Ellesmere College
Ellesmere College: A Platform for Academic and Personal Success
Since its founding in 1884, Ellesmere College has retained its focus on individual student success while promoting a nurturing, family atmosphere. An incredibly friendly co-ed boarding school, 550 students from ages 7 to 18, and from all across the globe, are encouraged to explore, engage and evolve to the best of their potential through the College’s innovative and dynamic academic and co-curricular opportunities.
At every entry point to the College – from Year 3 to Sixth Form in Year 12 – students are offered a broad choice of academic subjects as well as a vast range of co-curricular activities (DofE, CCF, ESB, EPQ, ILM, Survive & Thrive, expeditions, career conventions, affiliations, etc) that develop essential life skills – leadership, initiative, confidence, teambuilding, and above all a belief in themselves that they can achieve if they try their best – the ethos at the heart of the school – to be ’Life:Ready’.
We believe very strongly that the foundations for a successful adult life are built at a young age – and at Ellesmere College we empower and enrich our students to become confident, strong and exceptional young adults.
Category: Preparatory, Senior, Sixth Form
Pupils: Co-Education
Type: Boarding and Day
Religious Affiliation: Church of England
Roll: 367 Boys / / 193 Girls
Day pupils: 320
Boarder Number: 240
Age Range: 7-18 Years
Founded: 1884
Location Description
Standing in its own stunning grounds of more than 146 acres, Ellesmere College is conveniently located near the small, historic town of Ellesmere, and is less than 100 kilometres from both of England’s second major cities, Manchester and Birmingham. Students can benefit from the vast range of activities both cities have to offer whilst living and studying in a tranquil English country setting. Situated midway between Chester and Shrewsbury, Ellesmere is just off the A495 and is easily accessed via the UK motorway network. Airports at Manchester (1 hour 15 minutes by road), Liverpool (1 hour by road) and Birmingham (1 hour 30 minutes by road) are within easy reach.
School Contact Details
Headteacher: Mrs Vicky Pritt-Roberts
Ellesmere, Shropshire, SY12 9AB
Tel: General Enquiries: 01691 622321 Admissions: 01691 626510
Email: registrar@ellesmere.com
Facilities
Academic
At Key Stages 2 & 3 we offer a wide curriculum preparing them for their choice of i/GCSEs as they move up to Middle School at age 13 – providing subjects that appeal to all pupils’ interests and academic strengths, while keeping class sizes small. Our award winning Support for Learning department supports those students with diverse academic needs including dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia.
In Sixth Form, students choose A Levels, BTEC or International Baccalaureate (IB), and our students regularly gain entrance to their first-choice university including Oxford, Cambridge and Russell Group institutions. We are ranked in the top 20 British schools offering the IB with students regularly attaining >30 points and are launching our International Foundation Programme (IFP) in the Autumn.
Ellesmere College is delighted to have been awarded HPL World Class School Accreditation following two years of rigorous and demanding engagement in the HPL World Class School Award Scheme. As one of only 39 schools worldwide to have received this award, it recognises the hard work and dedication of the school into reaching the exacting HPL Award Standards and demonstrating a world class quality of education throughout the school.
Pastoral Care
Ellesmere provides a friendly and warm environment with family values at its heart, and all students at the College – whether day pupils or boarders – are assigned to a House, under which they compete in termly House Competitions. Our student accommodation provides a high-quality, comfortable and secure environment for our students from Year 8, with residential staff on site to tend to the pupils’ personal and pastoral needs 24 hours a day.
Drama, Music and the Arts
The College was the first independent school to be awarded Artsmark Platinum by the Arts Council of Great Britain for its commitment and delivery of the arts the traditional to more modern media. Singing is an area of real excellence with four award winning choirs and a wide range of ensembles with opportunities to perform. Participation at every level is encouraged and supported by ESB, LAMDA, ballet & dance classes, and individual tuition.
Sports
We are immensely proud of our sporting tradition at Ellesmere College and physical education is an integral part of the curriculum – playing for ones’ house or school, or at national, international and Olympic level. We are an accredited WAoS (World Academy of Sport) Athlete Friendly Education Centre (AFEC), which provides greater flexibility to students so they can balance their studies with demanding training and competition schedules. There are seven distinct Sports Academies – rugby, cricket, tennis, swimming, shooting, football and golf – as well as High Performance Hockey Programme, basketball, netball, badminton, modern pentathlon, and rounders. We are consistently listed in The Cricketer Top 100 Schools Yearbook, and are affiliated with the Lydia Greenway Cricket for Girls Programme and IH Manchester Football Academy.
Scholarships
Academic – including The Arts, Sports, and all round scholarships are available on application and dependent on entry Year.
Entrance Requirements
Ellesmere College is a non-selective school with the focus on the individual – however for entry into Sixth Form (Yr 12-13) we would suggest a minimum level of 5 GCSE passes at 4 or above.
Fees
2024/2025
Upper School (Years 9-13)
Full Boarders: £14,020 per term. Weekly Boarders: £10,010 per term.
Day pupils: £7,710 per term.
Lower School (Years 3-8)
Full Boarders (Year 8): £11,235 per term. Weekly Boarders (Year 8): £9,490 per term.
Day pupils (Years 6-8): £5,435 per term. (Years 3-5): £4,725 per term.
Affiliations/Memberships
IB World School, ISC, HMC, Arts Council England, BAISIS, BSA, HPL, CreSTeD, World Academy of Sport(WAoS)
Downloadable Resources
OPEN DAYS
All visits are welcome, please contact the school
We offer a full range of dates for Individual Tours for families around the school throughout the year during term time. Each tour is designed with the individual students needs in mind and the family will see all aspects of the school and its facilities and have the opportunity to meet key members of staff.
If you would like to know more, or to register for an Individual Tour please telephone: 01691 626510 or email: registrar@ellesmere.com
View our Virtual Tour