Page 30 - ELG2011 Nov Issue 473

YOUNG LEARNERS SPECIAL . A Catholic co-educational day and
boarding school for pupils aged 3 -18
School for living

Melanie Burke, Director of Admissions at St Edmund’s College,
takes us inside the world of British Boarding schools

Old Hall Green, Ware, Hertfordshire SG111DS
St Edmund’s College was founded in
Douay, France in 1568 for the sons of
English Catholics so, in a way, it has
always been an international school. In ST EDMUND'S COLLEGE
the EFL world, of course, you are
famous for your international summer
Virtual
school, but you also have international TAKE A TOUR
students in your boarding school.
What percentage of your pupils are
international students?
Around 20 per cent of our College students of our first class modern facilities
are boarders, the vast majority of these being
full boarders from overseas. Children enjoy Simply visit our website or scan the QR code below
and thrive in a residential education staying
throughout the whole term, of which there
are three.
Our parents are choosing to send their
children to a British boarding school to gain
internationally recognised qualifications
which will gain them access to the top St Edmund's College
universities, to become fully bilingual and to
develop independence. number of exams or simply join the lessons to community and the benefits that this brings
improve their academic levels and their for the next stages of their lives are
Arriving at a new school in a new English skills, working with our EAL teachers immeasurable.
country must be a culture shock - how to prepare for Ielts examinations.
do you help them settle in? Of course, options are available to study British people talk about the ethos of
Our Boarding staff have many years of GCSE and A-Levels - there really is a length a school, its philosophy. What would
experience in boarding schools and of stay option for everyone. you say was St Edmund's ethos and
understand that each child is an individual how is that reflected in the way you
and adapts to a new life differently. They are treat international students, whether
met at the airport by our own transport team We create an they come for ten years or just for a
and staff are on hand waiting for their arrival atmosphere of couple of weeks in the summer?
at the College. Induction weekends are We create an atmosphere of positivity and • A safe and secure environment set within
planned at the start of term so the children positivity and cheerfulness, but also of quiet, purposeful 400 acres in rural Hertfordshire
can make friends and importantly get to cheerfulness but energy as they work. We have a wonderfully
know the staff that live in the boarding house vibrant history, but that does not mean we • Full boarding options are offered from Year 7
to support them. also of quiet are living in the past; this is a school where
Throughout their first days at the College, teaching and learning is innovative, • Excellent academic support, with fantastic
there are many activities, both on our purposeful energy imaginative and effective.
campus and off-site, to ensure they are fully as they work. We want children that leave us to go out exam results across all age groups
occupied as they settle into their new home into the world who will change the world,
and begin to make friends. make it a better place through the lives that • Full programme of co-curricular activities.
For many people, a boarding school is they go on to lead, but also how they treat
Some students will stay at boarding something they read about in Harry others around them.
schools for the whole of their Potter. What are the advantages of Finally, our children are happy children
education, others just come for a living in a school? and happy, smiling, confident children are
summer school. But at St Edmund’s, There are so many benefits to be gained from enthusiastic young learners ready to embrace
you have some other options? a boarding education at St Edmund’s all the opportunities available to them by
We are very lucky to be able to offer various College, but one of the most important is boarding at St Edmund’s College.
options to families looking for a British access to a first-class education. High calibre
education. Some students like to come for a teaching professionals, many of whom are
one term boarding experience. Some enjoy it available to the children outside of the school
so much they go on to stay with us for the day, means they are fully supported to Melanie Burke is
longer term! achieve their very best. Director of
Students join us for one year, often at age Boarders in our supportive and nurturing Admissions at St
11 or 12, and we offer a Pre A-Level course school develop independence and confidence Edmund’s College
for 15-16-year-olds, where they have the and very importantly, excellent social skills.
opportunity to work towards a limited They live and work in a diverse, close-knit

30 November 2020 Telephone +44 (0)1920 824 331 www.stedmundscollege.org