George Watson's College
Description of George Watson's College
- Founded in: 1741,
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland,
- Age: 3-19 years old, day school,
- Type: mixed,
- Number of students: 2484.
George Watson's College is a private school and a unique community of outstanding young people and staff located in the vicinity of Edinburgh, Scotland. The history of the institution began in 1741: since then, George Watson's College has been committed to providing students with a world-class education and ample opportunities for versatile development.
Faculties and colleges
- Preparatory year. Children study on the school grounds, a short drive from Edinburgh city centre. The preparatory classroom resembles a private kindergarten for girls and boys for the whole day. The program of the educational institution is designed for one year before entering the primary school program.
- Primary grades. An educational institution for children that aims to develop early learning experiences and prepare them for the next step in their educational journey. The curriculum is designed to provide a solid foundation for literacy, numeracy and development in subjects such as art, music, physical education, drama and languages (French and Spanish).
- George Watson's College High School offers a combination of innovative and traditional approaches, a flexible curriculum, a wide range of opportunities that enrich the educational pathway.
Programs and prices, tuition fees in George Watson's College
Grade school
The curriculum is designed to provide a solid foundation for literacy and numeracy so that students can take advantage of the full range of opportunities available to them. In addition to classes with a classroom teacher, as students progress through the school ladder, they will increasingly receive assistance from specialist teachers in subjects such as art, music, physical education, drama and languages (French and Spanish).
High school
The curriculum aims to minimize the discomfort of transitioning to high school. Most subjects are taught in groups, which fosters a sense of cohesion and a spirit of cooperation between students and teachers. There is the possibility of individualizing the curriculum, but the school strives to ensure that all students have a common core of learning at this stage.
High School
The program includes the main school disciplines, special emphasis is placed on the study of specialized subjects. Teachers are using digital technology in their classrooms, ensuring that they are focused, effective, and safe.
Pupils receive support from their class teacher, head teachers and career guidance staff who will accompany them throughout their high school years. Students choose their own academic tutor from among the teachers: the tutor's responsibilities include helping the student choose a university (or other educational institutions) and generally supporting the student in preparing for life after school.
Activities George Watson's College
The school boasts 19 academic departments with over 120 highly qualified teachers, as well as a wide range of clubs and extracurricular activities. A particular source of pride for the college is the "810 Project," through which students engage with environmental and social justice issues. By fostering diverse communities, the institution encourages students to develop their debating and critical thinking skills, assume responsibility and leadership roles in all their endeavors, and make positive contributions to society. Here are some statistics on club attendance:
- 84 students participate in drama school.
- There are 418 trips organized annually, including musical performances and sports matches.
- 1,215 music lessons are conducted each year.
- 20 students take part in the international exchange program.
- There are 70 clubs and communities available to students.
Key Communities and Sections include:
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Debate
- Engineering
- Entrepreneur's Circle
- Literary Circle
- Theatre
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Photography
- Hockey
- Soccer
- Rugby
- Badminton
- Cycling
- Rock climbing (extra charge)
- Horse riding (extra charge)
- Rowing (extra charge)
Advantages
- A variety of curricular programs and extracurricular activities. Through an extensive and inspiring curriculum and extracurricular programs, the school develops children's love of knowledge and learning about the world.
- Excellent location: the school is close to the heart of Scotland, Edinburgh, an hour's drive from not only the capital, but also other major cities.
- Developed infrastructure: each student has access to all the facilities of the campus, including modern centers, art workshops and an impressive environment for beginners and professional athletes.
Facilities and equipment at George Watson's College
George Watson's College covers an area of 52 acres (21 hectares). The historic campus buildings are considered some of the most iconic in Scotland, such as the neoclassical high school building, opened in 1932, and the beautiful music school from the 1960s. All infrastructure facilities are within walking distance, for example:
- Art school, exhibition spaces and specialized spaces.
- Theater studios equipped with professional lighting and sound equipment, an outdoor area for performances, complementing the capabilities of the high school assembly hall.
- Design, Technology & Engineering Center: Everything from 3D printers to a real forge is here.
- Built in the 1960s and significantly renovated in the last decade, the music school has modern classrooms, individual practice rooms and a 200-seat auditorium.
Admission dates and extra charges
The academic year is divided into three trimesters, including Christmas, spring and summer holidays.
Enrolment process
- Attendance at the Open Day (October),
- Submission of application (November),
- Interview and assessment of academic and psychological readiness for school (November-December-January),
- Getting a response from the school,
- Signing of the contract.
Perspectives
For years and centuries, former students have been called "Watson's followers." According to the Sutton Trust, George Watson's College ranks first in Scotland and 29th in the UK in terms of the number of top graduates produced. Graduates of the school build careers in scientific fields, media and art, law, politics and sports.
Entry requirements, how to apply, what is required to enrol
The school accepts children in preschool, elementary, middle, and high school. To be considered for your candidacy, you need to fill out an application, each is considered individually. Upon receipt of the application, George Watson's College will send an invitation for an interview to assess the child's academic and psychological readiness for school. The procedure provides a valuable opportunity for both the school and parents to ensure that the child will be placed in an environment appropriate to his or her abilities and needs. The tests are age-appropriate and appropriate for the stage of study, and differ depending on which group you are applying to.
There are no entrance exams for children entering preparatory school. Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so it is recommended to apply early.
Scholarships George Watson's College
Each year, George Watson's College provides financial support to a small number of families – families with limited financial resources seeking to provide a quality education for their children.
- The FAP program is funded from school fee revenue. The maximum amount of the FAP benefit is 70% of the tuition fee. Additional activity support and other costs related to school life are not automatically provided to students receiving FAP assistance.
- Foundation Places is funded by donations to George Watson's Family Foundation. The Foundation Places program allows you to pay 75-100% of the tuition fee. These places are not scholarships and are granted primarily on the basis of financial need rather than academic criteria. Typically, Foundation Places are available to children who are currently facing special social or educational difficulties.
- Scholarship for gifted children. It can be applied for by students with a certificate of the 6th grade or higher, who can play two musical instruments or one instrument + vocal data. Applicants must demonstrate a willingness to study music at Watson's School at a level not lower than SQA Higher. Financial support is provided regardless of the family's income.
Institution on the map
Residence permits, citizenship and other services
- Guardianship services during the studies
- Student supervision
Review about George Watson's College
Recommendations on when to apply
| Language courses, schools and children's language camps | Primary and secondary education - private schools | Preparation programmes for entering universities - higher education | Higher education (after completing accredited programs A-level, IB, High School) - Bachelor, Master, MBA |
| - we recommend to apply 6-9 months before the start of the course (some camps and schools offer discounts for early booking or for lengthy study programs) - there are some very popular and high demand children's camps, where the applications need to be submitted 1 year in advance (in particular Switzerland , Great Britain , USA , Canada , Austria) | - we recommend to apply one year before the start of the training program, - some schools have a specific time frame (September-November - please specify an individual school) - some schools require tests in several stages (UKISET, internal tests of the school: English, mathematics, logics, subjects, interview, some require a personal visit) | - we recommend to apply one year before the start of the program, - for Foundation and Pathway programs, IELTS and TOEFL certificates are usually required, respectively | - recommended submission one year before the start of the program, - the deadline normally closes in January, for TOP HEIs and, as a rule, in March in other universities - for a bachelor, a Foundation or Pathway preparatory program a completed A-level, IB, High School + IELTS / TOEFL are required - for Masters you need a graduated higher education, in some cases you need a pre-Masters program - MBA requires completed higher education, work experience preferably at least 2-3 years, etc. |
