Taunton School students complete UK's first alternative two-year pathway to university

Taunton School has seen its first cohort of international students complete a unique two-year course, which guarantees a place at leading universities in the UK and overseas.
The Somerset school, which welcomes pupils from 45 different countries, has become the first institution in the UK to offer international students a bespoke alternative pathway to top universities around the world.

Eighteen-year-old students Tricey Agbolu from Ghana and Paul Paclot from France and 19-year-old Jarry Wang from Hong Kong have completed the International Foundation Year (IFY) course with a 100 per cent pass rate. The course was officially launched at Taunton last year.

They have now received offers from prestigious UK universities including University of Kent and University of Reading as well as Canadian universities HEC Montreal and University of Montreal.

Taunton School is one of only two UK secondary schools to offer the IFY, devised by top UK universities for international students wanting to study at English-speaking universities. Unique to Taunton is the combination of the IFY alongside its own new Pre-Foundation Year (PFY), a one-year course which delivers the necessary skills and qualifications at 16 or 17 to access the IFY the following year.

Both courses include a highly-regarded English for Academic Purposes (EAP) module which prepares students for university-level coursework.

“I am so proud of Tricey, Paul and Jarry, who have worked incredibly hard to achieve such fantastic offers to their dream universities. These students have paved the way for others to follow in their footsteps, and I cannot wait to see where their experience at Taunton takes them next,” says Adrian Hallworth, Principal of Taunton School International.

“The IFY and our own Pre-FY are ideal for international students thinking of studying any business-related subject at university: Economics, Accountancy, Business Studies and Financial Management.”

Eighteen-year-old student Tricey, who is off to the University of Kent after completing the course, says, “The thing that really appealed to me about this course was the fact that it was really business-focused and it provided me a clear pathway for studying at university.
The English for Academic Purposes (EAP) element gives me an advantage over people who follow the normal A-level route, as I have been taught how to write university-standard essays and coursework.

“It was also great to be able to get involved in extra-curricular activities here at Taunton – I got to play cricket, take part in The Duke of Edinburgh Award and I also organized charity events and volunteered in forest management. I cannot wait to begin the next step of my academic journey at the University of Kent, and I don’t believe I would have received my offers without the help and assistance from the fantastic staff at Taunton School.”