Ipswich School
Description of Ipswich School
- Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, United Kingdom
- Age of students: from 3 to 18 years old,
- Type of study: mixed,
- Language of instruction: English.
Ipswich School is an educational institution with a rich history and heritage. The school was founded in 1399, making it one of the oldest public schools in the United Kingdom. Throughout its long and illustrious history, Ipswich School has witnessed many significant events and has played an important role in the lives of many great men and women, producing countless outstanding scientists, politicians, artists, and athletes who have achieved great success in their lives and careers.
Today, the school remains one of the nation's leading educational institutions, committed to providing its students with the highest standards of education. Ipswich School's heritage and traditions are deeply rooted in its culture and are an integral part of its identity.
Educational process
School hours are from 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Ipswich School offers a broad curriculum that caters to the interests of all students, everyone has access to different areas of study and can find a balance between different subjects. In addition, students are given the flexibility to choose subjects for GCSE and A Level exams, which is reflected in their school timetable.
Features of studying at Ipswich School:
- Wide range of languages (German, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Latin),
- Afternoon classes starting from the 9th grade,
- The Sixth Form Continuing Education Programme, providing breadth, diversity and additional qualifications,
- An additional program for academically gifted students,
- Emphasis on Triple Science at GCSE,
- Additional classes in all subjects, which are held during breaks and at lunchtime throughout the year.
Faculties and colleges
Ipswich School has 3 structural divisions:
- Preparatory School,
- High School,
- Sixth Form.
Programs and prices, tuition fees in Ipswich School
Preparatory School
- Age – from 3 to 7 years old,
- The duration of study is from 4 years.
Children are taught by highly qualified staff who care for them as individuals and strive to meet their needs, unleashing the potential of each child. Particular attention is paid to the acquisition of basic numeracy and literacy skills. A broad curriculum encourages creativity and personal development of the child. There are ample opportunities for hands-on learning. Children are mostly taught by their homeroom teacher, but there are several specialized courses in music, French, computer science, physical education, games, and swimming.
Parents are actively contacted for an effective partnership between home and school. Parents receive written reports, and parenting evenings are held throughout the school year.
Grade school
- Age — from 7 to 11 years old,
- The duration of study is from 3 years.
As in primary school, the core curriculum is taught by the classroom teacher. Music continues to be taught by specialist musicians: In the third grade, specialized training in playing a stringed instrument begins. In the science room, children are taught by a natural science specialist, and a foreign language teacher instills in children a love for German, Russian, Spanish and French. In fifth grade, children are more introduced to the idea of moving from one classroom to another to work with specialist teachers in more subjects: this prepares students for the form of learning they will be exposed to in high school.
Classroom teachers have a special responsibility for the well-being of each child – this is extremely important, as academic success is strengthened by a thorough upbringing that encompasses the personal development and well-being of each individual child.
High school
- Age – from 11 to 13 years old,
- The duration of study is from 2 years.
Junior School offers modern and engaging lessons, allowing students to explore all aspects of the world. The school strives to inspire students to fulfil their individual potential through dedicated instruction and a close focus on everyone's success. Primary school pupils are taught English, Mathematics, French or Spanish, Art, Computer Science, Classics, Drama, Geography, History, Philosophy, Religion and Ethics, Swimming and Physical Education.
In the 7th grade, the course "Principles of Natural Science" is taught, which combines three sciences and is taught by one teacher. This makes it easier to transition from 6th grade onwards and reduces duplication on some core topics.
In the 8th grade, students are taught chemistry, physics, and biology in separate lessons. In addition, the Latin language is being introduced, and pupils are already being considered for inclusion in the school curriculum to improve academic performance.
Senior Secondary School
- Age — from 13 to 16 years old,
- The duration of study is from 2 years.
High school puts students on the right path, allowing them to perform on exams as well as possible. Starting from the 9th grade, students study various subjects: Russian language and Latin, design and technology, geography and history, and three natural sciences. This approach provides them with a wide range of subjects to obtain matriculation certificates.
GCSE courses in Biology, Chemistry and Physics start towards the end of Year 9, while GCSE courses in other subjects start at the beginning of Year 10. Natural sciences are taught separately, at the end of the 11th grade, students receive certificates in which biology, chemistry and physics are listed as separate subjects.
There is a certain flexibility built into the timetable, which allows students to choose combinations of subjects that generally suit their needs. There is no limit to the choice of pupils to take the matriculation examinations. To help students prepare for exams, there are regular tests and subject consultations.
Sixth form, graduating high school
- Age — from 16 to 18 years old,
- The duration of study is from 2 years.
From Year 12 onwards, students will study 4 subjects, so they are given time to get to know each at A-Level. In Grade 13, there is an opportunity to move on to three subjects, but many students wish to keep all four.
Ipswich School offers a range of A-Level academic subjects, one or two additional subjects such as Russian, Dramaturgy and Theatre Arts.
All Sixth form students take part in the Edge program: this is a timetable course that gives students a range of valuable side skills, including IT, cooking, and healthcare, and helps with university applications, giving students a business leadership qualification.
The study groups are small, the teachers are specialists in their particular subject (in addition, many of them are examiners). Students receive regular feedback that will show them and their parents what grades have been received in the two trimesters, and what needs to be paid closer attention to. There are counseling sessions each week so that students can deal with any questions or topics that seem difficult. Most of the consultations are designed to refine knowledge in the run-up to the exams.
Accommodation, meals, prices
Ipswich School has six day houses named Holden, Rigaud, Sherrington, School, Broke, and Felaw. Students from Year 9 onwards and 6th Form pupils are assigned to these houses. The main building serves as the oldest house.
Each house and boarding house is associated with its own color, fostering a spirit of competition among them. Annually, students from these houses compete for the Ganzoni Cup, which is awarded based on points earned from winning various competitions including sports, debates, and art. One of the most significant events of the summer semester is Sports Day, featuring athletic competitions. Felaw House holds the first place in terms of the number of victories, followed by Rigaud House.
Apart from the day houses, there is one large boarding house on the school grounds, known as Westwood. It is a multicultural boarding facility with students hailing from various countries such as Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Ukraine, Argentina, Russia, Nigeria, Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. The composition of boarders may vary from year to year.
Ipswich School provides school lunches for all children up to and including Grade 3, offering well-balanced meals with an emphasis on fresh produce suitable for growing and energetic children. In line with the school's healthy eating policy, a diverse range of meals is available, including main courses, salads, desserts, and fresh fruit. While most children prefer school lunches after Grade 3, they also have the option to bring packed lunches from home.
Activities Ipswich School
Ipswich School offers a wide range of sports: rugby, hockey, table tennis, aerobics, squash, netball and cricket, sailing and Eton fives (the school is one of the few in the country to have fives courts). In addition to sports activities, the school offers students to join:
- Turin Discussion Society,
- Society of Poets (for English Language Learners A-Level), led by 6th Form pupils,
- Sub Aqua Club,
- Combined Cadet Forces with Army Sections,
- Air Force Club,
- Theater Club,
- Volunteer community,
- Cinema Club,
- Journalism Club,
- Business Club,
- Architecture and other clubs.
The music department consists of several orchestras, ensembles and choirs. Performances are staged every year either in the Big School or in the Small School. The school pitch is the venue for Suffolk cricket matches every year.
The school strives for the harmonious development of children, so students are offered various trips and excursions. On Thursdays, after school, there is a program of extracurricular activities for students in grades 9-13, which is constantly supplemented and necessarily includes outdoor games.
Facilities and equipment at Ipswich School
Ipswich School's extensive campus covers a huge area that includes various educational facilities, science labs, art studios, sports fields, a theater and a chapel. The school has its own indoor swimming pool, an old library with stained-glass windows, a center for high school students, a music school and a sports center.
The school gardens are beautifully manicured, where students often gather to study, play or just soak up the sun. The air is filled with the lively energy that emanates from the interaction of students moving from one class to another or rushing to practice. Each building has its own unique architectural style and character: from the splendor of the Georgian mansion that houses the high school to the modern design of the music and science buildings, each structure tells the story of the school's rich history and culture. Ipswich School's campus is a place where learning and growth take place in an atmosphere of warmth, inclusivity, and creativity, where dreams are born and lifelong friendships are made.
Admission dates and extra charges
The academic year at Ipswich School lasts from September to June and includes 3 trimesters separated by holidays:
- 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 fees,
- Deposit per seat,
- Health insurance,
- Transfer
- Accommodation (board),
- Nutrition
- Transportation costs,
- Educational materials and stationery,
- Uniform
- Extracurricular activities and clubs, some excursions and trips.
Enrolment process
Applying to Ipswich School consists of a few simple steps:
- Submit the completed online application form,
- Attach a recent passport-size photo,
- Provide an academic transcript from your current school,
- Send a personal statement explaining the candidate's interest in Ipswich School,
- Provide extracts from academic reports for the last two years,
- Pass the entrance exams,
- Pass an interview with a member of the admissions committee,
- Pay the entry fee.
Following these simple steps ensures that the application has a good chance of being considered for admission to Ipswich School.
Enrolment statistics
Today, about 1000 children study at Ipswich School. The average number of people in a class is 10-12.
Perspectives
In 2022, the percentage of grades 9-7 in the GCSE exams was 66.7%, in the same summer in the A-Level exams, grades A*-B were 84%, and grades A*-A were 60%. This is significantly higher than the average results of private schools in the country.
More than 9% of Ipswich School graduates go on to universities of their first choice, including Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, St Andrews, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Bristol and Warwick.
Entry requirements, how to apply, what is required to enrol
Before applying for admission to Ipswich School, it is recommended that you submit the following documents to the Admissions Office:
- School reports for two years, if possible with comments from teachers,
- Detailed information about hobbies, interests, achievements,
- Information regarding the level of English proficiency.
This package of documents is required for the initial assessment of the candidate.
For admission to Grades 9, 10, or 6th Form, Ipswich School requires students to take entrance tests in Mathematics, English, and Nonverbal Reasoning. If applicants do well on the tests, they are invited for an interview, which can be conducted online if necessary.
Institution on the map
Residence permits, citizenship and other services
- Guardianship services during the studies
- Student supervision
Review about Ipswich School
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. |
