SHORT STAY PROGRAMME
WOLDINGHAM SCHOOL
I think the best parts of my year were the opportunities I had to make so many memories and meet so many people. The reason I came to Woldingham was to have a new experience of another way of life. It has helped me to mature and become more independent. My advice to other people coming to Woldingham is to have a positive mindset, even if you miss your family, and to try new things and step out of your comfort zone. I made so many new friends and experienced something that I will probably never have the chance to do again.
Oli from Spain
SHORT STAY PROGRAMME
Woldingham School’s short stay programme provides international students with the opportunity to experience life at our all-girls independent day and boarding school as well as improve their English language skills. Set in 700 acres of beautiful Surrey countryside, Woldingham is only 30 minutes from Gatwick and 45 minutes from Heathrow airports.
Centred around a warm and welcoming community, Woldingham was founded in 1842 and is the UK’s oldest Sacred Heart school.
Woldingham is experienced in providing an enriching programme for international students staying for one term, two terms or a whole academic year, September to July.
At Woldingham, our international students accelerate their proficiency in English alongside studying a broad spectrum of subjects including science, maths, performing and creative arts, while making lasting friendships with girls from a diverse mix of nationalities. We offer a wealth of extra-curricular activities with a dedicated academic programme of study suited to each student’s profile.
International students return home more confident in their English, a new-found independence and lifelong memories.
SCHOOL TIMETABLE
• Students joining in Years 7, 8 9 and 10 (ages 11 to 15) study English, maths, science, selection of creatives (art, music, drama), languages, theology, selection of humanities, computer science and sport.
• Students aged 16 - 17 joining the Sixth Form (Year 12) for a short stay programme will choose three or four academic subjects at A Level standard, which can be chosen before joining, and will follow our excellent Sixth Form talks programme, bespoke Sophia programme and sport lessons.
• If short stay students are with us during their year group’s examinations, they will take part in a study project with additional cultural trips.
• Weekly assemblies covering a wide range of cultural and topical issues.
• Whole school House competitions, such as. House Music Festival and Sports Day, appropriate to the term.
• Selection from more than 80 different extra-curricular activities and clubs at lunchtimes, after school and at weekends
• A range of weekend trips and activities for boarders, both off site and at school.
HEALTH AND WELFARE
The school’s Health Centre is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by qualified nurses to care for all our students. International students can register with the local GP, who holds surgery hours at the Health Centre three times a week.
I have felt very well cared for by my housemistress, and by the Health Centre when not well. The thing I will miss most? All my great new friends.
WEEKEND ACTIVITIES
A wide range of trips and activities are arranged for boarding students at weekends. Recent trips include Hever Castle, Oxford, Canterbury, London, Legoland and Thorpe Park, ice skating, bowling and laser tag. In the summer, students enjoy trips to Brighton. There may be opportunities to join school-run residential trips to Europe and further afield. Weekend activities at school include cooking, ceramics, drama and music, art and crafts, and making use of the school’s 700 acres.
Alaia from Mexico
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
Uniform
For one term stay students, the school will provide a basic set of compulsory uniform. This will be returned to the school when the student leaves.
For two to three term students, we expect them to buy their own basic set of weekday uniform and PE kit from the school supplier schoolblazer.com
Bedding and toiletries
For one term stay students the school will provide all bedding required.
For two to three term students, students should bring their own bedding (pillows, duvet, sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases).
We recommend students bring a supply of basic toiletries. They can purchase additional supplies on their local shopping trips (Year 9 and up), or at the school shop.
Laundry
All laundry services are provided. Students will be given their own laundry bag and a laundry schedule issued in each of the boarding houses.
Pocket money
Students will need a certain amount of pocket money per week to spend on items such as snacks from the school shop, stationery, toiletries, souvenirs from trips etc. They should not hold large amounts of cash and any value above £5 must be looked after by the housemistress.
Keeping in touch with your daughter
Students in Years 7-9 hand in their mobile phones between 08:30-16:00. During these times, students in Year 10 are not required to hand in their phones but must keep them out of sight and their use is not permitted other than in common rooms at lunchtime. All devices are handed in overnight so that our students get a good night’s sleep.
This means that your daughter may contact you at the start of the day before registration at 8.30am and at the end of school from 16:00 until bedtime. There is wifi throughout the school.
GUARDIANS
All students whose parents do not live in the UK are required to have an educational guardian, who can accept parental responsibility for the student during their time at school. An educational guardian could be a relative or close family friend, or the family may wish to employ the services of an educational guardianship company. The educational guardian must be at least 25 years old, live within one hour’s travel of Woldingham School, and be available to the student in case of emergency. Depending on the agreement the family have with the guardian, they can also perform other duties such as attending school meetings, collecting the student from the airport, helping them settle into a new country etc. If the educational guardian is not a relative or close family friend, Woldingham recommends the family use a guardian accredited by AEGIS (Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students).
If you have any questions, please contact our admissions team.
registrar@woldinghamschool.co.uk
+44 (0)1883 654206
This has been an adventure and my year here has been a personal achievement. The best thing has been making friends with girls from all round the world, which has been really special.
I’ve also very much enjoyed the opportunities I would not have had at home, such as playing hockey and studying art.
Valentina from Spain
Woldingham School, Marden Park, Woldingham, Surrey, CR3 7YA (for satellite navigation please use postcode CR3 7LR)
T: +44 (0)1883 654206 E: registrar@woldinghamschool.co.uk www.woldinghamschool.co.uk
