Ellesmere College

Since its founding in 1884, Ellesmere College has retained its reputation for
providing students with a platform for academic and personal success in a
nurturing, friendly atmosphere. Ellesmere College is a co-ed boarding and day
school and home to 600 students from ages 7-18 with over 30 nationalities; each
student is encouraged to explore their own individual potential and try new things
through the College’s innovative and dynamic academic and broad range of
co-curricular opportunities. Great Britain has a world-wide reputation for its high
standards of education and here at Ellesmere College we support that tradition by
concentrating on the academic and social needs of every student.

Academic excellence
At Ellesmere we believe it is not enough just to make sure that our pupils are
successful at exams – important though this is – and 85% of our students
gain entrance to their first-choice university including Oxford, Cambridge
and Russell Group institutions. We hold the prestigious status of HPL World
Class School Accreditation following on from our initial accreditation some
3 years ago. This rigorous and demanding process helps to highlight the
focus and attention on the journey of each individual student. As one of
only 39 schools worldwide to have received this award, it recognises the hard
work and dedication of the school in demonstrating a world class quality
of education that benefits all our students. We aim to provide subjects that
appeal to all pupils’ interests and academic strengths, while keeping class
sizes small. Ranked in the top 20 British schools offering the International
Baccalaureate (IB), over 60% of all A-level grades awarded were A*- B with
the girls raising that bar to nearly 70% of their grades published being A*AB.
Students who study the IB Diploma regularly attain the higher level at 36
points and above. We also offer the International Foundation Programme
(IFP) in association with UoL (University of London) – a one year preuniversity course launched in September 2022.

Pastoral care
Ellesmere provides a friendly and warm environment with family values at
its heart. Pupils, whether day or boarding, are all part of our boarding house
community, becoming fully involved in school life. Our home-from-home
accommodation provides a high-quality, comfortable and secure
environment for our students, with residential staff on site to tend to the
pupils’ needs 24 hours a day. Housemasters, housemistresses and tutors are
responsible for each pupil’s pastoral care. When pupils make their academic
choices at GCSE, iGCSE, A-level, BTEC, IB or for University entrance, they
each get individual support and advice from our University Entrance Team.

Drama and music and the arts
The College was the first independent school to be awarded Artsmark
Platinum status by the Arts Council of Great Britain for its commitment
and delivery of the arts, and successfully promotes the arts both within
Ellesmere College and throughout the wider community. It covers the
established performing arts of dance, drama and music and the traditional
visual arts of drawing, painting and sculpture, as well as more modern media
such as film making, sound recording and digital photography. Singing is an
area of real excellence with four choirs that rehearse weekly and perform
regularly, including international tours. There are a wide range of ensembles
with many opportunities to perform, and a typical year would see three major
concerts, a choral / instrumental tour, and recitals by leading musicians.
Regular master classes by visiting experts and taking part in national
competitions and festivals give students the opportunity to further develop
their talents beyond the very wide opportunities available within the school.

Sports
We provide physical education in the curriculum as well as opportunities to
play competitive national and international sport during and after school
within our seven Academies. The school is an accredited WAoS (World
Academy of Sport) Athlete Friendly Education Centre (AFEC), which
provides greater flexibility to students so they can balance their studies
with demanding training and competition schedules. There are seven
distinct sports academies – rugby, tennis, cricket, golf, swimming, shooting,
football – as well as a High Performance Hockey Programme – and a large
number of sports programmes and clubs available, so that all pupils can
find something to suit their particular tastes and abilities. Whether joining
in the fun during the summer in the swimming pool, or spending evenings
in one of our on-site gymnasiums, the pupils benefit from the fresh air and
physical fitness Ellesmere provides. Additional sports include: basketball,
netball, badminton, modern pentathlon and squash.

Scholarships and Bursaries The College offers scholarships and bursaries in a wide range of endeavors, including Academic, Music, Sport (particularly rugby, tennis, cricket, shooting and swimming), Drama and Art. Details are available from the College website.

Emily Palmer Emily Palmer, a student at Ellesmere College is a shining example of the unique opportunities available to Ellesmere students. Though currently living on Anglesey, Emily’s family background with the military has meant moving around a lot, however since Year nine,  Emily has been boarding at Ellesmere and loving it. Emily soon set her heart on becoming a doctor, a career that meant her enjoyment of working with and helping people could be combined with her passion for the sciences. In her GCSE’s, Emily achieved an A in the Free Standing Maths Qualification and A*s in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, English Literature, English Language, History, Geography, Media, French and Religious Studies (the latter taken a year early). “As we looked for a school that pushed students further both academically and outside of the classroom, Ellesmere ticked all the boxes. I visited the school for a taster day where everyone was so welcoming and friendly. I decided that I would love to be a part of this school” Emily, now studying Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Maths at Ellesmere’s Sixth Form, has taken to life incredibly well, having gained valuable leadership experience through the Combined Cadet Force. Emily has been flying, gained her first aid and lifesaving qualifications, as well as attended adventure training camps in Scotland, where she managed to win ‘best cadet’. She has achieved Marksmanship - First Class in shooting and was part of the successful Ellesmere shooting team, who won the Premier Schools' competition for target rifle shooting this year at Bisley. Outside of the cadets, there has been much more academic enrichment. Emily was offered the opportunity to develop her public speaking skills through the Debating Society, winning ‘best speaker’ in the junior house debates. Students, who are scientifically minded, are also entered for renowned competitions such as the UK Intermediate Mathematical Challenge, where she won the Gold medal and ‘Best in School’ award. Over the last three years she has also been an active member of the Chapel Choir, the Schools Netball A team and either acted or helped backstage with the numerous school and house productions. “With the support from my teachers, both in and out of the classroom, I have been encouraged to become a more independent learner. As students at Ellesmere we are lucky to have daily input from our tutors, with a genuine concern for our care, not to mention the high standard of teaching in every subject, without which I could never have achieved the results I have. As a student, I would recommend Ellesmere to anyone who wants to aim high both academically and as a person. Oh, it’s great fun too.” Stuart Green When I was younger my family were never particularly musical, and so it wasn't until year 8 that I started to learn to play the keyboard, at my previous school, The Marches in Oswestry. I never had formal lessons, but instead I played around on an old junior Casio keyboard at home that had been my sister's. As I learned to play more and more pieces, my ability began to grow, and as I only played pieces I wanted to learn more and my passion for music grew unrestricted. It was two years later that I started having lessons, although they were more to teach me how to read music rather than technique. I have now been playing for five years, and although I have never taken any grade exams I play at around a Grade 8 level. In 2014 I was privileged enough to receive The Walker Award here at Ellesmere, an organ and academic scholarship sponsored by Mr and Mrs Walker. This has provided me the chance to continue my academic studies within a welcoming community of a variety of individuals, but also contribute to the Ellesmere ethos by getting involved in as many aspects of School life as possible, and so to the Walkers I will be forever grateful. Since starting here at Ellesmere I have participated in many different events - having started to learn the organ, I have been playing in most chapel services in the mornings, and I also play for the Lower school services. I am an active member of both the Chapel and Chamber choirs, and more recently I have joined the Ellesmere choral society. These and the lower school choir were all showcased at this year's Four Choirs Concert, in which I also I sang a short solo, played a solo piano piece and even performed with a jazz quartet, which I formed with three other music scholars at School. I also enjoy acting, and when I first took part in the house plays I won an "Ellie" for best supporting actor, a proud moment. I then later took part in the senior school play, "Return to The Forbidden Planet", where I had a lead role as Cookie, a hopelessly in love chef aboard the star-ship Raven. There are always so many opportunities here to do something new, and it doesn't stop there; I played lead keyboard for the Lower school performance of Bugsy Malone, and next year I am playing the lead in a play directed by two fellow sixth formers. I also hope to get involved with the senior school play once again. I have enjoyed my time here at Ellesmere, so much, and there is always something interesting going on. Having been appointed as a prefect for the upper sixth, and also having received my house coloured tie. I could not be prouder to be a part of this community. Everyone is friendly, welcoming and I have managed to fit in where I never thought I could, and what I have learned here has helped me to understand my own strengths and it has prepared me for life more than anywhere else.