Joining Culford A British boarding education that is challenging, enriching & fun for children aged 7 to 18
www.culford.co.uk • Culford develops the whole child • An education that is challenging, enriching and fun • Superb facilities and amazing opportunities • Boarding and pastoral care rated ‘Excellent’ • Small classes, excellent teaching
“Culford has been the making of me as a person and all the teachers have gone out of their way to support and help me. I have learnt life skills and met people here who will shape my life forever.”
Welcome to Culford School Culford is a boarding school set in 480 acres of beautiful parkland, close to the market town of Bury St Edmunds, two hours from London and 40 minutes from Cambridge. There is easy access to London airports at Heathrow and Gatwick while Stansted airport is 40 minutes away. Culford is a happy, busy school offering a wide variety of opportunities and excellent facilities in an outstanding location. The School is focused on each student’s individual needs and aspirations; whether their ambition is to study Mathematics at Cambridge, Electronic Engineering at Imperial College London, or to study a wide variety of other subjects at university. Approximately 17% of pupils at Culford come from overseas to board each year.
FACILITIES The School has an impressive 16th century building at its heart as well as modern, purpose-built academic and sports facilities, as well as a stunning new landmark Library, opened in 2015. Modern classrooms are enhanced with extensive ICT; there is a dedicated Science Centre, Language Laboratory, Art & Design Centre and Sixth Form Centre. Sports facilities are excellent and include an indoor 25m swimming pool, squash courts, fitness suite and top class sports hall with an indoor climbing wall, extensive outdoor pitches and floodlit Astroturf. A championship standard 4 court Indoor Tennis Centre offers first class coaching facilities.
PASTORAL CARE Rated excellent in boarding and pastoral care by ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate), Culford is renowned for being a very special community which enriches students’ lives. It offers a fulfilling academic, sporting, arts and activities programme that ensures each student achieves their full potential. There are four boarding Houses at Culford, two for boys and two for girls, offering superb accommodation and facilities. Your child’s welfare will be overseen by their Housemaster or Housemistress as well as a personal tutor who will remain in close contact with each pupil. The School also has its own Medical Centre with a resident nurse.
ACADEMIC STUDIES At ages 13-16, pupils may study up to eleven GCSE and IGCSE subjects. These include: Art Design & Technology Drama English English Literature
Geography History Latin Mathematics
Modern Languages Music Physical Education Religious Studies
Sciences: Biology Chemistry Physics
In the Sixth Form Culford offers the following subjects to study at A level (ages 16-18): Art Craft and Design Business Studies Classics Computer Science Design & Technology
Drama & Theatre Studies Economics English Literature Geography History Latin
Maths & Further Maths French Spanish Music Music Technology Physical Education
Psychology Religious Studies Sciences: Biology Chemistry Physics
Full details are in the Sixth Form prospectus. Culford has been identified as one of the top six schools for Mathematics in the U.K.
EXAM RESULTS The following table shows average A Level results over the last 4 years: A level Subject
Average % over the last 4 years A* to B
A level Subject
Average % over the last 4 years A* to B
Maths
64%
Chemistry
60%
Further Maths
52%
Physics
47%
Students from Hong Kong and China have been extremely successful at securing places at their university of choice, including: Name
Course
University
Tracey Gan
Financial Accounting with Buisness Placement
Durham University
Lynna Lang
Mathematics with Economics
University College London
Ivan Lee
Medicinal Chemistry
St Andrew’s University
Jeffrey Lo
Accounting and Finance
Edinburgh University
Miranda Wang
Liberal Arts
King’s College London
Andy Zhao
Electronic Engineering
Imperial College London
THE ARTS, ACTIVITIES AND SPORT Art, Music and Drama are all valued at Culford. The Art department seeks to find, challenge and expand creativity in all. Culford also offers superb opportunities for musicians at all levels, with tuition in the full range of orchestral instruments as well as piano, guitar and voice. There are plenty of musical groups and choirs to suit everyone. Drama is hugely popular too and several major productions take place each year, in the stunning purpose built Studio Theatre. The main sports on offer include tennis, golf, hockey, netball, rugby, cricket, rounders, swimming and athletics; however, boarders can also play football, table tennis and basketball. The fitness suite is also very popular in the evenings and at weekends. An extensive activities programme is available after school so that there is always something to do. Many clubs and societies meet each week and there are opportunities for pupils to join organised trips – recent visits include France, New York and scuba diving in the Caribbean.
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
Bury St Edmunds
A more detailed brochure is available on request.
LOCATION Culford is located just 3 miles from the beautiful and vibrant market town of Bury St Edmunds, only 40 minutes from the university city of Cambridge, and less than 2 hours from central London.
CULFORD CAMBRIDGE
Stansted Heathrow
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
LONDON
Gatwick
Overseas pupils will: • Sit aptitude tests and papers in English (EAL) and Mathematics • Produce reports and references from their current school • Interview in person, by telephone or via SKYPE To begin the application process, please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@culford.co.uk
EAL PROVISION All pupils for whom English is an additional language are assessed before and upon entry to the School. Pupils must be able to access the curriculum independently in the classroom; to facilitate this, pupils are provided with individually tailored curricula to suit their specific needs and aptitude. We have two specialist EAL teachers who offer individual or group support lessons. At age 13+ pupils are prepared for the Cambridge ESOL examinations. At age 15+ pupils are prepared for IGCSE English and at age 16+ pupils are prepared for IELTS.
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GUARDIANS All overseas pupils must have a Guardian who lives in the UK. This person will be responsible for the pupil during short holidays when he/she may choose not to go home and in special circumstances when he/she cannot stay at School. The Guardian may not be a student; Culford can provide the names of guardianship agencies.
VISAS All non-EU pupils will require a child student visa to enter the UK and study at Culford. Once a place has been offered and accepted, and all relevant forms, documents and payments have been received by the School, the Admissions Office will issue a CAS to support the visa application. It is the responsibility of the pupil to submit the application to the British Embassy or Consulate in his or her own country. As a visa may take several weeks to obtain it is advised that the application is submitted as soon as possible. For further information, please visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk
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If you are interested in joining Culford, please contact the Admissions Office Culford School, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP28 6TX Admissions Office: +44 (0)1284 385308 Reception: +44 (0)1284 728615
www.culford.co.uk