PROSPECTUS 2022
HEAD’S WELCOME Thank you for your interest in Leighton Park for the next stage of your child’s education. We are a school that inspires Achievement with Values, Character and Community. Academic excellence is the consequence of our approach but our focus rests on forming young people of real character and confidence, with a determined desire to change the world. At Leighton Park we offer: • Achievement: A love of learning, deep thinking scholarship and an inner drive for realising talent • Values: A sense of responsibility, a commitment to helping others and a determination to make a difference • Character: A confident sense of selfhood, underpinned by resilience, perseverance and self-reflection • Community: A feeling of belonging and an appreciation for mutual respect, valuing the potential of each individual. Our Quaker values, meaningful connections between students and staff and all-round approach to learning and self-guided growth contribute to a unique values-driven education. We offer a variety of events to help you decide if Leighton Park School is the right choice for your family. Find out more about www.leightonpark.com/visit-leighton-park/.
Matthew L S Judd Head of Leighton Park
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A vibrant learning community, our values-driven education focuses on each individual with impressive results - all within our beautiful setting of 65 acres of parkland, 30 minutes from London. The success of our academic approach is demonstrated by the latest UK Government league table for Sixth Form. The performance data shows that Leighton Park adds 0.6 of a grade on average to our students’ A Level results, making us the best performing school in Berkshire and 27th in England. Despite being among the top performing schools in the country we are no results factory. We believe a school must be judged by the full range and depth of the achievements of its students, and at Leighton Park we develop young people who understand, cherish, and make a difference to the world which they inherit.
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LEIGHTON PARK AT A GLANCE
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11-18 years, co-educational, day and boarding school 530 students Average class size of 16 in Years 7-11, 7 in Sixth Form Over 90 co-curricular options 27 GCSE-level options A choice of A Levels or International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Students from 39 different countries Outstanding purpose built facilities for learning Three cooked nutritious meals a day Day students are welcome to flexi board, subject to availability Wraparound care included in the fee, if desired, including supervised prep time up to 9.00pm Sport and music for all approach
“This school really encourages you to be an
individual, it doesn’t try to shape you in a certain way like other schools might. It encourages you to be yourself, and be successful as yourself.” Old Leightonian
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CURRICULUM Leighton Park is a vibrant learning community, which embodies a culture of high performance, essential to creating a positive impact on student achievement, attainment, behaviours and progress. The curriculum is academically rigorous, combining analytical and creative approaches, and strives to achieve greater coherence by: • Making connections between academic subjects • Using a problem-based approach to explore real-world challenges and ethical understanding • Contextualising and extending learning through trips and field work • Widespread use of ICT, fully integrated into learning across the curriculum • Working with industry and higher education partners, including partnerships with Yamaha, Pinewood Studios, Cisco, Intel, BION and Pfizer • Integrating the School’s strong pastoral and co-curricular programmes into the School day.
“My child’s experience has been outstanding. He has grown tremendously from a very shy, non-confident child who joined in Year 7 to a very confident young man who is leaving Leighton Park happy, content, satisfied, has been pushed academically, pushed with his sport and music - and has enjoyed every aspect of it. ” Leighton Park parent
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THE LEIGHTON PARK DIFFERENCE Our Quaker values make us unique. We distinguish ourselves by giving these values currency and purpose. Within our holistic curriculum we are committed to excellence in the following core themes: STEAM STEAM is a particular strength at Leighton Park, empowering our students to tackle complex problems by combining the analytical skills from Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths with creative habits of mind from the Arts.
MUSIC Students have many opportunities to play or perform at Leighton Park. The arts are so important for developing confidence and creativity, bringing the community together to celebrate talent and appreciate difference.
ETHICAL ENTERPRISE Ethical Enterprise is about social business and active citizenship. It is about giving our students the critical thinking and leadership skills, the values and the character to be change-makers.
“A truly outstanding school which gave me core values for my future career.” Rachael, Old Leightonian
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CHANGE-MAKERS VERSUS BYSTANDERS Our students lead by example with a strong commitment to civic action and service. Each student is urged to have a strong ethical drive, to positively change the world around them. Leighton Park students are bold, courageous, original, happy and kind. With a keen sense of their place in the world, they are community-minded, environmentally-conscious, have a strong global awareness and do not shy away from taking a stand.
“Everyone has changemaking in their DNA; it’s just a matter of unlocking it.”
Co-founder of Engineers Without Boarders
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ACHIEVEMENT We believe that achievement shines brightest when it spans across the different facets of a student’s character and when it flows from their deep desire to develop and grow. Detailed termly assessments, Parents’ Evenings and a dedicated Personal Tutor ensure that you are regularly updated about progress. Awards and competitions celebrate achievement, with talent, commitment, kindness and risk-taking particularly prized.
“The teachers take everyone from different levels and help
them get the best that they can, they never say you can’t get a good grade; they make you recognise that you have to put the hard work in and it’s not just them pushing you, you to have to push yourself.” Rhiannon, Old Leightonian
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OUR QUAKER VALUES A Quaker approach to education believes in the inherent worth of each individual, recognising that each child has unique talents. Quaker values of Simplicity, Truth, Respect, Integrity, Peace, Equality and Sustainability guide the School. At Leighton Park these values have currency and purpose. They are seen in: • Reflection: silent reflection is built into the School day, in assemblies, tutor time, and meal times • Mutual respect: students call teachers by their first names, enabling supportive relationships in which students feel able to ask questions • Valuing each individual: Leighton Park’s culture encourages all students to get involved and creates a safe, nurturing space to try new activities or interests • Sustainability: our Change-maker Programme emphasises social action, service and experiential learning, with a link to environmental sustainability.
“It remains a Quaker-run school as the majority of governors are Quakers and, although no member of the Friends remains on the staff and only penny numbers of pupils are Quakers, the school lives by and exudes those gentle, civilised and socially responsible values. Few who leave here take nothing of those with them, and many see them as a guide for a healthy life. A palpable sense of calm pervades the place - you feel it as you drive in and your shoulders drop as you step out of your car and breathe out.” Good Schools Guide
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CHARACTER Leighton Park students are encouraged to have real personality. We seek to reveal young people of character and independence; individuals who are creative and free-thinking with a clear, confident sense of selfhood. To prepare for a rapidly changing world, every student is encouraged to have self-discipline, self-respect and self-awareness, helping them to be adaptable and resilient. Character is developed by; • An incredible choice of 90 co-curricular hobbies, enabling students to find something they really love doing • The Your Life programme, our Personal, Social, Health, and Citizenship Education programme to help our students tackle life’s challenges • An inclusive approach to Music, Drama and Sport to make a safe and supportive environment where students can push themselves and grow • Social time over meals as a whole community, strengthening bonds of togetherness.
“It is not by muscle, speed, or physical
dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character, and judgement.” Marcus Tullius Cicero
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COMMUNITY Our students demonstrate an important ability to understand and appreciate difference, as well as a commitment to service. It is this sense of community at Leighton Park that makes it such a wonderfully inclusive and aspirational environment. Examples include:
• The empowering strength and warmth of relationships between members of the School community • Amicus, our student-led charity • Creativity, Activity, Service programme • Peer mentoring scheme • Active programme of international trips and exchanges, including our Sixth Form trip to Uganda and Tanzania • Time and space on the Park to be with friends.
“The School has a great reputation for accepting difference and that is a very good asset to have. As a community, we not only tolerate diversity, but embrace it, and that is rare to find in a school.” Spencer, Old Leightonian
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BOARDING SCHOOL DAY Students at Leighton Park enjoy an enriched school day, offering young people the time and space to discover their greatest talents. Many students choose to stay past the end of academic lessons, to balance their academic commitments with our expansive co-curricular programme, enjoy dinner with friends and get their homework done with the support of a teacher. All this is included in the fee.
BOARDING Boarding is a wonderful opportunity for students to develop their independence and grow as individuals. Boarders at Leighton Park get the very best of what the School has to offer. Each House has its own community, with dedicated staff and plenty of opportunities to socialise. With a focus on creating homely environments, students have the space to study and a place to relax. Boarding is available on a Full, Weekly or Flexible basis.
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TRANSPORT ROUTES Transport costs - Bus (routes 1 to 3) Full service £680/term One Way £340/term Transport costs - Taxi (routes 4 to 10) Full service £750/term One way £375/term Weekly boarding (Monday pick up and Friday drop off) Chiswick, Gerrards Cross and Beaconsfield (per journey)
£25/journey
For more details about our transport routes, go to www.leightonpark.com/transport-routes/
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Chiswick
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ROUTE KEY ROUTE 1
ROUTE 4
ROUTE 7
ROUTE 2
ROUTE 5
ROUTES 8A , 8B and 8C
ROUTE 10
ROUTE 3
ROUTE 6 and 6A
ROUTE 9
ROUTE 11
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7
10
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NEXT STEPS Once you have decided that Leighton Park is the right place for your family, you can register by completing the registration form online. If applying from outside the UK, please complete an application enquiry – including the most recent school report and copy of your child’s passport.
DISCOVER MORE: Find out more about our Discovery Meetings and Taster Days by visiting www.leightonpark.com/visit-leighton-park/
IMPORTANT DATES FOR SEPTEMBER 2022 ENTRY: Friday 19th November Friday 3rd December Monday 6th December Tuesday 7th December Wednesday 8th December Saturday 8th January Friday 21st January Friday 28th January Friday 4th March
Registration, Bursary and Scholarship Application Deadline Dance and Drama Scholarships Day Music Scholarship Day Sport Scholarship Day Art Scholarship Day Entrance Tests for entry into Years 7 – 10 Academic Scholarship assessment day Offer letters sent to families Acceptance Deadline for Years 7 - 10
“Of one thing I am sure, sending my daughter to Leighton Park is one of the best decisions I have made on her behalf.” Leighton Park Parent
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FEES 2021/2022 UK EEA NON-EEA Registration Fee (GBP) 100 100 175 Acceptance Deposit (GBP) 1,250 4,000 One term’s fee UK/EEA Fees (GBP) Lower School (Years 7 and 8) Full Boarder 31,695 Weekly Boarder 27,525 Day Student 20,235
(10,565 per term) ( 9,175 per term) ( 6,745 per term)
For students that do not have a UK or EEA passport there is a supplement of £375 a term to contribute towards the additional costs, both direct and indirect, involved in accommodating overseas students at the School.
Senior School and Sixth Form (Years 9 and above) Senior Full Boarder 39,330 Weekly Boarder 33,210 Day Student 24,660
(13,110 per term) (11,070 per term) ( 8,220 per term)
For students that do not have a UK or EEA passport there is a supplement of £375 a term to contribute towards the additional costs, both direct and indirect, involved in accommodating overseas students at the School.
Supplementary Fees Flexi Boarding Y7/8 per night Flexi Boarding Y9+per night Music Tuition per session ILC per year EAL individual per session EAL group per session
£46 £59 £30 £1,590 (£530 per term) £45 £34
“One of the main things I like about LP, that made it stand out from all the other schools I visited, is the sense of inclusiveness. Everyone is given an opportunity to try new things, learn and grow as a person.” Danielle, Upper Sixth
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Leighton Park School, Shinfield Road, Reading RG2 7ED T: +44 (0)118 987 9608 F: +44 (0)118 987 9625 E: admissions@leightonpark.com W: www.leightonpark.com