Transition Programmes

Transition Process at DWC – Timeframe

• Year 9: Term 3 – Investigating possible schools.
• Year 10: Term 3 – Applying to schools.
• Year 11: Term 1 – Application & Interviews.
• Year 11: Term 2 – Offers concluded.

Selection of a school:

1. Critical and realistically assess the academic achievement of your child.
2. Extracurricular activities: What does your child offer in addition to the academic?
3. Type of school: Do you want a co-educational or single sex school?
4. Choose a school that will develop your child, not just the well-known schools.
5. Understand that schools have caps on the number of international students that they will offer places to and they also balance ethnic diversity.
6. DWC students complete for places amongst each other, with other Nigerian students and internationally.

Consider the schools you want to apply to:

1. Look at the schools’ website thoroughly.
2. Look for academic and extracurricular provision.
3. Academic programme: What is the academic ‘cut off’ point for acceptance to study AS levels or IB programme? Some schools accept only A* or A grades, while others will take B grades.
4. Boarding and Pastoral preference: Look at boarding facilities and school organization, extracurricular activities, visiting day policy, etc.
5. Visit school if possible- school like to see you and the children like to see the school as well. Try to go in the summer holiday or October half term, although some schools prescribe visit on particular days. Most school will be happy to let you visit at a time that is suitable to you.

Deadlines for application vary. For very popular schools these range between September and November of the year preceding entry. Check and confirm dates in the Term 3 of year 10.

Choosing your schools:

1. Choose a range of schools – not just the top ten or household names schools usually 5 or 6 schools.
2. Less well known schools still get students into top universities and many have a higher threshold for international students. This means that the chances of entry are better.
3. Make sure the entry criteria suits the academic potential of your child – do not set them up to be rejected.
4. Complete the application form and let DWC know which schools you have applied to, so we can look out for the emails they send.
5. Let us know if you have applied for a scholarship.
6. Application fee for all schools are usually non-refundable.

ADMINISTRATION

Schools contact DWC for

1. Transcript:

The destination school asks for at least two years of transcripts to check a student’s academic performance to date. This is why imperative that students consistently work hard even in a non-examination year. Please note that you have to give as 5 working days’ notice to get transcript ready.

Please note that we cannot and do not lie about transcripts and result gained.

• Confidential reference:

They want a reference for expected academic achievement, character, and contribution to wider school life, suitability for Boarding school, work experience, extra-curricular involvement, leadership and value added. Predicted grades are always given as at least one grade higher than current working level, as we know student will improve by at least this margin during the last latter part of Year 11.

Please note that you have to give us 10 working days’ notice to get reference letter ready.

• Examination and interview:

Most schools will ask the student to undertake an entrance exam. This is something done at the destination school but often allowed to be taken at DWC.

• Schools set test in English and Mathematics.
• Schools may test in the subjects the student want to study at AS/A level usually with a minimum grade of a B as prerequisite, but quite often an A*/A minimum grade. Sample examinations are often available on the school’s website which student can practice.
• Skype interview at DWC or personal interview (in the destination school)
• When arranged skype interviews be aware of time differences especially for the USA or Canada schools.
• It necessary to contact us at transitions@dwc.org.ng to book for available time for the school to schedule your interview as we always have many requests.

Offers:

        Offers are made on consideration of all the information gathered

1. Decision on offers are usually communicated between January and March prior to year of entry and deposit to schools paid. Consequently the offers of a place are not conditional upon IGCSE grades however if a student does not do well in a subject they want to study post 16 the school may arrange a re-sit or ask you to consider another subject.
2. You have to pay your deposit which is usually a full term’s fee in advance and non-refundable if you do not turn up. The deposit is usually refundable at the end of the course or in some cause used to offset final term’s fees.

Visas:

While some schools assist the prospective student to obtain a student visa, you may have to make your arrangements in other cases.

Educational consultant:

Some parent like to use an educational consultant to help them through the application process. Some consultants also help with visas.

If you need help in choosing a consultant, you may speak to Mrs. Beatrice Abolade (School Counselor) as she can advise depending on your child’s intended destination and other preferences.

Communication with Day Waterman College:

Please ensure that you inform us when you have applied for a school. When informing us, please include the name of the child, the class, the destination school’s name and contact details of the school.

When you apply for a school, please notify transitions@dwc.org.ng.

If you are using an educational consultant, please ensure that they have our details as stated above and we have their details as well.

If you require any clarifications please do not hesitate to contact the Principal, the Vice Principal or the Head of transition and Careers.