It’s long been said that knowledge is power, and nowhere is this more apparent than in education. The more you learn, the better qualified you get to become your most powerful self.
Whether you’re still in education and look to broaden your horizons or have little ones you want to plan for, here are Checklist’s top 10 tips for education and learning this month.
Don’t settle for second best
Are you the kind of person to settle? Didn’t think so. MPW Colleges could provide the support you need to you achieve the grades for your first-choice university.
Established in 1973, MPW is one of the UK’s leading independent fifth and sixth-form college groups. It has a proven track record of improving students’ A level grades, typically by between one and two grades.
Moreover, MPW Colleges have an outstanding record for university placements – nearly two-thirds of MPW retake students progress to Russell Group universities. They offer a wide range of subjects in both short-course or full year formats, including Oxbridge-style tutorial groups with just nine students or fewer.
They also have highly qualified tutors who can provide valuable 1:1 tutorial support, as well as having a focus on exam preparation and regular testing. They offer expert UCAS advice to put you in the best stead, whether you’re studying at their collages in in London, Birmingham or Cambridge.
The info: Click here to find the right solution for you.
Preparing pupils for the world of tomorrow
Looking for your child to join a modern, forward-thinking independent school? St Dunstan’s College, south London, has championed a progressive approach to education for over a century, with the founding vision of the school in 1888 being to provide a curriculum ‘in advance of the present time.’
Today, St Dunstan’s builds on the legacy of its founding Heads, with pupils embarking on a Renaissance education, studying a deliberately wide range of subjects whilst proactively cultivating the values, skills and thinking that will best enable them to thrive in a rapidly changing future.
Earlier this year, St Dunstan’s was named ‘Most Progressive School in south-east England’ at the Private Education Awards 2024 and was awarded the best Diversity and Inclusion in Sport at the Education Choices Awards 2024, following the school’s groundbreaking partnership with Chelsea FC. This came on top of being awarded Senior School of the Year in 2022 and Coeducational School of the Year in 2021.
This summer, St Dunstan’s celebrated its best-ever A Level results in its 136-year history: 88% of all A Level grades were A*-B with an outstanding 61% that were A*-A. As a consequence, 97% of the cohort went on to their chosen destination. Meanwhile, an exceptional 78% of all GCSE grades were awarded 9-7 (A*-A).
The info: Click here to find out more by attending their upcoming Open Day on September 21, 2024.
An award-winning pre-school in Dulwich
Looking for the perfect school for your curious little ones? Rosemead Preparatory School and Nursery, Dulwich, south London, is celebrating after a triumphant year, which included a brilliant report from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and a Good Schools Guide review, which commended the school as the ‘one to watch’.
Rosemead’s academic approach to learning, pastoral care and support and the positive influence of the school’s values, vision, and leadership was praised in a recent ISI inspection (carried out in November 2023): ‘A highly customised approach to every pupil’s academic progress is a significant strength of the school,’ the report explained.
Rosemead is also celebrating after a visit from the Good Schools Guide which praised the school’s leadership and its future direction, explaining ‘there is no doubt that children here are happy and make excellent progress.’
The school’s recent success was also recognised in June as the school received an award at the prestigious Education Choices Award, winning for best Improvements in EDIB (Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging).
The info: Click here to find out more, or attend their upcoming open morning on October 12, 2024.
Take on an apprenticeship
Are you looking to take the first steps in a new career, or upskill yourself in your current role? Seeking to take on vocational training that will have you set up to succeed? It may be time to take on an award-winning apprenticeship from Paragon Skills.
With over 20 years of experience, Paragon Skills focus on quality and ensuring that their learners achieve their qualifications with a 99% pass rate. Working closely with their employer partners, they provide learner-focused training, clear reporting on progress, and outstanding communication.
Paragon Skills ensures their learners get hands-on learning with real-world workplace experience, not just textbooks. You can also earn a wage whilst you are learning as well as gaining a free membership to the Association of Apprentices for extra learning and events.
The 2024 curriculum features apprenticeships from Level 2 to Level 5 in Care, Healthcare, Early Years, Education, Accountancy, Business Admin, Hair & Beauty, Automotive, Leadership & Management, with mental health support and their IncludEd program to build resilience,
Join thousands of apprentices and start building a future focused on you!
The info: Click here to explore a range of apprenticeship routes and sectors.
Virtual learning at an online school
Does online learning feel like a better approach for your teen? Minerva’s Virtual Academy provide award-winning remote or home education – offering globally recognised education based in the UK.
Catering for students between 11 and 18 years old, Minerva’s Virtual Academy is Department for Education accredited after a recent report from Ofsted. The school offers personal mentoring and a thriving learning community. Twice a term they run school trips to destinations across the UK, lately visiting Bath, Sheffield, Bletchley Park, London, and Birmingham.
The virtual academy has been labelled the ‘holy grail of online schooling’ by the Good Schools Guide, educating 800 full time students – 75% of whom are based here in the UK. They even empower students to sit their GCSEs online, if they wish, through a partnership with Pearson to offer a remote invigilation service.
And the school’s success speaks for itself, with alumni securing places at universities such as Glasgow, UCL, Durham, LSE, Manchester, York, Bristol, Tsinghua University China, and the Institute of the Arts Barcelona.
The info: Click here to find out more and book a discovery call.
Get stuck in at coding boot camp
Coding is like a professional superpower. If you’re looking to futureproof your career, it may be time to pick up some tech skills – a valuable addition to any CV.
Codeworks is an intensive coding boot camp that offers immersive programs to help students transition into successful tech careers. The boot camp is known for its curriculum, which covers full-stack web development and software engineering.
Codeworks stands out due to its 99% employment rate, strong network of industry connections, and commitment to continuous learning. Graduates of their courses have successfully secured roles at top tech companies across a range of thriving industries.
On offer at Codeworks are both full-time and part-time courses, meaning you can fit your course to your schedule. Also, a focus on hands-on learning and industry relevance means you’ll be comfortable and confident to take on your next role in tech.
The info: Click here to apply.
Help your little one shine bright
If you’re looking to give your kids the best start in life, starting their learning early is essential. Why not begin your little one’s journey with a family-owned, award-winning group of over 200 nurseries across the UK?
With places for babies through to preschool, Kids Planet Day Nurseries are bursting with early years experts so your child is always in safe hands. It’s why so many parents choose them.
On Kids Planet, your child can shine bright in environments designed to provide children with the space and resources to play, explore and learn. Outdoor spaces and facilities are crafted to meet and challenge children’s physical development.
With a dedicated Training Academy, Kids Planet is devoted to inspiring and supporting careers in early years. As a main provider of apprenticeships, Kids Planet has built a pool of quality, longstanding team and has achieved ‘Best Place to Work’ status as voted for by employees.
From the team, families and communities, Kids Planet’s mission statement is ‘Working together to inspire your world’. Have a taste of the experience for yourself by booking a show round at your nearest nursery.
The info: Click here to book your show round.
*Dates may vary.
Excellence in education made affordable
At this time of uncertainty, with VAT about to be applied to independent school fees from January 2025, Bedstone College are presenting a fresh perspective. They will be offering the same quality education, but at a price that is affordable for parents who might be priced out of the market.
Bedstone is a small, rural, day and boarding school in a beautifully safe location in Shropshire – close to the historic town of Ludlow. They are broadly unselective with small class sizes, individualised attention and a specialism in Maths, Sciences and SEND. Their results have been rapidly improving in recent years, and this year 60% of students secured A*-B grades at A level.
Bedstone College’s promise is that an independent education can be financially accessible with a commitment to delivering affordable excellence.
Want to see what they’re all about? Register for their Open Day in September to see how they can provide your child with a top-tier education at an unbeatable price.
The info: Click here to find out more and register for the Open Day on September 17, 2024.
Take pride in ambition
Queen Ethelburga’s (QE) Collegiate is not a school where students’ futures are dependent on their opinion of what your child should achieve. It is a school that takes pride in their student’s ambitions, working alongside them to find as many opportunities as possible to achieve what their students are aiming for.
Students are empowered to know that not only can their results be strong, but QE will go above and beyond to develop well-rounded, confident and engaging personalities outside the classroom too.
Their four-school model offers a journey towards self-actualisation, and pupils ultimately become resilient young adults ready to take their place in society.
Accommodating children and students from kindergarten all the way up to sixth form, QE allows children to join a pathway to their individual success at the right point for your family.
Established amongst the top schools worldwide, QE has demonstrated its success through outstanding academic results and an impressive list of university and career destinations. The importance of providing opportunities for each individual student to learn beyond the classroom is demonstrated through their extensive super-curricular programmes, designed to recognise and celebrate a wide range of skills and aspirations
The info: Click here to find out more and book one of their Open Days.
If you’ve enjoyed reading this article and are interested in more inspiration on everything from education and culture to business and family life, why not follow Checklist on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or sign up to the newsletter? Checklist is dedicated to providing the best free online competitions too – discover amazing new services and products when you visit the website today.
Sign up to our guide to what’s on in London, trusted reviews, brilliant offers and competitions. London’s best bits in your inbox
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
