A British boarding school education is valued throughout the world and the best schools set high entrance standards. Carfax College has many years’ experience in preparing pupils for these highly competitive examinations. Following months of intense preparation, long hours of practice and commendable dedication, not only did our school preparation pupils gain admission to some of Britain’s most prestigious schools, but there is no pupil left without an offer. Even better – 100% of pupils this year received offers from their top school choices!

Throughout their time at Carfax College, our school entrance candidates studied intensely, but have also enjoyed Oxford’s rich cultural and sports activities. Our pupils went to Blenheim Palace, punting, kayaking, to several plays and concerts, organized quiz luncheons, and made invaluable friendships. We want to congratulate all pupils and tutors for their hard work, and wish our extraordinary pupils the brightest future ahead.

During this weekend, Carfax staff from the Dubai and Abu Dhabi offices attended the Schools and Childcare Show Dubai. In partnership with Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the UAE’s governing body for Education, the Show was a wonderful way for parents to discuss the wide range of educational services Carfax provides from Carfax Private Tutors, Carfax Consultants, Carfax Guardians and Carfax College in Oxford, providing advice on selection, preparation and entrance to some the world’s finest schools and universities. Broadcasting live from the event on Dubai Eye radio station, Eleonora Suhoviy, Carfax’s Principal Consultant, pictured with Dominick Ashe, Senior Consultant, and Director of Carfax Abu Dhabi, Christopher Gyngell, spoke on choosing the appropriate school for your child.

I graduated with a degree in a humanity related field and like many people with a humanities’ degree, not necessarily from Oxford or Cambridge, I initially began to panic. After having spent four years studying highly abstract notions and theoretical ideas and writing long essays, how would I apply these skills to the decidedly less abstract world of gaining meaningful employment? Luckily if you graduate from a good University in the Western world, especially Oxbridge, there are many routes you can explore which will allow you to get a job in the corporate world. Many friends with similar degrees in humanities were also wondering what they wanted to do and were exploring the much worn route of graduating from Oxbridge with a humanity’s degree and going into Law or corporate finance.

Initially I decided to pursue the well-worn route of researching law conversion courses and applying for jobs in corporate finance. The issue? I had little interest in the jobs I was applying for as they did not fit my overall career and life goals. After gentle persuasion from my family and with the ever present anxiety of unemployment an issue, I worked in the management consultancy and banking sector. I gained valuable experience in how these industries work and the sector they deal with. However deep down I knew my passions were for architectural drawing and design and working in the corporate sector would not fulfil either of these passions of mine.

I woke up one day during my time working in banking and decided I could no longer do a job that I was simply doing to make a salary. I spoke with my manager and she was very understanding that I wanted to pursue other career options. Rather than feeling hopeless, I realised I had finally made the decision to drive my own career path and finally pursue what it was I really wanted to do. Given my trials and tribulations with the corporate world and finally realising what it was I wanted to do, the following advice is intended as a rough outline of what I felt most beneficial when I decided to take the plunge into achieving my personal career goals:

Having spoken with many creative individuals who ended up feeling lost in their careers or after graduating I have the following advice for anyone (and I know there are many!) who feel the same way. Above all, do not become trapped in a job or career simply to make money. For the vast majority of people this will not satisfy your intellectual or creative aptitude and simply leave you feeling unhappy and unsatisfied. It is better to gain experience in a field or career you do want to enter which will eventually lead to a well-paid and more importantly, fulfilling job than slogging it out in a job that leaves you uninspired and unfulfilled.

Secondly, do not be afraid to take the plunge into a different job sector that initially means you have to take a cut in your salary or pay. Gaining experience in the creative sector and building up your portfolio – whether in terms of artwork or designs helps you to lay the foundation for entering into a notoriously competitive jobs market to enter.

An often unspoken truth about entering the creative professions is the sense of judgement if you do not choose to enter traditional career paths. This sense of judgement often comes from both family and friend circles and this prevents many people from pursuing their passions and talents because wanting to please your peers and family is also an important aspect of your life. Having the courage to quit your job is a bold step but can ultimately lead to greater career and personal satisfaction.

Finally, and possibly the most unpopular piece of advice I would give is that having a back-up plan is always a good idea. Creative industries such as fashion, design and architecture take many years to penetrate to be successful. It is important to remember that these industries are often not vocational career paths and being able to generate an income on the side can help you support your passions and career choices. Taking the time to learn a skill that can provide a sustainable career on the side is never a bad idea.

I am now working in marketing in a job I feel an immense sense of satisfaction with and I am able to use my creative personality to enhance my work. The portfolio I took the time to build up helped greatly in securing a job in the market I wanted to enter and I am also writing my own design book on the side. I no longer feel a sense of dread or helplessness in terms of career. It is important to override fears of dejection as these are often greatly overstated and prevent you from achieving your career goals. Marketing in particular is a very competitive industry and something that really shines through is your ability to overcome initial rejection and use your own initiative and creativity to prove yourself. Remember, it is often a long but rewarding road to career satisfaction in the creative industry!

The 5th of October celebrates World Teachers' Day, which honours the hard work and dedication of educators across the world. Founded in 1994, this annual event is devoted to appreciating the vital role of teaching, and recognising that quality education remains the basis for a sustainable, peaceful and prosperous future.

It's also a day to address any issues pertaining to teachers, providing an opportunity to discuss, learn, share and improve the world of Education.

For more information on World Teachers' Day, click here

We are delighted to be supporting World Book Day this year, Thursday 3rd March 2022.

To celebrate this wonderful day, we are offering children the opportunity to enter a 'design your own bookmark' competition - A super fun activity with the chance to win a $50 / €45 / £40 Book Voucher.

To enter, simply draw a creative bookmark and submit your design to enquiries@carfax-education.com with World Book Day in the subject line.

The winner will be chosen at random after the closing date this Sunday, 6th March 2022.

We can't wait to see the entries!

#WorldBookDay

World Book Day® is a charity sponsored by National Book Tokens.

The guidance for boarding school pupils with the right to reside in the UK who live in or are travelling through a red list country has changed with effect from 4th March. For those who do not have the right to reside in the UK the former guidance applies and hotel quarantine will still apply.

Boarding pupils from these countries no longer have to quarantine in government hotels, they can now quarantine at their schools in specially designated areas. Each pupil will have to be collected from the airport by a designated member of school staff. They will then travel back to the school in isolation, where they will then be able to quarantine on the school premises. Pupils arriving from ‘red countries’ will have to isolate for the full 10 days and will not be eligible for the test and early release scheme.

Schools will need to provide a copy of a letter from the Department for Education confirming that boarding school students are covered by an exception and also a letter from the school authorising their return. This letter will detail the arrangements for returning to school including the name of the person who will be collecting the pupil at the airport. This is in addition to the passenger locator form which will need to be completed with the details of where they will be quarantining. https://www.gov.uk/provide-journey-contact-details-before-travel-uk

Before travelling all students must have a negative Covid test within 3 days of travelling. They will also have to pay to have tests on day 2 and day 8 of their quarantine. The test on day 2 is to check for any variants and on day 8 is to check that they are still covid free. This can be booked as a travel test package at a cost of £210. https://quarantinehotelbookings.ctmportal.co.uk

Once they arrive at the airport pupils will make their way to the managed quarantine collection point in the arrival hall where the member of staff will be waiting to collect them.

The transport to school needs to comply with social distancing arrangements, eg on a coach three rows of seats between students and the driver, a sitting plan will be produced for test and trace purposes, masks must be worn at all times and sanitiser will be available. There will be no options for stopping en route back to the school.

All ‘red country’ arrivals will be allowed to quarantine together in a covid secure ‘household’. Meals and toiletries will be provided and members of staff looking after the pupils will be suitably protected with PPE and will do regular lateral flow tests and a weekly PCR test.

Pupils will be able to arrive back at school in time to quarantine before school opens or if they can only return just before term begins, they will be able to continue their online learning from the boarding premises.

Schools and families will need to be in regular communication to ensure that all arrangements are clearly in place to ensure the smooth start to the new term.