources from the 2011 Higher Education Week are included here for reference:

• 'A Really Useful University Guide' given by Mr Julian Lovelock from Buckingham University
• 'Laureate International Universities - Hospitality and Event Management' given by Celia Golding from Laureate.
• 'Applying to US universities' given by Jon Tabbert.

As well as presentations by speakers we also completed exercises on 'searching courses and universities'. One was completed by students alone and the other by parents with their sons or daughters. Furthermore, an example of a personal statement as well as a proforma detailing how to write these was handed out and is included here.

The following short videos show various Sixth Form pupils talking about life at Shiplake.

Leavers' Destinations

We are delighted that Zoe Ozwell won a prestigious academic scholarship to Exeter University where she will read History.

In 2012 pupils proceeded to a range of universities including Birmingham, Exeter, Kent, Kings College London, Newcastle, Oxford Brookes and Warwick.

Rehearsals are now almost complete for the 2010 Shiplake Christmas performance of “Nativity”, which will take place in the Parish Church of St. Peter and St. Paul from the 8^thto the 11^thof December.  With a cast drawn from all areas of the Shiplake community including the local butcher,  staff and students from the College and members of the Year 6 class at Shiplake Primary School, the production promises to be a truly village affair. The lighting and staging has been planned and puppets are currently being constructed in the College’s Art Department. In addition the College Chamber, Church and Community Choirs are hard at work rehearsing the carols and music to be included. 

Thanks to the generosity of Hobbs of Henley and GMECH Marine services, who will be providing a crane free of charge, a star will be hoisted high into the air above Shiplake to guide Nativity-goers on their way. A camel has been sponsored by thanks to the generosity of the local community from funeral directors to local pensioners and will enjoy a starring role in the production alongside the Wise Men.

Demand for tickets has been unprecedented and the College has had to add extra performances to the schedule to accommodate those who were disappointed in the first instance.

Head of Drama Miss Catherine Saker commented: “This is a very different Nativity and we are thrilled that so many members of the Shiplake community will be involved in the production. It has been quite a commitment for those taking part, with a number of rehearsals in the evenings and at weekends. We think it will be a very unusual Christmas performance and hope it will be a great success.”

Gregg Davies, Headmaster, added; “The Shiplake Drama Department has become known for the range of works it has tackled over the past few years. We have enjoyed Pinter, pantomime, and musical theatre and for the past two summers our theatre company has performed in the Botanical Gardens in Oxford. We are very much looking forward to a different take on the traditional Christmas story.”

Information about External and Mock exams.

Shiplake College offers boarding and day school facilities for boys from 11-18 and girls from 16-18. The College is set in 45 acres adjacent to, and looking out over, the River Thames, two and a half miles from Henley-on-Thames. We offer a superb all-round education to approximately 400 pupils.

Director of Marketing and External Relations - application details

Further information about working at Shiplake College can be found here. If you should have any queries regarding employment at Shiplake please email mflynn@shiplake.org.uk.

Shiplake College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be prepared to undergo appropriate child protection screening including checks with past employers and the CRB. The School is an equal opportunities employer.  

Shiplake College has a thriving Art Department which produces a range of dynamic and innovative work. All Lower School and Year 9 pupils are taught a range of techniques and work in different media as part of the curriculum. From Year 10 art is available as a subject option and is popular with pupils.

Art workshops are held on a regular basis with visiting artists sharing their skills and knowledge with pupils. Recent visitors include Andy and Inga Hamilton who have been involved in a number of projects at Shiplake over the past two years.