Welcome to Rochester Independent College- A Top British Boarding School
The College has always been international, both in spirit and in the make up of our student roll and staff. The Royal Thai government send some of their most academically gifted scholarship students to the College where they are prepared for entry to universities such as Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Warwick and the LSE. Top Art School placements include UAL.
We have 13 students at Rochester Independent College and we send our best students who have all been awarded Thai Government Scholarships to RIC with the expectation that they will all be taught to the highest standard and be well looked after. Many of them go on to Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and Imperial. Whenever we contact RIC they are very helpful, deal with any issues promptly and the students appreciate the excellent education they receive.
English private boarding schools are associated with traditions,historic buildings and Harry Potter style school uniforms. RIC is different and the focus is on preparation to top universities. Not all UK Private Schools though wear uniforms. In fact, like Rochester Independent College, some of the most high performing sixth form boarding colleges in the league tables are non-uniform schools.
I am sending you this mail on behalf of my daughter, Barbara Akpata and the whole family, to express our delight at her recently released A level results which were excellent. As you may recall, she resumed at your school halfway into the first term last year, and she had to have extra lessons, particularly in Economics, a subject she had no previous tuition in. When you consider that she was enrolled for the one-year programme, her ABB grades in her three subjects are all the more remarkable. This success is undoubtedly largely attributable to the diligence and professionalism of her teachers. I congratulate you for this feat, and ask that you keep the flag flying. Be rest assured that your institution shall continue to receive the highest recommendations from me, as you labour to develop young minds.
RIC Fast Facts
A first class British boarding school with small classes that are more like university tutorials
Students work in lively, stimulating and productive groups. The average class size is 8. Teaching is focused on the examinations and there is very regular testing and exam practice.
An academic boarding school with a wide range of A level subjects and a focus on exam success and university entry
RIC offers a passport to the UK’s best universities. We do not offer foundation course or access programmes as A levels are the most reliable and respected route for international students to follow. Unlike the IB Diploma programme, or most overseas post 16 systems, A levels allow students to specialise in three or four subjects. Specialist English language teaching prepares students for their IELTS examinations which are also required for university entry.
A boarding school that is modern and flexible and where students join at different points for courses of different lengths
RIC’s boarding is for those aged 15+ and so half of the residential community is new each year. It’s easy to make new and interesting friends. The atmosphere is more like a university halls of residence than a school. We don’t impose supervised prep and our single study bedrooms all have telephones and internet connection. We do not teach on Saturdays and no compulsory exeats. Boarders are welcome to stay in College during the Easter holidays and over half terms.
A boarding school where only small numbers of non native speakers are admitted each year and so where speaking English is inescapable
Most of our overseas students come to us through positive word of mouth rather than via agents. We seldomly have more than three or four non-native speakers of English from any one country. Our overseas students are fully integrated into the life of the school rather than in a separate international study centre. Many RIC boarders are UK students, sometimes those whose parents are in the armed forces or ex pat workers based overseas. We also welcome students from international schools who join us for A levels after their IGCSEs or the IB Middle Years programme.
A lively, international boarding school with a talented and inspiring team of highly qualified teachers and residential staff
RIC is more like an international school than a traditional British boarding school. Students and teachers are on first name terms. Unlike other independent sixth form colleges that offer accommodation all of RIC’s boarding is on campus. Students are closely supervised, the site is totally secure and there are resident staff based in each of the buildings.
A boarding school where each student has a dedicated personal tutor, providing one to one support and guidance. Our university admissions advice is unrivalled and supported by our partners at Dukes Education, including Oxbridge Applications
Personal tutors know their tutees well, meet with them individually and keep parents closely in touch with their progress throughout the academic year.
A happy, coeducational boarding school that is about so much more than examination results
Students at RIC enjoy a colourful range of sports and clubs. They are served great school meals and help plan their own exciting events, parties and innovative trips. Music, Art, Film and Drama give a creative buzz. At RIC though all non-academic activities are optional and students are free to make their own choices about what to take part in.
A British boarding school that is close to London and easy to reach from different parts of Europe and beyond
RIC is a short walk from Rochester railway station, 20 mins from London Stratford (for the Olympic Stadium) and 40 mins from London St Pancras or London Victoria. Our students can enjoy everything that the capital city has to offer without the problems of living in it. The major airports are within easy reach, Gatwick being only one hour and Heathrow one and a half hour away by road. Airport pick ups are arranged at the beginning and end of each term by the College. The Eurostar services to and from Brussels and Paris stop at Ebbsfleet International, a ten-minute drive from the College.
When I started my course at Rochester Independent College I was surprised by the size of the class and its friendly atmosphere. I would never have thought that teachers and students could be so relaxed and yet maintain the effectiveness of the class. RIC is a great choice if you want to learn English and go to a prestigious university.