Ipswich High School

• Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, United Kingdom
• Age of students: from 5 to 18 years old,
• Type of study: mixed,
• Language of instruction: English.

Ipswich High School is a lively day and boarding school for boys and girls located on an idyllic 87-acre campus in Wolverstone, on the banks of the Orwell River. At IHS, learning takes place in small classes of hard-working students and inspiring teachers who help instill a love of learning. The result of such education is exceptional academic results year after year.

Ipswich High School is proud of the huge scope of its co-educational program, offering comfortable living conditions away from home in a cozy boarding house.

The goal of IHS is not to force students to conform to a predetermined idea of who they should be – the school believes in getting to know each student better and using all resources to inspire them to achieve more.

Ipswich High School's curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and additionally includes PSHE and Reasoning. Subjects are taught separately, but there are many opportunities for cross-curricular learning within an integrated curriculum. The school offers each student 5 to 10 different extracurricular academic activities or hobby groups. Regular educational trips with lecturers are held for all classes. All pupils attend classes at the Forest and Beach School.

The educational process at Ipswich High School takes place in several structural divisions:

• Kindergarten
• Preparatory School,
• High School,
• Sixth Form Department.

Every year, more than half of IHS students receive the highest grades of A* and A: this is more than 60% of GCSE exams, and more than 50% of A-Level exams, enter the best universities in the UK.

In 2021, Ipswich High School won the Association of Boarding Schools Award for Best Boarding Extension or Renovation.

Ipswich High School (IHS) offers a comfortable boarding experience for students, emphasizing a "home away from home" concept. The school provides two distinct boarding residences: Dairy House and The Barns. These residences are located on campus, just a short walk from the main building, and offer secure and picturesque settings overlooking the beautiful Suffolk countryside and a private forest.

Here are some details about the two boarding houses:

The Barns:

• The Barns is a newer boarding house designed with an upscale hotel-level interior.
• Students at The Barns are guaranteed either a single room with a private bathroom or a double room with two bathrooms.
• The residence includes a spacious open-plan common area with a modern kitchen, a stylish cinema room, and a cozy quiet room for reading or studying.

Dairy House:

• Dairy House is a picturesque Grade II-listed building that has been carefully renovated to provide comfortable and homely accommodation.
• Accommodation in Dairy House consists of both double and single rooms, along with a kitchen and living areas.

Ipswich High School offers various boarding options to cater to students' needs:

1. Full Board: Starting from 7th grade onwards, students can opt for full board at The Dairy. This comprehensive option includes meals, accommodation, laundry, and round-the-clock staff support.

2. Weekly Board: Weekly boarders stay at The Dairy for five nights each week during the semester, arriving on Sunday evening and returning home for the weekend on Friday. Some weekend stays may be approved upon request.

3. Flexible Schedule: For students who prefer a more informal boarding arrangement, flexible scheduling is available.

Regarding meals, IHS provides students with a hot lunch prepared on-site daily. The menu is varied, with different options for main courses, salads, sandwiches, and weekly fish offerings. Traditional hot puddings are served regularly, along with yogurt and fresh fruit. Special dietary needs, such as gluten-free and vegetarian options, are accommodated, and nut-free meal preparation is observed.

IHS aims to create a nurturing and comfortable boarding environment that supports students' academic and personal development while ensuring their well-being.

Dance, drama and music are offered to all Ipswich High School students as part of the curriculum and enrichment activities.

The IHS Physical Education Division promotes an inclusive approach to sports, providing a wide range of sports opportunities.

Every Saturday, a local afternoon activity or full-day trip is offered, ranging from a visit to the local cinema or a trip to the beach, to an exciting day at Harry Potter Studio or a visit to Cambridge. There is always a communal activity on Saturday nights to give students the opportunity to have a good time together. On Sundays, you can enjoy sports matches, spend some quiet time with friends, and do your homework.

Students are given the opportunity to engage in the following extracurricular activities: 

• skiing,
• golf practice at Suffolk Holiday Park,
• indoor climbing at the Avid Climbing Center,
• participation in a hockey club on the territory of the school,
• sailing or paddle tennis lessons at Alton Water,
• school performing arts groups.

General evening events are also organized:

• Movie screenings,
• Bingo
• Evening of board games,
• Arts and crafts (e.g. making decorations for Christmas and Halloween),
• Themed dinners and festive events,
• Birthday Celebrations,
• Garden games (badminton, cricket, croquet, football),
• An evening of waffles and milkshakes,
• Barbecue (in summer),
• Evening walks on the river,
• Sushi preparation,
• Baking evening.

The IHS campus includes:

• AstroTurf Playground
• indoor swimming pool,
• Bolshoi Theatre,
• indoor and outdoor sports courts,
• fitness room,
• Gym.

Extensive formal gardens remain of the historic estate. The grounds extend all the way to the Orwell River, which can be seen from the classrooms, and there are separate buildings for the upper and lower grades. Students have lunch in a greenhouse located in the main building, which also houses two libraries and a Sixth Form center. The Arts Department is located next to the stables and the preparatory school.

The 88-acre campus hosts many athletic activities (as part of the curriculum) and professional development programs. Excellent sports facilities help students reach their full athletic potential, whether in PE classes or in extracurricular activities that are included in the school day.

The school year at Ipswich High School runs from September to June. The year is divided into 3 trimesters, between which vacations are organized:

• Autumn (September – December),
• Christmas Vacation (2 weeks),
• Spring (January – March),
• Easter holidays (2 weeks),
• Summer (April – June),
• Summer holidays (2 months, July and August).

Additional costs:

• Registration fee,
• Visa fee,
• Boarding: accommodation and meals,
• Security deposit (includes non-refundable deposit),
• Bus deposit,
• After-school (morning and evening),
• GCSE and A-Level exams (exam fees)
• Uniform
• Stationery and educational materials,
• Tutoring (optional).

To apply to Ipswich High School, the following documents must be submitted:

• School report card for the last 2 years,
• Detailed description from the class teacher,
• Copies of diplomas, awards, certificates.

In addition, the candidate will need to pass:

• Interview
• English Language Placement Test,
• Entrance exam in mathematics.

To enter high school, students must pass three exams similar to the 11+ exams and then maintain their academic achievement throughout the learning process, especially at the GCSE level.

Sixth Form pupils are admitted on the basis of GCSE results. Students are provided with academic support, and teachers closely monitor their achievements.

Today, the school has about 500 students.

IHS has a Careers program that covers the entire learning path and is designed to complement the school curriculum. The school encourages students to be ambitious, broaden their horizons and explore their own career aspirations throughout school life. The Careers program promotes the readiness of apprentices and students to take the next step in their studies or career.

In the Sixth Form, the program becomes more personalised and adapts to each student's individual merits, plans and interests, which is why many of the students successfully receive offers at first choice universities (usually Russell Group), including Oxbridge. 

Ipswich High School, among other things, supports its students who have decided not to go to university and are interested in starting their careers through an internship.

Ipswich High School's Career Development Program provides:

• Practical work experience,
• Opportunities to meet and ask questions to professionals from a wide variety of fields,
• Psychometric career and ability profiling with unbiased career advice,
• Support and assistance with university admissions, apprenticeships, internships, one-year breaks in studies, as well as job applications and interviews.

Ipswich High School has selective selection criteria:

• Kindergarten. Children can attend it from the age of 3, there are no official ratings.
• Preparatory school. There is no official assessment procedure for admission, but all students come for a trial day: this allows you to get to know the child better and familiarize him with the environment. Children usually join the reception by coming for a trial day in January, however, it can be arranged at any point in the school year.
• High School. Applicants take official exams and receive grades, in addition, a certificate from the current school is required.

Knowledge of English is a mandatory requirement for all applicants. Upon admission, international students must confirm their language level with certificates.

All students entering Grade 7, including Preparatory School students, may apply for one or more of the following Arthur Ransom Scholarships:

• Academic
• Drawing
• Dancing
• Drama
• Music
• Sport.

All students entering Grade 9 can apply for one or more of the following George Orwell Scholarships:

• Academic
• Drawing
• Dancing
• Drama
• Music
• Sport.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision