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A small all-through independent school with a clear point of difference, this is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School that places student discussion at the centre of lessons, supported by deliberately small classes. The school teaches the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for ages 11 to 16 and the IB Diploma Programme (DP) for ages 16 to 18.
Families who like the idea of a highly conversational classroom will recognise the Harkness approach here, with students seated around a boardroom-style table to debate ideas and build confident communication.
The February 2024 ISI routine inspection reported that all the relevant Standards, including safeguarding, were met.
This is a school that leans into its identity as a small, co-educational setting. The most visible cultural marker is the expectation that students speak up, listen well, and contribute. The Harkness model is not an occasional seminar format, it is positioned as the normal classroom rhythm, which tends to suit articulate learners and those who gain confidence through structured discussion.
Small class sizes are a cornerstone of the offer. The school describes a maximum class size of fourteen students, built around Harkness tables, and frames that structure as the route to active participation and strong teacher-student relationships.
Pastoral language on the school site emphasises international citizenship and an inclusive stance on religion and culture, alongside explicit reference to British values. Assemblies are described as regular, often student-led, and used to explore current affairs and social issues as well as celebrate student contributions.
Nursery provision is available, and the age range runs from 3 to 18. For parents of younger children, the key practical point is that published information tends to focus more heavily on the senior school model and the IB pathway; families considering early years should rely on direct conversations and visits to understand staffing patterns, session structure, and how progression into later phases is handled.
Standard England performance results do not capture this school’s story particularly well because the core qualification route is the IB. The most useful published indicators are therefore the school’s own DP outcomes.
For 2025, the school reports a 100% pass rate for the IB Diploma, with an average points score of 33.2 compared with a stated world average of 30.6. It also reports 98% of students achieving grades A to C in Theory of Knowledge and 88% achieving A to C in the Extended Essay.
There is also a qualitative, higher-ceiling narrative in the same space, including a 41-point DP outcome in the inaugural 2021 cohort with top grades in Biology and Chemistry and a medicine destination, and a 2023 cohort student accepted onto a degree apprenticeship in Aerospace Engineering with the Ministry of Defence. These examples should be read as individual highlights rather than typical outcomes, but they do illustrate the range of routes supported.
Teaching is explicitly framed around student-led discussion. The Harkness method is described as placing students around a boardroom-style table to debate ideas in an open-minded environment, with an emphasis on communication, collaboration, and leadership.
The ISI report’s recommended next steps point to a familiar small-school challenge, ensuring teaching is consistently matched to pupil needs with sufficient stretch and challenge so progress is consistently good. For parents, the practical implication is For parents, the practical implication is to probe how the school differentiates within mixed-ability classes
In the sixth form, the school describes a dedicated area with a large study space in the library, smaller rooms for individual or small-group study, and a common room style space that includes table tennis and football tables. That detail matters because it signals an attempt to give post-16 students a distinct academic culture, even within a small overall community.
The school publishes some destination detail through individual examples rather than full cohort breakdowns. Published highlights include a medicine offer at The University of Edinburgh and a degree apprenticeship in Aerospace Engineering with the Ministry of Defence.
For many families, the bigger question is breadth rather than single successes. If you are comparing sixth forms, ask for recent destination lists by cohort, typical subject combinations, and how the school supports applications for competitive pathways such as medicine, dentistry, and apprenticeships, especially given the small cohort sizes described.
Admissions information on the school website is designed to be personalised by entry point, and the school promotes visits and open events as the best first step.
For 2026 entry, the most concrete published touchpoints are event-based: an open day on Friday 13 February (9:30am to 12:00pm) and another on Saturday 7 March (9:30am to 12:00pm). The website also advertised a Year 7 Experience Day on Thursday 22 January (8:45am to 3:30pm), positioned as a chance for prospective pupils to sample lessons and activities.
Because independent-school admissions timelines vary and the interactive admissions journey does not present a single static deadline page, parents should treat these events as the anchor points, then confirm registration windows, assessment steps, and offer timings directly with the school.
A useful practical step, especially if you are shortlisting multiple options, is to keep a simple admissions calendar and ask for the school’s typical cycle for Year 7 and Year 12 entry, including when assessments and interviews usually occur.
Pastoral messaging focuses on student voice and participation. Assemblies are described as a regular feature, often student-led, and used to explore traditions, current affairs, health and social issues, and students’ achievements.
The same section describes a structured approach to independent study and preparation time, with curriculum maps and a balance between independent study and more traditional homework, alongside teacher guidance on study skills.
On safeguarding, the ISI report describes a published safeguarding policy aligned to statutory guidance, staff training, and effective systems including filtering and monitoring, with pupils reporting that they feel safe and know there is an adult to talk to.
The co-curricular offer is described with a clear “small-school” logic: clubs are shaped around student and staff interests, and the list is refreshingly specific.
Clubs mentioned include Debating, Digital Journalism and Writing, Computing, Chess, Choir and Close Harmony, Photography, Outdoor Adventures, Gardening, Film, Drama, and a range of sports options.
Duke of Edinburgh is explicitly referenced as running at the school. For families, that matters because it suggests a route to structured personal development and expeditions even in a small setting.
Trips appear to be a major pillar, framed through a “Global Classroom” approach, with examples including Art and History in Florence, Geography and Science in Iceland, outdoor survival skills in Finland, and skiing in Italy. A detailed student account of a Snowdonia trip is published, including climbing Snowdon and other outdoor activities.
On sport, the school lists activities across the year including swimming, volleyball, basketball, cross country running, football, climbing, cricket, hockey, tennis, badminton, and athletics.
In the arts, the school highlights whole-school productions and names recent titles including The Importance of Being Earnest, A Christmas Carol, and The Lion, the Witch & The Wardrobe.
*Bursaries may be available for eligible families.
Basis: per term
Term dates are published, including Autumn term starting Tuesday 8 September 2026.
Daily start and finish times, and wraparound care arrangements, are not set out in a simple published format on the main pages referenced here. Parents who need breakfast club or after-school care should ask directly what is available for younger pupils, and whether provision is run in-house or through a partner.
Fees for 2025 to 2026 are published as termly charges, with separate rates for the MYP and the DP. The schedule lists MYP at £6,880 per term and DP at £7,995 per term, with a note that charges include VAT where applicable.
The school also notes that monthly payment plans can be arranged via a school fee plan.
Specific bursary and scholarship figures are not set out on the fee schedule page itself. Families for whom affordability matters should ask for the current financial assistance policy, eligibility approach, and any scholarship routes tied to academics, arts, or sport.
Discussion-led teaching is not for every learner. Harkness works best when students are ready to speak, listen, and defend ideas. Quieter children can grow into it, but parents should ask how participation is supported without forcing performance.
Stretch and challenge consistency. The ISI report recommended ensuring teaching is matched effectively to pupil needs with sufficient challenge so progress is consistently good. Parents should probe how the school differentiates and how it monitors progress over time.
Small cohorts can be a plus and a constraint. A small sixth form can mean excellent individual guidance, but fewer subject combinations and a narrower peer group. Ask about typical DP subject uptake and what happens if a subject does not recruit.
Fee clarity beyond tuition. The published charges cover tuition at the stated levels, but families should ask for a typical extras list, including trips, examination fees, and any device requirements, to avoid surprises.
This is a distinctive independent option for families who want small classes and a discussion-led classroom culture, anchored to the IB pathway rather than the mainstream GCSE and A-level route. The published DP outcomes for 2025 are encouraging, and the co-curricular picture leans strongly toward clubs shaped by student interests plus ambitious trips.
Best suited to students who will lean into speaking, debating, and independent study habits, and to families who value a small-school feel with an internationally oriented curriculum. The key decision is fit: the Harkness model and IB structure are strengths when they match the child, and less convincing if your child needs quieter, more teacher-led delivery.
The school publishes strong IB Diploma indicators for 2025, including a 100% pass rate and an average points score of 33.2 against a stated world average of 30.6. It also reports very high completion outcomes in Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. Independent inspection evidence also matters for parents: the February 2024 ISI routine inspection reported that the required Standards, including safeguarding, were met.
For 2025 to 2026, the school publishes termly fees of £6,880 per term for the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and £7,995 per term for the IB Diploma Programme (DP), with a note that charges include VAT where applicable. The school also notes that monthly payment plans can be arranged via a fee plan.
Yes. The school states it delivers the IB Middle Years Programme for ages 11 to 16 and the IB Diploma Programme for ages 16 to 18, and it describes the IB pathway as central to its approach to preparing students for further study.
The admissions page advertises open events including Friday 13 February (9:30am to 12:00pm) and Saturday 7 March (9:30am to 12:00pm). Families should still confirm availability and booking requirements directly as event calendars can change.
The school lists a broad club menu that can include Debating, Digital Journalism and Writing, Computing, Chess, Choir and Close Harmony, Photography, Film, Drama, Gardening, Outdoor Adventures, and Duke of Edinburgh. Trips are positioned as a major feature through a “Global Classroom” approach, with examples including Florence and Iceland.
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