Wendy Heydorn

Helping students think more clearly and families support their choices

Books on critical thinking and university guidance for students, parents and educators, drawing on over sixteen years of Higher Education advising and over two decades of Theory of Knowledge teaching.

For students For parents For educators
For students

Learning to think critically

Written for IB Diploma students, these two books build the habits of mind Theory of Knowledge asks of you — questioning, reasoning and reflecting — skills that carry well beyond the completion of the course.

Theory of Knowledge for the IB Diploma: Course Guide

Theory of Knowledge for the IB Diploma: Course Guide

Wendy Heydorn, Susan Jesudason — from original material by Richard van de Lagemaat. 3rd edition, Cambridge University Press.

Explores "How do we know that? What is knowledge? What is the nature of knowledge and knowing?" — helping students critically assess the world around them through real-world examples, with a dedicated chapter on building skills for the TOK essay and exhibition.

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Decoding Theory of Knowledge for the IB Diploma: Skills Book

Decoding Theory of Knowledge for the IB Diploma

Wendy Heydorn, Susan Jesudason. Themes, Skills and Assessment. 2nd edition, Cambridge University Press.

An accessible companion that decodes TOK concepts in clear, succinct language — with real-life situations, practical activities and top tips offering extensive support for the essay and exhibition.

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IB Matters podcast — Aug 2021, Season 2 Ep. 24 (53 min)

The TOK Updates, with Wendy Heydorn and Susan Jesudason

A discussion of the revised TOK curriculum with a tour of the Course Guide and Decoding TOK — still relevant to the current specification.

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Beyond the Rankings: A Parent's Guide to University Applications
For parents

Beyond the Rankings

A Parent's Guide to University Applications — by Wendy Heydorn and Julia Barnes

University rankings tell you almost nothing about whether a course or campus is right for your child. Written by two Higher Education specialists with over 25 years of combined experience, this is a practical, jargon-free companion for parents of students in Years 11 to 13 — covering course selection, UK, US and international universities, Degree Apprenticeships, admissions tests, costs and the transition to university life.

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Free downloads

Free Q&A extracts from Beyond the Rankings — expert perspectives on university admissions.

Applying for a Competitive University Course — with Jelani Allman, Oxford Law Graduate & Admissions Mentor Download PDF ↓
Supporting Athletes and Sports Scholarships — with Cath Nicholson, Commonwealth Games Medallist Download PDF ↓
An Educator's Guide to University Applications
For educators

An Educator's Guide to University Applications

Supporting Students with their Post-18 Options — by Wendy Heydorn and Laurence Goodwin

The first dedicated teacher manual of its kind, offering practical strategies for developing and structuring your school's approach to university and other post-18 choices.

"An excellent and practical guide to support students in their transition to university."

— Paul Teulon, former Director of Admissions, King's College London
  • The role of AI in university applications
  • Application systems for UK, US and international universities
  • Writing university references
  • Free downloadable resources — CEIAG templates, timelines and more
View on Trotman Buy on Amazon UK Free resources for educators
Writing & Media

Recent writing

Articles and features on Higher Education, university admissions, and related educational themes.

Which School Advisor — Guides

Getting Ahead: UCAS Preparation in Year 12

How students can make the most of Year 12 — choosing courses, attending Open Days, and understanding entry requirements ahead of a UK university application.

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Which School Advisor — Guides

What Makes a Competitive UCAS Application?

Admissions tests, application strategy, and what genuinely makes a strong UCAS application as competition for places at leading UK universities intensifies.

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Wendy Heydorn
About

Wendy Heydorn

Wendy Heydorn is a teacher, author and adviser. She spent sixteen years in Higher Education guidance at Sevenoaks School, Kent, serving as Assistant Director from 2010 and Director of Higher Education from 2015 to 2026, where she led university guidance for around four thousand students applying to competitive universities in the UK, US, and beyond. She continues to teach Theory of Knowledge at Sevenoaks School. A graduate of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, she holds an MA from King's College London and a PGCE.

She has co-authored three Cambridge University Press textbooks, including Theory of Knowledge for the IB Diploma Course Guide and Decoding Theory of Knowledge for the IB Diploma (first published 2013, translated into Japanese and Korean, with a second edition in 2020) — together selling over 65,000 copies. She is also co-author of An Educator's Guide to University Applications (Trotman, 2025).

She served for four years on UCAS's Secondary Education Advisory Group, representing advisers across the UK, and has spoken at conferences on university admissions as a panellist for UCAS and for the HMC Careers and Futures Conference.

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For speaking, writing and other enquiries, I'd be delighted to hear from you via the contact form.