Abingdon 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 and industry.  Situated just a few miles from the leading cultural and academic centre of Oxford and within easy reach of London’s international airports, Abingdon is ideally placed to welcome overseas boarders. Indeed, boarding has been synonymous with Abingdon throughout our history, attracting students who live locally as well as those from abroad.

We are an academically selective school and exam results are consistently excellent. In the Fifth Year, students typically study ten GCSEs and, in the Sixth Form, we follow A level and Pre-U syllabuses. The Sixth Form timetable is flexible, enabling pupils to take varied subject combinations from the 25 subjects on offer, all of which meet the School’s rigorous academic standards. In a typical year, close to 40% of pupils gain A* or A grades in three or more subjects at A level.  We have a specialist team of career advisers who mentor the Sixth Form on university applications and, each year, Abingdon pupils go on to study at world leading universities, including the prestigious Russell Group and Ivy League colleges. In the UK, popular choices include Oxford, Cambridge (9 students hold Oxbridge places in 2022) and the London institutions – Imperial, LSE, King’s and UCL. Abroad, our pupils currently hold places at the universities of Toronto, Hong Kong, Auckland and a variety of US campuses including Yale. Popular subjects studied include Engineering in its many guises, Medicine, Economics, Sciences and the Humanities.

Our timetable also allows our students plenty of access to Abingdon’s extensive Other Half (extra-curricular) programme which, with over 150 activities on offer, is the envy of most schools – even those within the independent sector. Whether it’s music, science and computing clubs, chess, finance and business, film making, journalism, the arts or sport – the opportunities are plenty and there for the taking.

We also believe strongly in broadening horizons through travel and, whilst this has been restricted over the past couple of years due to the Covid pandemic, the recent lifting in restrictions means our students are once again able to experience the myriad of language exchanges, cultural and sports tours, previously enjoyed in a ‘normal’ school year. We also know that an individual’s success at school is intrinsically linked to their health and wellbeing. At Abingdon, our pastoral care revolves around the House system. Each pupil is both a member of a House under the care of a housemaster and belongs to a tutor group, led by a tutor with whom he meets daily. This system fosters a friendly atmosphere and promotes a feeling of identity and belonging – older students feel a sense of responsibility and experience; and younger pupils benefit from support, friendship and advice.

Over the last ten years, the School has undergone an extensive investment programme, adding our science centre; sports centre and swimming pool; dedicated sixth form centre, library and arts centre; and business, economics and computer science building, to our impressive list of facilities. Looking forward to 2023, there is much anticipation for the completion of a new dining pavilion and our extended and renovated boarding accommodation. This will offer a truly contemporary and vibrant home from home environment with extended study areas and single bedrooms for all sixth form students, but it is also set to enhance the Abingdon experience for our day pupils who are an integral part of our boarding houses.

Facts & Figures

Headmaster:  Michael Windsor (BA Durham; MA London)
Address:  Abingdon School, Park Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 1DE
Website:  www.abingdon.org.uk
Admissions telephone:  +44 (0) 1235 849041
Admissions email:  admissions@abingdon.org.uk
Religion:  Multi-denominational
Number of students:  1,050 Boys | 150 boarders, 900 day pupils
Age range:  11 – 18 years (full or weekly boarding from 13)
Fee range:  Day – £7,450 per term; Weekly boarding – £12,410 per term; Full boarding – £15,200 per term

Famous Alumni:

• Alex Fisher (born 1990), professional footballer
• Martin Landray, physician, epidemiologist and data scientist
• David Mitchell (born 1974), comedian and actor
• Kit Young (born 1994), actor
• Charlie Atkinson (born 2001), professional rugby player
• Toby Marlow, composer, writer and actor
• Radiohead
• Toby Jones, actor
• Kim Darroch, diplomat

Location

Alice Smith School was the first British international school in Malaysia and continues to be the only British international school in Kuala Lumpur which is ‘not for profit’. All resources are focused on our students’ success, wellbeing and happiness.

With two stunning campuses, Primary and Secondary, providing world-class facilities and an abundance of green open spaces, we are passionate about the difference we make and proud of our excellent reputation in providing an outstanding and thriving all-round education based on the British curriculum for 3 to 18 year olds. We are constantly:

• Innovating in our learning environment
• Innovating in our teaching
• Innovating for your child’s success

The exceptional quality of teaching, the breadth of learning opportunities, the high levels of excellent student behaviour, the depth of staff professionalism and the outstanding levels of governance practice and community engagement all contribute to make our school a wonderful place to be and are the foundation for our success.

Our academic results are also consistently excellent, placing us among the best British international schools in the world with students gaining places at the world’s top universities.

Facts & Figures

Name of Head: Ms Sian May

Primary School (3 to 11 years)
Address:   2 Jalan Bellamy, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Admissions email: admissions.jb@alice-smith.edu.my
Admission telephone: +603 2148 3674

Secondary School (11 to 18 years)
Address:  3 Jalan Equine, Taman Equine, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia
Admissions Email:  admissions.ep@alice-smith.edu.my
Admissions telephone:  +603 9543 3688

Website: www.alice-smith.edu.my
Religion: All welcome
Numbers of students: 1,400 day pupils
Fee range: Annual tuition fee of RM47,880 to RM103,650 (depending on year group), Application fee of RM1,200, Enrolment fee of RM5,000

Location

Brighton College is one of the country’s leading independent schools for girls and boys. The College regularly achieves the best A-level and GCSE results of any co-educational school in the UK, whilst ensuring children enjoy a wealth of extracurricular opportunities. Renowned for its focus on kindness, the school also excels in art, music, dance, drama and sport, and is proud to ensure every child is valued for who they are.

In the College’s just published Inspection Report, the school received ‘Excellent’ in all categories. The Report included many glowing comments, including: “Kindness is at the core of the school.”

Recently named ‘United Kingdom School of the Decade’ by The Sunday Times, the College has been awarded ‘Britain’s most forward-thinking school’ and ‘Top in Britain for STEM’ by The Week.

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
Email: registrar@brightoncollege.net
Religion: Church of England, though the College welcomes children of all faiths and none
Number of students: Day: 470 boys, 350 girls, Boarding: 245 boys, 207 girls, Total 1,272
Residential info: Weekly and full boarding, day
Age range: 11 to 18 years (boarding from 13)
Fee range: Day – £8,400, Weekly boarding – £12,220, Full boarding – £16,740

Location

Bromsgrove School’s results are impressive, but Bromsgrove is much more than a place to get good grades, it prides itself on being a happy school where children of all ages can thrive both academically and outside of the classroom. The Goods Schools Guide states that: ‘the school looks for what every individual is good at and helps them find their niche and passion’.

The Curriculum is wide and varied, all GCSE pupils study the sciences as separate subjects and all study one or more modern foreign languages. In the Sixth Form pupils can chose either the IB Diploma or A-levels, BTECs in Sports Performance and Business are also offered in the Sixth Form.

The School’s results are excellent with an average IB score of over 39 points in the past few years and at A level almost 60% of candidates attain a grade A*/A; with almost 90% achieving A*/B. The majority of pupils continue to top UK and world universities such as UCL, Durham, Exeter, Bristol, Nottingham and overseas universities including USA, Canada and European destinations.

Bromsgrove boasts an extremely varied extra-curricular programme and pupils are encouraged to participate in activities ranging from creative arts, performing arts, additional sports and academic extension activities. Sport at Bromsgrove is particularly strong with individuals and teams regularly reaching national finals in sports such as hockey, netball, rugby, swimming and cricket.

Among its fifteen hundred children aged 7-18, Bromsgrove has almost six hundred boarding pupils. The School has made massive investment into its buildings in recent years; all boarding Houses are either new or have been fully renovated to the highest standards. These join state of the art, architecturally striking academic facilities and significant sports developments together with an impressive 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.

Facts & Figures

Name of Head: Michael Punt
Address: Bromsgrove School, Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B61 7DU
Telephone of admissions: +44 (0) 1527 579 679, ext 318
Website: www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk
Email: admissions@bromsgrove-school.co.uk
Religion: All faiths welcome
Number of students: Prep School – 424 day pupils & 100 boarders (63 boys & 37 girls);
Senior School – 542 day pupils & 467 boarders (271 boys & 196 girls)
Age range: Prep School – 7 to 13 years; Senior School – 13 to 18 years
Fee range: Prep School: £9,135 – £11,2655 per term; Senior School: £14,055 per term
Boarding Houses: Prep – 1 co-ed boarding house for 100 pupils aged 7 – 13
Senior – 2 boys houses, 2 girls houses and a Sixth Form co-ed house

Location

Cheltenham College has been educating young people since 1841. Bestowed with stunning buildings and set in the heart of one of England’s most vibrant spa towns, boys and girls are provided with a modern first class all-round education that prepares them for their next step onwards into life.

Learning is at the heart of what we do; pupils are inspired to achieve high academic standards, leaving with exam results they can be proud of. They flourish under the guidance of dedicated teachers who are leaders in their subject fields.

The pastoral care at College is something that everyone takes pride in. This is the foundation which enables pupils to gain confidence in themselves. Similarly, the opportunities provided outside of the classroom are second to none. This is a busy school offering outstanding provision within sport, creative arts and outdoor education.

Pupils are able to develop a range of interests that will last them a lifetime. The community service programme is a particularly important part of College life. This is an area in which pupils gain an understanding of the importance of giving their time to benefit others, and in doing so, an appreciation of the value of service is gained and pupils are better prepared for life after College.

Above all, Cheltenham College inspires young people who are willing to learn, ambitious to achieve and keen to get involved. Boys and girls who join at any age will leave as well-rounded young men and women, having fulfilled their true potential and gained a place at a top university of their choice. They will have been prepared for life beyond school and be able to contribute positively to society.

Facts & Figures

Name of Head:  Mrs Nicola Huggett
Address:  Bath Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL53 7LD, United Kingdom
Website:  www.cheltenhamcollege.org
Admissions telephone:  +44 (0) 1242 265600
Admissions email:  admissions@cheltenhamcollege.org
Religion: Christian, All Faiths welcome
Numbers of students: College: 730 pupils | 80% Full Boarding, 10% Flexi, 10% Day; Prep : 406 pupils | 10% Full Boarding, 5% Flexi, 85% Day
Age range: College: 13 – 18 years; Prep: 3 – 13 (Boarding from age 7)
Fee range: Full Boarding – Year 12 – 13: £13,520; Year 9 – 11: £13,165; Year 7 – 8: £8,520; Year 4 – 6 : £6,810-8,380

Location

Innovative yet traditional, academic but with exceptional co-curricular opportunities, this is all-girls’ day and boarding with a family-friendly approach. Downe House values, challenges, supports and educates every girl as an individual. We aim to help every girl discover and develop her individual strengths to the full, wherever that journey may take her. With only girls in the classroom, in the science labs, on stage and in the sports field, both intellectual and physical confidence can grow without any stereotyping or gender-weighted expectations.

Whoever you are… Whoever you want to be… Be a Downe House girl
So what is it that makes a Downe House girl? The answer is rooted deep in the Downe House DNA and its seven key characteristics which are the hope and challenge for every girl – Collaboration, Resilience, Creativity, Aspiration, Compassion, Communication and being Outward Looking. No matter what girls go on to do beyond school, and the sheer variety of the career paths of our alumnae is testament to our ethos, they all carry the enduring imprint of the Downe House DNA throughout their lives.

Being a Downe House girl means much more than a set of outstanding academic results but of course they matter, and we are immensely proud of our consistently impressive exam results. In 2021, 84% of the grades achieved were A*-A (or equivalent) at A Level; at GCSE, 89% of grades were at 9-7 and 71% were graded 9-8. However, we place equal importance on equipping every girl with a well-established work ethic and a core set of traditional values, skill and beliefs that will allow her to flourish in today’s rapidly changing world.

Family-friendly boarding
Family-friendly boarding offers the best of both worlds for our girls and their families by making the most of the extra time it offers for enrichment opportunities beyond the curriculum, as well as the advantages of confidence and independence they gain from living in such a supportive community. Our boarding model meets the needs of families with diverse circumstances, precisely because we work in close partnership with parents.

What makes Downe House special?
So many things make the difference at Downe House, and to name just a few:
~ The term spent at our school in France, the Chateau de Sauveterre
~ The Global Schools Exchange Programme with 16 partner schools across six continents
~ The innovative DH LINKS programme connecting girls with alumnae and parents, who generously offer invaluable careers-based support such as networking, internships and work shadowing opportunities.
~ The Elective Programme that provides super-curricular academic enrichment to challenge and stretch able girls. Our holistic approach to wellbeing through the Learning for Life programme giving girls the tools for life to care for themselves as well as each other.
~ The World Ready Programme which maps out every girl’s journey through the school to prepare her for the wider world. World Ready initiatives are layered into every aspect of school life through the curriculum and co-curricular activities with a whole raft of workshops, lectures, courses and events tailored for every stage of teenage development as girls progress up through the year groups.

Facts & Figures

Name of Head:  Mrs Emma McKendrick
Address:  Hermitage Road, Cold Ash, Berkshire RG18 9JJ, United Kingdom
Admissions telephone:  +44 1635 204701
Website:  www.downehouse.net
Email:  registrar@downehouse.net
Religion:  Church of England, and all faiths are welcome
Numbers of students:  579 girls – 549 full boarding; 30 day
Age range:  11 to 18 years old
Fee range:  Day – £10,435 per term; Full boarding – £14,030 per term 

Location

Established in 2014, Epsom College in Malaysia is a K12 co-educational day and boarding school located on a private 50-acre site in Negeri Sembilan, an hour away from Kuala Lumpur and 15-mins from Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Our sister school Epsom College UK was founded in 1855 and has Her Majesty, The Queen, as patron. Epsom College in Malaysia is the only international sister school.

Based on nearly 200 years of academic excellence, Epsom’s Future Ready curriculum is tailored for the demands of the modern world – as an example, whilst students learn under the English National Curriculum and prepare for IGCSE and A-Levels, they leave the school fluent in English, Mandarin and follow the Singapore Math curriculum. In 2021, Epsom students achieved spectacular results with 73% obtaining A* / A at IGCSE and A-Level, gaining placements at top global universities such as Cambridge, Stanford, Imperial and the LSE.

Epsom Malaysia places equal emphasis on enrichment and curricular activities for a holistic education that further develops the students beyond the classroom. Its campus is equipped with specialist world-class facilities for music, drama and sport, including a cricket pitch, rugby pitch, two astroturf football pitches, an indoor sports hall complete with basketball and badminton courts, squash courts, dance studio and swimming pool. A new purpose-built tennis complex encompassing ITF-compliant outdoor and indoor hard and clay courts and dedicated physio and training areas will host the Mouratoglou Tennis Programme at Epsom Malaysia.

Facts & Figures

Name of Head:  Mr Matthew Brown
Address: Persiaran Kolej, 71760, Bandar Enstek, Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, Malaysia
Admissions telephone: +6016-2267831 (WhatsApp) Landline +606-240 4188
Website: www.epsomcollege.edu.my
Admissions email: admissions@epsomschool.com
Religion: All faiths welcome
Number of students: 400
Age range: 3 to 18 years, with boarding from 11 years onwards
Fee range:  Day pupils RM51,000 to RM95,000; Weekday Boarding RM99,000; Full Boarding RM137,000 to RM145,000

Famous Alumni:

• Tan Sri Dr. Tony Fernandes

Location

As well as preparing students for exams, Gordonstoun prepares them for life. The school’s uniquely broad curriculum encourages every individual to fulfil their academic potential and develop their character.

Gordonstoun follows the English GCSE and A level curriculum. With a staff/pupil ratio of 1:7 and every student’s progress carefully overseen by their tutor, they go on Universities, Colleges and Art Schools all over the world. Performance in national qualifications was described as ‘an important strength of the school’ by HM Inspectors in 2019 and staff have a relentless drive to nurture each individual. In its latest inspection report, Gordonstoun was described as ‘sector leading’.

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 4 ½ -18, the school is fully co-educational and students live and learn alongside fellow students from across the social, cultural and geographical board.

Gordonstoun also has its renowned Gordonstoun International Summer School (GISS), a three-week course in July which welcomes students from all over the world to spend time at school and also on the glorious West Coast of Scotland. With full use of the school’s comprehensive facilities students can enjoy a wide range of activities, choose a study subject and enjoy other classes which include Art, Design and Technology, Music and Sports. The programme includes an incredible week of outdoor adventure and sailing which is often a highlight, whilst making friends and having a lot of fun! Many young people who attend our Summer School go on to join Gordonstoun. GISS welcomes students aged 8-16 from 35 countries. For more information on GISS please see www.giss.org.uk or speak to Director Claire MacGillivray or Sabine Richards, who are attending BESSA, about either GISS or Gordonstoun.

School Motto: Plus Est En Vous (there is more in you)

Famous Alumni:

• Duke of Edinburgh, King Charles III
• Olympian Heather Stanning
• Author William Boyd
• Lord Rothermere, owner of The Daily Mail
• Duncan Jones, son of David Bowie
• The fictional character Lara Croft

Facts & Figures

Name of Head: Lisa Kerr, Principal
Address: Gordonstoun, Elgin, Moray, Scotland IV30 5RF
Telephone of admissions: +44 (0)1343 832829; Mrs Sabine Richards
Website: www.gordonstoun.org.uk
Email: admissions@gordonstoun.org.uk
Religion: Christian but welcome all faiths
Number of students: 577 | 315 Boys, 262 Girls; 167 Day; Weekly Boarding 9; Full Boarding 401
Age range: 4.5 to 18 years (boarding from 8)
Fee range per annum: Junior – Day £6,100; Weekly Boarding £9,850; | Senior – Day £10,300 to £11,300; Boarding £14,550 to £15,550
Residential info (boarding/day/flexi) – Boarding and day in Junior and Senior schools; Flexi-boarding also available in Junior School only

Location

Headington School is a leading British day and boarding school for girls aged 3 to 18, with boarding available for girls from the age of 11.  Located just one mile away from Oxford City centre with 23 acres which encompass plenty of green space with the school’s boarding houses and array of learning facilities.  There is plenty on site to entertain and occupy the girls, wherever their interests lie in sports, dance, music, drama, art or in fact anything else!  For the older girls, Oxford is just a 10 minute bus ride away, where they can experience the Dreaming Spires and the city’s cultural and historical offerings.  Headington is able to sponsor boarding students for Child Student visas, working with Newland Chase Education to give girls a chance to study in the UK.

There is a strong academic focus, especially in the Sixth Form with girls consistently obtaining top results at A Level and specialist programmes are offered for Medicine and Veterinary Science, Architecture and Law.

Preparing the pupils for the future starts early at Headington, from work experience and careers programmes starting in U3 including 1:1 chats, careers profiling, talks and lectures from inspirational professionals. Pupils can also access our extensive alumni support network, Headington Connect, offering our current girls mentoring and work experience opportunities. Strong links to Oxford and Oxford Brookes universities with lectures, workshops and visits both at Headington and at university facilities

There is a vast extra-curricular programme with more than 150 clubs and activities to choose from each week.  A new Creativity & Innovation centre called the Hive, was opened 2021, placing an emphasis on cross curricular learning and the development of the essentially human skills of creativity and problem solving.  It houses Art, Fashion Textiles, sculpture, a 3D lens suite and 3D printers, photographic studio, lecture theatre and gallery space.

The School has also secured planning permission on an eight-acre site on the River Thames, for a boathouse, wet dock and boating pontoons. This will help to support our excellent rowing provision, with more than 120 girls overall having rowed competitively for team GB.

Facts and Figures

Name of Head: Mrs Caroline Jordan
Address: Headington School, Headington Road, Oxford, OX3 7TD
Telephone for admissions: +44 (0)1865 759116
Website: www.headington.org
Email: admissions@headington.org
Religion: Church of England, but all faiths welcome
Type of School: Girls only
Age Range: Boarding 11 – 18, Day 3 – 18
Number of students: 820 Girls, 200 Boarding, 600 Day
Fee Range: Senior School (11 -15 years) – £19,740 to £39,465 per year, Sixth Form (16-18 years) – £21,480 to £43,245

Location

Keystone Tutors was founded in 2007 and has established itself as a leading provider of one-to-one tuition and guidance to students who are looking to join top UK schools, universities or follow the UK curriculum. Keystone has offices in London, Hong Kong and Singapore, advising on all aspects of school and university entrance and their London-based tutors are able to provide bespoke one-to-one support to students around the world via an interactive online 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 for top UK schools at 11+, 13+ and 16+. They can also help with UK curriculum exams (including GCSEs, A-Levels, IB and Pre-U) for a wide range of subjects as well as Oxbridge preparation. Keystone aims to match students with the most suitable tutor for them and takes great care to make the process as easy as possible, their client managers are always at the end of the phone and happy to help.

Facts & Figures

Website: www.keystonetutors.com
Email address: enquiries@keystonetutors.com

Singapore Office: +65 6817 4975
Singapore Address: One George Street, #10-01, Singapore 049145

London Office: +44 (0) 207 602 5310
London Address: 5 Blythe Mews, London W14 0HW

Hong Kong Office: +852 5808 9725
Hong Kong Address: 5/F United Centre, 95 Queensway, Admiralty

Marlborough College Malaysia is a fully coeducational, and independent British boarding and day international school in Iskandar Puteri, one of the best in Malaysia. The school is situated on a secure 90-acre estate on the southern tip of Malaysia 20km from the Singapore border. The campus provides a spacious and beautiful environment to enrich the development of our pupils.

Marlborough College is a community where scholarship is cherished, creativity celebrated, diversity enhanced and conversation is paramount.

In addition to promoting and achieving academic excellence, our mission is to encourage children to explore, through compassion, companionship and conversation; and from that exploration, to build confidence and communities for good.

This will develop well rounded balanced individuals who will maximise their own considerable potential and contribute to society in a positive way.

Facts & Figures

Name of Head: Mr Alan Stevens
Address: Marlborough College Malaysia, Jalan Marlborough, 79200 Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia
Admissions telephone: +607 5602200
Website: www.marlboroughcollegemalaysia.org
Email: admissions@marlboroughcollege.my
Religion: All faiths welcome – Christian values
Number of students: 780 pupils in 2021, 48% Boarding Pupils, 52% Day Pupils
Age range: 3 -18 years
Fee range: Day RM84,000 – RM121,350, Weekly Boarding: RM123,000 – 164,415, Full Boarding: RM144,000 – 193,125

Location

Merchiston is a remarkable school where boys gain a world-class, outward-looking education. Wellbeing underpins everything we do and our smaller school community makes for meaningful and connected conversations, means we get to know your son really well and ensures we can support and motivate him in just the right way.

When your son leaves Merchiston, he will have achieved the highest level of personal academic success, made lifelong friendships and developed a true sense of self. He will have learnt what it means to have true integrity and character, to think of how he can help others, to understand the great privilege it was to be educated at Merchiston and strive for happiness and success in all he does.
Situated in a peaceful, wooded 100-acre campus 4 miles southwest of Edinburgh’s city centre on the edge of Colinton, a picturesque riverside village, our location provides unrivalled opportunities to explore the surrounding countryside for mountain biking, walking and hill running. The cultural highlights of Edinburgh are just a short bus ride away and Edinburgh Airport only 15 minutes away for ease of international travel.

Your son will thrive at Merchiston because he is known, understood, valued, and supported in everything he does.

WHAT MAKES MERCHISTON DIFFERENT?
It is a combination of things: our size; a genuine focus on the individual and the fact that we really understand our boys and how to get the very best out of them.

It is a potent trio. It is what enables us to know your son really well and to understand what makes him tick. It is why we can support him in a way that is motivating to him. It is the reason your son will strive for personal excellence and want to be the best version of himself. It is the secret of his, and our, success.

ACADEMICS
Our excellent exam results at GCSE, A Level and Highers and the university destinations and courses of our leavers speak for themselves. How it happens is much more important, for that is at the very heart of our success.
We will get to know your son: his academic strengths, and areas for development; his interests, and what motivates him; how best to support him through challenges. We will talk to him, encourage and 2 / 3 stretch him. We will identify opportunities and discuss options. Together we will make, and refine, plans until we get it right.

SPORT
Merchiston enjoys a long, successful sporting history with over 60 Merchistonians playing senior international rugby and 24 playing international cricket (and Olympians too). Your son can choose from up to 20 sports, play for fun and fitness or thanks to the guidance of some of the country’s leading coaches, compete at the highest level, nationally and internationally.

If you son is a talented tennis or golf player, he can enroll in our Tennis or Golf Academy offering elite training alongside a tailored academic programme (with unrivalled facilities too).

We aim to instill healthy habits and a love of sport that your son will take with him into adult life. That’s why we will encourage him to try new sports until he finds the ones he loves. In so doing he will learn the many transferable values of sport we espouse here, such as teamwork and resilience.

CO-CURRICULAR
This is the time in your son’s life for exploring and discovering new talents. He might not be good at everything, but he won’t know until he tries. He might be a rising sports star, an actor, an accomplished canoeist or a concert pianist. We will help him find out. Rugby is the sport which has the greatest number of pupils involved, but music comes a close second with nearly a third of all boys attending our Choral Society.

We will encourage him to explore as many co-curricular options as possible and gain as much from those experiences as he can. When he finds the activities that he really enjoys, we will help him become excellent at them. After all, this could be the start of a lifetime passion or career path. If your son is someone who finds it hard to narrow it down, we will keep a watchful eye to make sure he is managing to balance everything.

BOARDING
When boarding at Merchiston, your son will become part of a warm, caring and fulfilling community. He will have a diverse social life and form strong bonds with his friends. 20% of our boarders come to us internationally so he will also be part of a school that appreciates diversity and celebrates cultural difference.
As well as your son’s social skills, you will notice greater levels of confidence and a genuine respect for others that comes from co-existing together. Then there’s the resilience, independence and self-motivation boarding brings too. A key benefit of boarding is a longer day. Activities can run into the evening: indoor football, debating, trips to the theatre. It’s one of the reasons that boarders are able to pursue such a wide range of interests.

Facts & Figures

Name of Head:  Jonathan Anderson
Address:  294 Colinton Rd, Edinburgh, EH13 0PU
Admissions telephone: +44 (0)131 312 2201
Email:  admissions@merchiston.co.uk
Website:  www.merchiston.co.uk
Religion:  All faiths are welcome
Number of students:  400 boys; 260 full boarding and 140 day
Age range:  7 to 18 years old
Fee range:  £5,310 – £12,440 per term

Location

Founded in 1556, Oundle School is one of Britain’s leading co-educational independent schools with a full boarding ethos, situated in the small, charming market town of Oundle, Northamptonshire. Travel from London is less than an hour by train yet the School enjoys a beautiful setting in the heart of the UK countryside. The School and town are closely entwined, with Oundelians taking their place within this wider community, not isolated from it.

Pupils emerge from Oundle as decent, open-minded adults, ambitious about what they can go on to achieve and contribute, but never arrogant. That is not to diminish the School’s academic results which are steadfastly excellent. Last year, Oundelians achieved 35% A*, 68% A* or A and 91% A* to B at A Level. At GCSE, 43% of grades were 9, 70% were 9 or 8 and 96% were 9 to 6. On average each year, 10% of Oundelians gain Oxbridge offers and most pupils take up Russell Group university places, with increasing numbers looking across the Atlantic for higher education with a more global approach.

The Oundle curriculum equips pupils to think and is driven by learning rather than by assessment. There is a huge breadth of subjects and opportunities to pursue; 8 timetabled languages, 28 A Level options, 26 IGCSE options and over 40 societies. Comprehensive Scholarship programmes are offered across Academics, Sports, Drama, Art, Design Engineering and Technology, with the Oundle Scholarship aimed at pupils who demonstrate genuine interest in two or more disciplines.

A vast range of enriching co-curricular opportunities encompass the three development strands of Service, Leadership & Adventure and Creativity & Culture. The School is proud of being the largest Duke of Edinburgh centre in Central England and having the largest school Combined Cadet Force in the country. The Arts also play a huge role in the life of Oundelians, with around 20 School, House and professional touring productions performed annually in the Stahl Theatre, and over 50% of pupils learning at least one musical instrument.  Sport is flourishing; the Sports Masterplan has recently been completed and the pursuit of sporting excellence and elite performance sits comfortably alongside a vision for all pupils to benefit from a wide selection of team and individual sporting options.

The House system is at the heart of both School life and pastoral care. Each boarding House is home to those who live and work there, staff and pupils alike, with all meals taken together in House dining rooms. Every pupil is part of a small, carefully structured House tutorial group which spans all years, reflecting a family feel and allowing older pupils to act as mentors to the younger ones. Tutors are a regular and consistent point of contact for both pupils and parents, providing guidance and counsel as pupils grow and progress through the School.

Facts & Figures

Headmistress:  Sarah Kerr-Dineen, since 2015
Address:  The Great Hall, Oundle, Peterborough, PE8 4GH
Website:  www.oundleschool.org.uk
Admissions email:  admissions@oundleschool.org.uk
Admissions telephone:  +44 (0) 1832 277125
Religion:  All faiths welcome
Number of students:  Total of 1110 pupils; 270 Day & 840 Full Boarding, 650 Boys & 460 Girls
Age range:  11 to 18 years old
Fee range: Boarding:  £10,705 – £14,090 per term, Day: £6,865 – £9,025 per term

Location

Radley College is a full boarding school for boys based in Oxfordshire. We work hard to create a community where boys will be happy, grow in self-confidence, thrive academically, and make the most of the many opportunities on offer. We pride ourselves in the pursuit of excellence both inside the classroom and out, and on encouraging boys to develop their talents and discover new interests.

In 2021, A Level results were 85% A*or A and at IGCSE Level, 93% were graded 9 to 7.  94% of our Sixth Form candidates went on to Russell group Universities and 6% to international universities, particularly in the US.

A Radley education is about independent thought and learning with enthusiasm. It is about academic ambition and learning to live with others. It is about preparation for the world beyond our gates. Above all, it is about the core values that will underpin success in all its forms throughout a Radleian’s life: as leaders and as human beings. Every boy is known as an individual and the daily evening Chapel and house cocoa sessions promote the sense of family that is so special to Radley.

We are fortunate to do all this in a stunning rural campus inspired by the nearby city – and university – of Oxford. Boys make the most of the outstanding facilities available to them be that our Art and Design Engineering rooms or Strength and Conditioning Centre or indoor rowing tank.

We celebrate our diversity as a school and educate boys from 38 different countries. Radley  is ideally located within an hour’s drive from Heathrow Airport and an hour and a half from London.

Facts & Figures

Head: John Moule (since 2014)
Address: Radley College, Kennington Road, Abingdon OX14 2JW, United Kingdom
Admission telephone: +44 (0)1235 543 174
Website: www.radley.org.uk
Email: admissions@radley.org.uk
Religion: Church of England, but all faiths welcome
Numbers of students: 763 Boys; All full boarding. No weekly/flexi boarding.
Age range: 13 to 18 years old
Fee range: £14,850 per term- full boarding

Famous Alumni:

• Sir Andrew Motion (former poet laureate)
• Sir Andrew Strauss (England cricket captain)
• Desmond Llwelyn (actor)
• Peter Cook (satirist and comedian)
• Eduardo Mapelli Mozzi
• Simon Wolfson (CEO of Next)

Location

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: Gareth Parker-Jones
Address: 1 Barby Road, Rugby CV22 5DW
Admissions Office: 1 Barby Road, Rugby CV22 5DW
Email: admissions@rugbyschool.net
Telephone: (+44) 1788 556274
Website: www.rugbyschool.co.uk
Number of pupils:  650 boarders, 200 day students.  No flexi boarding.  460 boys and 390 girls (from Year 9 (13+) to Year 13)
Fees: https://www.rugbyschool.co.uk/admissions/fees/

Location

Sevenoaks (founded in 1432) is a co-educational day and boarding school for students aged 11 to 18. Half an hour from Central London and Gatwick International Airport, our superb 100-acre campus is set in the Kent countryside. Boarding is an important part of the school’s ethos and students of 70 different nationalities contribute to an atmosphere that is globally engaged, tolerant and open-minded.

Sevenoaks is one of the world’s leading IB schools, having taught the IB for 44 years. For nearly 20 years, all Sixth Formers have taken the full IB Diploma. It has twice received the distinction of being named The Sunday Times Independent Secondary School of the Year, and the UK Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) awarded Sevenoaks the rare accolade of ‘Exceptional’ for its pupils’ achievement.

In 2022, our average Diploma score was 40.1 points, about eight points above the world average, and consistent with previous years. We proudly publish our university destinations with 98 per cent of our students progressing to their firm-choice university. The majority go to Oxbridge, London universities or other top universities in the UK, like Bristol or Durham. Given our global perspective, 20% of our students go to universities in another country, specifically Ivy league and top universities in the United States.

Sevenoaks delivers a broad, balanced programme of study. Strengthened by wise pastoral care, Sevenoaks students work hard to satisfy their natural curiosity and extend themselves far above and beyond the core curriculum. Students have access to world class-facilities for co-curricular pursuits, including sport, music, drama and art, at least 70 clubs and societies, a wide range of study trips and exchanges, and a well-established community service programme.

Recent campus developments include a new boarding house for boys, a state-of-the art science and technology centre uniting the four core fields of science, and an innovative new Sixth Form centre. With seven distinctive and comfortable boarding houses, our boarding community is fun, friendly and busy. A new girls’ boarding house is currently being built and will open in September 2023.

Facts & Figures

Name of Head: Mr Jesse Elzinga
Address: High Street, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1HU
Telephone of admissions: +44 1732 455133
Website: www.sevenoaksschool.org
Email: 16+ entry – regist6@sevenoaksschool.org; 11+ and 13+ entry – regist@sevenoaksschool.org
Religion: Non-denominational with all faiths welcome
Number of students: Total 1184; 624 boys and 560 girls; 791 day and 393 boarding
Age range: 11 to 18 years (boarding from age 13)
Fee range: Day pupils – to £8,907 per term; Boarding pupils – to £14,307 per term
Famous alumni:  Sir Jonathan Bate, Olivia Cole, Charlie Higson

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 2019 leavers achieved another excellent year for A Level results with 87% of the exams awarded the top A*, A or B grades.  At GCSE level, 53% of results achieved the top A* grade (or Grade 9/8).  As Charles Darwin’s former school, we are proud that mathematics and the sciences form our largest sixth form subjects.  In the past five years, the school has opened a new 19-classroom humanities teaching block, a new design and computing centre, a fully refurbished school library, and an 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

Name of Head: Leo Winkley
Address: Shrewsbury School, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, SY3 7BA
Telephone: +44 (0)1743 280 552
Website: www.shrewsbury.org.uk
Email: admissions@shrewsbury.org.uk
Residential: 80% Full Boarding and 20% Day
Religion: Church of England, though all faiths are welcome
Number of Students: Total 810; 530 boys and 280 girls
Age Range: 13-18 years; Entry at Year 9 (13+), Year 10 (14+) and Year 12 (16+)
Fee Range: Years 9 to 11 – £14,135 per term, Sixth Form – £14.635 per term

Location

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 over 700 pupils who are expected to work with energy and purpose, taking full advantage of their opportunities. Pupils live in 13 houses, 5 for boys, 5 for girls and 3 that are co-educational, with a girl/boy split of 40%/60% and 18% from overseas.  About 83% 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 a 10-year upward trend in results continued in 2021 with 94% of all IB grades secured at levels 7-5, and in A Levels, 61% of all grades were at A* or A, with 83% at A* to B. Four of our 2021 leavers secured places at the University of Oxford to study PPE, Music, Engineering and Medicine. At GCSE, 60% of results were graded 9 to 7.

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.

Facts & Figures

Headmaster: Alastair Chirnside (since September 2021)
Address: St Edward’s School, Woodstock Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX2 7NN
Website: stedwardsoxford.org
Admissions Telephone: +44(0) 1865 319200
Email: registrar@stedwardsoxford.org
Residential information: Full Boarders (642); Day (120)
Religion: Church of England, but all faiths are welcome
Numbers: 60% boys, 40% girls; 83% are full boarders; 18% overseas pupils from over 40 countries
Age range: 13 to 18 years old
Fees: Boarding £14,433; Day £11,550

Location

Compassion, integrity, and a quiet sense of self-confidence

St Swithun’s School is a renowned independent day, weekly and full-boarding school for girls set in 45 acres overlooking the Hampshire Downs on the outskirts of Winchester, yet only 50 minutes by train from central London. It offers excellent teaching, sporting and recreational facilities.

The school has a long-standing reputation for academic rigour and success. Girls are prepared for public examinations and higher education in a stimulating environment in which they develop intellectual curiosity, independence of mind and the ability to take responsibility for their own learning. They achieve almost one grade higher at GCSE than their already significant baseline ability would suggest, and approximately half a grade higher at A level. St Swithun’s offers a comprehensive careers and higher education support service throughout the school years. Its Oxbridge preparation is part of a whole-school academic enrichment programme providing additional challenge and stimulation.

St Swithun’s describes itself as an ‘appropriately academic’ school, celebrating intellectual curiosity and the life of the mind, but not to the exclusion of all else. They expect their 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.

Whilst achieving academic excellence, girls also have the opportunity to do ‘something else’. There is an extensive co-curricular programme of over 100 weekly and 50 weekend activities to choose from.

As well as academic classrooms and science laboratories, there is a magnificent performing arts centre with a 600-seat auditorium, a music school, an art and technology block, a sports hall and a full-size indoor swimming pool. There is an impressive library and ICT facility and a dedicated study centre for students preparing university applications, especially to Oxbridge. The grounds are spacious and encompass sports fields, tennis courts and gardens.

With kindness and tolerance at the heart of its community, St Swithun’s provides a civilised and caring environment in which all girls are valued for their individual gifts. By the time a girl leaves she will be courageous, compassionate, committed and self-confident with a love of learning, a moral compass and a sense of humour.

For more information, please contact Kate Cairns on registrar@stswithuns.com. Keep up to date with latest news by visiting www.stswithuns.com or on Twitter @StSwithunsGirls

(Founded 1884)

Facts & Figures

Name of Head: Jane Gandee
Address: Alresford Road, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 1HA
Admission telephone: +441962 835700
Website: www.stswithuns.com
Email: registrar@stswithuns.com
Religion: Anglican, but all faiths welcome
Numbers of students: 522 students [301 Day, 130 Full Boarding, 91 Weekly Boarding]; 103 girls are international (day and boarding)
Age range: 11 to 18 years
Fee range: Full boarding fees £12,780 per term

Location

Founded in 1847, Taunton School is one of the South West’s leading co-educational independent day and boarding schools for children aged 0–18 years. Set in a beautiful 52-acre site, Taunton School nurtures the individual in a friendly and broad-minded atmosphere, equipping our young people with the life skills to enable them to shape the world in the 21st century.

Taunton School is a lively, international community where we aim to challenge, nurture and inspire young people to succeed in a global community. We nurture the individual in a friendly and broad-minded atmosphere, equipping our young people with the life skills to enable them to shape the world in the 21st century.

Pupils leaving Taunton School go on to top universities including Oxbridge and Russell Group universities. We are one of the only schools in the UK to offer four unique Sixth Form pathways: the popular IB Diploma, A-levels, Level 3 BTEC Diploma in Business and in Sport & Exercise Science and our newly launched Pre-foundation and Foundation course in Business, which are specifically for international students.

Taunton School consists of a caring and experienced Nursery and Pre-Preparatory School, inspiring Preparatory School and an innovative Senior School and International School, which all share the same spacious 56-acre campus, as well as Taunton School International Middle School which is located in The Grange, a beautiful, traditional manor house close to Taunton School. Our outstanding campus includes a brand new £4 million Dining Hall, extensive sports fields, specific Music, Art and D&T departments and a 19^th century Grade II listed Chapel built in 1907.

Facts and Figures

Name of Head:  Mr James Johnson
Address:  Taunton School, Staplegrove Road, Taunton, Somerset TA2 6AD, United Kingdom
Admissions telephone: 01823 703703
Website: www.tauntonschool.co.uk/
Admissions email: admissions@tauntonschool.co.uk
Religion: Christian, but all faiths welcome
Number of students: 647 day pupils; 412 boarding pupils; 579 boys & 480 girls
Age range: 0 to 18 years old; boarding from 8 years old
Fee range: Day pupils from £3,020 to £6,690 per term; Full Boarding from £5,292 to £13,650 per term
School motto:  Challenge, Nurture, Inspire

Wellington College is a vibrant and inspiring coeducational boarding and day school set in 400 acres of parkland, 40 minutes from Heathrow. The College, whose educational philosophy is based on values of kindness, courage, respect, integrity and responsibility, is celebrated not only for its academic achievements but also for its sporting, artistic and dramatic provision which are second to none. Although in many ways a traditional English boarding school, Wellington is both outward looking and modern, proud of its position in the vanguard of educational innovation and pleased to count students of 40 different nationalities amongst its number. Most students join in Year 9, but it has a particularly strong Year 12 entry.

Wellingtonians study GCSEs, followed by the IB Diploma or A Levels. Both routes see superb results: in 2022, 95% of grades at A Level were A*- B while the College’s incredible IB average of 41.3 made Wellington one of the UK’s highest achieving IB schools. This year 20 gained Oxbridge places with a further 21 students going on to US universities, many to Ivy League institutions.

The College has an outstanding reputation for boys’ and girls’ sport, with over 30 different activities offered with emphasis placed on both excellence and general participation. 2021-22 has seen Wellington teams and individuals carrying all before them in county, regional and national competitions: golf, netball, rugby, hockey, rackets, real tennis, polo, equestrian, and fencing have all been particularly successful.

Wellington’s 900-seat theatre provides a fitting venue for all our students, with full scale musicals, drama productions, full orchestral, jazz and rock concerts, a stunning dance show and the annual end of year outdoor Shakespeare medley. Every year sees a reprise of all these acts in the iconic Speech Day extravaganza, playing to an audience of 4,000 in the Big Top.
Leadership and service to others are central: co-curricular activities include its outward-facing Global Citizenship programme, as well as the CCF and DofE. Over 70 clubs and societies provide unique opportunities, from WTV (Wellington’s own television company) to the pupil-run radio station, DukeBox, which broadcasts 24/7, reaching listeners in 41 countries across the globe.

Wellington prides itself on the outstanding levels of pastoral support we offer, and House life lies at the heart of each pupil’s experience. Housemasters and Housemistresses, dedicated tutor teams, teachers, coaches, and matrons all ensure that Wellington truly is a home away from home.

Facts & Figures

Name of Head: James Dahl
Address: Duke’s Ride, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 7PU
Admissions telephone: +44 (0)1344 444013
Website: www.wellingtoncollege.org.uk
Admissions email: admissions@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
Religion: Church of England but open to, and respectful of, all religious faiths
Number of students: Total 1,100 (600 boys, 500 girls); Day 235 (135 boys, 100 girls); Full Boarding 865 (460 boys; 405 girls)/Weekly Boarding N/A
Age range: 13-18
Fee range: (Per term) Day – £10,980. Day (in boarding house) – £11,920. Boarding – £15,030
School motto: Virtutis Fortuna Comes

Famous Alumni:

• Sir Christopher Lee
• Sir Nicholas Grimshaw
• Nerina Pallot
• Sebastian Faulks
• Rory Bremner
• Morgan Lake
• Ellie Bamber

Location