Year 13 KES pupils celebrate outstanding offers as specialist support helps to drive success
As this year’s Higher Education offers season gathers pace, KES pupils in Year 13 are already celebrating an impressive array of opportunities. Alongside a strong set of offers from leading universities across the UK, pupils are also securing places on competitive Degree Apprenticeships, preparing for specialist Art Foundation and design courses, or planning to study overseas. This rich diversity of ambition that balances academic aspiration with real world experience and global perspective is underpinned by our carefully designed and highly personalised Futures Programme. Through expert guidance, targeted preparation and close support for pupils and their families, we help pupils navigate the full range of post 18 routes, whether academic, vocational or creative, ensuring they leave KES equipped with the confidence, adaptability and clarity needed to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Wide Ranging Offers Reflect Diverse Talents and Interests
Higher Education offers this year span an exceptional array of courses, from Aeronautics and Astronautics to PPE, Engineering, Film Studies, Psychology, Zoology, International Relations, Economics, Russian & Spanish and more. Pupils have received offers from leading universities including Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Manchester, Oxford, King’s College and UCL, among others.
Medical applicants have also seen early success, with confirmed offers from Oxford, Manchester, Edinburgh, Exeter, Lincoln and Sunderland. Pupils applying for related degrees, including Biomedical Sciences, Neurosciences, Medical Innovation & Enterprise and Pharmacology, have likewise received strong early outcomes.
Many pupils are also applying to universities overseas in the USA, Hong Kong and Sweden by way of example. While most decisions are still pending, their interest in international study highlights the outward-looking perspective and global ambition nurtured at KES.
Members of our Year 13 cohort are also in process of applying for Degree Apprenticeships, electing to balance academic studies with early professional development, with offers to study Engineering already secured from the likes of Atkins Realis and AWE.
Commenting on this year’s applications to Higher Education, Richard Thomas, Head of UCAS at KES, said: “
Well over 90% of KES applicants held offers from universities by the February Half Term break, with two months to go before the deadline to make their choices. The breadth of courses applied for really fires the imagination - all the way from Astronautics to Zoology with almost every conceivable subject area in-between.”
Making Informed, Confident Choices
A defining feature of the Sixth Form experience at KES is the structured and personalised support each pupil receives as they explore future pathways.
Through sessions such as ‘Choosing a University’, pupils learn how to make thoughtful, research led decisions about their next steps. Guidance from staff helps them consider course content, assessment styles, campus or city environments, and the importance of selecting a course that genuinely aligns with their interests and aspirations.
Strong Support for Competitive Pathways
For pupils applying to particularly competitive courses, including Oxbridge, London STEM universities and highly selective programmes, the School offers additional structured support. Through guided “Think Tank” sessions, admissions test preparation, personal statement support, extensive interview preparation and clear application timelines, pupils receive the encouragement and challenge needed to engage successfully with demanding application processes.
Dedicated Guidance for Medicine, Dentistry & Veterinary Science Applications
KES provides an especially thorough programme for pupils aiming for medical and allied health courses. Weekly MedSoc sessions, one-to-one advice, UCAT support and structured interview coaching help pupils develop the academic understanding, reflective skills and professional insight that these courses require. Offer rates highlight the strength of this programme with KES pupils attracting over thirty separate offers over the last three years, including offers to study Medicine at both the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
Bespoke Programme for Degree Apprenticeships and Professional Routes
Pupils considering Degree Apprenticeships or vocational pathways also receive tailored guidance from the KES Careers team to help them understand opportunities, employer expectations, application requirements and the skills needed to succeed in competitive recruitment processes. Talks and feedback from OEs already in the Degree Apprenticeship pathway provide further, lived experiences to refer to. All this ensures that the full spectrum of post-18 options is provided with equal care.
Supporting Families at Every Step of the way
Through the School’s Higher Education & Futures Evening, detailed parent handbooks and clear timelines, families are equipped with all the information they need to support their children through UCAS, admissions tests, financial planning and post-offer decisions.
Strong Outcomes Year After Year
These efforts, together with the inherent ambition of our pupils, help to sustain consistently high A Level outcomes, with recent results including:
- 62% of A Level grades at A*/A
- 90% of A Level grades at A-B*
- 83% securing their first choice destination
- 82% progressing to Top 30 universities
- Almost 80% progressing to Russell Group institutions
Commenting on the support offered by the specialist team at KES, Luke Benedict, Head of Sixth Form, said:
"As the full cycle of offers continues over the coming weeks, our Year 13 pupils remain well positioned for success across an exciting variety of pathways. Whether applying for competitive academic courses, medical degrees, industrial apprenticeships or international opportunities, pupils benefit from a rich combination of ambition, curiosity and the dedicated support of specialist staff who guide them, and their families, every step of the way.”
For a detailed report on last year's results and destinations, post A Level results, click HERE.
Photos:iStock.com/RyanKing999; iStock.com/GordonBellPhotography
