Academic Families works with more than 450 schools throughout the UK, and we have become experts at matching children to the right boarding school for them in order to ensure each student thrives.
We're delighted to present one of our partner schools:
Monkton Combe School in Somerset, England.
"Monkton thinks differently. We start with a proactive pastoral environment to develop academically strong enthusiastic learners within a living Christian ethos".
In GCSEs, 71% of pupils achieved grades 9-6, with 32% achieving a grade of 9-8. At A-level, 65% achieved A*- B grades with 32% gaining an A* or A grade. Monkton is clear that grades are only part of the story and inevitably vary from year to year. Focus on metacognition and learning skills in recent years has seen A* grades at A-level rise from 12% in 2016 to a three year average of 20% (not including 2020 and 2021) and from 28% at GCSE in 2016 to over 40% as a three year average. Monkton encourages pupils to study subjects they love, even if they find them challenging. As with many schools, every year has some pupils who secure all Grade 9s at GCSEs or A*s at A-level.
Every year there are high performers who achieve places at top universities. In 2023, Monkton were particularly proud of two pupils, one who has a place at Oxford to read Medicine and another a place at Cambridge to study Philosophy. There are also students going on to study at both the Scottish and Welsh Conservatoires, as well as leading arts colleges.
There are many co-curricular activities on offer, ranging from Ceramics and Metal Detecting to Craft Club, Rocket Club to Beekeeping. Pupils get a chance to learn from specialists including fantastic chefs and catering teams in Culinary School, industry experts in the Film Team and Theatre, and opportunities to work towards qualifications in an Outdoor Education programme including climbing and sailing.
There are also a wide variety of sports on offer, such as Archery, Ultimate Frisbee, Basketball, Table Tennis and also sessions at a local Golf Club. Many pupils benefit from the opportunity to develop leadership skills, perhaps as a captain of a sports team, a head of a society or through activities such as Duke of Edinburgh.
The community at Monkton is enriched by the presence of the overseas students. They currently have over fifty international pupils from approximately fifteen different countries. At Monkton, students are immersed in an English-speaking environment and there are many opportunities to practise authentic English use. In EAL, everyone takes part in an annual speaking competition, the International Student Voice, that leads to an inter-school final. There are also EAL Writer of the Year awards for creative writing and Reader of the Year awards for reading progress and commitment, using the extensive EAL library.
In addition to a focus on language development, they also have fun celebrating the diverse cultures and exploring Bath and other cities of interest with the International Community of Monkton (ICOM). The Monkton boarding houses, chaplaincy activities and extensive co-curricular programme offer constant opportunities for social English use as well as developing life skills, rich Monkton friendships and beautiful memories.
Monkton has over half the Senior School in boarding, and the majority board full-time, meaning weekends are as action-packed as the rest of the week! They offer weekly boarding and a range of taster options for day pupils, many of whom convert to boarding during their time at Monkton.
At Prep, they have a vibrant boarding house with a range of activities on offer after school, in the evening and at weekends - including the weekly favourite of pancake night, weekend trips to Legoland, The Wave and ice skating.
At the Senior School, strong vertical relationships between pupils of all ages in the 6 houses create an extremely positive and empowering environment where students thrive. Houseparents work in couples, just as parents do in a family, and this shapes the culture and feel of houses. Saturday evening events range from Band Night to Roller Discos, Sixth Form Parties to Formal Dinners. It is not unusual to have more pupils in at weekends than there are number of boarders as Day pupils choose to stay and get involved. Sundays offer an opportunity to rest or trips such as go-karting, polo, watching Bath rugby at the Rec or Women's Super League live. Whilst the site is in tranquil countryside, many pupils also choose to spend their weekends exploring the culture or shopping in Bath, just over a mile away.
You'll probably have many questions about the exciting times that lie ahead. We are here to reassure you and support your decision to educate your child in the UK.
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