Rochester Independent College

Located at the picturesque south-eastern tip of England, Dover College is a world-class co-educational independent boarding school. With just 300 students and small class sizes, the school takes an individualised approach to education. By understanding each student’s personal needs and strengths, staff can teach with a creativity which encourages independent and critical thinking and achieves exceptional results. Located on a site that is steeped in history, Dover College is enriched by the traditions of the past whilst preparing young people to become self-assured members of the modern world. Facilities Students at Dover College have access to a wealth of learning resources. Laptops are extensively used as part of lesson delivery and the extensive state-of-the-art ICT wireless system means they can also access information on their own devices. The Learning Resource Centre is a modern space for independent learning and for students to receive guidance on careers and University applications. Sporting facilities include a first-class AstroTurf surface used for hockey, netball and tennis, a sports hall, a newly renovated functional fitness suite, squash court, four outdoor cricket nets, lawn tennis courts and a dance studio. The Farthingloe sports ground boasts four excellent football and rugby pitches and the Maxton cricket ground is one of the most picturesque in Kent, with magnificent uninterrupted views of Dover Castle. Sports & Arts Dover College students are encouraged to participate in a broad range of sporting activities throughout the year and college teams regularly compete at regional and national level across all major Games. Although there is an emphasis on traditional team sports such as football, hockey, rugby, netball and cricket, pupils frequently compete in other sports such as tennis, cross country, athletics, sailing, squash, rounders, basketball, and swimming. Within the Senior Games programme, horse riding and yoga are also available. Domestic and international sports and activities tours take place on an annual basis, making the most of the college’s location as the closest UK school to continental Europe. Music and drama are also at the heart of the curriculum and in addition to exciting opportunities for students to perform in plays, concerts, recitals and house competitions, the college’s proximity to London also allows for regular theatre trips to see world-class shows. Dormitories and Student Life Around a third of Dover students are boarders. The boarding houses are homely and family-orientated, and students share in rooms of 3 until they reach year 11, when it drops to 2. Upper sixth formers are guaranteed a room to themselves. Saturdays are ‘choc-a-bloc’ with things to do– cultural, sporting, shopping- and older students can opt instead to do supervised study. Sundays are relaxed and the emphasis is on winding down to prepare for the week ahead. The boarding houses have a strong cosmopolitan atmosphere with a balance of pupils from around the world, however the dominant nationality throughout the school is English.

Rossall School is a large, British private boarding school educating Senior and Sixth Form boys and girls since 1844. The school presents a challenging curriculum in a friendly, global community environment with over 50 nationalities represented. Academic offerings include a large selection of GCSE core subjects, over 25 A-Level courses, the prestigious International Baccalaureate, as well as the Combined Cadet Force. Facilities Set on an historic 160-acre campus along the magnificent Lancashire coastline, Rossall School is the only school in the UK with its own Space Science & Astronomy Centre. Other facilities of note are a brand-new cookery kitchen, and a state-of-the-art design and technology studio. Its impressive Harry Potter-style dining hall was described by F.A.M Webster in his book, Our Great Public Schools, as "one of the most splendid in the country". Rossall School also features a gymnasium, an indoor pool, climbing wall and tennis courts, in addition to outdoor tennis and squash courts, shooting and archery ranges, an AstroTurf hockey pitch and a mile-long private beach. Sports and Arts Sport is seen as a key part of the Rossall all-rounder, a pupil who is competent in all areas of the curriculum, academically sound, emotionally intelligent and physically fit. A range of sporting activities exist for the keen sportswoman or sportsman but even if you are a recreational player or just want to have fun staying fit, there are plenty of opportunities to express yourself. The school offers membership in 64 clubs and societies. Drama is popular amongst all year groups and there are regular opportunities to perform in productions, sometimes linked in to the curriculum, such as the perennially creative Year 6 Shakespeare play. In the Senior School, there are regular drama productions which have recently included the West End hit, ‘Les Miserables’. The Art and Design departments provide a fantastic outlet for creative students- housed in beautifully light and airy rooms they feature the very latest in CAD and workshop equipment, including a 3D printer. Dormitories and Student Life Student housing at Rossall School gives off a warm, family-oriented vibe. There are cosy common areas, well-appointed bedrooms and contemporary shower rooms. Perfectly cared for by houseparents and tutors, young people find the dormitories a place to relax, study and make friends. These friendships can last a lifetime, open up so many new opportunities and allow you to experience new and exciting cultures through the people that you are surrounded by. The diversity of the school is virtually unrivalled by any other school in the area, and arguably in the whole of England.

As the oldest independent co-educational boarding school in the UK, Ackworth School is steeped in history. The school was founded in 1779 by John Fothergill, a prominent Quaker, who was well respected for making significant advances in science and medicine. Quakers are well known for their tolerance, their emphasis on peace, and their honesty and simplicity, and these principles still form part of the fabric of the school, today, Ackworth is a rich tapestry of beliefs and origins. Most students are from non-Quaker families and the international flavour of the school, especially in the Sixth Form, is another of Ackworth’s distinctive features. With world-class teaching and modern classroom facilities, the school has a firm standing as one of the finest educational establishments in the north of England, so it is little wonder that it also has an outstanding academic reputation both in the UK and around the world. Facilities The school’s beautiful grounds play a key role in the school’s unique learning experience. Expansive and tranquil spaces in the Yorkshire countryside provide the perfect setting for contemplation, play and for students to enjoy the company of friends. The school is extremely well-resourced and pupils enjoy the advantages of having spacious, well-equipped Science laboratories, outstanding Art, Music and Drama facilities, a first-class library, and specialist ICT and Design and Technology suites. The excellent sporting facilities include 16 acres of playing fields, an all-weather AstroTurf training pitch, tennis courts, netball courts, a sports hall, a dance hall, an indoor 30-metre swimming pool, a gymnasium and a fitness suite. The Music Centre’s 180 seat recital hall offers a fantastic venue for the diverse range of chamber groups, workshops, choirs, bands and orchestras. Sports and Arts Sport is an important part of life at Ackworth School and pupils of all abilities are encouraged to develop a sporting interest, whether within the timetable or as an extra-curricular activity. It’s all about getting active and involved, because participating in competitive sports including soccer, netball, hockey, badminton, cricket and tennis is a great way to make new friends, work together and stay fit. The school also believes that art stimulates creativity and imagination so all students are encouraged to try their hand at Design, Art, Music, Textiles, Cookery, and Drama, both inside and outside the classroom. Students also have a choice of over 70 lunchtime and after-school activities including the junior school band, gardening club and a variety of energising pursuits including dance, gymnastics, aerobics, and indoor climbing. Dormitories and Student Life British and overseas students flourish in Ackworth School’s boarding community, where they enjoy an integrated education and social life and benefit from the enriching opportunity to share a room with someone from another cultural background. There are separate boarding houses for boys and girls, each with comprehensive care, guidance and support appropriate to the age of the pupils. Most boarders share a room with one or two other students and enjoy a tight-knit family atmosphere with a wide age range and a strong international mix. Resident staff do everything they can to make boarders feel at home and are available at all times, whilst other staff including the Head and Deputy Head live on site. Boarding pupils explore new horizons outside the classroom too, with relaxed day trips to places of cultural interest, a full programme of after-school and weekend activities for British and international students alike. The school has four houses: Woolman, Gurney, Penn and Fothergill. Every student is assigned to one of the four houses at the start of their time at the school for inter-house events and competitions which include sport, music, drama, poetry and art.