Over 90% of our sixth form leavers progress to university, either directly or after having taken a Gap Year. The remaining pupils take up an internship or apprenticeship, or go straight into employment.
A wide range of courses chosen in 2023 reflect the ambitions, passions and pathways of our leavers and included Dentistry, Physics, Medicine, Economics, Mechanical Engineering, Accounting, History, Marketing, Liberal Arts, Psychology, Biological Sciences, Drama and Creative Writing, Business Management, Sociology and Philosophy, Architecture, Criminology, Midwifery, Law and Politics, Sports Science and Geography.
Recent cohorts have demonstrated the strength of Shiplake’s careers provision. In 2023, 93% of our university applicants gained entry to their first or second choice of university, the same as in 2022. In recent years, the number of pupils gaining places at top-third universities has been rising steadily, and in 2023 52% of university applicants progressed to one of the top 40 universities in the Complete University Guide league table (39% in 2022). 7 pupils got into universities ranked in the top ten in the country including Durham, Loughborough and Bath and 41% of pupils were offered places at Russell Group universities (up from 26% in 2022, 40% in 2021, 32% in 2020 and 25% in 2019).
The most popular UK universities in 2023 were Cardiff and Exeter. One pupil gained a place at Harvard University and over the past few years Shiplake pupils have also attended Oxford, Cambridge, Yale and Princeton.