Christ College Brecon

• Location: Brecon, England,
• Established: 1541,
• Number of students: more than 350,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type: mixed.

Christ College is an independent, coeducational school for students from 5 to 18 years old.

The history of Christ College is divided into three periods. For 300 years it was a Dominican monastery. In 1541, Henry VIII founded a school here, and finally, in 1855, by Act of Parliament, it received state accreditation.  

In the second half of the XX century, many campus buildings were built. Thanks to this, the school can offer both full-time education and permanent residence in a dormitory.

Christ College is currently one of the oldest and most successful independent schools in the UK. About 350 students study here not only from local cities and villages, but also from other countries.  Parents especially appreciate the unique care and support from highly qualified and experienced staff, which extends not only to the classroom but also to all aspects of daily life and leads to high achievement both academically and in other areas.

For most international students, English is not their first language. In the lower grades, many students prepare for the IGCSE exam in English as a Second Language in additional classes in the small EAL course.  The first year of EAL is free of charge.

In the Sixth Form process, those students who intend to study at an English-speaking university, but do not yet have the appropriate qualifications, prepare for the IELTS exam in English also in additional classes.

The institution boasts small class sizes and excellent teaching staff in all faculties:

• Art
• English language
• Humanities
• Science
• Modern languages,
• Teaching and learning,
• Mathematics and computer science.

Christ Chirch also has a sister school, King Henry VIII College in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Christ College has an exchange program with schools in China and Japan, links with other schools around the world. These exchanges represent a great opportunity to explore different cultures, languages and traditions. 

Christ College has six residential buildings-houses, prepared for students of different ages and genders, as well as having their own distinctive signs: color, coat of arms, uniform. Each building is home to a team of staff consisting of a caregiver and his/her spouse, au pairs. 

• Always House – boys and girls from 10 to 13 years old,
• De Winton House and Donaldson's House - girls from 13 to 18 years old,
• Orchard House and School House are boys from 13 to 18 years old.

Often, students live in apartments with neighbors - one mini-apartment is shared by no more than four people. Each of them has its own single bed, a workplace and a wardrobe. The school management allows residents to personalize their room: glue posters, arrange their favorite things to feel comfortable.

Residents of the boarding house are provided with three meals a day in the dining room. The quality of the products, the composition of the menu and the preparation of dishes is the responsibility of the catering company Holroyd Howe, a leading provider of school meals, with a wealth of experience in delivering healthy, nutritious and creative food. The company has many awards, including the large-scale "Independent School of the Year" awards in 2015 and 2016.

The weekly schedule is structured in such a way as to provide a balance between academic studies and extracurricular activities.

Every year, all classes have "Adventure Days" organized in Brecon Beacons National Park. Students are also offered various types of outdoor activities: mountaineering, rock climbing, rowing and trail running. On campus, you can do music production, cooking, photography, robotics and video game development. These themed clubs hold classes on Saturdays. 

Each of the boarding houses regularly hosts events: from collective reading and discussion of books to noisy parties.

• One of the oldest institutions in the UK,
• Long-term successful education of local and foreign students,
• Small classes,
• The opportunity to study during the day or stay on campus on a permanent basis,
• Excellent final exam results,
• 60 international students from more than 14 countries.

Christ College occupies a beautiful location on the outskirts of Brecon, a safe little market town in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The campus is located in an area with some of the most picturesque and diverse landscapes in Europe: the mighty Pen-y-Fan, with its distinctive red peak, is the highest red sandstone peak in the UK. 

The study area is just a minute's walk from Brecon town centre. Narrow compact streets, facades in the Georgian style have a long history.

The education takes place in several large buildings, in an open area and in a chapel, which has been preserved in its original form since the XIII century. Two halls with opening roofs are equipped for large-scale events, studios and small classes are equipped for gathering thematic clubs, and gyms and outdoor playgrounds are for team and individual education. Also on campus there are six dormitories, a large dining room and several halls for recreation and self-study.

The academic year includes several semesters:

• Autumn: September 7-December 15,
• Spring: 4 January-31 March,
• Summer: April 24-July 8.

There are holidays between semesters. Students also rest on international and national holidays and on weekends - every Saturday and Sunday.

Many expenses are already included in the tuition fee. Additionally, parents should pay the registration fee and provide the student with personal pocket money. The cost of the program differs depending on whether the student lives in a school boarding house.

The first step to enrollment will be to register and visit campus to get acquainted with the school's management, teachers, and infrastructure. The next stage will be entrance examinations, after which a letter with an offer of admission will be sent to successful candidates. Acceptance of this offer secures a place in the school. 

Applicants entering at the age of 11 and 13 take entrance tests in mathematics and English.

Thanks to the long-term success of high school students, the school has excellent statistics of final exams:

• 47% - grades A-AA *,
• 91% - grades from A to AC,
• 46% — GCSE results at AA level*.

The results achieved by international students in the main external examsallow them to continue their studies at some of the best universities in the UK, including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College and UCL.

It is possible to enter Christ College at the age of 5, 11, 13 or 16; as an exception, students of other ages can be accepted.

For enrollment, applicants must provide documents from the previous place of study: a certificate, transcripts or exam results. You should also attach personal documents: passport, medical insurance and visa. Foreign applicants must have a conversational level of English.

Scholarships encourage students from the age of 7 for academic, creative and other achievements. Sixth Form high school students have access to scholarship awards from school sponsors:

• Rugby
• Hockey
• Cricket.

These scholarships will help athletes improve their playing level, develop careers under the guidance of personal highly qualified mentors, receive professional medical care and much more.

The institution gives students the opportunity to receive financial support based on need and other criteria. Discounts are also possible:

• Former students who are in arrears in their school fees,
• Children of military personnel entering school at the age of 13 years and older.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision