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Our view
Cheltenham College has long held a reputation for academic success and the broad range of co-curricular opportunities it offers, but the arrival of Nicola Huggett as head in September 2018 has been the catalyst for renewed momentum. A stunning campus in Regency Cheltenham with state-of-the-art facilities provides the backdrop for this impressive and adaptable school – which, despite its size, maintains a very family feel.
Where is Cheltenham College?
If you were choosing a Cheltenham school on looks alone, this one would win hands down. The school was founded in 1841, and you can’t miss the glorious chapel as you drive through the town – the centrepiece of a campus filled with Victorian gothic architecture and flanked by the beautiful green expanse of College Field (which doubles up as a hallowed cricket pitch used by Gloucestershire’s county side).
But this is most definitely not a rural school. Pupils cross back and forth over busy roads to get to sports and boarding houses, yet the leafy campus in a town-centre setting delivers the best of both worlds. Accessed from the M5 or by train to Cheltenham Spa, it’s relatively accessible for the majority of families, who come from within a 90-mile radius, and day parents are supported by a network of bus routes from surrounding towns and villages. .
Head at Cheltenham College
Nicola Huggett is down to earth, approachable, friendly, relaxed, driven and evidently very clever: Blundell’s loss (where she arrived from) is most certainly Cheltenham’s gain. She describes the college as having ‘the look of a supertanker with the nippiness of a superyacht’ – traditional on the outside but adaptable and flexible on the inside.
Mrs Huggett says that the events of the past two years have made Cheltenham question the way it does things. She has made ‘evolutionary rather than revolutionary changes’, small but significant alterations that continue to positively affect this already successful school. While her attention to detail is exemplary and she has implemented stronger academic monitoring, scaffolding and support, she is also big on kindness, manners, discipline and boundaries. She is a visible and available head whose effect is palpable.
The admissions process at Cheltenham College
While Cheltenham College isn’t overly selective at entrance, it prides itself on value-added as pupils move up the school. Everyone registered for 13+ entry visits in Year 7 for a day of team-building, problem-solving and an informal chat with Mrs Huggett. After that, it’s
Common Entrance or the school’s own exam. Lots opt in to the 24-hour taster stays, where everyone can have a go at boarding and get a real feel for the place while getting to know a few faces. Up to a third of 13+ arrivals come up from the prep school, but they are spread out in different houses to make sure everyone integrates fully.
Academics and university destinations
Cheltenham has been academically solid for quite some time but Mrs Huggett’s arrival has allowed for further aspiration. The campus is a lovely environment in which to learn, the library is amazing and the science labs are superb – equipped with every piece of kit you could imagine and a few you couldn’t.
Pupils were very proud to show us around these snazzy facilities, but even more evangelical about science teacher Miss Beere, who is credited with turning one of our guides from a 40 per cent to a 90 per cent achiever – ‘She brings out the best results,’ we were told. Similarly, we were enthusiastically informed of how Dr Samuels had spent time discussing and recommending philosophy books to a particular student who is now aiming to read the subject at Cambridge.
Pupils aren’t often this eager to tell us about their teachers (it’s usually the food or facilities for which they hold the front page), but these weren’t the only shout-outs for the staff. The pursuit of excellence in teaching is also evidenced by longer-term plans for a hi-tech innovation classroom with an observation gallery for staff development and best-practice sharing – not something we’ve seen before.
Most pupils take 10 GCSEs/iGCSEs, including English, English literature, maths and at least two sciences and one modern foreign language, along with four other choices. Students then either do four A-levels or three A-levels and an EPQ. Refreshingly, options aren’t restricted by subject blocks, leaving room for more individuality (although staff will guide pupils towards making ‘logical’ choices).
As you might expect, results are pretty ace here: 71 per cent A*-As at GCSE last year, and 75 per cent A*-As at A-level – unsurprisingly, a similar percentage secured places at their first choice of university.
Co-curricular
When it comes to sport, Cheltonians regularly come out on top against much larger schools. There is a huge variety of sports on offer, but
rugby at Cheltenham College definitely gets top billing for the boys, although the College has worked hard in recent years to put football on the menu for both boys and girls, partnering with
Cheltenham Town Football Club Academy to give soccer nuts better opportunities.
The Cheltenham sports complex is vast, with an eye-boggling multitude of floor markings in the indoor hall, hinting at the sheer number of sports played there. There’s an indoor 25m pool, two Astros, a shooting range, tennis and rackets courts and plenty more.
Core sports are compulsory for the younger years, but as they get older, pupils can diversify according to their own preferences and ability. The sports scholarships and Talented Athlete Programme attract a good selection of very able sportspeople, and many of the specialist coaches are ex-professionals, which is motivating for pupils at all levels.
Music and drama are a key part of the mix, with larger productions taking place in the Big C theatre, and house drama is one of the most hotly contested annual events. Singing always gets a mention from parents and pupils alike, and much of Cheltenham’s musical reputation seems to rest on the fabulously boisterous hymn practices and thrice-weekly, whole-school chapel services – something lost from many schools either because of a change of focus or a lack of space. No such problems here.
The art block is very inspiring, especially for those with artistic leanings. Steve McQuitty (deputy head co-curricular) has been tasked with giving pupils the broadest possible exposure to art, music, sport and drama and he wants them to recognise their wider importance. Take sport as an example – it’s not just about playing the game, it’s also about recognising matches as community time, bringing parents and siblings together and enjoying the post-match sausage and chips every bit as much as the sport itself.
Monday evenings are dedicated to clubs and societies, most of which are pupil-led. ‘The number of opportunities is crazy,’ enthuses one girl – these include everything from clay-pigeon shooting to academic enrichment in philosophy, psychology or English literature. There’s a strong military tradition too, with an extremely well-attended
CCF at Cheltenham College (Cheltenham is one of only three schools in the country to have its own military colours and dedicated war memorial at the
National Memorial Arboretum).
Boarding at Cheltenham College
Cheltenham is keen on maintaining its seven-days-a-week ethos, and around 80 per cent of pupils board full-time (even though many live relatively locally – a compliment indeed). There’s also a day-boarding option, where pupils can stay over up to three nights a week, and day pupils have access to a handful of beds for occasional last-minute sleepovers.
Houses are a big part of school life, with six for boys and five for girls, and a new extension planned to girls’ house College Lawn to accommodate more female boarders.
Each house has a resident housemaster or housemistress and a team of tutors. House teams meet twice weekly, once for welfare and once for logistics, and have an annual away day to reflect and plan. Recently, steps have been taken to strengthen the in-house buddy system, and there’s the Runway to College introductory programme with Years 6, 7 and 8 pupils at
Cheltenham College Prep School.
Although Sundays are flexible, it is preferred that boarders are at school more often than not at weekends – but it’s largely a moot point as most prefer to stay anyway, given the amount of activities. That said, house staff are well tuned in to pupils’ needs, and can recognise when they need a rest.
Cheltenham's school community
The pastoral programme is strong for boarders and day pupils alike, and pupils have dedicated time each week for self-development via the Floreat Programme. In-house, a tutor or resident staff member makes time for each pupil daily, and structured one-to-one sessions take place fortnightly. Confidence, respectfulness, kindness and tolerance are the buzzwords.
Cheltenham College is very proud of the way it communicates with families – care is personal and collaborative. But we were also impressed by the planned Enhanced Partnership Programme with
All Saints' Academy Cheltenham which aims to share best practice and augment extracurricular provision for pupils.
And finally...
Polite, chatty and quietly confident, the children we met simply shone. Facilities are excellent, results impressive and pastoral care is robust and to the fore. Add in the galvanising presence of Nicola Huggett and a passionate and capable senior leadership team, and you have a force to be reckoned with.
FAQs
Is Cheltenham College the same as Ladies College?
No, Cheltenham College is a co-ed independent boarding and day school for children ages 13-18, whereas Cheltenham Ladies’ College is an independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11-18. However, they are both located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Does Cheltenham College have Saturday school?
Yes, traditionally private schools have outstanding extra-curricular activities and so the school week is split a little differently to state schools. On Wednesday mornings, lessons take place as usual, however, the afternoon is reserved for sport (mostly matches against other schools). The missed afternoon of academia is then bolted onto Saturday morning, freeing up Saturday afternoons for yet even more sporting fixtures, creative activities, or simply free time to recover from the busy week.
When was Cheltenham College's chapel built?
The Cheltenham College Chapel is one of the most outstanding and iconic pieces of architecture found on school grounds. Seating over 700 guests, it was built in 1896 by former pupil Henry Prothero, in celebration of the College’s 50th anniversary.
Is Cheltenham College a good school?
Cheltenham College received the highest score from their most recent ISI inspection, which marked the school 'excellent' in every category. Cheltenham College is viewed as one of the most prominent independent schools in the UK for children ages 13-18, and it is part of the prestigious 'Rugby Group' of schools – which also includes the likes of Harrow School, Wellington College and Radley.