A complete guide to UK universities for international students
Higher education, School Admissions
Choosing to study in the UK is a very exciting step for international students and their families – but when there are more than 150
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:
Saint Felix School in Reydon, England.
Saint Felix offers a truly modern and dynamic curriculum. While maintaining a strong focus on excellence in core subject areas, the specialist teaching staff at Saint Felix also offer expert tuition on a wide range of subjects. Students have a comprehensive support network, from boarding house staff to mentoring programmes and a close-knit international and domestic community. This total support system provides a foundation from which each student achieves their personal best.
With a strong history of a personalised academic and co-curricular offering, Saint Felix enables each student to leave us feeling confident, valued, respectful and academically ready for their next challenge.
All our students access our Saint Felix Diploma, a specially designed co-curricular programme along with our programme of service, providing opportunities in and outside the classroom to develop critical world skills and an attitude of service to one’s community.
In Years 10 and 12, students can choose from a wide range of subjects at GCSE and A Level. With Mathematics and English Language being the only compulsory GCSEs, our Year 10 students can choose the number of GCSEs they study, allowing students to focus on subjects that align with their strengths and interests.
Saint Felix offers a bespoke preparation course for students with aspirations to study at top universities. Students can also study for either a Higher Project Qualification (HPQ), equivalent to half a GCSE, or a Level 3 Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
In 2023, 94% of our students gained a placement in their first or second choice of university, including Russell Group universities, and 82% of all grades were marked at A* to C and 36% at A* to A. This demonstrates that the Saint Felix Community is designed to enable success for all students.
GCSE pass rate:
A Level pass rate:
Some of the destinations our students have gone on to study at are:
At Saint Felix School, education extends beyond the classroom, fostering a holistic approach to our students’ development. Our extensive co-curricular opportunities allow every individual to explore and excel. These activities complement our academic curriculum and provide a platform for students to discover their passions, develop new skills, and create lifelong memories. Our sports provision promotes physical fitness and mental wellbeing while instilling teamwork, discipline, dedication, and resilience. The Forest School and Duke of Edinburgh Award connects students with the natural world, fostering environmental awareness and practical outdoor skills, while creative endeavours, such as life drawing and model making, provide a canvas for self-expression and identity. Whether individual or team sports, games, performing arts, or music, our vibrant co-curricular scene empowers students to broaden their horizons and become well-rounded individuals.
Promoting and enhancing our students’ physical and mental wellbeing and personal development is the ultimate focus of our Sports Department. This is achieved through a wide range of activities, including Swimming, Badminton, Equestrian, Football, Rugby, Netball, Cricket, Tennis, Squash, and Table Tennis. Additionally, supervised gym and fitness suite access is available, depending on age.
Saint Felix is one of the UK's leading schools for swim coaching. The programme at Saint Felix includes competition at county, regional, national and international levels. Previous students have competed, and medalled, at the 2024 Paralympics, the World Short Course Championships, the Youth Olympics and the Commonwealth Youth Games.
Take a look at their full list of co-curricular options.
Internationalism is an exciting and integral aspect of school life and permeates everything we do. Internationalism is not achieved in a set assembly or lesson; instead, we ensure our diverse cultures and school values are encompassed and celebrated constantly throughout the school. We strive to continually expand on this key area of inclusivity and broaden our students’ understandings.
We currently welcome students from between 15-20 countries to Saint Felix School and are proud of the way in which they are quickly made to feel at home as part of our school community. Our international student community makes up 16-20% of our whole school family.
EAL lessons are provided to students in Years 7-9 as part of their school fees. From Years 10-13, EAL can be chosen as a subject, which is then also included within our school fees. However, where we feel that a student may benefit from additional, bespoke EAL support, a conversation will take place between the family and the school, and if the support is agreed, additional fees will apply. As part of our EAL support, we are pleased to offer that we support students in preparing, and sitting, their iELTS exam.
At Saint Felix School we are proud of the long history that we have of a boarding community that is rich in its diversity of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
We love to welcome new boarders here at Saint Felix School. With 15-20 different nationalities represented at any given moment, we go out of our way to ensure that all boarders are quickly made to feel welcome and at home, as part of our warm, friendly family.
Boarders can use many of the on-site facilities, including the sports hall, indoor heated swimming pool, fitness suite, and outdoor tennis courts. They can also visit Southwold for shopping and leisure.
Our boarders benefit from a range of activities throughout the year which are largely included within our boarding fees. When planning our weekend excursions, we always consider the interests of our boarders, ensuring that they are part of the planning process. Trips range from local excursions such as bowling, ice-skating and the cinema to day trips to places such as Cambridge and London.
Boarders also enjoy weeknight activities in school and in the local community which they can sign up for. For example, our boarders regularly attend activities such as guides, football, rugby, and horse riding, along with in-house events such as Waffle Wednesday and games nights.
Somerville and Gardiner House - Junior Girls and Boys House
Somerville and Gardiner House is our home for our girls and boys, aged 11 to 15. All of our students are looked after by a dedicated team of professionals that consists of their academic tutors, the housemistress, house tutors, medical staff, graduate/gap assistants and house-keeping staff. Somerville and Gardiner House share a number of large social spaces, including a study room, a tv room which contains a game console and large tv, a games room which includes a pool table and table tennis table, and a quiet room in which to either sit and enjoy the views, or to play a tune or two on the piano.
Fawcett House - Sixth Form
To mark Saint Felix School’s 125th anniversary in 2022, the school launched the first phase of a 5-year development plan, which included the transformation of Fawcett House into an exceptional boarding house for Sixth Form students. The ground floor offers a relaxed social space complete with pool table, TV, and plenty of seating. For relaxing after a busy week of lessons, the adjacent Cinema Room is very popular with the teenagers. The house is run by a Housemaster, and he is supported by academic and house tutors, medical staff, graduate/gap assistants and house-keeping staff. There is a daily routine in the house and every effort is made to cater for all the boys' and girls' social and pastoral needs.
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.
Message us via Live Chat or request a callback and one of our team members will contact you whenever you prefer.
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