DOWNE HOUSE
PRE-U INFORMATION SHEET
What is the Pre-U?
It is a flexible post 16 qualification designed to prepare pupils over two years for university entrance. It aims
to recognise the wide range of individual talents and interests and promote an international outlook and
cross-curricular awareness.
Why has Downe House opted for the Pre-U?
There has been much coverage in the national and educational press in recent years about A levels, the
International Baccalaureate (IB), the new national Diploma, the Cambridge Pre-U and other similar
qualifications. Much of this has arisen as a result of the dissatisfaction with the AS and A level system, the
reported grade inflation, the number of examinations which pupils undertake and the reduction in content
and challenge of many of the courses. Having completed a full review of the options open to us, we have
now reached the conclusion that we should move away from the A level system towards the Pre-U.
The Pre-U run by the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) does, in our view, have the potential to
meet the needs of all our girls and prepare them well for both university and the world of work beyond. The
qualification came into being after a number of schools expressed their desire to the CIE for a flexible but
rigorous alternative to A level. The Pre-U is the CIE’s response and many of our colleagues at Downe have
been involved in designing the syllabuses and continue to play a part in developing the system. The Pre-U is
a two year course with no formal external assessment at the end of the LVI, unless a short course in
languages has been followed; the courses are appropriately challenging with a grading structure which
differentiates more keenly at the highest level; and it has a fascinating Global Perspectives and Independent
Research element which equips pupils for the needs of university. The qualification has been fully
recognised by universities in the UK (including Oxford, Cambridge and the Russell Group Universities) and in
the USA and has received a very positive endorsement from them.
Why has Downe House not opted for the International Baccalaureate?
Some schools have addressed their dissatisfaction with the A level system by adopting the International
Baccalaureate. This is something that we have reviewed regularly over the last 12 years but have decided
against adopting it for a number of reasons. Downe House has an ethos of wanting to support each
individual to nurture her talents and we believe the Baccalaureate to be too prescriptive and restrictive to
enable us to do that. Whilst there is no doubt that every young person should have a broad general
education, many young women know what they would like to study post 16 and thrive on specialising in the
areas in which they have a gift. To make a girl study mathematics when she is gifted in languages seems
inappropriate; in the same way it does not seem fitting to restrict a talented scientist from the study of
Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics in depth because it is not possible. To run the IB and the A
level system side by side lacks a unity of purpose that we have always enjoyed in our community and leaves
the concerns we have about the A level system unresolved.
How is the Pre-U Diploma made up?
The full diploma is made up of five components – three Principal Subjects, the Global Perspectives element
and the Independent Research Report.
Are all A level subjects available in the Pre-U?
There are 26 individual Principal Subjects available and there are more being considered. The only significant
subjects not yet covered by the Pre-U which are taught at Downe are Drama and Theatre Studies, and
Technology.
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Is it possible to combine A level subjects and Pre-U subjects and still get the Pre-U Diploma?
Yes, it is possible to get the diploma as long as one of the Principal Subjects is a Pre-U subject. The other two
can be A levels. This enables a candidate to combine, for example, Pre-U English, French and A level Drama
and still gain the Diploma if they are presented alongside the Global Perspectives and Independent Research
Project.
Is each subject valuable in its own right or is it only the diploma as a whole?
Each subject will be certificated separately and have a value as a stand alone qualification just as an A level
does now.
Are there any shorter courses available?
A separate one-year Short Course Certificate is available in each of the Modern Foreign Languages: French,
German, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Mandarin Chinese. This is to allow students to broaden their
programme beyond their major specialisms and recognises the importance of Modern Foreign Languages.
Could my daughter still do AS and A level Drama and Theatre Studies and Technology?
Yes, it will be possible to do these subjects to AS level and A level.
How many Pre-U subjects can my daughter do?
The minimum number of subjects is three. This is required for the Diploma and also for University Entrance.
It would be possible to do four subjects but great care would need to be taken to ensure that the quality of a
student’s work was not compromised by taking a fourth subject.
What is the Global Perspectives element?
This is a course designed to be completed in the LVI after a year of study. Its aims are to prepare students for
engagement in a rapidly changing environment by cultivating a critical and questioning approach and an
interdisciplinary perspective as well as encouraging students to engage constructively with issues and ideas
of global significance. The course is built around a series of topics, each one representing a key global
challenge that will face students as young adults, wherever they live and work. The topics are organised into
broad generic themes: Ethics, Economics, Environment, Technology and Politics and Culture. Topics may
include, for example, medical ethics, religious-secular divide, global trade, challenge of genetic modification,
international law and China as an emerging superpower.
The course will be assessed through an examination, the submission of a piece of work and a presentation.
What is the Independent Research Report?
Students will submit a single report of between 4,500 and 5,000 words at the end of the UVI. It is a single
piece of extended writing in the form of a dissertation or a report based on investigative or field study. The
precise nature and format of the report, and the research and reporting conventions adopted, will be those
most appropriate to the subject of the enquiry. A Tutor is able to support the Independent Research Report
but the work itself will be the student’s own, conducted independently and largely outside the classroom.
It is intended that a student will be familiar with the research conventions that are current in higher
education and show a readiness to reflect critically and respond to review as well as demonstrate a capacity
for autonomous study and self-management.
How will my daughter be assessed and when?
Pre-U Principal Subjects are linear and therefore assessed at the end of the course in the UVI. There will be
internal interim assessments (end of LVI examinations and mock examinations), of course, so that students
are able to judge how well they are doing and have practice at responding to an extensive written paper.
Pre-U Short Courses will be assessed at the end of the first year i.e. the LVI. (A Short Course cannot
contribute to a Principal subject, however.) In this sense the distinctive feature of the Pre-U is linearity i.e.
final examinations are sat at the end of the course in the Summer term of the UVI.
Will everyone have to do the full diploma with Global Perspectives and an Independent Research Project?
It is anticipated that all members of the Downe House Sixth Form will follow the whole diploma course.
However, we will, as always, look at the needs of the individual and make variances as appropriate.
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How have UK Universities responded to the Pre-U?
The universities (including Oxford, Cambridge and the Russell Group Universities) in the UK have welcomed
this diploma. Many university lecturers were involved, with teachers, in developing the syllabuses.
How have American Universities responded?
The American Universities have been very positive in their responses too. The Cambridge Pre-U team has
been to the States to visit a number of Ivy League Institutions and many representatives from the US
Universities have attended Pre-U information days. In the US application process schools are often asked to
state whether students have followed the most demanding course on offer. They like the idea of such a
rigorous course with the breadth that the Global Perspectives and Independent Research Project offer.
Which subjects will Downe teach from 2010?
Downe will teach all available subjects from 2010 except Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Art. The Sciences
will not start until 2012. So, in the meantime, for those subjects the AS/A level route will continue to be
followed but both the AS and A level examinations will be sat at the end of the UVI.
Why is there a delay in starting to teach some Pre-U Courses?
There is a delay in introducing Sciences for two reasons. The first is that the current GCSE syllabus is not felt
to be adequate preparation for the Pre-U courses and therefore the IGCSE will be introduced to ensure that
students have the best grounding possible for the qualification. The second reason is to enable those pupils
taking AS Science courses on the accelerated programme to complete this course and maximise the
advantage they have.
Why is Art not being offered as a Pre-U subject?
It is our belief that the A level Art course prepares girls better for Art Foundation and other similar courses
than the Pre-U course appears to at this stage. It is important that we support the students wishing to
pursue an artistic avenue in the future but we will keep the situation under review.
Will it not be confusing for a university to see a mixed set of qualifications?
Universities are now quite skilled at interpreting a range of qualifications from students within the UK and of
course also across Europe. UCAS (University Central Admissions Service) has published widely the tariff
(points) which will be attributable to the Pre-U qualification and they compare very favourably with the A
level tariff points
How do the grades equate with A levels?
The grading structure is very different to the A level grades. The Distinction Band is designed to differentiate
more finely amongst students who would achieve an A grade at A level. However, a pass at A level is
equivalent to a pass in the Pre-U and the Pre-U is designed to be accessible to the same range of ability. The
system can best be explained through the table below:
Cambridge PreU Band
Cambridge PreU Grade
Distinction
D1
D2
D3
M1
M2
M3
P1
P2
P3
Merit
Pass
Cambridge PreU Principal
Subject Tariff
tbc
145
130
115
101
87
73
59
46
A level Grade
A level Subject
Tariff
A*
A
tbc
120
E
40
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What will typical university offers be?
As is currently the case, this is really dependent on the course and the institution. However, Cambridge has
suggested that it would ask for 1 x D2 and 2 x D3 and Oxford 3 x D3. This reflects the fact that Cambridge has
already decided to use the A* grade in A level offers.
How will the additional time gained from less assessment be used fruitfully in the LVI?
The amount of teaching and learning time required for a Principal Subject exceeds the current ‘volume’ of an
A level programme and so some of the additional time will be absorbed here. It is also anticipated that the
study for the Global Perspectives and Independent Research project will be wonderfully broadening and
enriching activities. There is also the opportunity to use the time for other activities, community service,
enrichment activities, leadership training and so much more.
Can I find out any further information independently?
The Cambridge International Examinations website is a good source of information;
www.cie.org.uk/cambridgepreu
We are grateful to many staff at other schools who have offered guidance including Winchester College, Shrewsbury School, Rugby School,
Eton College and Dulwich College.
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