St David's College

Mission statement

“Our aim is simple - create a unique whole-person education centred on the individual, built on Christian principles, & embedded in a family atmosphere.”

Academics

St David’s College prides itself on providing a good education for all, catering for children with additional learning needs, such as ADHD, Dyslexia and Dycalculia. The school has a reputation for providing some of the best dyslexia teaching in the UK due to specialised in-classroom teaching and additional support available at the Cadogan Centre – an inhouse facility offering over 500 one-to-one specialist lessons per week. Diagnostic screening, small class sizes, individualised learning plans and teachers qualified in multi-sensory teaching techniques means the school caters for children of every ability level.

In 2022, pupils achieved a 97% pass rate across all Level 3 (A-Level and L3 BTEC) qualifications, with 42% of grades as an A*-A or Distinction*-Distinction. Notably, 100% of pupils taking A-level maths achieved an A*-A grade. Pupils progressed onto study at some of the UKs most esteemed universities, such as Exeter, Bath and Southampton. In the same year, 78% of pupils achieved 5 or more GCSEs & BTEC Level 2 at A*-C or the equivalent, with 21.1% of grades awarded being A* - A or the equivalent.

Activities & sports

St David’s believes that all students should be physically active and outdoor education plays a vital role in the school curriculum. Children in Years 5-10 have a full day each fortnight dedicated to an outdoor programme involving exciting adventures, such as kayaking, climbing, conservation and orienteering.

The school offers an award-winning sports programme, with Physical Education lessons included in the curriculum at all levels. Students have opportunities to participate in sports such as rugby, netball, athletics and cricket at recreational and competitive levels.

St David’s encourages students to get involved in the arts. Each year the school stages in house plays, which have even won national awards. Students have been awarded places at the National Youth Theatre, RADA, Trinity Labon Conservatoire and Guildford PPA. The school also offers many opportunities to get involved in music, including jazz band, two choirs, choral groups and musical instrument lessons. Furthermore, the school encourages students to get involved in Design and Technology and has won national design awards most years for the past 15 years.

International student community

St David’s College tries to represent British society today in the diversity of its student body, allowing international boarders to join their school from year five until sixth form. They promote tolerance and acceptance, by ensuring that there is a mix of students from different cultures and backgrounds. Additionally, they provide English as an Additional Language support so that those who are not fluent can improve their comprehension and make the most of the exceptional education that the school is giving them.

Boarding life

Providing a safe and happy family community for students is a priority for St David’s College. They provide a supportive pastoral system in the boarding houses to ensure students are supported to thrive in school and feel a sense of belonging to the school community. . Teachers are required to undertake boarding staff responsibilities, and all boarding staff are qualified teachers, meaning that boarding and academics are interlinked, and trust is built between the children and the staff both in and outside of school hours.