Chigwell International Boarding Prospectus

International Students at Chigwell School

CHIGWELL SCHOOL

Where we are RD

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www.chigwell-school.org

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Telephone: +44 20 8501 5700

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Chigwell School High Road Chigwell Essex IG7 6QF

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For further information and advice please contact:

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Mr Andrew Long Head of Sixth Form

Dr Alison Lord Director of Boarding

along@chigwell-school.org

alord@chigwell-school.org

An Introduction to Chigwell Chigwell School is a 400-year-old independent school set in the pretty village of Chigwell on the north-east edge of London. Our wonderful location provides easy access to the centre of London (Chigwell is in zone 4 of the London Underground), yet also gives students a lovely, peaceful, safe, green environment to live in. The school has 100 acres of beautiful grounds, with excellent facilities for sports and recreation.

But a ten-minute walk to the station takes you quickly into the heart of one of the most exciting cities in the world.

Chigwell is a high-ranking academic school, one of the top 100 co-educational schools in the UK. In our A-level results of 2012, 63% of all grades awarded were A* or A, and 86% A*-B. As well as academic success, Chigwell is also famous for the wonderful way in which it develops a student’s whole personality, through its warm and friendly community life, wealth of extra-curricular opportunities and outstanding pastoral care.

Most of the 740 pupils at Chigwell live locally.

But our Sixth Form is open to students from all around the world, and we welcome warmly the new insights they bring. For international students joining us in the Sixth Form, Chigwell has developed a unique provision, specially designed to give students new to the country all the support they need to succeed. At the centre of this is our special ‘family boarding’ system, which provides a secure home for new students, helping them adapt to life in Britain, and giving them the confidence to take advantage of all the opportunities available at Chigwell.

International students at Chigwell are very successful, and almost all go on to one of the top 20 universities in Britain, including many to Oxford and Cambridge. They retain affectionate memories of “my first home in England”, and Chigwell’s little family boarding houses receive frequent visits from their former residents.

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Academic Programme We offer an A-level programme that concentrates on the traditional academic subjects that are most valued by the UK’s top universities. For example, we offer Economics rather than Business Studies, because Economics is considered by universities to be a more rigorous course.

In the first year of the Sixth Form, students normally study four subjects. In the second year, they may drop one subject to concentrate on their best three. However, many of our students continue successfully with all four subjects. Arrangements can also be made for some of our best students to undertake extra subjects (most commonly Further Mathematics or extra languages).

Formal public examinations are sat at the end of both years of Sixth Form study. Students sit their AS modules at the end of their first year, and their A2 modules at the end of their second year. The marks of both are combined to form

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the full A-level qualification. In some subjects it is possible for our best students to complete the full A-level (AS and A2) in one year.

Choosing subjects to study Subject choice is extremely important, and Chigwell School understands that students applying from other countries may need a lot of advice. Most other countries study a wider range of subjects at this stage, and students may experience difficulty narrowing their choice to the four subjects required by A-levels in the UK. Every student discusses their choice and their university ambitions thoroughly with the Head of Sixth Form and the heads of academic departments, who offer unlimited help and advice.

Chigwell has a dedicated International Student Liaison Officer to help new international students have an easy entry into the school.

He co-ordinates their academic and practical preparation, puts students in touch with teachers and fellow students, and organises a special induction programme for their arrival.

Subjects offered are as follows: • Art and Design • Biology • Chemistry • Classical Civilisation • Design Technology • Drama & Theatre Studies • Economics • English Literature • French • Further Mathematics • Geography • German • Government & Politics • History • Latin and Greek • Mathematics • Music • Physics • Religious Studies • Spanish

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Academic life Academic support for international students • Boarding houses run by highly-qualified and senior academic staff Houseparents include the Director of Studies and heads of academic departments, several with Oxbridge degrees. Students live in an academic atmosphere and have easy access to support.

• Boarding houses are small and intimate With only seven or eight students in each house, Houseparents have plenty of time for individuals.

Chigwell is nearly 400 years old, with all the traditions of English education. But we are also a modern cosmopolitan community, learning from each other, and dedicated to the exploration of interesting ideas, irrespective of national boundaries. New international students play a full part in this, right from the start, and the insights they bring are warmly welcomed by everyone here.

In the Lower Sixth, when students are studying four subjects, they will usually have six lessons in each subject per week. Lessons are 50 minutes long. Class sizes vary according to subject, but the average size is ten students per class.

The school day begins at 08:20, and continues until 16:00, with one 25-minute break in the morning, and a break of 75 minutes for lunch.

After 16:00 there are many extra-curricular activities, clubs and societies in which students may wish to take part.

Extra-curricular events also take place in the evenings and at weekends, including sporting fixtures, drama and music rehearsals and performances, lectures by visiting academics and a wide variety of educational trips. Chigwell is a very busy place and students will need to be able to manage their time well to get the most from life here.

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• Individualised English Language support Teaching is by individual tutorials with specialist language staff, one of whom is a resident houseparent. Cost is included in fees.

• Wider resident community support The boarding houses are situated close together on the school’s campus, with many other teaching staff resident on-site close by.

• Visiting tutors Each boarding house has two additional tutors who spend an evening every week to offer extra academic support.

• Outside experts The school’s intellectual society, the Williams Project, is run by one of the boarding Houseparents, and resident students have easy access to all the experts who come to the school.

Meet the experts Situated on the edge of London, and within easy distance of Oxford and Cambridge, Chigwell is able to bring many distinguished speakers to talk to students at the school.

Visiting speakers are always invited to stay on for dinner or another social event afterwards, giving all students the chance to talk informally to important specialists and university teachers.

The school also has an extensive programme of educational trips, to theatres, concerts, museums and galleries in London, to university lectures, to interesting places in many different parts of Britain, and in the holidays to other countries all over the world. There are many exciting places to visit and interesting people to meet.

In the picture below, Dr Nicholas Perkins of Oxford University gives a Williams Project lecture on ‘Anglo-Saxon Culture and Modern Imaginations’.

Above, Dr Rupert Read of the University of East Anglia debates ‘The Human Rights of Future People’ with students in the boarding house after his lecture.

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Results and University Destinations International students leaving Chigwell in 2009 Boys -

Poland China Czech Rep. China Moldova China

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University College, London King’s College, London Oxford University Gap year Warwick University Oxford University

Economics Business Management History n/a Accounting & Finance Mathematics

Girls -

Moldova China Poland Ukraine China Russia China

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Lille University, France Foundation course in Swansea Nottingham University Halle University, Germany Oxford University Warwick University London School of Fashion

Law n/a Finance, Accounting & Management Economics Mathematics International Business Fashion

International students leaving Chigwell in 2010 (A* grade was introduced this year)

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Boys -

Bulgaria Poland China Russia Bulgaria China Nigeria China Belarus Korea

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Brunel University Oxford University Imperial College, London SOAS, London Glasgow University Oxford University Portsmouth University University College, London Cambridge University Bristol University

Accounting & Finance Mathematics Mechanical Engineering Economics Mechanical Engineering Engineering Mechanical Engineering Computer Science Engineering Cancer Biology & Immunology

Girls -

China Russia Albania Bulgaria Moldova China

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Oxford University London School of Economics Edinburgh University Plymouth University Durham University University College, London

Mathematics Management Architecture International Business Economics Statistics & Management

of International Students at Chigwell International students leaving Chigwell in 2011 Boys -

China China Albania Poland Czech Rep. Russia Nigeria China

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Manchester University Liverpool University Cambridge University Cambridge University Nottingham University Queen Mary College, London Imperial College, London Warwick University

Actuarial Science & Mathematics Medicine Chemical Engineering Engineering Politics International Relations Chemical Engineering Computer Science

Girls -

China China Japan Ukraine Albania Bulgaria

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Imperial College, London Manchester University University College, London Kiev University, Ukraine Manchester University Bristol University

Mathematics with Statistics Mathematics with Finance History Economics Politics, Philosophy & Economics Russian

International students leaving Chigwell in 2012 Boys -

Bulgaria Hong Kong Czech Rep. Nigeria Bosnia Armenia Poland

A*A*AA BCE A*A*A*A* ABBC A*AAA ABC ABB

Imperial College, London Electrical & Electronic Engineering Gap year n/a Cambridge University Modern & Medieval Languages University of East Anglia Media Studies University of Vienna, Austria Medicine Nottingham University Economics Art foundation course for Architecture

Girls -

Albania Russia China Armenia China Romania China

A*ABB A*AABB AACE A*ABB A*A*A*A* A*A*A*A* A*A*A*A*

Bristol University London School of Economics Manchester University University College, London Bath University St Andrew’s University Imperial College, London

Management Economics Management & Fashion Textiles Modern Languages Accounting & Finance Economics Mathematics with Statistics

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Extra-curricular activities Chigwell is a very busy school, with a wide range of extra-curricular activities to suit all types of student.

Sport plays an important part in the life of the school. We have excellent facilities: our 100-acre site includes extensive expertly maintained playing fields, a new astro-turf facility, a swimming pool, six netball/tennis courts, an indoor sports hall incorporating a multipurpose area and separate rooms for weight-training and cardio-vascular exercises, a separate gymnasium, two hockey pitches, indoor and outdoor cricket nets and eight football pitches.

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The school also has its own thriving Scout troop, who participate in regular activities, expeditions and awards up to Queen’s Scout level. At Easter the Explorers visit the Scottish Highlands, and every summer all Chigwellian Scouts go on Summer Camp, which in the last few years has seen them in Switzerland, Ireland, the Peak District, the Isle of Man, Cornwall and the Scilly Isles.

The school also participates in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme up to Gold level, which provides many other opportunities for outdoor activities and expeditions.

auditorium it includes a green room, rehearsal and teaching spaces, dressing rooms and a foyer. Productions have included exciting combinations of drama with dance and music, including full-scale musicals and even operas.

With two orchestras, three bands, eight choirs and numerous smaller ensembles ranging from flute groups to rock groups, Chigwell has a thriving music department which is always buzzing with activity. Our Drama department is similarly lively, with an exciting range of p ro d u c t i o n s throughout the year in which students can be involved. Chigwell has its own state-ofthe-art 150-seat theatre designed for the use of the whole school. In addition to the main

The Practical Arts Centre has three large art and design studios, a workshop for ceramics and sculpture, a photography darkroom and an exhibition area and it is available to all pupils after school and at weekends. Exhibitions include showings by professional artists as well as students’ own work.

Our academic societies provide many other opportunities to play your part in the Chigwell community, including the chance to compete in local, national and international competitions, such as Model United Nations, Maths and Science Olympiads, the Bank of England Target 2.0 Economics competition, and inter-school debating competitions.

Community service and charity work are two more important aspects of Chigwell life, as we profoundly wish to maintain a strong bond of union between the school and the local area and to strengthen the spirit of service to the community.

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Chigwell’s unique boarding system Most of the students at Chigwell live locally, close to the school, so our boarding system is designed specially to meet the needs of our international students.

We created the system in response to what our students told us they want.

‘I want a real ‘I want an English school...’ understanding home’ Nearly all our students are aiming to study at a UK university, so they want to feel at home in Britain. They want to get to know local students and their families, and see ordinary British life outside school. At Chigwell, our small boarding houses act like ordinary homes, and international students can socialise in the ordinary way with their local friends living nearby. Both in school and in the local community, everyone gets fully involved in life together.

All boarding schools say their boarding houses are ‘like a family’, but ours really are! With only seven or eight students per house to care for, our houseparents really can have plenty of time for everyone. With many years’ experience of helping students from different countries adapt to life in Chigwell, we understand what it feels like to study away from home, and can easily help solve any problems that arise.

‘I want to be with ‘I want to improve others like me...’ my English...’

Students studying away from home like living with others who are doing the same thing. In a Chigwell boarding house, they will live with six or seven ‘brothers’ or ‘sisters’ who are all the same age and working towards similar ambitions. The only difference is... they are all from different countries! Our small houses create strong supportive friendships, and students help each other to succeed. Our old students also frequently return to visit us, and they often give really useful glimpses of university and working life to our current students.

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English is a global language, and speaking it perfectly will enhance your employment opportunities in future life. To become really good, however, you need to speak it all the time. The language of our boarding houses is always English, as we have so many different nationalities and don’t have large otherlanguage groups. And because it’s so easy here to make friends with the local British students, our international students quickly find themselves speaking English all the time.

Headmaster Michael Punt and his family with Chigwell international students.

‘I want help with ‘I want an adult my homework...’ environment...’

At Chigwell, our houseparents are all highly experienced academic staff. Houseparents teach a range of different subjects, and their expertise is supplemented by tutors visiting the houses in the evenings. So there's always someone at home to ask for help with homework, and to discuss ideas with.

There's a strong academic ethos in our houses that makes it easier and more enjoyable to study.

At Chigwell, we respect maturity, and prepare our students for the independence they will have at university. Our small numbers mean that houseparents can be flexible with individuals, giving freedom and responsibility as students mature. Since boarding at Chigwell consists only of Sixth-Formers living closely with staff, we have a very mature atmosphere that prepares students well for the next stage in their lives.

‘I want to meet people from all over the world...’

In today’s globalised society, everyone wants to learn how people from other cultures think. The trouble is, if you have a lot of people from your own country available, it’s hard to make the effort to get to know foreigners. In your Chigwell boarding house, however, our small numbers and close family life mean that you really do make deep and lasting friendships with people from many different countries.

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Boarding houses & houseparents HARSNETT’S takes its name from the Founder of the school, Archbishop Samuel Harsnett, Archbishop of York and Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, who founded the school in 1629. He purchased the house (built in the late 16th century) in 1627, two years before he began his school.

Although it is an historic building, Harsnett’s was fully refurbished by the school in 2010

and so provides comfortable up-to-date accommodation for modern students.

The house is run by Neil and Michelle Saunders.

Neil teaches Mathematics, and has been the school’s Director of Studies since 2002.

Michelle is a language teacher who specialises in EAL (English as an Additional Language for students from overseas). They have three children, aged twelve, seven and five.

HAINAULT HOUSE has existed on this site since 1086, when it was mentioned in the Domesday Record. In 1874 the old house was completely rebuilt in a grand Victorian Gothic style, and it was purchased for Chigwell School in 1917.

Hainault House is run by Sue and Andy McKenzie, and it has been home to them and their family for 18 years. Sue and Andy met while they were both students at Oxford University: Sue teaches Mathematics and Andy is the school’s Head of Physics. They have three children, the eldest of whom have now left Chigwell School for university. Growing up in Hainault House was a wonderful experience, they say: “We loved meeting girls from all over the world!” In 2007 the whole family visited China, bringing a group of local Chigwell students, who were fascinated to be shown around by former Hainault House residents.

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SANDON LODGE was built in 1870, and has a particularly beautiful setting, in the middle of the school’s 100 acres of grounds. It is run by Alison and Chris Lord who, like the McKenzies, also met while they were students together at Oxford University. Alison’s subject is Music History, on which she is the author of several books, and Chris is the school’s Head of

Classics. Chris also runs the Williams Project (the school’s intellectual society), and Alison is the school’s Director of Boarding.

Alison and Chris have one son, and the family has lived in Sandon Lodge since 1998. In 2008 they undertook a special 10th anniversary tour across Europe, from Paris to Kiev by rail, meeting up with 23 of their old students in a dozen different countries.

CHURCH HOUSE, which stands next to St Mary’s Church, has perhaps the most interesting architecture of our four historic boarding houses. The central part of the house was built in the 15th century, and it was extended in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Local legend says that Charles Dickens stayed there, and certainly there is a vivid description in his novel Barnaby Rudge of the view of

the 16th-century King’s Head Inn opposite the house.

Church House is run by Freddie and Vikki Meier, who met teaching at Chigwell, and married in the school’s chapel, to the delight of all the school c o m m u n i t y.

Freddie teaches German and is the school’s International Student Liaison Officer, and Vikki is the school’s Head of Junior Science. Like Harsnett’s, Church House has also been completely refurbished in 2010, and now provides a very comfortable and attractive home for our students.

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Chigwell School is an Incorporated Charity, No.1115098.