Universities & Careers

Over 99% of pupils from Brighton College continue onto higher education, either immediately after the Upper Sixth, or following a Gap Year.  In the last five years, the most popular universities have been Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial, Manchester, Leeds, Exeter, Bristol, Durham, KCL and Nottingham. 

The university application process is carefully managed by the Head of Sixth Form.  Advice is provided in a gradual manner, to ensure that pupils are not overwhelmed, but are fully aware of all the information they need to know.  In the Upper Fifth, information is provided on the way in which universities use GCSE grades as part of their selection process; in the Lower Sixth, the application process is introduced via the 'Options at 18' evening, specific events are run for pupils and parents considering applications to Oxford and Cambridge, or to universities in the USA or elsewhere overseas, the Head of Sixth Form meets with all pupils to discuss the process and their aims in a more informal and personalised manner, departments run extension classes for pupils considering applications to the most competitive universities, applicants for Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (and other vocational courses) are assisted with the organisation of work experience placements, and the period after the completion of AS examinations is used to start compiling the UCAS application itself.  In the Upper Sixth, tutors and HMMs advise pupils as they complete their UCAS forms and their personal statements, references are written, and departments prepare pupils for admissions tests and interviews (as required).  In recent years, every pupil has received offers from one or more of their chosen universities, with many pupils receiving offers from all five of their chosen universities.  At that point, the focus turns to supporting pupils as they prepare for their final A-level examinations, and the fulfilment of the conditions of their university offers.

The school has over 50 of its former pupils currently studying at Oxford and Cambridge universities.  Applications to these universities are overseen by the Oxbridge Panel, which ensures that all pupils are aware of the very specific way in which these universities assess applications, as well as providing support through the stages of the process.  The preparation process for Oxbridge applications runs over a 12 month period, beginning in the January of the Lower Sixth year.

Also in the Sixth Form, pupils are provided with information on options for Gap Years, with many pupils proceeding to internships, scholarship placements with professional services firms, or charity programmes overseas.  Careers evenings are also a regular feature of the Sixth Form at Brighton College.

Pupils and parents are provided with extensive resources to support the provision of this advice, and these are available through the school's intranet pages.

That said, the Careers provision at the school starts before the Sixth Form. In the Fourth Form and Lower Fifth (Years 9 and 10), elements of the PHSE programme (such as learning to use the Careers Library and the online resources and career talks) help build up a pupil's view of themselves and the outside world. As members of the Upper Fifth, they take the Futurewise Test - an amalgam of questionnaire and psychometric tests. This provides an abilities profile which can help focus an individual's thoughts. Pupils have a general feedback session in October followed by a personal interview with the ISCO regional director. In addition, there are number of interactive careers talks. An ISCO professional will also be present to answer any questions at the Options at 16 evening in September as well as at the Parents' Evening in January.