REPTON PREP

Repton Prep, in Derbyshire, has always been proud of its boarding provision. Winners of the BSA Supporting Junior Boarders award, dedication to the very best support for young people studying away from home is fundamental to the school’s approach.

Pupils can board at Repton from the age of seven in a beautiful environment with all the excellent in-loco-parentis care one would hope for. Yet for international boarders, the support goes even further, and Repton Prep employs Rachel Wantling, a qualified EAL teacher dedicated not only to working with pupils on their understanding of the English language, but to their full immersion in Repton Prep’s rich boarding programme. Most importantly, Rachel is resident full time on campus to support our international pupils round the clock. The impact on pupil confidence is striking.

Last year one of our Year 7 Spanish boarders created a puppet show to highlight endangered languages for International Mother Language Day. A full-time boarder from Hong Kong developed his musicianship, becoming a finalist of the School’s Young Musician of the Year competition and winning a music scholarship to Repton School at 13+. Another pupil via the Homes for Ukraine scheme took full advantage of the language support on offer and was soon confident enough to perform in the school play, Disney’s The Lion King, also furthering her passion for dance. She graduated from Repton Prep with exam grades placing her in the top 20 academically.

The support international pupils receive is included in school fees, so there is no barrier to access for any of our international pupils, and this is further reminder that Repton Prep is committed to the best experience possible for international boarders. We believe they strengthen the diversity of school life and are emblematic of our inclusivity.

This is true whatever the length of a pupil’s stay with us; we have recently introduced short-term immersive programmes for international pupils where they can sample boarding school life for one or two terms, or a year –with full experience of boarding trips, the school community and outstanding facilities, following our academic timetable plus specialist English teaching.

Autumn colours at Tonbridge School