SENIOR SCHOOL PROSPECTUS
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MICHAEL HALL HEADMASTER OF ASHFORD SCHOOL Welcome to our Senior School prospectus, which I hope provides you with a useful insight into our School. Ashford School is a co-educational day and boarding School based in the heart of Kent. We aim to provide an exciting and challenging all-round education through Adventurous Learning. As Headmaster, my cornerstone philosophy is to ensure that all members of our community are happy, content and secure whilst here at Ashford School. With happiness as our fundamental value, we can aim to optimise the academic performance of all the pupils, whilst also providing them with a multitude of different co-curricular activities. We offer genuine strength and breadth in our curricular and co-curricular programmes; year on year, our A Level students gain entry to the best university courses in the UK and overseas. In summary, we hope to produce confident, independent, selfassured young adults who are capable of progressing and adapting in an ever-changing world.
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TOM WILDING HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL At Ashford School each individual pupil is valued as a person not a product. Our pupils are encouraged to pursue and discover their passions and interests to a profound and exceptional standard. We focus on two areas: our pupils’ achievements – in every field – and on their personal development. We work tirelessly, both explicitly and discreetly, to ensure our pupils are happy: I firmly believe that happiness breeds success and that happy children are successful learners. The School’s ethos of opportunity and adventure is brought to life on a daily basis by our staff and, in particular, our pupils, welcoming every challenge and braving new experiences to become the best they can be. I look forward to meeting you in person to tell you more and to show you around our School.
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LEARNING AT ASHFORD SCHOOL Learning lies at the heart of all we do at Ashford School. Every day is filled with learning opportunities for our pupils, both in and beyond the classroom. Our curriculum is delivered by dedicated and highly qualified subject specialists, who work tirelessly to ensure every pupil leaves Ashford School with a distinguished academic record. We focus on optimising the achievements of each child and on developing them as strong, rounded, confident young people, through our ethos of Adventurous Learning.
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CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMME The co-curriculum is an essential feature of Ashford School: with over 80 activities each term, the co-curriculum plays an intrinsic role in developing all those indispensable yet hard-to-measure personal qualities such as teamwork, perseverance, self-discipline, empathy, courage, resilience and leadership.
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BOYS’ GAMES Rugby Hockey Cricket
GIRLS’ GAMES Hockey
SPORT Our extensive sporting programme provides all pupils with the opportunity to take part in competitive sport no matter what their starting point. We pride ourselves on the achievements and progress made by all our athletes,
Netball
whether they play at county or national level or are
Cricket
novices in a particular field.
PE OPTIONS
Pupils enjoy the use of facilities which include 25 acres
Athletics
of playing fields, a fitness suite, dance studio, indoor
Tennis
heated swimming pool, sports centre, tennis and
Health-related fitness Basketball Badminton Squash
netball courts and a floodlit Astroturf. Couple this with bespoke individual and squad training provided by our specialist sports coaches, our pupils are given all the
Yoga
encouragement they need to excel in any sporting arena
Pilates
and to establish and maintain healthy habits that will
Table Tennis
endure for the rest of their lives.
Football Swimming Waterpolo Softball
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PERFORMING ARTS Performing takes courage: some pupils take to it immediately, others need a little more coaxing. What is important is that every pupil has the chance to experience it, right from the start of their time with us. Alongside curriculum Drama, Performing Arts is offered as part of our co-curricular programme, enabling pupils to embrace and enhance their on-stage capabilities as well as experience the world behind the scenes, including set-design, make-up and sound and lighting technology.
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MUSIC A STEINWAY SCHOOL Music is taught throughout the School as a curriculum subject as well as being an intrinsic part of our cocurricular programme. We produce highly skilled and talented musicians by providing multiple avenues covering a host of genres, through which our pupils can both develop and broaden their musical abilities and interests. Ashford School is also one of only 17 all-Steinway Schools in the UK.
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ART, DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY The Art and Design & Technology departments aim to instil and develop creativity in our pupils. Pupils are able to explore their talents through a variety of mediums and the use of the latest technology, including CADCAM, laser cutters, 3D printers and high-grade software packages.
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BOARDING Weekly and full boarding at Ashford School is a popular choice for busy working families who take advantage of the high-speed train to London as well as for those parents living or working overseas who want a safe and caring environment for their children. To ensure our boarders settle in easily to their life away from home, we provide strong pastoral support and an environment that maximises integration between the students through a range of weekend activities. These include go-karting, cooking classes, movie nights and day trips to Canterbury and London.
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HAPPINESS BREEDS SUCCESS At Ashford School we pride ourselves on the extensive pastoral care that we provide for our pupils. All staff share the responsibility for the wellbeing and safeguarding of our pupils. Whether it is their Form Tutor, Head of House, any of the Nurses, Doctor or Counsellor in the Health Centre, our Chaplain or Deputy Head Pastoral, all pupils know to whom they can turn. As a result, we have a consistently happy and healthy school.
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ADMISSIONS OFFICE
registrar@ashfordschool.co.uk t: 01233 739030 OPEN EVENTS We offer a number of Open Events every term, giving parents and prospective pupils an opportunity to see the Senior School in action on a normal working day. The event includes a presentation by the Head of the Senior School and a tour of the school by a Sixth Form student. During the event, there will be the opportunity to speak to some of our younger pupils and to members of our Senior Leadership Team. To book a place on one of our Open Events, please contact our admissions team: registrar@ashfordschool.co.uk
APPLYING TO ASHFORD SCHOOL Our admissions process seeks to distinguish children whose academic and other abilities match our ethos and standards, and whose personal qualities suggest that they have the potential to contribute positively and to benefit from the opportunities on offer. We expect all new students to attend assessment days. Years 7 and 9 take exams for entry in January preceding the year of entry. To join the Sixth Form, candidates will be invited into school to sit entrance exams in their chosen A Level subjects on a convenient date.
REGISTRATION FORM Please download a registration from www.ashfordschool.co.uk/register
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FEES Our current fee structure is available on our website: ashfordschool.co.uk/fees
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit or to students who are particularly gifted in music, art, design technology, drama or sport.
CLERGY BURSARIES Bursaries are available to children of a fully incumbent member of the clergy working and living in the UK. The level of financial assistance is calculated on a sliding scale, which takes into account the joint income of parents.
FORCES AND FCO DISCOUNT A 20% discount from the boarding fee will be offered to children of forces personnel and
ASHFORD SCHOOL CONSISTS OF: Bridge Nursery (3 months – 3 years)
Foreign and Commonwealth Office employees. Ashford Prep School
SIBLING DISCOUNTS We offer a 5% discount to the first sibling, and
Prep Nursery School (3 – 4 years) Pre-Prep School (4 – 7 years) Prep School (7 – 11 years)
10% to the second and subsequent siblings who are simultaneously enrolled. Families of four or more children should make individual enquiries.
Ashford Senior School (11 – 18 years)
UNITED LEARNING ASSISTED PLACE SCHEME Assisted Places are awarded on the basis of both academic ability and financial need. The value of the award is calculated on a sliding scale which takes into account the financial position of both parents, including their income and main assets.
FURTHER INFORMATION ON FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Parents are encouraged to make an appointment to discuss their position in confidence. Appointments can be made by contacting the Admissions Office.
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Ashford School • East Hill • Ashford • Kent • TN24 8PB Tel: +44 (0)1233 625171
| registrar@ashfordschool.co.uk
Ashford School @AshfordSchool
A MEMBER SCHOOL OF UNITED LEARNING REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1016538
|
ashfordschool.co.uk