Co-educational Day and Boarding 4 – 18 years
PROSPECTUS 2023
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It is the energy, dedication and endless enthusiasm they bring that creates the opportunities, experiences and the very special atmosphere that your child will enjoy. The community your child will be joining is happy and down-to-earth; one where their contributions and talents will be valued and nurtured. Success, confidence and happiness naturally flourish in these conditions, and they are all we wish for your child and every pupil in our care. Do come and see us for yourself, meet the people here, talk to staff and pupils, ask questions; you will be made to feel very welcome.
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First and foremost, I would like to thank you for considering Bishop’s Stortford College as the right school for your family. I’m sure you will have many questions, most importantly ‘Why should we choose you?’ and I will do my very best to capture the incredible ethos, energy and warm sense of community at this school in just a few sentences.
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WELCOME TO
At a practical level, we are well-placed to support your family and your needs, however they may change over time. Our community, and the three schools it encompasses, caters for children aged 4–18, with boarding starting from the age of seven. With a team of passionate and dedicated staff, combined with state-of-the-art facilities and a campus covering 130 acres, we have the time, space and above all, the commitment to discover and develop the talent and potential within your child. However, questions of this nature tend to involve the heart as much as they do the head and for many, it is the people here and the community that are indeed the heart of Bishop’s Stortford College.
Kathy Crewe-Read College Head
REWARDING TALENT
FEEDING CURIOSITY FOR LIFE
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Sixth Form student who gained 10 or more A/7 grades at GCSE and earned their 10 Club Tie
The American writer of maxims, William Arthur Ward, called curiosity ‘the wick in the candle of learning’. Our job as educators is to help your child develop this important trait and, once it is ignited, to feed it.
If your child shows particular talent, they may wish to compete for one of our Scholarship Awards in Music, Sport, Art or a combination thereof. Some of the awards attract a fee-remission, some are honorary, but all recognise exceptional ability and will help your child when applying to Higher Education or as part of their CV.
“Everyone strives to do well here. It’s cool to be clever; you want that 10 Club Tie. But you can pursue your own interests too; all strengths are recognised, all success counts”
How do we do this? By ensuring that your child is taught by inspiring teachers, infectious in their enthusiasm for their subject and passionate about sharing their knowledge. The example they provide, and the time and attention they devote to your child in small classes, ensures the flame of curiosity burns bright.
Your child’s teachers will motivate them to reach that little bit higher, for we believe that every child has the ability to be stretched to achieve more. As confidence and self-belief grow, so does the desire to succeed, the courage to take risks and the character to persevere. These qualities will serve your child as well in later life as they do in the classroom.
There are few moments more enriching and confidence-building than when the fruits of your imagination and creativity are well-received by others. Whether it’s your child’s artwork being admired or them enjoying applause at the end of their performance, the benefits of the Arts to your child’s personal development are huge.
Your child will be joining a community with a lively creative life. The Music Department inspires the whole school, from those singing in their first choir aged four to those pursuing a career in Music at university. Drama performances consistently break new ground and Art never fails to innovate and amaze. Dynamic, passionate staff will encourage your child to join in, try new experiences and learn to appreciate creativity in all its forms.
Their artistic horizons might be expanded by an encounter with the Artist-in-Residence; they might find a passion ignited when something learned in the drama studio comes to life on a West End stage. We take full advantage of our location between the cultural centres of London and Cambridge. Your child could even join one of the overseas trips for the Arts: Lake Como, Berlin, Belgium, New York or Paris.
Like you, we want your child to develop into the sort of person who is willing to have a go, someone with the zest for life that comes from a richness of experience and interests.
CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION
BREADTH AND BALANCE
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That’s why breadth of experience is woven into daily life here. Alongside their studies, your child will be immersed in an environment where wholehearted participation is the norm. Your child will have the time and space to pursue a diverse range of interests and will have the opportunity to take part in a compelling array of activities, clubs and societies.
Examples of recent trips include: a cultural trip to India, a cricket tour to South Africa, a history trip to Mountfitchet Castle, a team-building trip to Cornwall, Modern Foreign Languages exchanges in Germany and France, Economics and Business trips to the Google Headquarters, a charitable/cultural expedition to Kenya and a Physics trip to CERN.
We will offer your child remarkable opportunities to unearth new talents and to develop valuable life skills. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme provides adventure, teamwork and leadership skills; expeditions and trips broaden horizons beyond the campus; every new experience stretches your child’s mind and builds their confidence.
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SPORTING EXCELLENCE AND ENJOYMENT
“She has instant access to her teachers, and with the smaller classes they really know her”
Parent of day pupil, Form Two (Year 6)
“In just a term she has developed so much. She was worried about sports as she is not very sporty, but likes these now. She wasn’t interested in, or very musical, but now she’s learning two instruments!”
Aside from the obvious benefits to your child’s physical health and emotional well-being, much of sport is about character. To refuse to give up in the face of adversity will require determination and perseverance. To be a good sportsperson will necessitate teamwork, fair play and grace in both victory It’sand defeat.important to us that all pupils enjoy all these benefits and to develop these valuable character traits, whatever their level or chosen sport. That is why our aim is to strike that rare balance between excellence and enjoyment; to ensure that your child enjoys outstanding facilities, expert coaching and sporting success whether they aspire to join a national squad, play for the House team or just keep Excellencefit.
Parent of day pupil, Lower Sixth (Year 12)
means different things to different people. Perhaps your child will join the ranks of the Elite Sports Programme, such as that enjoyed by the swimming squad; or maybe they’ll discover that they’re a natural at Zumba. They might captain the 1st XV or develop a stress-busting love of tennis which stays with them throughout life. What matters is the process of discovery and the accompanying long-term benefits that a dual focus on excellence and enjoyment can bring.
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Parent of day pupil, Lower Third (Year 7)
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NURTURING THE SPIRIT
Your child will be joining a community with roots in the Christian Faith. Today we welcome families of all faiths, and none. The emphasis is on encouraging your child to address core values, both ethical and spiritual, through dialogue and debate that is overseen by our College Chaplain.
“I think it’s an excellent school where the standards are very high. I like it that good manners are encouraged”
Since our foundation in 1868, generations of pupils have embraced our values of integrity, loyalty, responsibility, courtesy and consideration. They remain just as relevant now as they were then. Your child will develop a natural awareness and concern for the needs of others, which will be mirrored in fellow pupils and staff.
THE BOARDING EXPERIENCE
The aim of the boarding houses? To be the best home away from home for
“We were amazed at just how quickly he settled in and integrated. He quickly made friends which was wonderful as he is quite shy, but now he has new confidence. Overall the school has a lovely family feeling about it”
“...he felt truly at home, talking in terms of “we” and “us”after only two weeks”
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Parent of international boarder
What would work best for your family? That is always the starting point for boarding at Bishop’s Stortford College. We understand the pressures of family life on parents, especially when combined with work commitments, and have designed our boarding provisions accordingly.
You can choose between full boarding, weekly boarding and flexi-boarding (just a few nights a week, where space is available); we endeavour to be as flexible as the bed space in your child’s boarding house will allow.
Weyour child.know we can’t replace you as parents/guardians, but your child’s House will be a place where they will find fun and companionship, a place to share all the triumphs and excitement of the day as well as to find support, guidance and advice when needed.
Parent of day pupil, Lower Third (Year 7)
In addition to making lifelong friends, your child will also learn valuable life skills; an appreciation of diversity; how to live and work with others in a spirit of cooperation, respect and enthusiasm, and an understanding of the value that every individual brings to a community regardless of background, interest or nationality.
of
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(Year
Parent day pupil, Form Two 6)
“It has far exceeded my expectations, because it is so friendly, and they make each child feel so special. The range of extra-curricular activities is way beyond what I knew they offered”
Parent of day pupil, Fourth Form (Year 9)
“She’s been made to feel very welcome by the children in the House and the Housemistress. She says she feels that she’s been there a long time, not just a term”
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BETTER TOGETHER
Old Stortfordian
At whatever stage your child joins the College, they will be joining a community of three schools with shared values and a unifying ethos. Although each part has its own distinctive character, the kindness and thoughtfulness that motivates people to support one another will be a constant throughout your child’s Howtime here.issuch community spirit engendered? By bringing people of different ages together they learn and enjoy each other’s company. Your child will gain a real sense of belonging from these encounters. They will flourish in the attention from older role models acting as ‘frendship buddies’, just as they will, in turn, love the feeling of being able to share their knowledge and experience with younger pupils.
“For me, school was not solely focused on achieving great results. It was having a support network (staff, pupils and fantastic facilities) that inspired me in so many other ways. The College showed me that learning comes in many forms and shaped me personally: this will be with me forever”
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Good Schools Guide 2021
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“Attractively lush, green and wooded 130 acre site on the edge of the town.”
Whether you are considering a day or a boarding place, getting your child to school is relatively straightforward thanks to our location. The College is nestled at the northern edge of a delightful market town midway between London and Cambridge, close to Stansted Airport and major road and rail links. The campus offers a safe environment, close to the countryside yet within walking distance of the town centre.
THE PLACE TO BE
Major developments in recent years include: the establishment of outdoor learning spaces, including Forest School in Pre-Prep; a new classroom block in the Prep School; refurbished Science facilities across the College; a state-of-the-art language lab; two new boarding houses complete with study bedrooms and en suite facilities, one for girls and one for boys plus a new boys’ day house and 12 additional classrooms in the refurbishment of School House.
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Living and working in such a beautiful setting can only impact positively on your child. Not only is the landscape and sense of space inspiring, but the facilities and resources for learning are superb. Your child will have access to numerous facilities which enhance the learning experience: extensive sports facilities, high quality performance spaces for Drama and Music, pioneering IT equipment, the list goes on.
Our job is to prepare your child for the challenging world they will have to navigate. Throughout the Senior School our Higher Education and Careers programme helps each pupil to recognise and develop their strengths and interests. Our aim is to ensure that your child has the knowledge and information to make informed decisions which are right for them at key points in their education.
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There is no such thing as a typical path after Bishop’s Stortford College, for we encourage each child to carve their own course. One personal trait is, however, common to our departing Sixth Formers: self-assurance without arrogance or complacency. This is the quality that will enable your child to turn dreams into reality, whatever their chosen path.
Your child’s schooldays form just one phase of a life of learning and change.
Naturally, you want your child to leave us with the best possible academic qualifications, but this will only get them so far. To succeed in later life your child will also need to show adaptability, resilience and initiative. To distinguish themself in the workplace, respect for others, team spirit and an appetite for hard work will be important. To be fulfilled as an individual, a sense of responsibility and care for others is key.
Parent of day pupil, Form Two (Year 6)
PREPARED FOR LIFE
“We think the teaching is fantastic across the board. Even her music has come on in such a short time. She has passed her piano grades and has the opportunity for an Art Scholarship, so they have picked up on her skills very quickly”
Bishop’s Stortford College, School House, Maze Green Road, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 2PQ
Telephone: +44 (0)1279 838575
Bishop’s Stortford College is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. To this end, robust Safeguarding processes and procedures are in place to support families, pupils, staff and volunteers. In compliance with the sharing of information guidance/ best practice, any concerns are passed to designated teachers, trained in Safeguarding.
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