STEM Stars: Harrogate Ladies’ Pupils Secure Top University Offers
After introducing a pioneering Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) program in 2022, Harrogate Ladies’ College students continue to excel in STEM (science, technology, engineering, medicine) following the announcement of university offers.
Harrogate Ladies’ College students have received university offers across a wide range of STEM subjects.
42% of the school’s offers are in STEM-related subjects, with careers in Paramedic Science, Veterinary Science, Mechanical Engineering and Medicine well within reach for the current Year 13 cohort at Harrogate Ladies’ College.
Harrogate Ladies’ Head of Sixth Form, Mrs Bonnie Christie reaffirmed the school’s focus on nurturing future leaders in STEM careers.
“Harrogate Ladies’ College has a proud tradition of advocating for women studying courses in traditionally male-dominated industries, and we are so proud of our current Upper Sixth cohort for pursuing careers in STEM,” Mrs Christie said.
“For a school of our size to consistently receive a high percentage of university offers in STEM subjects is testament to the dedicated and hard-working staff body, and the pathways we have created to ensure those STEM careers are well within reach for every student at Harrogate Ladies’ College.”
In addition to securing offers for STEM subjects at some of the top universities in the UK, 12% of our Sixth Form cohort received offers from Durham University, including an offer for Durham’s archaeology degree, which was recently named the sixth best in the world. The majority of applications to Russell Group universities were successful, including places at the University of Sheffield to study Aerospace Engineering, Psychology at the University of St Andrews and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bristol.
“We have a wonderful relationship with Russell Group universities, and we are proud of pupils who are consistently successful in receiving offers to study at some of the most prestigious universities in the country,” Mrs Christie said.
Mrs Christie also highlighted the broad range of subjects Harrogate Ladies’ College students gained university offers in, including a full scholarship to one of Paris’ top fashion universities, an offer to study economics at New York University’s Dubai campus, and an unconditional offer in Interior Architecture, which came about through the student’s Extra Project Qualification (EPQ).
“Despite our relatively small size compared with other schools, we offer a wide range of A Level subjects including humanities, to arts and sciences, which provides every pupil with an opportunity to pursue their passion,” Mrs Christie said.
“These diverse subject offerings, combined with our newly launched Empower Programme provides Harrogate Ladies’ College students with a comprehensive Sixth Form experience.”
The Empower Programme is a pioneering Sixth Form leadership and development initiative designed to equip Sixth Form pupils at Harrogate Ladies’ College with the skills, confidence, and resilience to excel beyond school.
About the Harrogate Ladies’ College WiSE program
WiSE is a bespoke programme to encourage pupils to embrace Science opportunities, develop critical thinking in Science and Technology and rewards self-motivation in science subjects. Pupils receive WiSE points and rewards for engaging in extra-curricular activities to take their STEM studies further. Sixth formers are encouraged to become WiSE ambassadors and to work with younger pupils. The programme also actively engages with former pupils working in STEM related careers and holds special events such as a Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Day which brings in local forensic experts.
About Harrogate Ladies’ College
Harrogate Ladies’ College has been pioneering girls’ education in the UK since 1893. With the addition of Highfield Pre-School and Highfield Prep School, our family of schools is today able to offer a seamless education journey from 2-11 years for boys and 2-18 for girls within one Campus. Our three schools are fully integrated to provide a seamless educational experience. Each of our schools shares the same ethos; the same campus; the same Board of Governors and the same Principal. This joined up approach enables us to share expertise, knowledge and best practice to ensure academic and pastoral excellence throughout our three schools.
