Professional Guidance & Oxbridge
Badminton made me feel fairly undaunted about going on to Oxford and then doing a Masters in Art History in London, and eventually working there in places such as the National Portrait Gallery
From Anthropology to Filmmaking, Neuroscience to International Development, Aeronautical Engineering to Global Sustainable Development: Badminton girls go on to do anything and everything at some of the most prestigious universities in the world. We have a strong success rate for applications to Oxford and Cambridge. In 2016, 7 of our girls (in an Upper Sixth year of just 58) received Oxbridge offers in Medicine, Natural Sciences, Law, Fine Art and Architecture.
It’s important to us that girls get specialist, professional advice from experts so that they can make the very best choices. Our Director of Higher Education works closely with other staff and with those outside Badminton to structure a clear two-year programme of guidance and support. Thursday afternoons see our sessions for the Lower Sixth on Higher Education, making sure that they make the best possible start on their applications. All Sixth Formers continue to have weekly timetabled sessions on Higher Education and Careers and we frequently welcome speakers from UK and worldwide universities and from different career paths to get girls thinking about their next steps.
Scheduled events, including our biennial Careers and Opportunities Fairs, are supported by online resources. During our UCAS preparation days, girls visit a Russell Group university. They also attend lectures and workshops with university admissions tutors covering the application process and learning about what makes a strong personal statement. There are also interview practice days run by professionals. Those applying to Oxford or Cambridge follow a specific Oxbridge Programme, including being paired with a ‘buddy’ who is currently studying their chosen subject at either Oxford or Cambridge.
Badminton also offers a number of awards to girls in the Upper Sixth to support their development and their studies at university:
The Urquhart Travel Award
Generously funded by the Urquhart family, whose members have been involved with Badminton as pupils, staff and Governors since the middle of the twentieth century, this award is offered to girls currently in the Upper Sixth. Girls may apply for funding to enable them to travel to places of international interest and to further their knowledge of international affairs.
The OBA University Book Award
The Old Badmintonians Association offers this generous annual award to assist with the costs of books and study materials for university. Girls apply at the beginning of their final term at the School, and the award may be given to a girl studying any subject at university.
Useful Information
Download our Leavers Destinations 2018
Download our A Level Results for the past four years
