Sixth Form

A leading UK independent Sixth Form

Consistently ranked as one the highest achieving independent schools in the UK, it would be easy to rely on IB Diploma Points alone as an indicator of success.

Throughout their time at Westbourne students culminate critical thinking, leadership, teamwork, ethical global citizenship and communication skills that set them apart, not only in university applications – 90% of graduates achieve Top 20 UK University places – but in life.

Part of a global IB community

With 40 different nationalities in our student body, studying the IB at Westbourne is an exciting, vibrant experience that encourages friendships from all over the world.

Our Sixth Form students benefit from global learning opportunities thanks to strong links with our Westbourne International family of schools, in particular Westbourne College Sydney, which recently ranked 1st in Australia for the highest proportion of students achieving 44+ Points. Westbourne College Singapore launches this summer.

Regular exchange programmes and cross-continent online learning provides access to a global hub of ideas and information exchange, facilitating access to an alumni network that spans the globe.

An advantage for university applications

A report by the Higher Education Statistics Agency has found that in the UK, not only are IB students more likely to go to a top 20 ranked university, they are also more likely to achieve a first-class degree and be at the top of their university class.

Over recent years, UK universities have adapted their admissions criteria to attract greater numbers of IB students, making deliberate, explicit and substantial changes to their entry requirements. These include King’s College London, Bath, Birmingham, Leeds, Royal Holloway and others.

Students who study the IB develop advanced skills in problem-solving and critical reasoning, as well as the ability to research and synthesise complex information with confidence.

All three core elements of the IBDP are highly prized by university admissions teams as giving students “the edge” over their competitors: TOK for providing an insight into the philosophy of learning and thought; CAS for encouraging the development of key extra-curricular skills including creative thinking and volunteering; and the Extended Essay, in particular, gives students a tremendous advantage when applying to university by demonstrating an ability to research and write a 4000-word university-style essay.

Cutting-edge careers

In addition to one-to-one careers mentoring from our dedicated team, IB Sixth Form students at Westbourne are also supported to be future-ready through a groundbreaking careers and destinations platform. This personalised service empowers students to discover and apply for the best careers opportunities across the globe.

Informed by the eight Gatsby pillars of careers excellence, the platform includes a global database of universities, placements, scholarships and summer schools, through which students can compare degree programmes across the world,
including at all Oxbridge and US colleges. They can also access round-the-clock subject and careers libraries, expert podcasts and TED talks, as well as “super-curricular” activities such as webinars run by employers.