“ We could not have been more pleased to see how quickly Ellie adapted to studying and living away from home. She was well supported by her tutors and in her boarding house – she had the independence she craved and she thrived both socially and academically. She enjoyed the mix of home and overseas students and has made friends from across the globe. We were delighted that she won the College prize for academic achievement in her first year at CCSS and that gave her the confidence to apply to Russell Group universities. She achieved her target grades and has gone on to study Physics at Durham.” Sarah, mother of Ellie CCSS alumna Now an undergraduate at Durham University
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3/ ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
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CCSS Boarding Houses CCSS offers you an excellent choice of high quality boarding options, each with different features. All our Houses, unlike many colleges’ boarding houses, are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and students are able to be in the House at any time. Furthermore, this staffing is by our own College House Managers, all welltrained professionals whom students get to know well. Students personalise their rooms and enjoy a great atmosphere, great friendship, great support and great results. It is a requirement of the college that students not living with their parents are resident in our own managed accommodation. Students are able to request which Boarding House they will live in (subject to availability) and please note that there are different accommodation charges for the Boarding Houses. Please visit the fees section on the website for further information about boarding costs or contact the CCSS Admissions Team.
Batim House (girls) – Batim House has 26 ensuite single rooms, located opposite Anglia Ruskin University and near to Parker’s Piece, the ever-popular parkland in central Cambridge. The Batim private dining room ensures top quality catering provision; fresh ingredients characterise every menu and the choice reflects all tastes. The communal spaces have been enhanced by our team of interior designers to provide a fresh contemporary living environment. Hope House (boys) – Hope House is our newest boarding house and provides 25 single rooms with either ensuite or shared-ensuite bathrooms of extremely high standard. Most rooms are much larger than the average for Cambridge accommodation. Hope House is in a beautiful setting, adjoining the Cambridge Botanical Gardens and is one of the most sought-after locations in the City. Hope House has its own private dining room, providing exceptional levels of catering to our students. Scholars House – Scholars is the largest of the CCSS boarding houses with 56 single ensuite rooms. These are divided into two sections, providing separate accommodation for boys and girls. Scholars House has a modern twist on the classic Cambridge University layout of a peaceful central court providing an attractive outlook for the student rooms that overlook it. It benefits from the multicultural and vibrant Mill Road location and shares the main college restaurant facilities with St Barnabas House.
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The Stables – The Stables is an historic building that was once home to an architect’s practice and benefits from characterful, spacious single rooms, situated adjacent to our restaurant. In the interests of preserving this beautiful area, the rooms in this building do not have ensuite and have a quirky style. The setting is in a peaceful conservation area, with lovely gardens. Its single rooms of character are always popular. The Stables has lightning fast broadband throughout. St Barnabas House – St Barnabas House is classic English architecture: a traditional former rectory on the same site as The Stables. Its single rooms are full of character as well as modern technology in the form of fibre broadband connections. These rooms do not have ensuite bathrooms. The College restaurant is just behind St Barnabas House, a few steps across the landscaped garden area. Home Stay Accommodation We have a small number of carefully selected host families who will take CCSS students each term. These family homes are generally less centrally located than the CCSS boarding houses. Students interested in homestay need to request this preference when they apply. This option is subject to approval, which will be discussed at interview.
Extra Curricular Sport – At CCSS we offer a wide selection of sporting activities, all of which can be played for recreation and many can be pursued to a high standard. Our weekly timetable includes a sports afternoon and there are additional opportunities to play sports on most other afternoons and at weekends. In addition to team activities (football, basketball, netball, volleyball, etc) we regularly offer a range of sports such as tennis, swimming, gymnasium work (including weight training and aerobics), horse-riding, athletics, rowing, martial arts, badminton, squash and golf. Students at CCSS benefit from the superb sporting facilities that Cambridge has to offer, including indoor tennis, top-class pitches and athletic track, an Olympic-sized swimming pool and sports halls. Trips and activities – We offer a varied range of trips and events that support learning and provide challenges and new educational experiences. These include day or evening visits to theatre and film venues, as well as leisure and recreation trips such as go-karting, paintballing and ten-pin bowling. Overseas adventures have in recent years included visits to Istanbul, Singapore and Australia. A number of students also take part in other activities such as music lessons. There are often opportunities for leadership training and the College has been successful each year in applying for student places at the Global Young Leaders’ Conference in New York and Washington. Only 300 students internationally are selected for this prestigious programme. Further information about the clubs and activities at CCSS can be found on the website or via the Admissions Team.
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Courses CCSS provides you with the best preparation for university, offering the “Gold Standard” of A-levels, IELTS and ESL provision, an Academic Foundation Programme, and GCSEs. A-levels are unique courses, allowing a degree of focus and specialisation that is almost unheard of anywhere else in the world. Despite this specialisation, they provide the preparation for an incredible range of degree subjects, which are also more varied in the UK than elsewhere. 2 Year A-level - Most of our students join us at 15 to 18 years old to take A-levels over two years. Our teachers have many years’ experience of teaching at this level. This, combined with our small class sizes and individual attention in every subject, means that our students will have the best possible learning experience and preparation for their examinations. CCSS offers a wide range of A-level subjects and we can usually accommodate any combination a student chooses. Students generally select four subjects in their first year and reduce this to three in their second year. For a list of subjects, please visit the courses section of our website.
1 Year fast track A-level course – Our One Year fast track course is, as the name suggests, the two year course taught over one year. On this course students take up to three subjects and it is suitable for students who have: • Completed secondary high school education abroad and need A-levels to enter a British university • Completed Lower-Sixth but need to re-cover AS material in addition to learning the new A2 material, or want to take new subjects alongside an A2-based programme • Taken A-levels but want to re-take. Re-take students generally graduate from CCSS with improved university options and a much clearer understanding of the skills required to make the best of degree-level work • Been in employment and now want to qualify for university in an adult yet supportive environment You will be taught by senior members of the College staff who have considerable experience of providing successful exam-oriented courses. Our teachers are positive, friendly and good communicators. They are committed to helping you build up the confidence and enjoyment of work that are essential ingredients of a successful course. Your time in class focuses on three core activities: covering the material you need to know, making sure you understand the concepts, and building up your examination skills. We offer the opportunity for students to take A-levels in one year in most subjects. Please visit our website for the list of subjects available.
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1 Year GCSE Programme – GCSEs are the examination taken by 15 & 16 year olds in preparation for A-level study. Most schools offer this normally as a two year course, but CCSS successfully runs a one year programme. We offer a broad range of subjects that provide students with a varied and balanced curriculum. Maths, English and a science subject are compulsory on this course. Students usually take between five and seven subjects, depending on their background and future plans. This approach gives experience of a range of academic disciplines before choosing which subjects to study on the A-level programme.
Results and Destinations Our success rates, with students regularly earning places at the top universities, make us one of the most successful independent sixth-form colleges in the country.
Foundation Programme – The Foundation Programme at CCSS is the perfect all-round preparation for academic study, as well as being a great introduction to life at an independent sixth-form college in the UK.
Our students go on to enjoy great success in their chosen fields, at university and beyond. Our alumni include household names in business, entertainment, the arts, academia and government.
Ideal for students aged 14-17, each Foundation Programme gives the individual student a personal, tailormade experience. A blend of expert English Language teaching and the very best introduction to other academic subjects, sports activities and cultural excursions creates a rewarding English learning experience.
CCSS also provides an ideal grounding for those who choose not to go on to Higher Education, as the skills learnt and the experience gained are highly relevant to competitive careers and life in general.
The Foundation Programme at CCSS is offered as a full one-year course but we also offer short courses for 2 terms, for 1 term and for half a term. All Foundation Courses can lead to long term, full-time study at CCSS. Other Courses CCSS offer GCSE and A-level Easter Revision programmes. A Summer School for International Students also runs through July and August. Further information about these courses can be found on the CCSS website in the courses section.
Unlike many schools, CCSS is non-selective and therefore we are particularly proud of our results. Students come to us with different backgrounds and abilities, but all of them benefit from the individual approach and supportive environment at the College. A summary of our recent examination results and a list of university destinations can be found on our website.
Preparation for University All CCSS tutors have full training in the UK university applications process, and CCSS also has some experience with applications to many overseas countries. Whether on a one-year or two-year programme, students are fully supported and guided in their university choices, meeting weekly with their tutor, who oversees their university application.
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Location information CCSS is located in the thriving city of Cambridge. Cambridge is a very special and amazing city. It is small enough to find your way around, but large enough to have lots of things to see and do. Highlights include: The Fitzwilliam Museum, The Botanical Gardens, Kettle’s Yard Art Gallery, an array of museums belonging to the University of Cambridge, King’s College Chapel and of course, punting on the River Cam. Home to the University of Cambridge and its many colleges, Cambridge is a lively, ‘student-friendly’ place with clubs, societies, leisure facilities and a variety of shops. Visit www.visitcambridge.org for details, along with ideas for shopping, eating out and entertainment.
Travelling to CCSS By air The main international airports of London Stansted, London Gatwick, London Heathrow and London Luton are all easily accessible by rail and/or coach from Cambridge. CCSS is only an hour from central London. Information on all air links to all of London’s airports can be found at www.visitbritain.com By train Our teaching buildings and boarding houses are easily accessible from the main railway station in Cambridge.
Most people living in Cambridge buy a cycle to get around (as it’s very flat) and getting here is easy too. There are very frequent, direct trains to London (under 50 minutes) and London Stansted airport (about 30 minutes).
Fast, frequent and direct train services link Cambridge to London King’s Cross and London Liverpool Street, with onward connections to Europe via Eurostar and other parts of the UK. Cambridge is 50 minutes from London by train, and only 30 minutes from Stansted Airport.
Address CCSS Administration is based at the Bene’t Place Campus:
Timetables and ticket information can be viewed at www.nationalrail.co.uk
4-5 Bene’t Place Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EL.
By road Cambridge is easily accessible via the M11, A14, A1(M) and A10. Our locations are shown on the map and visitor parking is available at our Salisbury Villas site. ‘Park and Ride’ bus services are a frequent and effective way to get into the city. For more details visit www.parkandride.net By coach National Express Coaches operate directly from Cambridge to London’s International Airports (London Heathrow is around two and a half hours by coach) and many locations in the UK. Timetables are available at www.nationalexpress.com All CCSS buildings are within a short 10-15 minute walk from the Cambridge coach station/coach stop on Parkside. Where to stay There is a plentiful supply of high quality accommodation in and around Cambridge. Details can be found at www.visitcambridge.org
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Fees Our aim is to provide a wide range of top-class courses alongside a selection of high quality accommodation. The level of our fees reflects the amount of individual attention we give our students. Fees are paid per term in advance and there are three terms in an academic year. Details of our fee structure can be found on our website but for a personalised quote of what you can expect your fees to be, please contact the Admissions team. Our fees are as inclusive as possible, but we recommend that parents budget for some extras to be charged: text books, exam fees and laundry for example. CCSS bank details: Barclays Bank Bene’t Street Cambridge CB2 3PZ Account number: 90170941 Bank Sort Code: 20 17 19 Swift Code: BARCGB22 IBAN Code: GB43 BARC 2017 1990 1709 41
Admissions process CCSS has a dedicated Admissions team to guide you through the admissions process. We accept applications throughout the year, but as offers are made as applications are received, the later you leave your application the less likely there will be a space available in your chosen subjects. To apply for a place please complete a copy of our application form (either online or accompanying this prospectus) and return to the Admissions team, together with: • A reference from the Head of the applicant’s present school, accompanied by a recent school report and transcripts. If your school would prefer, they can send these to us direct • Copies of certificates gained and results achieved to date • A handwritten letter from the applicant of no fewer than 500 words describing their family and educational ambitions • Any other information to support the application CCSS will look at every individual application and make a decision based on your wider individual merits, not just on paper qualifications. Applicants will be required to attend an entry interview. Where possible we encourage applicants to visit, but if this is not possible an interview via Skype video call can be arranged. We will offer a place if we are confident that your choice of course is sensible and that you will contribute to a community which thrives on positive attitudes, hard work and common sense. Once an offer has been made, to accept a place here parents are required to complete a registration form and pay the registration fee and the refundable security deposit.
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Entry Requirements Students wishing to join an A-level course must have or be predicted 5 GCSEs at grade C or above. Where there is no equivalent national examination programme in place, students will be required to demonstrate a good level of secondary or high school education through supporting school reports and references. For all courses we require international students to demonstrate English to the required level: • For A-level courses – A pass at Grade A*-C in GCSE/ IGCSE English Language or an IELTS 5.0 (minimum of 4.5 in each component) or equivalent qualification • GCSE Course – a minimum IELTS score of 4.5 or equivalent qualification • Foundation Programme – a minimum IELTS score of 4.0 or equivalent qualification Special educational needs, health and welfare If you have a specific learning or personal need, please contact our Admissions team for confidential planning of support and provision. It is essential that any learning needs or issues relating to previous health, welfare or discipline are notified to the College at the application stage.
Next Steps We hope you are interested in studying at CCSS. If you have further questions or wish to arrange to visit please contact the Admissions team. We look forward to hearing from you. Call us on: +44 1223 707942 Email us: admissions@ccss.co.uk or visit: www.ccss.co.uk 4-5 Bene’t Place Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EL.
@CCSSCambridge ccss_cambridge Cambridge Centre for Sixth-form Studies (CCSS)
Term Dates Please visit the website for term dates. All students will be issued with detailed information on enrolling. The Admissions team are very happy to answer any questions you have about the teaching dates and entry points for the above courses. Visa Applications CCSS is registered as a Highly Trusted Sponsor with the UK Home Office: as such we are able to sponsor international students to study here. Students requiring a visa to study in the UK will receive further information about the process upon registration with the college.
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