A small, specialist setting for international pupils who need rapid progress in English before stepping into the full British curriculum. The International Study Centre (ISC) sits within Kent College’s Senior School and is designed around bespoke timetables and targeted English as an Additional Language (EAL) support so that pupils can integrate into mainstream lessons as quickly as is right for them.
Leadership for the wider school sits with Mr Mark Turnbull. The ISC is boarding-led and deliberately international, with the inspection record emphasising pupils’ confidence growth, resilience, and the way cultural mix supports personal development. The October 2022 ISI inspection judged both academic achievement and personal development as excellent, and it also confirmed that the required standards, including boarding standards, were met.
The defining feature here is how concentrated the experience is. Pupils are typically new to the UK system, new to British academic English, and often new to boarding. The ISC’s purpose is explicit, building confidence in English so that pupils can participate fully in the wider school, academically and socially, with the right level of ongoing support.
The international mix is not window-dressing. Pupils come from many parts of the world and a wide range of backgrounds, and that diversity is treated as a core part of school culture rather than an add-on. For many students, the most important early win is simply settling, building routines, and gaining the confidence to contribute in class and in house. External evidence points to strong staff support and empathy for pupils adapting to a new country and school system, with boarding helping some pupils develop independence more quickly.
Because the ISC is embedded within a larger senior school, pupils are not confined to a separate “international track”. As English improves, integration into mainstream teaching increases, which can suit students who want a clear pathway into GCSEs, A-levels, or the wider co-curricular life rather than a standalone language college experience.
This is a small provider by design, so headline figures can be volatile year to year. Official inspection evidence flags that cohort sizes can be too small for reliable comparison against wider averages in some contexts.
With that caveat, the dataset used for this review shows a split picture between GCSE and post-16 outcomes:
The same dataset reports an Attainment 8 score of 14.8, an EBacc APS of 0.41, and 0% achieving grades 5+ in the EBacc measure.
A-level grades show 19.05% A*, 23.81% A, and 66.67% at A* to B, compared with the England average of 47.2% at A* to B.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
66.67%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
—
% of students achieving grades 9-7
The ISC model is best understood as a “language acceleration plus integration” approach. The centre was established to teach English as an additional language to overseas pupils joining the wider college, and its stated aim is rapid confidence-building in English so pupils can access mainstream teaching.
Practical delivery matters more than slogans in this kind of provision, and the published evidence is concrete. Pupils receive specialist EAL teaching, often in small groups or one-to-one, with EAL teachers working closely with subject staff so support is tailored to what the pupil is studying in the wider timetable.
The latest inspection’s “excellent” judgement for academic achievement is anchored in English language progress specifically, which is the central academic lever for international pupils. For families, the implication is clear: this is not simply extra English lessons bolted onto a standard timetable; it is a structured transition into full academic participation, which may reduce the risk of a pupil being socially present but academically stranded.
The ISC itself is designed as a bridge. The intended outcome is integration into mainstream lessons and activities with the level of support required for success, and then progression through GCSEs and post-16 pathways.
For families considering longer-term pathways, the wider Kent College Sixth Form publishes destination indicators that help set expectations. The school states that 47% of students go on to Russell Group universities, and that 98% regularly progress to their first university choice. It also highlights international destinations including Bocconi, Esade, Cornell University, and the University of Boston, which will matter to internationally mobile families who may want options beyond the UK.
Importantly, university preparation is not presented as one-size-fits-all. The school references targeted application support such as Pathway to Oxbridge sessions alongside broader academic enrichment such as Model United Nations and debating.
Admissions are handled directly by the school and are structured around registration, assessment, and a decision on fit. International applicants begin by completing registration and providing recent school information, followed by assessments to determine the right entry point and support plan.
The school’s own guidance indicates that applicants normally have an interview or meeting with senior staff, and that entrance exams form part of the decision process before a place is offered. Families can also arrange visits through the year, which is useful for international parents trying to understand boarding routines and pastoral structures before committing.
For Sixth Form entry for September 2026, the school publishes specific dates: an application and scholarship deadline of 14 November 2025, assessments on 27 November 2025, offers by 12 December 2025, and an acceptance deadline of 10 March 2026.
Because competition and timelines can change, families shortlisting multiple options should use FindMySchool’s Saved Schools feature to track key steps across deadlines and visits, then compare outcomes using the local Comparison Tool where relevant.
Boarding is not optional here for many pupils. The boarding model is built around distinct houses, with named house structures and routines designed to provide stability for pupils living away from home. The school lists five boarding houses, three for boys (Elfick, Gamon, Guilford) and two for girls (Austen, Wesley).
House systems matter most in the small moments: settling nerves in the first weeks, managing language barriers, and ensuring pupils have adults who notice small changes in mood or wellbeing. The published house descriptions emphasise buddy and mentoring systems, common-room life, and structured house events, which can be particularly important for international boarders building friendship groups quickly.
The inspection evidence reinforces this pastoral picture, highlighting pupils’ confidence in staff support and the way boarding helps pupils build independence.
The most persuasive co-curricular story here is that activities are not treated as “nice to have”. They are part of how international pupils integrate, build spoken fluency, and develop belonging.
A signature feature is the school’s working farm, with student involvement through Farm Club and related activities. The school describes students collecting eggs, caring for animals, and even showing prizewinning calves at the Kent Show; it also references Gardening Club and environmental activity through Conservation Club (linked to Blean Woods) and Eco-Warriors.
For pupils who want structured challenge, Duke of Edinburgh provides a clear pathway, including expeditions and service elements that can be especially valuable for international pupils looking to demonstrate breadth in UK university applications.
Academic confidence-building is supported through activities such as Model United Nations and Debating Society, both explicitly referenced in the school’s Sixth Form academic enrichment.
Sport has a distinctive angle too. The school highlights an equestrian programme with a team competing in National Schools Equestrian Association events, which is unusual in the sector and can be a genuine differentiator for the right student.
Facilities that underpin this include named campus spaces such as the Great Hall, Sports Hall, Music School, and the Sixth Form Centre, alongside boarding house locations and common rooms.
As an independent school, fees are published for 2025/2026 on a per term basis and are stated as including VAT.
Day pupils (Senior School): Year 7 £8,276 rising to £9,512 in Years 11 to 13.
Weekly boarding: Years 7 to 8 £10,778; Years 9 to 13 £15,836.
Full-time boarding: Years 7 to 8 £12,926; Years 9 to 13 £17,798.
The school also publishes ISC-related charges: Membership of the International Study Centre is £1,926 per term, and Support for English as an Additional Language is £1,260 per term (both stated as including VAT).
The published registration fee is £150. Deposits differ by pupil type, with separate published deposits for day pupils and for UK/EU versus non-EU boarding pupils.
The school lists inclusions such as curriculum-related activities, many books and materials, exam entry for first sittings associated with timetabled classes, and boarding-specific items such as laundry and bedding. It also lists examples of extras such as transport services, individual music tuition, some specialist sports (including riding), and some trips.
Scholarships are offered at key entry points and the school states that the maximum scholarship value is 50% of tuition fees.
Bursaries are means-tested; the school explains that they are based on parental income and circumstances, and notes that applications from households with a combined income over £100,000 are not usually approved. The bursary reduction is described as applying to the day tuition fee only, not boarding fees, which is important for families budgeting for residential education.
*Bursaries may be available for eligible families.
Basis: per term
Published school office hours indicate term-time availability Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:15, with Saturday hours listed for the senior school.
Boarding fee information also clarifies what is included for boarders, including meals such as breakfast and evening meal, plus bedding and internal laundry services.
For travel planning, the school’s published materials position the site as accessible from London and key transport routes, with rail and airport journey time guidance intended for families travelling internationally.
Small-cohort volatility: With relatively small numbers, results data can swing year to year and may not behave like a large senior school cohort. This can make trend-based judgement harder for families trying to predict outcomes.
Co-curricular confidence-building takes intent: The latest inspection advised accelerating ISC pupils’ participation beyond the classroom. For quieter pupils or those with lower spoken confidence, families should ask how staff actively guide involvement in activities and leadership roles.
ISC support can add meaningful cost: ISC membership and additional EAL support are published as separate charges. Families should confirm, in writing, which elements are required for their child and for how long.
Financial support limits for boarders: The school states that bursary reductions apply to day tuition fees only rather than boarding fees. Families relying on means-tested support should clarify the net boarding cost early in the process.
Kent College International Study Centre suits international pupils who need structured English acceleration alongside genuine integration into a mainstream senior school, particularly when boarding provides the stability and immersion that rapid language progress often requires. Its best fit is for students who want a clear pathway into GCSEs and post-16 options, and who will engage with activities like Duke of Edinburgh, Model United Nations, and the farm-based programme as part of their confidence-building plan. Families should go in with eyes open on the fee structure for ISC support, and should ask how quickly, and how safely, integration into wider lessons and co-curricular life is paced for their child.
For the ISC itself, the most recent ISI inspection in October 2022 reported excellent academic achievement and excellent personal development, and also confirmed that required standards, including boarding standards, were met. Families should still consider small cohort sizes, which can make exam outcomes more variable year to year.
Senior School fees for 2025/2026 are published per term and include VAT, with day fees from £8,276 to £9,512 depending on year group and full-time boarding from £12,926 to £17,798. The school also publishes ISC membership (£1,926 per term) and EAL support (£1,260 per term) as separate charges, so it is important to confirm which apply to your child.
International applicants register first, then complete assessments that help the school decide the right entry point and support plan. The school indicates that entrance exams and a meeting with senior staff typically form part of the process before a place is offered.
For September 2026 Sixth Form entry, the school publishes an application and scholarship deadline of 14 November 2025, an entrance and assessment day on 27 November 2025, offers by 12 December 2025, and an acceptance deadline of 10 March 2026.
The school publishes weekly and full-time boarding fees, and outlines a house system with separate boys’ and girls’ houses, including Austen and Wesley for girls and Elfick, Gamon, and Guilford for boys. Families should ask which boarding model best fits their child’s age, travel pattern, and integration needs.
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