This is an integral part of our school curriculum and students are encouraged to get to know their Guidance Counsellor as they can have a huge impact on their future. Our aim is to guide each student, helping each one to make the right choices for their future.
Our University/College Guidance Counsellors meet the students and parents of Year 12 and 13 individually and in groups to help them in academic planning, career awareness, and advice on s ubject choices for IGCSE/IB and University applications. They also advise Year 9, 10 and 11 students on course selection and its consequences on their college selection process.
Introducing "Naviance - Family Connection"
The University/College Guidance Department uses Naviance, a web-based system for college and career counselling, which collects and organises detailed information about each student's post-secondary plans. The software aids the students' search for colleges by creating multimedia profiles, scattergrams and application statistics from the school. It offers complete customised student, parent, and alumni surveys, explores personality types, career interests and research careers. Overall it is a highly useful website for students and parents.
Our Guidance Office leads and conducts many programmes including:
| • | Work Experience Programme for Year 12 students to gain first-hand job information. |
| • | Community Service Programme (CSR) through the CSR projects in conjunction with local companies for Year 11 students. |
| • | The British School Diploma for the internal recognition of students' achievements. |
| • | Oxford and Cambridge Universities Internship programme. |
| • | SAT Prep classes in school with an external provider for students of Year 12 and the PSAT exam for Year 11 applying to universities in the United States. |
| • | Conducts college essay and personal statement workshops for students. |
| • | Prepares the Oxbridge students by organising workshops, meetings with Oxbridge alumni and mock interviews for applicants. |
| • | Organises subject seminars for high achievers on various issues relevant to our students and community |
| • | Updates an annual University Guidance Handbook (Click to download for detailed information); a resource with extensive information about the college search process. |
| • | Organises university visits and fairs which include presentations, workshops, and opportunities for students to meet the admissions officers from over 300 universities every year. |
| • | Processes around 300 applications for students who apply to universities around the world including UK, US, Canada, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Germany and Australia |
Oxbridge Internship programme
The Oxbridge internship programme provides an excellent opportunity for our students to work collaboratively with Oxbridge interns across a wide spectrum of areas ranging from subject clinics to college applications, leadership training and community service projects to name a few.
Work Experience Programme
This initiative is for Year 12 students who are given an opportunity to experience the 'world of work' by spending a week in an organisation, learning and observing and helping the employees there. This experience also helps students in deciding on their future career choices.
Corporate Social Responsibility
This is an initiative that involves students of Year 11 and Year 10 (from the new academic session) spending a week on Community Service work in partnership with organisations through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects.
High Achievers Programme
The University/College Guidance Department organises seminars for enhanced academic enrichment of high achievers on various issues relevant to our students and community. The idea is to challenge our high achievers to think out of the box and critically analyse some of the issues we face. To join this programme students need to make an application which includes writing an essay on why they think they should be chosen to be part of the High Achievers' Group. The selection committee (comprising of a group of senior teachers) look for student motivation, academic potential, initiative, ability to think independently, general attitude and character, special abilities and interests, maturity, curiosity and whether he or she is likely to make productive use of the seminars at The British School. The student's record of participation in the life of the school and community is also important as are the grades achieved so far.
The seminars begin in the second semester of Year 12 and continue through the next academic year for Year 12 students.
The (4 year) British School Diploma
All Secondary School students are required to pursue The British School Diploma, which is earned at the end of Year 13. Integrated into this curriculum are courses that also prepare students for external examinations in the IGCSE Programme and International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme.
In Year 9, before choosing IGCSE subjects, students should meet with the University/College Guidance Counsellor to review their Secondary School plan of study. This plan serves as a roadmap and helps to make certain that graduation and college entrance requirements are being met. This plan should be revised in Year 11 as choices will have an impact on the options the student will have available later.
Course Selection Process
During the second term of Year 9 and Year 11, there are meetings and orientation evenings to help each student choose courses for the IGCSE and IB years. During the process, teachers and University/College Guidance Counsellors will offer advice as to which courses are appropriate, based upon each student's ability, performance and future plans. There are deadlines that apply for submitting the preliminary and final forms. All these deadlines are communicated via e-mails and parent-student meetings in the second term.
The University/College Guidance department is responsible for guiding, directing, and educating students in the career awareness and planning. It helps students with their choice of subjects and works with them through the university application process.
The University/College Guidance Counsellors meet the students and parents of Year 12 and 13 individually and in groups regarding the college process. They also advise Year 9, 10 and 11 students on course selection and its consequences on their college selection process.
Please check the School profile HERE to get an idea of the the IGCSE and IB results for the last year
