News

With measures around the world still in place to control the spread of Covid-19 and with so much uncertainty with regard to travelling in July, we have decided to move our summer programme online this summer. This decision has been made with the best interests of our students and staff in mind and although we are disappointed to have to cancel our physical course here at the school, we are delighted to tell you about the exciting academic courses that we will be offering to students on Microsoft Teams. Here is a brief overview of each course:

Pre-IB Course
First under the spotlight is our brand new Pre-IB course. This is a 3-week preparation course for students who will be starting the International Baccalaureate Diploma this September. It is well-known amongst teachers that many students find the jump up to the IBDP very intense: with so much to learn and understand, it can be quite a ‘shock to the system’ for many students.  It is for this reason that our Pre-IB course has been designed as it ensures students feel better prepared for when they will begin the diploma. Open to students from all over the world, this programme will not only look at the three core subjects of English, Maths and Science, but will also explore the skills and techniques students will need in order to adapt to life as an IB student. Taught by experienced IB-specialist teachers, students will:

• Have 15 hours online teaching per week
• Receive one full week of study dedicated to each subject
• Have a maximum of 15 students in their class
• Learn in detail about CAS & TOK elements

As well as learning all about the IB and how it works, we will be offering students resources they can use and take with them after the course has ended, ensuring that the legacy of the Pre-IB online course at Whitgift goes beyond the three weeks students spend with us. In this way, our course is truly hybrid! By attending our International Baccalaureate preparation course, students will complete the programme feeling far more confident in their abilities and with the all-important knowledge and context of the IBDP. This will allow them to anticipate the academic challenges that lie ahead.

Academic Skills in English
Our second offering is our Academic Skills in English course. This intensive course has been designed for those students who at high-school (or secondary school as we say here in the UK) and really need to concentrate on improving their essay writing, reading, note taking and presentation skills as well developing their vocabulary range. It is specifically aimed at 14-16-year olds who are preparing for, or already undertaking, the following courses:

• iGCSEs/GCSEs
• IB/A-Levels
• IELTs or B2 First Exams,

Requiring students to focus on those key areas they need to excel at when studying in English, this course is for those students who already have a high level of English (B2) but need to improve their academic skills set in English.  It is for this reason this course is similar to an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course and students should expect it to be intensive, challenging as well as rewarding.

English for International Education (11-13 years of age) 
It is safe to say, we can all probably remember our first day at school. Were you confident, excited and looking forward to the challenge? Maybe you were more nervous and anxious? Whatever side of the spectrum you were on, most of you were undertaking this challenge in your own language, yet this is not the case for many students these days! The fact is that, for many girls and boys who are about to begin a new school either in the UK or in an international context, their first day will be unfamiliar from a linguistic and cultural perspective. It is for this reason we have created our English for International Education, which is aimed at students who are about to attend an English-speaking school and need some extra support with their English. This course will also give students those all-important cultural skills they will need in their new environment as well as a new-found linguistic confidence.

Whitgift School and digital learning
We are lucky enough to have a wealth of knowledge and experience with online teaching and learning here at Whitgift. Since March 2020, we have, for the most part, been teaching our students through the excellent Microsoft Teams platform.  Whilst online learning is very different to face to face learning, it does afford many benefits including engaging, intuitive and useful Edtech apps, breakout rooms and the chance, arguably, to work more collaboratively. To this, student interaction is a key element of our online courses; students will be joining from all over the world and there will be plenty of opportunities for them to get to know one another in the ‘student lounges’ that will be available. As with our onsite summer school, we would like students to finish the course having made lifelong friends!

We understand that you may have a few questions and as always, we are happy to discuss these so please do get in touch!