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Languages and the creative arts are falling out of favour among GCSE and A-level students. Provisional figures for the number of entries for GCSE and A-level qualifications in England this summer have been published.

Here’s what we know

Boost for Maths and Computing

Rishi Sunak has a reason to celebrate, as entries for maths subjects are on the rise. Although his plan to make maths education compulsory until age 18 has yet to be implemented, Statistics entries at GCSE level have increased by 18.4% since last summer. Meanwhile, Maths entries have risen by 5%.

Also, computing A-level entries rose up to almost 15% from 15,210 last year to 17,420 this year.

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Boost in popularity for Maths, Computing and Classical subjectsRead More »

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) has announced that traditional Personal Statements will soon be removed from the university application process in the UK.

Personal statements for university applicants will be scrapped amid claims they give middle-class students an unfair advantage.

Aspiring undergraduates will instead answer a questionnaire covering six key areas, including motivation for the course and preferred learning style.

Find out how this will work, when it will happen and how it will affect your application.

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Personal Statement to be removed from the university application processRead More »

One of the most difficult tasks in education is deciding the best course to study. Since many students want to match passion with opportunities, they make inquiries before enrolling at a university.   This is because many students upon graduation wish to live and work in the UK. Therefore, studying a less-in-demand course will reduce their chances of getting employed. Studying one of the popular courses in the UK gives you a headway career-wise.

We hope this article will help all potential students to choose one of the best courses to study in the UK.  International students may find this particularly helpful.

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Best University Courses to Study in UK 2023-2024Read More »

Being a multi-cultural community hosting people from around 200 nationalities, the UAE has a large network of private schools, which follow different curricula.  More than 200 international schools centred on Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ras Al-Khaimah provide the expatriate population with a wide variety of educational options. Most are co-educational day schools and a few take girls only.

Private schools comprise mainly British, American and Indian curricula that meet the educational needs of different nationalities residing in the emirate.

Let’s talk about the best British schools in UAE.

The Royal Grammar School, Guildford, Dubai

RGS Dubai, a brand new, ultra modern campus for a school with a 500-year history

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Private schools in UAERead More »

It is not always easy to make important decisions for your future studies, especially with so many different courses at various levels. Now added to this long list of exciting courses is the introduction of the new T Levels, which are highly practical pathways that help you to step into various industries.

Here you will discover which pathway would be more suited to you, according to your own learning style, and how each one of these pathways can lead to great career prospects.

How much reading and research do you enjoy?

If you are the kind of student who enjoys academic subjects that require a lot of reading, writing and research, then A Levels would most likely be suited to your learning style. Science and maths subjects, although practical in some aspects, are considered highly academic due to the amount of study required.

You usually study three or more A-levels over two years and they are assessed by a series of exams.  If you enjoy academic learning and want to study a broad range of subjects, they could be the perfect option for you. If you’re sure that you want to go to university then they are worth considering.

A-levels are highly valued by employers and universities so they can open up lots of doors to further study and careers.

They are good if you don’t know what you want to study at university, or haven’t pinned down your ideal career yet, because they keep a lot of options open.

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A-levels, BTEC, Apprenticeship or T Level?Read More »

The UK is home to some of the best universities in the world. It’s no surprise, then, that it draws thousands of international students to its shores in pursuit of their higher education each year. In 2019-20 there were 538,615 international students studying in the UK; 142,985 of these were from the EU and 395,630 were non-EU, said government data.  Despite this, it was fairly difficult for international students to pursue work opportunities in the UK after completing their studies.  This is beginning to change.

The Government’s long-awaited Graduate Visa route finally launched on 1 July 2021. The revival of the post study work visa (which ended in 2012) is a welcome boost to both the UK’s international student sector and to UK employers grappling with post Brexit recruitment.

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New Graduate Visa Route launchedRead More »

We are pleased to announce that we have passed Gold Standard reinspection by AEGIS (Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students), with flying colours. It was a very thorough process, which involved checking all the documentation, inspecting host families and getting feedback from schools, parents and students.

Our inspector wrote that the feedback was fantastic all around, ‘Parents and students are overwhelmingly positive about the service they receive from Best Start Education’.   ‘Schools unanimously appreciate the high levels of support they receive from Best Start Education’.

We are very pleased with the outcome of the inspection and very grateful for the support of the parents, students and schools. We provide a safe and happy environment, to give your child the best possible opportunity to discover his/her own potential.

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AEGIS Gold Standard ReaccreditationRead More »

There are a few things you need to know before making your final A-level choice. Choosing a handful of subjects to take at A-level is not a decision you should take lightly. The A-levels you pick now can impact what you do later, namely the courses you can apply to at university.

If you don’t know what you want to do in the future, you can still make smart choices now, that will leave you in the best position in two years’ time.

1 Check university requirements

If you decided to go to university, the main question you should ask yourself is: ‘Do I know what I want to study?’. Your answer will dictate which subjects you should choose for A Level. So, if you have clear ideas about what you want to do in life, you should check whether your plans require specific subjects. A lot of courses will specify at least one subject you’ll need to have studied at A Level. Some examples are listed below:

• Economics: Mathematics is the only A-level subject that is required. You can take Further Mathematics in addition to Mathematics. Economics is preferred if your school offers it.
• English language and literature: English literature, English language or modern language
• Engineering / Computer science: Mathematics, Further Mathematics, and Physics or Chemistry (for an engineering course)
• Pharmaceuticals: Chemistry is a compulsory subject, in addition you can choose Mathematics, Biology or Physics
• Medicine: Chemistry and Biology are compulsory subjects
• Architecture: Physics, Mathematics and Art are the most appropriate subjects
• Law: Any subjects can be chosen, however, you will need to show that you have the skills that will enable you to be successful in your law degree (eg writing essays, analyzing facts). Subjects such as History, Law and Politics are the most appropriate for this course.

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Things to consider when choosing your A LevelsRead More »

There is a unique opportunity for all potential university students – participating in a university fair virtual event from the comfort of your own house. Meet the Russell Group is a collaborative virtual event with all 24 Russell Group Universities in association with UK University Search. The event will be going live on Wednesday 10 February, and you are welcome to visit anytime between 12:00 – 19:00, and spend as long as you need to at the event, collecting information and talking to representatives and ambassadors. You can register and look at the timetable here.

Please contact us for professional advice: [email protected]

Tel. +44 79307 32407

Elena Colquhoun, MSc, PGCE, ACIL

Director of Best Start Education, qualified teacher and examiner

 

As everyone knows, entry into Oxford University has become even more intensely competitive.

Best Start Education is delighted to announce that one of our students, Polina, secured her place at Oxford University last week.  We have been Polina’s guardians for 5 years. Entry into such a prestigious university reflects our student’s talents, ambition and hard work, as well as the support and encouragement of her family and teachers. Well done Polina!  Well done to all our students!

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Celebrating with our studentsRead More »