Ashford School
An Independent Co-educational Day School for ages 0-18, Boarding from 10 to 18, 738+ pupils, County of Kent
About the School
Ashford School is a diverse community where individuality is valued. There are over twenty nationalities represented. All pupils have the opportunity to discover their creativity, abilities and strengths through a range of sporting, artistic, cultural and social activities which run in parallel to their academic development.
Ashford School is suited to you and your child for many reasons: high achievement at A-level leading to the best UK universities; close attention to the needs of the individual; an orderly, challenging and supportive environment; a wide range of co-curricular activities; and energetic, specialist teachers supported by extensive resources and inventive leadership. Specialising in those subjects that leading universities value most highly, our tradition of excellence and achievement goes hand-in-hand with our ability to develop self-reliance, compassion and boldness in your child. Of profound importance to us are the relationships that we nurture with you and your child, the freedom for children to be creative, the enterprise to initiate and the resilience to cope with adversity.
Admissions
Boys and girls may be admitted to boarding at any age from 10 to 18 years and at any time throughout the academic year providing there are vacancies in the year group they wish to join. An assessment and report from their current school will normally be required.
In order to ensure a balance of nationalities and to help the students learn English Ashford School will be limiting the number of students in each year from any one country. Demand for places at the school is strong and most places will be allocated by the end of February 2010 so please apply early. Those seeking a place in the Sixth Form to study A levels should apply before Friday 11 December 2009. Students who apply will have to take tests in English and other subjects to ensure they meet the academic requirements of the school and preference will be giving to those who can also demonstrate ability in music, sport or drama. Generally, Ashford School pupils are in the top 25% of the national ability range.
Facilities
Facilities eabling your child to achieve the best include indoor swimming pools, an Astroturf for hockey, football, netball and tennis, all-weather netball, basketball and tennis courts, gyms, specialist art, design technology, ICT and science labs, a well-stocked learning centre, a student café, a dining hall, pupil common rooms, playing fields and playgrounds for cricket, football and rugby, an auditorium and theatre, and a music school with several performance areas.
Boarding
Around 130 boarders from around the world make their home here. Boarding houses are located within grounds of over 25 acres and accommodate boys and girls from 10 to 18 years. Students benefit from shared rooms for two or three children, or individual study-bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms for older pupils. With no lessons on Saturdays, there is plenty of time to make use of School facilities and weekly boarders can participate fully. Full boarders benefit from a weekend activity programme, which includes visits to London and Canterbury and they learn to live and work together, developing deep and lasting friendships along the way.
General information
A level results at Ashford School are good and higher than almost all other schools in Kent (2009: 60% A's, 73%A/B, 100% pass). There is a range of social groups and nationalities amongst the pupils. All students at Ashford School go on to university; in 2009 nearly 15% to one of the world's top ten universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and UCL and 60-70% to other leading UK universities. Maths, Science, Art and Design, Economics and Business and Languages are particular strengths within the curriculum and music, sport and drama also provide excellent opportunities. The School offers over eighty activities each week and pupils are expected to participate. There are no lessons on Saturday but many sporting fixtures and a programme of activities for boarders. Boarders enjoy excellent accommodation, many in single rooms containing their own bathroom.
Ashford School offers an excellent education leading to the best universities in the UK and elsewhere in a secure and international environment within our 25 acre, green campus. The School is in the middle of an ambitious, £15M development programme that includes additional playing fields and sports facilities and expanded boarding facilities. Its recent inspection report was full of praise for the vibrancy and quality of the school.
Location
By air - Gatwick, London Heathrow and Stansted all under 90 minutes drive. By rail – Ashford International (5 minutes walk) to London – 37 minutes. By Eurostar to Europe – Paris is under 2 hours.
Visit the Ashford School website.
