Kaiwen joined the School in 2022 to begin GCSE courses in the Fourth Form (Year 10) although his advice would be to ‘come in Year 9 to start GCSEs in line with everybody else’. However, he had excellent support from his teachers and school lesson resources to cover the missed content. Teachers have also provided a Chinese – English subject specific dictionary to help with technical vocabulary, good EAL support and he has appreciated their advice regarding revision techniques. Following success in his examinations, he is now embarking on A level courses in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics. Kaiwen enjoys life in the boarding house, particularly the weekend supermarket visit, movie nights and the paintballing trip.
Learning Pathways for International Pupils
We guide every pupil along an academic path that reflects their strengths, goals and aspirations. Our personalised support helps pupils develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to succeed whether preparing for university, future careers or lifelong learning. We welcome pupils from a range of academic backgrounds and offer flexible entry points to suit different ambitions and lengths of stay.
Pupil Journeys
Examples of pupil experiences show how our approach supports academic progress, confidence and personal growth
Kaiwen – joined in 2022, developed strong academic foundations with teacher and EAL support and is now progressing to A Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics.
Carmen is hoping to develop greater independence. She and her family liked the School’s balance of academic focus and sport, together with great boarding facilities. Before she started at the School, Carmen had a video call with the boarding house. She found it useful to be able to ask any questions, to meet some of the boarders and it helped her to be more relaxed about the transition. Even so, at first, Carmen experienced a little homesickness but boarding staff helped her to settle by spending time talking to her and making sure she was comfortable in her room. She joined Year 10 and has found the main challenge is learning the subject-specific vocabulary for her lessons but she now feels confident and notices how quickly her English has developed. The best thing is the new friends she has made within her classes.
Carmen – joined in Year 10 and has built confidence in her English and subject knowledge. She values the School academic focus, the supportive boarding environment and the friendships she has formed.
Junia joined our Lower Sixth in September 2025 to study A Levels in Business, Art and Design and Psychology. Within just a few weeks she has remarked that ‘it starts to feel like family’. She expected it to be more difficult to make friends, but she has been surprised by how connections have been made so quickly. Junia shares a room in the boarding house with another student from Germany and has enjoyed the opportunity to stay for a weekend at the home of one of her new British friends. For Junia, keeping in contact with her family is very important and she likes to call them at the weekends and tell them about her new experiences. She has also enjoyed a visit to Canterbury, making use of the gym, playing badminton and watching movies with other boarders at the weekends. When asked if her experience so far is what she expected Junia replied, ‘It is so much better’
Junia – joined the Lower Sixth in 2025 to study A Levels in Business, Art and Design and Psychology. She settled quickly into boarding life, made friends and enjoys trips, sports and staying connected with her family.
English Language Support
We provide excellent support for pupils whose first language is not English. Our EAL specialists help pupils strengthen their language skills, develop subject specific vocabulary and adapt confidently to British school life. Pupils can study EAL lessons in place of First Language English. Pupils sit the IGCSE in EAL rather than the English Language and Literature examinations.
For pupils joining for one year or less, the IGCSE in EAL is the only examinable qualification. Pupils aiming to sit GCSE or A Level examinations must complete the full duration of the course. Pupils achieve excellent results in Cambridge English, IGCSE and IELTS examinations.
Academic Reporting Explained
We understand that United Kingdom school reports can sometimes feel unfamiliar. For this reason, we present academic information in a format that is clear, with the context required to help families track progress with confidence. Reports are transparent and practical. They combine grades and teacher comments to provide a complete picture of progress. Teachers and pastoral teams meet regularly with parents and agents, online or in person, to provide updates and outline next steps for development. We recognise the importance of cultural expectations.
We believe clear, regular communication builds trust and we are proud of our positive relationships and feedback. Will Radford, Director of Admissions and Development