Abingdon School is situated just a few miles from Oxford, one of the world’s leading cultural and academic centres, and within easy reach of international airports, Abingdon is ideally placed to welcome overseas boarders. The School combines over 750 years of history and tradition with a modern outlook offering a world class education that sees former pupils at the top of just about every profession from academics, medics, lawyers, diplomats and industry leaders to musicians, authors and actors.

Each year our students go on to study at leading international universities. The most popular choices are Oxford, Cambridge and the London institutions – Imperial, LSE, King’s and UCL. In 2018 we have 22 boys holding offers for Oxford and Cambridge. In addition to UK destinations, some students opt to continue their studies overseas; in 2017 pupils won places at the universities of Toronto and Hong Kong and at six prestigious US campuses including Harvard and Yale. Popular subjects studied are Engineering in its many guises, Medicine (12 places in 2017), Economics, Sciences and the Humanities. Students benefit from our specialist team of career advisors who mentor the Sixth Form on university applications, including studying abroad.

Abingdon is an academically selective school which achieves consistently excellent examination results. In the Fifth Year boys study ten GCSEs, typically, and in the Sixth Form we follow A level and Pre-U syllabuses. In most years close to 40% of the year group gain A* or A grades in three or more subjects at A level. We offer 25 subjects at A level, all of which have met the School’s rigorous academic standards. The sixth form timetable is flexible, enabling boys to take many and varied subject combinations. The timetable also allows boys plenty of access to Abingdon’s extensive Other Half (extra-curricular) programme which is the envy of most schools even amongst the independent sector. There are over 120 activities to choose from and something to suit everybody’s taste from music, drama and a wide-range of sports to community service, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, a very successful film unit and numerous clubs and societies. We also believe strongly in broadening horizons through travel. Amongst the myriad of language exchanges, cultural and sports tours, our students have recently explored the harsh beauty of Finland’s Arctic wilderness, experienced the hospitality of remote communities in Vietnam, run holiday camps for children in Moldova and studied inequality and development in North West India.

Boarding is a big part of Abingdon’s character, attracting boys who live locally as well as international boarders. Our boarding facilities include three boarding houses which also have day boys as an integral part of them. The boarding houses comprise a housemaster and his family, a matron and a team of tutors. Tutors work closely with the boys getting to know them socially through evening and weekend duties as well as having an academic role.

Over the last three years, the School has undergone an extensive building development programme, adding to its already impressive range of facilities. The Yang Science Centre has transformed the science resources and made way for a much improved ‘home’ for Classics, Geography and History. We have also made extensive improvements to the sports facilities. Looking forward, there is much anticipation for our new Sixth Form Centre opening in autumn 2018. The new centre is part of a development which will also transform our Library and Art facilities and enable the Music and Drama departments to move to large, modern workspaces. It is a very exciting time to be part of Abingdon.

Facts & Figures

Headmaster: Mr Michael Windsor, BA, Durham; MA, London

Address: Abingdon School, Park Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 1DE

Admissions telephone: +44 (0) 1235 849041

Website:  www.abingdon.org.uk

Religion:  Multi-denominational

Number of students : 1000 boys – 138 boarding, 862 day pupils

Age range:  11 t0 18 years (boarding from 13 years)

Fee range:  Full board pupil – £13,250 per term; Weekly board – £11,070 per term; Day pupil – £6,650 per term

Location

Brighton College is one of the UK’s leading co-educational independent schools.  The College regularly achieves the best A-level and GCSE results of any co-educational school in England, whilst ensuring children enjoy a wealth of extracurricular opportunities.  Pupils are valued as unique individuals in an environment that is fun, stimulating and supportive.  The College is renowned for its focus on kindness, as well as its excellence in art, music, dance, drama and sporting achievements.

Described as ‘Britain’s most forward-thinking school’ by The Week, Brighton College was also named ‘UK Independent School of the Year 2013-14’ at The Independent Schools Awards.

Facts & Figures

Name of Head: Richard Cairns

Address: Eastern Road, Brighton, BN2 0AL

Telephone of admissions: +44 (0)1273 704200

Website: www.brightoncollege.org.uk

Religion: Church of England, though the College welcomes children of all faiths and none

Number of students: Total 1,021. Day: 366 boys, 248 girls. Boarding: 227 boys, 180 girls

Residential info:  Weekly and full boarding, day

Age range: 11 to 18 years (boarding from 13)

Fee range: Day – £7,930. Weekly boarding – £11,070. Full boarding – £12,730

Location

Bromsgrove is one of the oldest but most forward thinking of Britain’s great schools. Flair, discipline and academic rigour all play their part: so too does a Sixth Form curriculum of great breadth, offering a choice to pupils of A levels or the IB Diploma and the School has just introduced the one year University of London International Foundation Programme.

Equally strong in the Arts and Sciences, Bromsgrove’s high league table position is a result of the breadth of its offer. Whether a student wishes to be a musician or a mathematician, Bromsgrove’s standards and expectations will guide and support them to success at the highest level.

Among its twelve hundred children aged 7-18, five hundred years old Bromsgrove has over five hundred boarding pupils.  The School offers a home, not a place to sleep after work. The houses are different, as boarding houses in the best schools should be, but there are core values and structures shared by all.

The School has made massive investment into its buildings in recent years; all boarding Houses are either new builds or have been fully renovated to the highest standards.  These join state of the art, architecturally striking facilities and significant sports developments and a new performing arts centre with both a theatre and a concert hall.

Situated 15 miles from both Birmingham and Worcester,  Bromsgrove has easy access to the Midlands  motorway network.   Birmingham International Airport is 25 minutes away and London Heathrow 2 hours by car.

www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk
Name of Head: Peter Clague
Address: Bromsgrove School, Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B61 7DU
Admissions: Mrs Hannah Purdie  +44 (0) 1527 579 679, ext 318
Email: Admissions@bromsgrove-school.co.uk

Number of students:  Prep School – 446 day pupils & 73 boarders (39 boys & 34 girls); Senior School – 516 day pupils (285 boys & 231 girls) and 434 boarders (234 boys & 200 girls)

Fee range:  Prep School (7 to 13 years) £8,080 – £9,965 per term; Senior School (13 to 18 years) £12,430 per term

Boarding Houses:  Prep – one co-ed boarding house; Senior – 2 boys houses, 2 girls houses and one Sixth Form co-ed house

Location

As well as preparing students for exams, Gordonstoun prepares them for life.  The school’s uniquely broad curriculum encourages every student to fulfil their potential academically, as well as guiding each individual to fulfil their potential as human beings.  Gordonstoun follows the English GCSE and A-Level curriculum and students go on to Universities and Colleges all over the world to study a diverse range of subjects.

The school’s location in the north of Scotland provides the background for Gordonstoun’s world beating outdoor education programme.  Through expeditions and sail training voyages, students gain experience in leadership and team building. Their outlook is broadened, their ability to consider the needs of others developed, and they gain resilience – life skills which complement the school’s commitment to academic excellence.

Active engagement in service to the local community comprises a core part of Gordonstoun’s curriculum for all year groups, but from Year 11 each student also commits to one of the school’s nine services.  The Gordonstoun community is both balanced and internationally dynamic.  With students aged from 6-18, the school is fully co-educational and students live and learn alongside fellow students from across the social, cultural and geographical board.

The Gordonstoun International Summer School (GISS) offers courses in July and August which capture the Gordonstoun philosophy of internationalism and learning through challenge.  Students choose an academic subject which is dovetailed into a full and lively programme of sports, creative arts, confidence building, drama, music making and recreation.  The course also includes a six day ‘adventure programme’ based on the beautiful West Coast of Scotland – where students spend three days walking, canoeing, coasteering, canyoning, climbing and abseiling and three days living and sailing on one of the Summer School’s fleet of ocean going yachts.

For over 40 years, GISS has been providing a safe and happy environment for students aged 8-16 from over 35 countries, to come together to learn, have fun and make friends. With an excellent staffing ratio of one staff to two children, parents and children can be completely confident that their expectations of an amazing international summer school experience will be met.

Facts & Figures

Name of Head: Lisa Kerr (Principal), Titus Edge (Headmaster)

Address:  Gordonstoun, Elgin, Moray, Scotland IV30 5RF

Telephone of admissions: +44 (0)1343 832829; Mrs Sabine Richards

Website: www.gordonstoun.org.uk

Religion: Non-denominational

Residential info (boarding/day/flexi)- boarding and day in Junior and Senior schools; flexi-boarding also available in Junior School only

Number of students: Boys 308, Girls 222; Boarding 388, Day 142

Age range: 6-18 years (day) 8-18 years (boarding)

Fee range per annum:  Full Boarding: £23,358 (Junior School) to £34,500/£38,295 (Senior School); Day: £13,361 (Junior School) to £25,788/£28,365 (Senior School)

Location

Established in 1862, Haileybury is a top co-educational boarding and day school for 11-18 year olds nestled in an historic 500 acre campus in leafy Hertfordshire, just 20 miles north of London.

We are an academically selective school and most of our pupils take up places at the best universities in the UK and around the world; over 80% of our pupils got into their first choice of university. Nearly 70% of our leavers took up places at Russell Group universities, Oxford and Cambridge in the UK and a significant number went to study at top USA and European Universities. The pupils also benefit from a dedicated overseas counsellor whose main focus is to support pupils with all aspects of university applications overseas.

In addition to providing academic rigour and challenge, our innovative and ambitious curriculum lays the foundation for the pupils to excel across a broad range of subjects and activities. We offer a dedicated Lower School for Years 7 and 8, a wide range of GCSE and (I)GCSEs, and the choice of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or A Level Course in Sixth Form. A key part of our philosophy is about empowering each child to follow their passion and to build their self-confidence. Pupils are encouraged to be independent, creative and intellectually ambitious. Our 2018 examination results continue to outperform previous years’ across GCSE, A Level grades and IB, which is a testament to the pupils’ motivation and the school’s commitment.

Pupils can choose from an enormous range of co-curricular opportunities and over 130 clubs, activities and societies. From trekking in the Himalayas to debating global issues at its Model United Nations programme, to performing at the latest music or drama production. We were named in the Top 3 schools for ‘Best for extra-curricular activities’ (Good Schools Guide 2018) spanning everything from music and drama to sport and physical activities. Recently, we have been recognised by the Good Schools Guide for our outstanding sporting reputation and listed among the UK’s best cricketing schools by The Cricketer’s Good School Guide 2019.

Boarding at Haileybury is very strong indeed. The houses lie at the heart of a Haileybury education and have done so for over 150 years. They are vibrant, happy, productive and home-from-home communities where lifelong bonds are formed. We believe that a caring environment is crucial to happiness and fulfilment and the Independent School’s Inspectorate describes the quality of our boarding as excellent. For those who come here, Haileybury is warm and friendly, we give each and every child the confidence to find their identity, embracing failings as much as successes in their personal journey of discovery.

To explore Haileybury further, come and see us during one of our open days or arrange an individual visit.

Facts and Figures

Name of Master: Martin Collier

Address: Haileybury, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire, SG13 7NU, UK

Telephone and Email for admissions: +44 (0) 1992706200, admissions@haileybury.com

Website: www.haileybury.com

Religion: Anglican, but all faiths welcome

Age Range: 11-18

Type of School: Co-educational

Number of students: 478 Boys, 350 Girls, Boarding 535, Day and Flexi 293

Fee Range: Lower School (Years 7 & 8) – £17,03 to £21,837 per year; Senior School (Year 9 – 13) – £25,620 to £34,422

Location

Headington School is a leading day and boarding school for girls aged three to 18, set in 23 acres just a mile from Oxford city centre. A major refurbishment and extension of the Sixth Form Centre was completed in early 2019. Other facilities include an award-winning library, complete with ‘sonic chairs’ where girls can listen to music or lectures without disturbing their neighbours and interactive tables for group working, a state-of-the-art Music School, a purpose-built 240-seat Theatre, light and airy Art School and spacious Dance and Fitness Centre, which features a fully-equipped gym, training rooms and a large dance studio.

A top 10 IB UK school, Headington’s results across the board regularly place it among the top schools in the country, with girls going on to study at top universities around the world. Headington offers an extremely broad curriculum with a choice of 30 A Level subjects or IB in the Sixth Form. A growing number of girls opt for IB each year with great results. The average points score, out of a perfect 45, is consistently above 38 with our 2018 results seeing it reach 38.4. More than half our girls scored 40 points or more in 2018 with one of our candidates scoring the maximum 45. At A Level and GCSE, the School also performs exceptionally well, with a third of all GCSEs this year graded at the new highest ‘9’ level, while over 54 per cent of A Levels were A*-A.

With inspirational Oxford on its doorstep, Headington girls benefit from the city’s fantastic museums, art galleries, theatres, restaurants and cafes. The Dreaming Spires of Oxford have inspired countless famous writers while 27 British Prime Ministers, at least 30 international leaders, 50 Nobel Prize winners and 120 Olympic medal winners boast an Oxford education. Today girls can take advantage of a host of academic events such as thought-provoking and challenging talks, lectures and workshops both in school and in the historic colleges, meeting and learning from experts in their field.

Headington also offers an excellent extra-curricular programme, with more than 150 clubs and activities to choose. In the Sixth Form girls are given leadership responsibilities and gain experience doing everything from running clubs to leading expeditions. There are currently more than 45 different nationalities represented throughout the School, reflecting Oxford’s culturally and ethnically diverse make-up.

An education at Headington prepares girls for every aspect of life. Headington girls are intellectually curious, emotionally confident, kind and considerate to each other and to adults.

Facts and Figures

Name of Headmistress:           Mrs Caroline Jordan

Address: Headington School, Headington Road, Oxford, OX3 7TD

Telephone and Email for admissions: +44 (0)1865 759113/759861

Website: www.headington.org

Religion:  (eg. Anglican or “all faiths welcome”) Church of England but all faiths welcome

Age Range: 11-18 (boarding) 3-18 (day)

Type of School:  Girls only

Number of students: [800] Girls, Boarding [207], Day [593] [and Flexi]

Fee Range: Lower School (11-12 years) – £17,652 – £34,884 per year; Senior School £17,652 – £34,884 per year; Sixth Form – £17,652 – £37,884

Location

Keystone Tutors has established itself as a leading provider of one-to-one tutoring and guidance to students who are looking to join top UK schools, universities or following the UK curriculum. Keystone is based in London, Hong Kong and Singapore, advising on all aspects of school and university entrance and their tutors are able to provide bespoke one-to-one support to students around the world via an interactive learning platform. Keystone’s professional group of tutors have an outstanding track record of delivering rigorous academic support and work with pupils ahead of competitive entrance tests or UK curriculum exams (including iGCSE, A-Levels, IB and Pre-U).

Come and meet Keystone Tutors at BESSA Singapore 2018!

https://www.keystonetutors.com

Malvern College pupils are bright and enthusiastic all-rounders and we very much welcome pupils with spirit, energy and a sense of purpose.   We are a co-educational boarding school for pupils aged 13-18 and 76% of our 650 pupils full board.  This makes us extremely popular with expatriate and overseas families for whom a full programme of weekend activities is important.  The pupils eat in their houses and this fosters a welcoming family atmosphere.  The College is noted for its warmth and friendliness.

We seek to maintain the most important traditions, but are innovative and forward looking.  Pupils of all abilities flourish academically and our ‘value added’ makes us of one the leading independent schools in the country.  In the Sixth Form, pupils have the option to choose A Levels or the International Baccalaureate (IB), with 50% of pupils choosing each course of study.  A comprehensive co-curricular timetable encourages the development of the all-rounder. This is a school that produces strong, well rounded pupils who exhibit confidence, integrity and consideration for others.

We benefit from beautiful rural and safe surroundings on the lower slopes of the Malvern Hills and yet we are only 1 hour South of Birmingham airport.  The small town of Great Malvern is a 10 minute walk so close enough for amenities (including a direct rail link to London), but far enough away not to be a distraction. We also provide a coach service to London Heathrow and London Paddington.

Facts and Figures

Location

Radley College is a full boarding school for 690 boys aged 13-18, set on a beautiful 800-acre estate, just three miles from Oxford. It was founded in 1847 by the Reverend William Sewell, fellow of Exeter College.

We believe strongly in the pursuit of excellence both inside the classroom and out, and on encouraging boys to develop their talents and discover new interests. As an unashamedly full boarding environment, Radley defines itself by its caring community where all, staff and boys alike, are passionate about what they do, and are dedicated to it.

A Radley education is about academic ambition, learning to live with others and preparation for the world beyond its gates. Above all, it is about the core values that will underpin success in all its forms throughout a Radleian’s life: as leaders, citizens and human beings.

Name of Head: John Moule (The Warden)

For more information, please see the website www.radley.org.uk

If you are interested in sending your son to Radley, please contact the Admissions department on admissions@radley.org.uk, telephone +44 (0)1235 543 174

Location

Rugby School

Rugby School pupils flourish in a supportive community, both spiritually and socially aware, that challenges learners, develops resilience and encourages intellectual risk-taking. We teach tolerance and respect with as much dedication as academic subjects, because at Rugby, the whole person is the whole point. Much copied but never bettered, Rugby initiated the ‘House’ system 200 years ago resulting in a genuine and uncompromised care plan which supports every single student. Girls and boys enjoy a proper ‘home from home’ experience here.

As one of the top academic schools in Britain, teaching and learning is at the core of what we do. Pupils at Rugby have the benefit of fantastic educational facilities and highly qualified staff. They learn what is needed to prepare fully for public examinations but, more than that, they develop a love of learning which stays with them long after they have left the School. We set high expectations of pupils not only in terms of their work ethic but also in terms of their intellectual ambition. Pupils aim high and our record of university success is proof of this.

Rugby boasts one of the most vibrant school alumni networks in the UK with the Rugbeian Society organising more than 50 events each year and actively supporting Rugbeians past and present through initiatives such as the Rugbeian Business Network which works with the School’s Careers Department to assist in identifying jobs and work placements.

Famous alumni are authors, poets, actors, playwrights including: Lewis Carroll, Rupert Brooke, Neville Chamberlain, Anthony Horowitz, Robert Hardy, Will Butler-Adams, Isabel Wolff and Polly Stenham. Not forgetting William Webb Ellis, inventor of the game of rugby football.

Facts & Figures

Name of Head: Peter Green (since 2014)

Admissions Office: 1 Barby Road, Rugby CV22 5DW

Email: admissions@rugbyschool.net

Telephone: (+44) 1788 556274

Website: www.rugbyschool.co.uk

Number of pupils:  640 boarders, 160 day students.  No flexi boarding.  430 boys and 370 girls (from Year 9 (13+) to Year 13)

Fees: https://www.rugbyschool.co.uk/admissions/fees/

Location

Sedbergh School and Casterton, Sedbergh Preparatory School

Sedbergh School, Station Road, Sedbergh, Cumbria LA10 5HG

Tel: +44 (0) 15396 20535

Casterton, Sedbergh Preparatory School, Casterton, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria LA6 2SG

Tel: +44 (0) 15242 79200
Type of School: Co-educational, independent
Religion: Anglican. All faiths welcome.
Age range: 13-18 years (Prep: 4-13 years)
Number of pupils : 453 Boys, 320 Girls (Prep: 200)
Number of boarders: 620 (Prep: 70)
International pupils: 115 (Prep: 15)
Teacher:pupil ratio: 1:8
Annual boarding fees: £21,000 to £32,625 per annum

Sedbergh School

Established in 1525, Sedbergh is one of the few remaining full boarding schools in the UK and 98% of pupils board in one of our 9 Boarding Houses (3 girls’ 6 boys’). Pupils benefit from exceptional pastoral care and the opportunity for everyone to achieve their potential whether their talents are academic, sporting or artistic. Each pupil has a dedicated tutor who is responsible for their academic and pastoral development. Highly unusually these days, Sedbergh retains the traditional in-house dining providing a family-style atmosphere.

At weekends, because there are no flexi or weekly boarders and no fixed exeats, virtually all pupils are on campus. Pupils keep just as busy as during the week with Saturday morning lessons, sport, drama, music, debates, and everyone participates in one of the various social events on Saturday evenings.

Located in the stunning and very safe surroundings of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Sedbergh School provides plenty of opportunities for extra-curricular activities and adventure. Sedbergh is widely recognised as one of the leading sport schools in the UK  and offers 35 sports including sailing, rugby, tennis, hockey, cricket, netball, athletics, cross country, fives, football, squash, swimming, mountain biking, horse riding, fell walking and climbing. The Wilson Run is a much-anticipated annual event with an illustrious history that has been raced over almost the same route since its beginnings in 1881.

Music is also a very important part of life at Sedbergh and the School has three orchestras, five choirs, a swing band, brass band, and numerous ensembles. Many Sedbergh pupils are represented in national orchestras and choirs. Theatre productions are also held regularly throughout the year and every year each House performs an Entertainment programme for the School community.

In addition to providing an outstanding academic education, Sedbergh also prepares its pupils for life. Good manners and respect are enforced during the ‘family style’ meal times and throughout the School day, and the co-educational and multi-national mix of pupils contributes an important social dimension to all pupils’ education, providing the opportunity for pupils to learn and practise rules of etiquette, obtain social graces and develop a natural, pleasant confidence in a variety of social settings. Community service, charity work and fundraising are also recognised as important parts of the School’s extra-curricular activities.

Sedbergh offers A Levels, i-GCSEs and GCSEs in an extensive range of disciplines. With nearly 100% pass rates at A Level, i-GCSE and GCSE each year, Sedbergh pupils are expected to enter leading British and international Universities. Academic results over the last few years are available at http://www.sedberghschool.org/senior/Explore-Sedbergh/Academics/Academic-Results

Casterton Sedbergh Preparatory School:

There is no rush to grow up here. Foundations are laid for nurturing the resilience our children need as young adults and the tenacity essential for achieving high standards. Our around the clock personal care, breadth of opportunity and depth of involvement is what sets us apart. Above all, we nurture a sense of success in each and every one of our pupils.

We are excited by the curiosity and thirst for learning that each child, regardless of their academic ability, naturally displays. We work hard to allow each child the time to question and develop their thoughts independently, leading to fresh discoveries in an innovative learning environment.

Learning both inside and outside the classroom is essential to a child’s education. The setting of the Prep School offers an inspiring backdrop for budding young artists, and an extended classroom to give vivid life to subjects such as Geography, Geology and Natural History. All pupils are encouraged to express themselves musically and achieve a high standard of musicianship, whatever their ability. Music is accessible to all, yet there is also expert provision, tuition and extension work for those who are musically talented and exceptionally gifted

In addition to more than 20 sports, pupils have immediate access to numerous outdoor pursuits, including sailing, fell walking, climbing, horse riding and ghyll scrambling. They also help care for our school chickens, goats and rabbits in the School farm and our Secret Garden where boys and girls consult with the School Chef about growing vegetables and herbs.

We also host academic societies, poetry readings and debating competitions as well as English Speaking Board examinations to further expand pupils’ curiosity and confidence. The recently introduced ballet and jazz dance lessons are very popular, as are clubs for those interested in chess, archaeology and conservation.

Facilities include a new Design and Manufacturing Department, an Equestrian Centre, 7 Science specific laboratories, flood lit astro and tennis courts, a theatre, a heated pool, and an iMAC and iPad suite.

General Information
Applications: Applications are welcome all year round however application at least one year before the intended date of entry is strongly recommended to avoid any disappointment. Current School reports and a Personal Statement are invited in the first instance, followed by our own entry papers in Maths and English/EAL. Visits are most welcome at any stage of the process and can be arranged on most days during term time.

English as an Additional Language: available at additional charge. Usually held in small groups, the number of lessons is tailored to suit each individual.

Closest airport: Manchester (90 minute drive). The School arranges airport transfers for school holidays and half terms.

Guardian: required

Sedbergh International Summer School

Sedbergh School runs its very own international summer school throughout July and August.  This exclusive course is designed for boys and girls aged 8-12 (Juniors) and 13-16 (Seniors).  For English lessons, students are divided into Junior and Senior classes, which ensures that they receive the correct level of English tuition for their age and ability.  In keeping with the ‘boarding school taster’ experience and our wish to develop independence, teamwork and leadership skills in our students, all meals, lessons and activities are taken together.  Sports, excursions and evening entertainment are also combined, allowing students to spend time with new friends.

Students live in single-sex boarding houses under the care of an experienced Houseparent who acts in loco parentis and is responsible for the development and welfare of each student.  All International Summer School staff are employed directly by Sedbergh School which helps students to settle quickly and to help them achieve their full potential during their stay.

The course is small and friendly, and the village location offers a stunning and very safe location for an exciting summer.  Each day is structured to give a true taste of boarding school life.  With 22 hours of English lessons each week and student numbers restricted to 20% of any one language, opportunities are maximised to improve English language skills very quickly.  Class sizes are small and a variety of teaching styles is used, including group language activities to ensure that students are engaged and learning effectively.

All students experience history first-hand during excursions to some of Europe’s oldest cultural centres and enjoy thrilling outdoor activities in beautiful British countryside.  Through practical projects, educational trips and an exciting range of extra-curricular activities, students gain valuable skills, make lifelong friends and take away unforgettable memories.

Further information can be found at: http://iss.sedberghschool.org/

Location

Sevenoaks (founded in 1432) is a co-educational day and boarding school for students aged 11 to 18. Just half an hour from Central London and Gatwick International Airport, our superb 100-acre campus is in the Kent countryside. Academic excellence is delivered by a broad, balanced programme of study and exciting teaching. Strengthened by wise pastoral care and the inclusive influences of the International Baccalaureate, Sevenoaks students work hard to satisfy their natural curiosity and extend themselves far above and beyond the core curriculum.

Sevenoaks is one of the best schools in the UK, providing an outstanding modern education. Known for curriculum innovation, it is one of the world’s leading IB schools, and has developed its own middle school curriculum, which is UCAS supported. Over half of students attend one of the UK’s top ten universities, with approximately 20% receiving offers from Oxford and Cambridge annually. Around 15% opt to study at leading international institutions in the US and Canada.

Sevenoaks students have access to world-class facilities for co-curricular pursuits, including sport, music, drama and art, a huge range of clubs and societies, and a well-established community service programme.

We offer a British education within a cosmopolitan melting pot of, with around 20% of the student body coming from outside the UK. Our boarding community is kind and welcoming, and with seven distinctive and comfortable boarding houses, life is fun, friendly and busy. Our students hugely enjoy their years of boarding at Sevenoaks.

Pastoral care is consistently excellent across the school, enabling friendships between all members of a peer group to flourish, which we believe contributes to the particularly happy atmosphere at Sevenoaks.

Facts & Figures

Name of Head: Dr Katy Ricks

Address:  High Street, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1HU

Telephone of admissions: +44 1732 467703

Website: www.sevenoaksschool.org

Number of students:   1077 in total 1077.  Boys 525; Girls 552. Boarding 348; Day 729

Age range:  11 to 18 years

Fee range: Day pupils – £7,485 to £8,499 per term. Boarding pupils – £11,955 to £12,969 per term.

Location

Shrewsbury School is a co-educational boarding school with approximately 800 pupils aged 13-18, founded in 1552 and set in the heart of England.  We are fortunate to have one of the best locations of any school in the country, a beautiful campus-style site on the edge of one of the most historic county towns in England.  We are committed to strong academic standards and the highest level of pastoral care, and we believe in a vision of holistic education, as demonstrated through a diverse range of activities, sports and societies.

Our 2018 leavers achieved another excellent year for A Level results with over 80% of the exams awarded the top A*, A or B grades.  At GCSE level, 39% of results achieved the top A* grade (or Grade 9/8), with 66% gaining an A* or A grade (or Grade 9/8/7).  As Charles Darwin’s former school, we are proud that mathematics and the sciences form our largest sixth form subjects.  In the past three years, the school has opened a new 19-classroom humanities teaching block, a new design and computing centre, and a fully refurbished school library.  The coming year sees refurbishment and extension of the school’s theatre.

Nearly all leavers go on to university, with large numbers going to the top universities in the UK.  There is a highly qualified, dedicated team to advise pupils on universities and careers, and the school stages a regular series of conferences showcasing UK, US, and European universities.

For each pupil, the boarding house is their “centre of gravity”.  We have 13 houses, of which 7 are for boarding boys, 2 for dayboys, and 4 for girls.  Each house is overseen by a resident Housemaster or Housemistress who is a full member of the teaching staff.  Every pupil has a tutor who oversees their progress, and the houses provide pupils with the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities and competitions, from sports and debating to the house music competition and house plays.

We want all our pupils, whatever their ability, to enjoy their life beyond the classroom, and Shrewsbury has a well-earned reputation for musical and sporting excellence.  Every year, musicians perform across the UK, with concerts this year in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Oxford and Cambridge.  Every two years for the past 20 years, the school has staged a musical at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and is accustomed to gaining five-star reviews.

We compete internationally in cricket and rowing, and we are one of the strongest schools in the country for football, cross-country running and fives; facilities and coaching for these and a host of other sports including basketball, badminton, swimming, tennis, fencing, lacrosse, hockey, rugby, and netball are excellent.

We also offer our pupils an extraordinary array of clubs, societies and other extra-curricular activities, many of which take place on a dedicated weekly activity afternoon.  Shrewsbury is surrounded by glorious unspoilt countryside and the School makes the most of its easy access to the Shropshire Hills, the Welsh Marches and Snowdonia.

Above all, in the words of the motto of our youth club, based in inner-city Liverpool, ‘People matter more than things’.  You will find at Shrewsbury a community which is aiming for the stars in every respect.

Facts & Figures

Head: Leo Winkley

Address: Shrewsbury School, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, SY3 7BA

Telephone:  +44 (0)1743 280 552

Website:  www.shrewsbury.org.uk

Residential: 80% Full Boarding & 20% Day

Religion:  Church of England, though all faiths are welcome

Number of Students:  Total 793; 546 boys; 247 girls

Age Range:  13-18 years.  Entry at Year 9 (13+), Year 10 (14+) and Year 12 (16+)

Full Boarding fee (termly) – £12,590 (Years 9 to 11); £13,040 (Sixth form)

Location

We chose St Edward’s because it is mixed, with a wonderful reputation for happiness.’ – Current parent

Founded in 1863, St Edward’s, Oxford is a thriving co-educational boarding school offering the unusual combination of a spacious 100-acre site at the heart of an academically and culturally stimulating city. Being in Oxford offers pupils unparalleled opportunities to benefit from the rich academic life of the University.

The deliberate emphasis on a broad range of academic abilities on entry means that the community fizzes with diverse interests and enthusiasms. At the upper end, 90% of the top pupils gain the highest grades in their Sixth Form exams and take up places at the world’s best universities – a record which exceeds the outcomes of many highly selective schools.

St Edward’s, affectionately known as Teddies, has just under 700 pupils who are expected to work with energy and purpose, taking full advantage of their opportunities. Pupils live in 12 houses, 7 boys and 5 girls, with a girl/boy split of 40%/60% and 15% are from overseas.  About 85% of pupils are boarders which means that the community bustles with life and activities in the evenings and at weekends as well as during the working day.

The Houses are run by caring and experienced Housemasters and Housemistresses (known as HMs) supported by an AHM and Resident Tutor and a Day Matron, ensuring that every child is happy whilst learning at first-hand what it means to share, empathise and get on with others.

The School also has an excellent reputation for its pastoral care system for which the Deputy Head Pastoral is responsible. Tutors, our three Counsellors, and our Chaplain all have a part to play in pastoral support, whilst Sixth Formers are trained to offer a Peer Listening service, and a ‘speak up’ culture is also strongly encouraged.

Over the last five years, the academic life of St Edward’s has been transformed with modern approaches and new programmes. At the heart of the School’s academic ethos are several key principles: that anything is possible, and that all pupils can and must engage fully in their own learning, and the learning of their peers.

Innovative teaching delivers energy and vitality to the classroom. Collaborative working is the lifeblood of the St Edward’s curriculum, opening pupils’ eyes to the fact that not everyone sees the world in the same way, and preparing our young people for higher education and the workplace beyond.

Sixth Formers find themselves in the rare position of being able to choose between A Levels and the International Baccalaureate Diploma, a stimulating choice that enables our pupils to work to their strengths. St Edward’s is one of the few schools to have made a success of offering both A Levels and the IB alongside each other.

Pupils do very well academically at St Edward’s, and the upward trend The upward trend in results continued in 2018 with 81% of all A Level and International Baccalaureate grades secured at A*-B or Levels 7-5. These are our best results ever and are sharply up from 70% in 2012.  In the IB Diploma, 85% of Higher Level grades were Levels 7-5. At A Level, 76% of grades were A*-B.  At GCSE, 85% of grades were A*-B or the numerical equivalent.

The Ogston Music School, together with the North Wall Theatre and Arts Centre, complete a cultural quarter in north Oxford that are an enormous asset, not just for the School, but for the whole community. Teddies has an excellent reputation and tradition of success in the creative industries, stretching back to Lord Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Grahame, through to Emilia Clarke and Florence Pugh.

Advice and guidance on Careers and Higher Education at St Edward’s play an important role in the lives of pupils as they progress through the School. Pupils work with a team of four staff, who are always on hand, and have a dedicated and unique programme to help guide pupils through decisions that can have so significant a bearing on their lives.

Fundamental to both Careers Education and to Higher Education at Teddies is the early engagement with pupils. Pupils will meet and begin working with the team early in their time at the School, beginning a process that continues right through to the Upper Sixth and beyond.  The majority of St Edward’s pupils go on to study at some of the most prestigious institutions, both in the UK and overseas, with some 80% of leavers attending Russell Group or equally prestigious institutions including Oxbridge and the Ivy League.

With facilities that are second to none, strong results and a burgeoning reputation for academic achievement, a world leading university on its doorstep, and a Head who is determined to strive even higher, this School offers a rare opportunity.

• Headmaster: Stephen Jones (Appointed September 2011)
• Address: St Edward’s School, Woodstock Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX2 7NN
• Admissions Telephone: +44(0) 1865 319200
• Website:stedwardsoxford.org
• Residential information: Full Boarders (585); Day (115) – No Flexi boarders.
• Religion: Church of England
• Numbers: 60% boys, 40% girls; approximately 85% boarders
• Age range: 13-18
• Fees: Boarding £12,615; Day £10,095

Location

Ethos
St Swithun’s is an ‘appropriately academic’ school which means that we celebrate intellectual curiosity and the life of the mind, but not to the exclusion of all else. We expect our pupils to develop individual passions and through them to acquire a range of skills and characteristics. These characteristics will include a willingness to take risks, to question and to debate, and to persevere in the face of difficulty. In the words of Samuel Beckett: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” If a girl can immediately excel at everything we ask of her, we as educators must set the bar higher.

We want all girls to learn about life beyond the school gates, to appreciate the rich variety of our world, to develop an understanding of compassion and to value justice. We encourage all pupils to become involved in fundraising and community work. They should appreciate how their decisions and their actions can affect those around them.

St Swithun’s was founded by Anna Bramston, daughter of the Dean of Winchester, and Christian values underpin our approach to education. We provide a civilised and caring environment in which all girls and staff are valued for their individual gifts and encouraged to develop a sense of spirituality and of kindness. We believe that kindness and tolerance are at the heart of any fully functioning community.

Academic Success

In 2018, girls at St Swithun’s again earned successful A level results, harvesting a strong yield of the top A* grades.  Half of the year group achieved at least one A*, with a quarter of the girls earning two or more A* grades, both of which were increases on previous years.  The percentage of grades at A*and A was also higher than last year, and 46% of girls achieved AAA or higher and 62% AAB or better.  Leavers have gone on to study degree subjects including biology, biomedical sciences, chemical engineering, Classics, economics, engineering, English, geography, history, international relations, law, medicine, music, pharmacy and physics at universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Birmingham, Bristol, Durham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Imperial, KCL, Leeds, LSE, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Warwick.

At GCSE, 29.5% of entries achieved the top grade 9 in the new I/GCSE courses, compared to the national average of 4.3%. Half the students achieved five or more A*/9 grades in a year where they took a mixture of the new courses graded numerically (9 to 1) and those with the legacy A8 to G classification. All students taking the further mathematics IGCSE achieved the highest grade A* with distinction.

The school’s aims are as follows:
Academic
To prepare girls for public examinations and higher education in a stimulating and scholarly environment in which the girls develop intellectual curiosity, independence of mind and the ability to take responsibility for their own learning. They are encouraged to achieve their personal best.

School community
To provide a happy, safe and supportive community based on Christian values in which all girls are given the space to develop their spirituality and are encouraged to understand and celebrate difference, and to be kind to others.

Co-curricular
To provide a wide range of opportunities beyond the classroom so that girls can discover individual passions and develop a range of characteristics such as resilience, initiative, creativity, perseverance, self-confidence, the ability to work in a team and to honour one’s commitments. To encourage habits to ensure good physical and mental health both at school and in the future such as exercise, healthy eating and the art of relaxation.

Beyond the school gates
To teach the girls compassion, an understanding of the wider world and their role in it, a sense of duty and a desire for justice.

Looking towards the future
To provide high-quality higher education and careers advice and a supportive old girls network.

Keeping in touch
To communicate in a timely and constructive fashion with parents and other members of the St Swithun’s family in order to develop relationships conducive to offering the best possible education.

By the time a girl leaves St Swithun’s she will be well-educated, courageous, compassionate, committed and self-confident with a love of learning, a moral compass and a sense of humour.

To find out more about St Swithuns School, please visit our website: www.stswithuns.com

Location

Uppingham School has approximately 790 13-18 year-old boys and girls, and is well known for its outstanding facilities, academic and musical excellence, the breadth and depth of the co-curricular programme and superb pastoral care. It is one of the very few real boarding schools left.

There are fifteen Boarding Houses; nine for boys (aged 13-18), five for girls (aged 13-18) and one for Sixth Form girls only. The pupils eat all their meals in their Houses and the Housemasters and Housemistresses who run the Houses look after what is in very real terms an extended family. Each boy and girl is assigned a tutor, and all members of teaching staff are attached to one of the Houses. Each house also has a Pastoral Matron. The pastoral aspect of life at Uppingham is taken very seriously.

The School is a seven-day a week boarding school with a wide range of extra-curricular activities. There is a long tradition of exceptional musical achievement, with three music schools, the newest of which is equipped with cutting edge music technology, the School’s reputation in this field is pre-eminent.; the School was also among the pioneers of Art, Design and Technology education, with the recently refurbished Leonardo Centre providing an inspiring environment for ADT. There is a fully-equipped 300-seat theatre, along with a drama studio and workshops that are run by the pupils under the direction of a Director of Drama.

At the western end of the town is the School’s ‘second heart’ – known as the Western Quad. Recent developments have been focused on this area and it has been regenerated into a coherent and inspiring environment. The campus houses the magnificent new Science Centre (opened in 2014) which is based around a landscaped open space, creating the Western Quad itself, and has 17 laboratories (including an environmental studies lab and outdoor classroom, and a project room), a lecture theatre, departmental offices and meeting rooms. The centre also has a second library and second buttery to draw non-scientists into the building. The impressive Sports Centre (opened in 2010) houses a large six-court sports hall, six-lane 25m swimming pool, 50 station fitness studio, gymnasium, squash courts and dance studios. The School also has magnificent games fields and playing surfaces (natural and synthetic).

On average 99% of leavers proceed to degree courses, including Oxbridge. In 2015 more than 49.2% of all A-Levels were graded A* or A with more than a quarter of the Upper Sixth achieving 3A or A*, or more.

Geographically Uppingham School is situated in a beautiful market town, on the A47 between Peterborough and Leicester. It lies midway between the A1 and M1 and is served by Oakham, Corby, Kettering, Leicester and Peterborough railway stations (Kettering is just 50 minutes from London by train), and by Stansted, Luton, Birmingham and East Midlands airports.