Alice Smith School Sixth Form

Sixth Form

A history of innovation

Alice Smith School is one of the oldest and most prestigious British international schools in Asia offering the National Curriculum for England. We have a reputation for excellence and provide an outstanding and innovative education. As a not-for-profit school, all our resources are focused on our students’ success, wellbeing and happiness.

Our Sixth Form offers you the opportunity to achieve your academic potential with a choice of over 24 A Level subjects and the option of completing the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). You’ll receive personalised Higher Education guidance to maximise your potential by finding the right university for you and have the opportunity to participate in a large range of extra curricula activities to develop existing skills and learn new ones.

Why you should choose Alice Smith 1

st not-for-profit British international school in Malaysia

25%

of students are from our Founding NationsBritain, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia

83%

of teaching staff are from the United Kingdom

% of students gained places at their first choice world universities

COBIS Patron’s Accreditation

March 2019

The support sixth form students receive is excellent. They receive clear guidance and advice which assists them to make sensible subject choices linked to their achievements to date, aspirations and university choices.

Across both campuses the EAL (English as an Additional Language) and SEN (Special Education Needs) teams work diligently to support the needs of individual students and work closely and co-operatively with their families to keep them up to date with progress and issues which arise.

Teachers appreciate the generous levels of personal support; high quality professional development and being able to work in a highly motivational learning environment. When working at Alice Smith School, staff show considerable loyalty to the school, work hard, giving generously of their time in terms of supporting students through extended learning support, extra-curricular activities and additional intervention programmes where appropriate.

Academic

RESEARCH REFLECTION

What is EPQ?

The EPQ is an in-depth research project which involves producing a 5,000 word written report or an artefact accompanied by a report of at least 1,000 words and a complete 20-30 minute presentation for a non-specialist audience.

You will have the freedom to research into any topic and can choose to focus on an area which you would like to study in the future or something that just really interests you! The project will help you to develop many different skills such as research, planning, analysis, presentation and evaluation. It helps to establish independent learning and bridge the gap between completing A Levels and Higher Education and can really make your university application stand out.

Ready to choose your A Levels?

• If you know what you want to study at university, look at the A Level entry requirements for the courses that interest you on the UCAS and university websites.

• If you are not sure what to study, keep your options open. Consider a balance of subjects that reflect your abilities, strengths and interests.

• Your GCSE grades matter. Are you on track to achieve the GCSE grades to progress to the courses you would like to do at A Level and at university? Oxbridge and Medicine applicants will usually be expected to achieve at least 8A*/As (although some pathways may require more because they are so competitive).

• If you are taking up a new subject at A Level - do you know enough about it and why you want to study it?

Personalised Higher Education guidance

Our highly structured, comprehensive and personalised Higher Education Programme ensures we identify your interests and strengths in order to support you individually to meet your future ambitions. You will be able to:

• Access our university and careers platform Cialfo, to work on University research and CVs as well as keeping all your notes in one convenient location. Cialfo also runs online information sessions and events on a regular basis from Universities across the world. These are free to access for students and parents.

• Attend regular individual sessions with our dedicated Higher Education counselling team as required for every student.

• Access to Short-list me, which is a fantastic interview tool used most commonly for graduate recruitment.

• Access the school’s dedicated Higher Education Gsite that provides information on a variety of topics

Year 12

TERM 1

• Overview of applying to University in UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Asia and Europe

• Specialist lessons and support for those interested in Oxbridge, USA, Medicine and creative routes that require a portfolio

TERM 2

• Creating CVs

• Becoming familiar with the graduate recruitment process and how to gain employment

• Exploring different Career Theories

• Online interview practice though Short-List me

• Introduction to Personal Statements for UK university applications

TERM 3

• Start applications to UK and USA and how to prepare for other destinations

• Prepare for specialised tests for Oxbridge admissions, and for highly competitive subjects such as LNAT (The Law National Aptitude Test) required for some Law degrees or BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test) and UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) for some medicine and medical related courses

Programme of talks and lectures from visiting university representatives throughout the year

"The support Sixth Form students receive is excellent. They receive clear guidance and advice which assists them to make sensible subject choices linked to their achievements to date, aspirations and university choices." COBIS Patron’s Accreditation March 2019

Year 13

TERM 1

• Weekly lessons to provide support with applications around the world including applications to Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, Ivy League and other top USA applications

• Provision of academic references

• Provision of all other documents required for non-UK applications

Alice Smith places very high emphasis on ensuring that students have a wide variety of opportunities to be leaders within the school. I have always enjoyed pursuing such opportunities, and am glad to hold the position of Head Student. The role has provided me with the chance to lead and represent the diverse and talented student body of Alice Smith, and it has been a uniquely amazing experience.

From discussing architectural developments to introducing a new framework for recognising student attainment, seeing the positive impact I have had on the school community is extremely rewarding as I give back to the community that I have spent the past thirteen years thriving in.

Bradley Lewis

Head Student, 2019-2020 Class of 2020 University of Yale

TERM 2

• Support to review any offers and advice on best options going forward

• Continued support for University applications that have later deadlines such as Canada, The Netherlands and rolling admissions

TERM 3

• Confirm results and offers

• Support during the UK clearing and adjustment process if required

Programme of talks and lectures from visiting university representatives throughout the year

Our fantastic Higher Education team was nominated as one of the finalists for the Pathways to Continued and University Education award in the International School Awards 2022!

Overseen by three full time professionals working with teaching staff, alumni and other providers, our Future Pathways initiatives aim to expand both Higher Education and Career advice in Sixth Form and beyond.

The International School Awards hosted by ISC Research celebrate learning, teaching, community, wellbeing, leadership and strategic initiatives at international schools. They provide the opportunity for international schools to share best practice, creative endeavours, community participation, and innovation.

We no longer ask students what they want to ‘be’, but rather ‘who they want to become’

Personalised support for every student

We recognise that every student has a set of unique skills, abilities, and university aspirations. We provide personalised support to each and every student, helping them find the right fit for what they want to do after leaving Alice Smith School.

Our Higher Education provision

Alongside our outstanding internal provision, we also work extensively with external providers in order to create the best and most individualised approach for all of our students. This includes additional tutoring sessions for a range of areas such as LNAT/UCAT/BMAT/SAT and various entrance exams. It also includes the most up-to-date work experience opportunities and careers advice.

Extra support for Oxbridge applicants

Students interested in applying to Oxford or Cambridge also benefit from a multitude of resources and support catered towards improving their academic aptitude and interview skills to help them prepare for the application. For instance, we partner with Oxford Tutors and JnJ Education to provide our students with mock interviews.

Using CIALFO, our Higher Education platform

At Alice Smith, our students go on to pursue higher education across the globe and we currently have alumni studying in 14 countries at over 130 different institutions, studying over 150 unique courses. Cialfo, our Higher Education platform, is truly global and is a great resource for both students and parents to research and explore the different universities and programmes offered around the world. They can also connect with universities through the various fairs and webinars offered by Cialfo throughout the year.

"Sixth Form at Alice Smith encapsulates everything I love about school. Firstly, the amazing facilities allow for a collaborative learning space, since students can use the open-plan Sixth Form area to revise solo or bond with their peers. It is so common to see students become quick friends or strike up a conversation, and it's all thanks to the Sixth Form centre, which acts as a nexus in the school, promoting interconnectedness within the student community. The atmosphere is completely different, and truly one-of-a-kind.

Furthermore, the Sixth Form experience is synonymous with growth. I can easily say that I have developed so much – as a student, as a leader, as a person – in the last year and a half. There are so many opportunities to volunteer, learn from peers & teachers alike, and flourish. The Sixth Form ethos of giving everybody the chance to venture outside their comfort zone allows students to find new passions, and gain so many skills. Sixth Form at Alice Smith is really something special, and I treasure it every day."

Rishabh Sen

Head Student, 2021-2022 Class of 2022

Ithaca College Liberal Arts and Science, United States

Where our students go...

Our students have progressed to top ranked universities in the UK, US and worldwide including all the prestigious UK Russell Group and several US Ivy League universities.

UK University Progressions (TIMES UK Ranking 2022)

1 University of Oxford * 2 University of St Andrews 3 University of Cambridge * 4 London School of Economics and Political Science * 5 Imperial College London * 6 Durham University * 7 University College London (UCL) * 8 University of Bath 9 University of Warwick * 10 University of Edinburgh * 11 Loughborough University 12 Lancaster University 13 University of Exeter * 14 University of Glasgow * 15 University of Bristol * 16 University of Southampton * 17 University of York * 18 University of Strathclyde 19 University of Aberdeen 20= University of Birmingham * 20= University of Sheffield * 22 University of Surrey 23 University of Leeds * 24 University of Manchester * 25 Cardiff University * 26 King’s College London * 27 University of East Anglia 28 Queen’s University Belfast * 29 Royal Holloway, University of London 30= University of Nottingham * 30= University of Reading 32 University of Dundee 33= Newcastle University * 33= University of Liverpool * 35 University of Leicester 36 Queen Mary University of London * 37 SOAS University of London 41 Aberystwyth University 48 University of Kent 49 Northumbria University, Newcastle 50 University of Sussex 57= Heriot-Watt University 57= Oxford Brookes University

61 University of the West of England Bristol (UWE) 62 University of Portsmouth 63 University for the Creative Arts 67= Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh 69 City, University of London 74 University of Plymouth 76 Arts University Bournemouth 96 University of Derby 107 University of Central Lancashire 110= Brunel University London 115= University of Westminster 115= Middlesex University 125 University of Northampton 126 London South Bank University

AECC University College, Bournemouth Camberwell College of Arts MetFilm School London Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

TEDI-London: The Engineering & Design Institute London University College Birmingham * Russell Group University

USA University Progressions (US News and World Ranking 2022)

3 Yale University ** 13 Brown University ** 20 University of California, Berkeley 25= University of Michigan 25= University of Southern California 32 Tufts University 34 University of California, San Diego 41 Boston University 44 Georgia Institute of Technology 51 Purdue University 77 Michigan State University 97 University of Illinois Academy of Art University, California AMDA: Performing Arts Conservatory Davidson College Ithaca University Ringling College of Art and Design Savannah College of Art and Design Wesleyan University

** Ivy League University

International University Progressions (World Ranking 2022)

Australia 33 University of Melbourne 41 University of Sydney 45 University of New South Wales

~50 University of Queensland 57 Monash University, Melbourne 90 University of Western Australia 109 University of Adelaide 193 Curtin University ~293 University of Tasmania ~363 University of South Australia ~461 James Cook University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

Canada 47 University of British Columbia 152 McMaster University 242 University of Calgary University of Toronto University of Waterloo University of York, Canada

China 307 Tianjin University

Denmark

Copenhagen School of Design and Technology

France

ESRA International Film School Germany

Karlshochschule International University University of Applied Sciences Aachen

Japan 23 University of Tokyo 601 - 650 Kanazawa University

Malaysia

Asia Pacific University

Brickfields Asia College

Herriot-Watt University, Malaysia Campus International Medical University (IMU)

Insituto di Moda Burgo, Malaysian Campus Limkokwing University

Monash University, Malaysia Newcastle University, Malaysia Campus

RSCI and UCD (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and University College Dublin), Malaysia Campus

Taylor's University

University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus University of Reading, Malaysia Campus

New Zealand 87 University of Auckland

The Netherlands 58 University of Amsterdam ~131 Leiden University 138 Eindhoven University of Technology 145 University of Groningen 278 Maastricht University

Hanze University of Applied Sciences Inholland University of Applied Sciences Rotterdam Business School

The Hague University of Applied Sciences Van Hall Larenstein University Willem de Kooning Academie

India

Jindal University Measi Academy of Architecture

Indonesia

Universitas Indonesia Ireland

RCSI, Dublin (Royal College of Surgeons)

Singapore 11 National University of Singapore

Spain

IE University, Madrid

A Learning Environment built for you

The learning environment at Alice Smith is always evolving to ensure it will support you in developing the key skills you need to be successful in an increasing global marketplace.

Traditional classrooms are replaced by bright, flexible, modern, technologyrich environments which facilitate all types of learning activities from individual research to classroom discussions to collaborative large scale projects.

Our new dedicated Sixth Form Centre is a dynamic workplace specially designed to create an environment to support and encourage independent learning, peer collaboration and provide continuity from secondary school to higher education. As students mature, they have more time for independent study, which inevitably means they need space for that independent study. Our senior students actually helped to design this space so we could ensure it would meet their needs.

Library

A few years ago, people were eschewing libraries because they felt the immediacy of access to information that the internet brought meant libraries were surplus to requirements. We felt that a library - a place of literature and non-fiction books, periodicals, magazines, graphic novels, movies and study rooms - still has a place in the modern school, and so evolved our two-storey resource hub that offers students a comfy place to curl up with a book, a venue to collaborate with friends on a History project, a zone to get engrossed in a graphic novel, or place to simply sit and research. We have three full-time adults to support students in their learning and they are always able to provide parents, students and staff with access to newspapers from around the world at the touch of a button.

Our library features different zones including glass collaboration rooms, study pods, booths and sofas; giving students (and parents) the choice of where to sit and how to research.

Media Studies and Computing

Our Media Studies and Computing departments occupy the Steve Warry Centre, hosting two spacious classrooms along with generous breakout spaces and a suite of Macs for video and photograph editing using industry standard software, thereby giving students a real taste of life in the world of media and advertising. Entering our computing area, students could be forgiven for thinking they are entering the world of Google or Apple, with a funky breakout space, astroturf flooring and beanbags to inspire the creative juices.

Creative & Expressive Arts

Two purpose-built drama studios offer students an opportunity to gain confidence through acting, directing and operating LED lighting and sound technology. In addition, our Performing Arts Hall has retractable mobile seating to give audience members a comfortable, obstruction-free view of the productions our students put on every year.

Music enjoys very spacious facilities incorporating classrooms, a recording studio and collaboration spaces. Students also have access to a range of peripatetic music teachers in specialised soundproofed rooms, for example, violin, guitar, piano and saxophone lessons.

Our Art students have a wonderful, vibrant space that not only inspires but acts as a gallery to really give them a feel of what artists in the ‘real world’ will experience. Ceramics and digital photography studios offer opportunities beyond the regular paint and pencil artwork; offering students the opportunity to diversify the media they study.

Science

Our 10 purpose built science laboratories are exceptional spaces to learn. We also have breakout spaces so students can collaborate on projects and be inspired by the student crafted displays showing cells, sparks and space. At Alice Smith, we encourage students to write on the walls - easily cleanable glass walls! - to help support their learning and make their own learning visible to others.

Staff are supported by three full-time, fully qualified technicians who ensure the practical work that is crucial for students to really understand the world of science is in place and supports learning.

Sports Facilities

We have a fabulous Sports Hall with three air-conditioned basketball courts which can switch to offering volleyball, badminton, five-a-side football or any other indoor sport for that matter.

Our 50m, 10 lane swimming pool gives students an opportunity to practise freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly, as well as their life-saving skills, or even kayaking. And when the weather’s not so good, our three floor multi-gym gives them an opportunity to use the cross-fit equipment, fixed or free weights or get on one of 20 bikes to improve cardiovascular function.

We also have a huge multipurpose sports hall which allows our gymnasts a place to leap, roll and jump or, our budding judo students a place to throw each other, or maybe a teacher or two!

We also have climbing and bouldering facilities which allow students to reach for the stars using a rope, karabiner and another student to belay them; all under the watchful gaze of a fully qualified climbing wall superviser.

In terms of outdoor sports facilities, we have a full-sized football pitch as well as a full size rugby pitch. We have 7 outdoor tennis courts which double up as netball courts as well as an international standard artificial surface for 5-aside field hockey. There’s also a multi-purpose grass area for softball. Or T-ball. Or touch rugby. Or even ultimate frisbee, all of which are offered as part of our curricular, or extra-curricular programme.

Our 8-lane synthetic athletic running track is certified by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the Alice Smith School is the first international school in Malaysia and the third in the world to receive this standard of certification.

Over 100 Extra-curricular Activities for you to enjoy!

Whether you are looking to try something new or find friends with similar interests our wide range of Extra-curricular Activities (ECAs) offers something for everyone. Our extensive ECA programme covers a wide range of sports, community service projects and opportunities to get involved in events such as our annual production and music evenings.

After being in Alice Smith for nearly 13 years, I have the utmost confidence in saying that this school has shaped who I am as a person today and has prepared me for my future endeavours. I am so grateful to have grown up in the KLASS community and I personally can’t imagine a better environment to develop and mature in. With the school’s wonderful teachers and resources, my time at Alice Smith provided me with the confidence to face everything ahead of me head on.

Erin Eu Lakshmanan Class of 2021 Liberal Arts and Science University of California, Berkeley

Our Mission

To provide an outstanding British education for a successful international future Our Vision

To lead the pursuit of excellence in learning through nurturing, inspiring and enriching the lives and characters of young people

We believe that through generosity of time and our care and attention to every individual, we find a way to bring out the best in all people and create an enduring sense of belonging to something very special

THE ALICE SMITH SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION (001923-A)

Primary Campus

Secondary Campus No. 2 Jalan Bellamy No. 3 Jalan Equine, Taman Equine 50460 Kuala Lumpur 43300 Seri Kembangan Malaysia Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Tel +603 2148 3674 Tel +603 9543 3688 Fax +603 2148 3418 Fax +603 9543 3788 Email admissions.jb@alice-smith.edu.my Email admissions.ep@alice-smith.edu.my www.alice-smith.edu.my