Introduction

MPW Birmingham is part of the MPW group of independent fifth- and sixth-form colleges founded in London in 1973. The Birmingham college was opened in 1980 and was the first of its kind in the West Midlands. The college's attractive, Victorian buildings are located in Edgbaston, only a few minutes from the city centre and the university.

The college is fully co-educational and accepts up to 160 students each year preparing for GCSE, A level and Oxbridge Entrance. We provide both one-year and two-year courses over a broad range of subjects and there are no restrictions on subject combinations. For those retaking, we provide short courses starting in either September or January or one-year courses starting in September.

Teaching Method

We teach in small groups with an absolute maximum of eight students in each class. All the students in a given class are prepared for the same exam on the same board on the same date. The small size of the groups ensures that each student receives individual attention whilst at the same time gaining the benefits of learning in a group environment.

In class, great emphasis is placed on the demands of the syllabus and on exam technique. We measure performance in this important area by frequent and regular tests, timed assignments and mock exams.

Academic progress is closely monitored by a personal tutor who writes regular reports to parents and who will arrange a meeting between parents and subject tutors whenever necessary. It is a feature of MPW that personal tutors have few teaching commitments and are able to devote the majority of their time to these important tasks.