We are really excited to announce that we are the first school in Essex to become a partner school of Dukes Plus!
Dukes Plus is a family of specialised consultancy services and educational experience providers, including the highest standards of university preparation, once-in-a-lifetime industry experiences, tuition, summer schools and day camps. We have been working very closely with Dukes to provide a bespoke, elite careers programme for Thorpe Hall School.
Firstly, we held a ‘Secondary Enrichment Day’ which introduced Year 9 to Year 11 to the process of applying to universities. The presentations by guest speakers including Umut Arslan, Senior Careers Advisor at A List Education, and Owen Walding, Head of Schools at Oxbridge Applications – focused on Oxbridge applications, studying medicine and options for universities in the US. Umut advises students all over the world on their US university application journeys and Owen leads strategic and targeted application support for hundreds of top British and international schools.
Our students enjoyed the presentations, finding them informative and eye-opening. Frank, in Year 10, said: “I learnt a lot abut how to apply effectively to an Oxbridge university” and Will, in Year 10, said: “I found it very informative and really enjoyed it. I found out how to apply to universities in America, the grades to get and I learnt about the diversity of universities in the US”.
Following this, students participated in the bespoke ‘Dukes Individual Advising Programme’, which offers students a unique 30 minute opportunity to engage in tailored, one-on-one sessions with expert advisors to explore their university course interests in depth. Students were matched with advisors specialising in their field of interest allowing students to ask questions, discuss subject-specific pathways, and receive tailored advice from experienced professionals.
Next, in partnership with Dukes, we are showcasing these opportunities to all at our FREE information evening – open to not just the Thorpe Hall School community but to all in the local area with the aim to raise academic aspiration in Southend.
The Parents’ Information Evening is designed to provide families with an in-depth understanding of the university application process, tailored specifically to address parents’ questions and concerns. With a focus on the unique requirements of both the UK and US systems, these sessions equip parents with the knowledge needed to guide their children through these critical milestones. Featuring expert-led presentations on applying to Oxford and Cambridge as well as leading US universities, the evening is an invaluable resource for families navigating the complexities of higher education applications.
5:30-7:30pm
Cunningham Theatre
Open to all!
