IB Easter Revision Courses

Sevenoaks School

Founded over 500 years ago, Sevenoaks School is now a leading HMC British independent school with over 1000 pupils. It is beautifully situated on the edge of Sevenoaks town and adjoins the 1000-acre Knole Park. Its 70-acre campus environment is often compared with that of a university and boasts, among other attractions, two recently constructed classroom blocks, a world-class Performing Arts Centre and a modern sports centre. The school is also perfectly positioned for easy access: 30 minutes and one hour by car from Gatwick and Heathrow airports respectively and a 30 minute train journey from the centre of London. The school’s lively and cosmopolitan Sixth Form consists of over 400 pupils, many of whom live abroad and during term time reside at the school in modern boarding houses on the school campus.

 

The International Baccalaureate at Sevenoaks School

Sevenoaks has been teaching and administering the IB for over 30 years. In 1999 it took the decision to become an all-IB Sixth Form by September 2006; now all 440 Sixth Form students are studying for the IB Diploma. The school can draw on a wealth of experience from teaching staff who are fully familiar with the syllabuses and the academic standards required to achieve success in the IB Diploma. In 2011 the average points score for the school’s IB candidates was a very impressive 39.9 out of a maximum 45 with all our students obtaining more than the international average of 29 points, enough to earn the vast majority of our leavers places at top universities in this country or abroad. Unsurprisingly, therefore, we are confident that those joining our revision courses will receive the very best teaching and preparation for their IB exams.

 

 

The IB Easter 2012 Revision Courses

The purpose of the courses is to provide students with a carefully structured and organised intensive 17.5 hours (over nearly three days) of revision. In this time the teachers, the majority of whom are employed full-time at Sevenoaks School, will:

  • Give a written synopsis of the IB syllabus for their subject to ensure students are fully aware of the necessary ground to cover to be successful in the final exams;
  • Cover as much of the exam syllabus as the 17.5 hours of contact time per subject allow, including all the content of the ‘core’ in the case of Higher Level Maths, Physics and Chemistry (for content of History see footnote below);
  • Provide suitable written and visual resources to students to inform and help them with their preparation for the exams;
  • Provide intensive tuition in the IB syllabus of the chosen subject (see below);
  • Develop the students’ exam techniques to ensure they develop the necessary skills to answer IB exam questions successfully;
  • Set and mark written work so that students can improve their exam performance;
  • Provide individual and collective advice on how to revise for the forthcoming exams.

Teaching will be conducted in small groups in the school, in comfortable classrooms equipped with computer projectors.

 

The Structure and Range of the Revision Courses

Applicants are invited to apply for either one or two courses. Each course will include a total of 17.5 hours tuition and teaching. Classes start at 09.00 and conclude at 16.40 for the two full days and finish at 16.00 on the final day. With an hour for lunch (provided as part of the cost) in the middle of the day, the morning and afternoon sessions are intensive. Students are also expected to complete approximately two hours of work on the two evenings when there are classes the following day.

On both courses we plan to offer teaching and tuition at both Standard Level and Higher Level, subject to demand, in the following subjects:

  • Biology
  • Business Management
  • Chemistry
  • Economics
  • English A
  • French B
  • Geography
  • History 1
  • Latin (first course only)
  • Maths
  • Physics

 

1 Paper 1 Documents (Examples based on International Relations 1918-1936, with emphasis on skills); Paper 2 Cold War, Single Party States; Paper 3 (HL only) Russia 1894-1953, Europe 1815-1871

Applicants can therefore study a maximum of two subjects/courses over the six days of the courses. Alternatively, they may attend just one of the courses.

 

Dates and Times of 2012 Revision Courses

Course One will run from 08.30 on Tuesday 10 April until 16.00 on Thursday 12 April.
Course Two will run from 08.30 on Friday 13 April until 16.00 on Sunday 15 April.

 

The Residential Option

Those attending either or both courses will be asked to arrive at their allocated residence any time between 16.00 and 21.00 on the night before the day the course starts and will stay a total of three nights for each course. Students will be accommodated in one of the school’s boarding houses. All residents will be accommodated in single or twin bed-sitting rooms where there will be facilities to work in the evening. A member of the school’s academic boarding house staff will be on duty during the course and be responsible for residents. Breakfast, morning and afternoon refreshments, lunch and an evening meal will be provided in the school’s central dining room.

Please note that it may be necessary for students to share accommodation although, if a single is requested, these will be offered on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.

 

The Non-residential Option

Those who live, or can find accommodation, close enough to the school to enable them to attend a course on a non-residential basis may prefer to do so. They will also be given morning and afternoon refreshments, and lunch.

 

Use of School Facilities

Whether as a residential or day student, those attending a review course will have access to the school’s outstanding facilities, including the library to assist with the revision, and the Sports Centre. For fresh air and exercise there is the wide expanse of school playing fields adjoining the main school campus.

 

Cost of one Revision Course

Boarding students  £570
Day students  £400

In the event of cancellation before 18 February 2012, £100 is non-refundable. If we are informed of cancellation after 18 February 2012 none of the fee will be refunded. The last date for receipt of payment is Friday 23 March.

 

How to apply

Please download and complete the IB Revision Course application form and return it to the Course Director, Paul La Rondie. You must complete and return both sections; that is

  • the course application, with the appropriate payment
  • ‘Terms and Conditions’ signed by both the student and parent

Acknowledgement of the receipt of these two forms will be sent immediately and will then be followed, shortly before the course starts, by a letter providing more details of the course arrangements. Some classes fill up more quickly than others, so early application is recommended.

All subjects require a minimum enrolment of four students. In the unlikely event of there not being enough students to fill a class, applicants will be informed as far in advance of the start of the course as possible. Applicants may then choose another course, or receive a full refund of course fees.

 

Methods of Payment

Either Personal cheques, made payable to ‘Sevenoaks School’ and sent to:

Paul La Rondie, Course Director, IB Easter Revision Courses,
Sevenoaks School, High Street, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1HU, UK

Or Bank transfer (copy of bank receipt to be attached to application form) to:
IBAN: GB30 NWBK 6019 0225 8480 70
BIC: NWBK GB2L XXX
Nat West Bank
67 High Street
Sevenoaks
Kent TN13 1LA
Sort code: 60-19-02
Account No: 25848070

Please be sure to include the reference ‘Easter Revision Courses’, and the name of the student in upper case letters.

 

Insurance

It is recommended that students are fully insured for medical treatment and loss or damage to their personal property while they are completing a course. It is also advisable to insure against late cancellation, in case of illness for example.

 

Other information

We regret that the school will not make transport arrangements for subscribed students to and from airports or other public travel points.

Accommodation in school property for residential students is available only for the nights specified.

Paul La Rondie, Course Director
email: plr@sevenoaksschool.org