Ashbourne College is a highly successful private college. Located near Kensington Gardens and the Royal Albert Hall in central London, it offers outstanding teaching, which has seen its students secure places at some of the world’s leading universities. It focuses primarily on offering one year, eighteen-month and the standard two-year A level courses to pre-university students between the ages of 16-22. Start dates are available for both September and January (other dates can be discussed). Pre-GCSE and GCSE courses to 13-16 year olds are also available.

Resembling a university, the atmosphere is informal and appeals to those who want to move into an environment which will prepare them for their next stage, university: something not always possible in more traditional schools. This is reflected in the ‘no school uniform’ policy and an environment in which the students are on first name terms with their tutors. However, close contact is kept with parents (or an appropriate contact), who receive full, written reports every half term, along with regular attendance emails. The learning environment is multicultural, representing over 30 different nationalities, and just under half of the student population have joined Ashbourne College from overseas. In order to develop our international students’ English language skills, the college operates a strict policy prohibiting the use of other languages on the premises. Class sizes average six and rarely exceed ten, offering students a very good opportunity for individual attention and interaction which accelerates and enriches the learning process. Students are also offered a high allocation of contact hours per subject. With over 30 different subjects offered at A level, a key advantage to studying at Ashbourne College is the wide range of subjects available to the students, and the flexibility offered in terms of subject combinations permitted.

Ashbourne encourages students to enjoy their time at college with a wide range of extra-curricular activities. This year students have had the opportunity to take part in the following events and clubs: The College Revue, ice-skating, go-karting, chess club, drama club, music club, trips to plays, two university visits, street dance, and a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon for English Literature students. Each year a cultural trip to a European city is organised, which is an excellent experience for all overseas students. In addition to this, the students have organised and run their own successful college newspaper, ‘The Ashbourner’.

Ashbourne College’s 2010/2011 academic fees for UK based students are £18,000 per annum. The college is also willing to offer a limited number of scholarships. Please note that the maximum scholarship Ashbourne College can offer students is a 50% reduction on tuition fees only (scholarships do not affect accommodation costs).

Ashbourne College aims to send students to top UK universities, and in the past few years has sent scholars to all of the top universities within the UK. In certain cases, students have won scholarships to the best British universities including Oxford, Nottingham and the London School of Economics. Ashbourne College attracts high quality students wishing to obtain university placement at the UK’s top ten universities. An Ashbourne student’s university application process is developed through the personal tutoring system, where students meet with their personal tutor once a week in groups of up to 20 students. These meetings also offer students the opportunity to discuss with their personal tutor about any pastoral or general academic issues they may have.

UK applicants are required to provide the college with a personal statement of 500 words (preferably hand-written), copies of their last two sets of academic reports, copies of GCSE grades or predicted grades, a copy of their passport and a completed application form. Once these have been received, the college will usually organise a test for the student along with an interview.

Overseas applicants are required to provide the college with a personal statement of 500 words (preferably hand-written), an academic reference, school results/transcripts, a copy of their passport and a completed application form. Once these have been received, the college will usually organise a test for the student along with a face to face or telephone interview.

Ashbourne College has achieved successful results this academic year with 39% of examinations resulting in A grades in the summer of 2009. Please visit our website to obtain further information: www.ashbournecollege.co.uk

Come to Ashbourne’s Open Evening – Contact Hannah Martin on 0207 937 3858 – Next Event 10th March 2010 7 pm.