Why Study at the Abbey DLD Group of Colleges?
Over the years we have helped thousands of students from all around the world achieve their dream of studying at a top-ranked university. Our successes are based on simple but effective principles:
Why study at the Abbey DLD Group of Colleges?
We create well-rounded, successful students
We prepare students for success at university and beyond by helping them to develop into mature, independent, and curious learners in and out of the classrooms.
We offer a wider range of after-school and weekend clubs and activities, many of which are inclusive of tuition fees.
Our three colleges work together, collaborate and share ideas to adopt best practice and benefit all of our students.
Our colleges are vibrant learning communities
Each of our colleges a re diverse academic communities bound together by shared ambition and experience.
Every year, we welcome students from around the world to study alongside British students. We respect and celebrate different cultures, whilst also helping our students to integrate in and understand British culture and values.
Our academic successes are founded on strong relationships. Students are on first name terms with their teachers, we have a dress code rather than a strict uniform. We encourage discussion, debate and questioning both in and out of class, and we do all this whilst maintaining a culture of focus, ambition and respect.
We offer a personalised academic experience for each student
Our teachers work closely with each student to create individual learning plans that achieve their academic and personal goals. Small class teaching means our students receive high-quality bespoke teaching in every lesson, whilst regular academic check-ins ensure that all students are on track in their studies, with extra support available if needed.
We offer a wide range of course and subject options, ensuring students find the right course to achieve their academic goals. We offer year 9, GCSE, A Level, IFP, BTEC and Pre-Sessional programmes for students aged 13 – 21 years.
Each student has access to a dedicated personal tutor who will help to guide them through the rigours of college life. Tutors also provide regular updates on academic progress to parents and guardians
We prepare students to progress to top-ranked universities
We take pride that many of our students progress onto top ranking universities in the UK and overseas and have dedicated University Tutors are on hand to guide students through the application process.
We recognise that good grades alone are not enough to get into the most competitive universities, so we offer specialist preparation programmes to help students stand out as exceptional candidates and maximise their chances of success.
We support our students to take-part in extra-curricular competitions and challenges such as the British Mathematical Challenge, Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, and ISA National Art Competition. Participation enables students to showcase their skills and knowledge outside of the curriculum.
Our students live and study in the heart of world-renowned university cities
Our students are perfectly placed to take advantage of living in a great university city. We organise regular trips and visits to the departments and facilities of world-leading institutions such as UCL, University of Manchester, and Cambridge University, allowing our students to soak up the academic atmosphere and prepare for their future studies.
In boarding, comfort and safety are the priorities. We have invested heavily to provide our students with some of the best quality accommodation found anywhere in the UK.
Live in-house parents provide 24/7 pastoral support and care, making sure that students are safe and supported, making friends, and keeping on track with their studies.
University Preparation
University success starts with excellent guidance. Each of our colleges offers tailored support before and during the application process:
UCAS advice, help with application paperwork, preparation for university entrance tests and specialist help with applications to Oxford, Cambridge, medical and dental schools. We also look beyond university to help you with work experience and career advice.
Abbey Study Skills Programmes:
Each College offers a specific programme to help students develop skills that are essential to success in university: critical thinking, independent learning, using and quoting research articles etc.
Our Pre University programmes are:
- Pre-Degree Diploma at Abbey Cambridge
- Success in the 6th Form at Abbey Manchester
- DLD Diploma at DLD
Because of the intense competition for places, if you would like to progress to the very top universities, especially Oxford or Cambridge, A Level success alone might not be enough. That is why we offer students extensive support to take additional exams and wider programmes designed to help those aiming for the very highest level.
- Olympiads:
Participation in national and international Olympiad competitions provide students with the opportunity to further test their mathematical and science skills. Abbey DLD students have won several Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards in these events for their efforts in Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics in recent years. - Advanced Extension Awards (AEA):
We encourage our most gifted and motivated students to work towards the Advanced Extension Award. This is like an A Level in terms of content, but the questions are more challenging. AEAs are a useful additional qualification when applying for the most prestigious universities. - STEP and University Entrance Papers:
The most competitive universities increasingly use additional tests to select their students. We therefore offer a programme to teach students individually and insmall groups for these examinations, including Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA), Sixth Term Examination Papers (STEP), Bio-Medical Admissions Test (BMAT) and UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT).
Specialised Service for International Students
Beyond education, our service includes practical help with VISAs, social programmes to help you make friends and 24/7 care through House Parents and on site Nurses.
Enrolment:
After you have completed your enrolment, we provide you with everything you need to prepare for your new life in the UK. Our Pre Arrival information pack contains everything you need to know before joining us:
- Key contacts
- Term dates and timetables
- We send a pre-course reading list and preparation programme. Our Accommodation team will send a list of what items they (you/the student) need to bring to the UK.
On Arrival:
- We offer an airport pick-up service
- We show you around your new College and city
- We help you open a bank account, register with a doctor and work out your public transport choices
- We help you with applying for your visa and registering with the police
- You will meet the house parents and staff members who live within your accommodation
College Induction
Our students attend a programme over a number of days in the week before lessons begin to tour the College, meet key staff members, formally enrol and receive their timetables.
You will meet your personal tutor weekly. He or she will monitor your academic progress and attendance, as well as deal with any welfare issues.
We monitor attendance through registration at the start of every lesson. We are totally focused on ensuring you have a responsive, supportive environment in which to learn.
We supply parents with regular reports on areas such as general achievement, attitude and any concerns. We encourage parents to maintain close contact with personal tutors and our pastoral team to discuss any aspect of their child’s progress with us. We also communicate by email or text with parents regarding urgent matters, such as unexpected absence or illness.
