Marlborough College

• Year of foundation: 1843;
• Location: Marlborough, Wiltshire, United Kingdom;
• Age of students: 13-18 years;
• Total number of students: 872 people (most - 840 - at the hostel);
• Type of program: mixed;
• Type of accommodation: residence (full board);
• Language of instruction: English.

The classic boarding school of Marlborough was founded in 1843 to teach boys from the clergy families (Anglican Church). Today it is a selective but friendly school designed for 870 people aged 13-18: only 2% of students study on day time, the rest at boarding school; about a third of the students are girls. Students represent both British and diverse countries of the world - there are no differences and students of any color, nationality and religion are accepted.

The history of Marlborough College is full of interesting events and facts. So, literally next door from the ancient city there is a large mound: according to legend, here lies the great magician Merlin, the tutor of King Arthur, who is lulled by the wicked witch Morgana. In the XI century on this hill stood the royal castle - and now the territory is occupied by the campus of the college. Today, the school's director is Jonathan Leigh, and the institution itself is a member of the Conference of School Directors (HMC) and the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL).

The specialization of the college lies in the field of classical education: it is an in-depth, fundamental eduaction in mathematics, English and foreign languages, as well as subjects of the aesthetic cycle. The effectiveness of the curriculum is confirmed by the results of the examinations:

• GCSE / IGCSE: the exam passed (points A * -B) 94: students, the highest score A * received 49%;
• A-level: 94% of students successfully passed (A * -C), 82% received scores from A * to B, 15% could earn the highest score A *;
• Pre-U: 83% passed points D1-M1, which on A-level scale corresponds to A * -A;
• IB (International Baccalaureate): the average score was 34, and 11 students received more than 36 points in the exams.

100% of graduates enter the selected educational institutions, and 10% receive higher education in Oxford or Cambridge. According to statistics, pupils' preferences are distributed as follows:

• 4% - medicine, stomatology, veterinary sciences;
• 9% - management and business;
• 3% - narrow professional subjects;
• 3% - design and art;
• 23% - natural and engineering sciences;
• 58% - humanitarian and social areas.

Marlborough College boasts a list of its successful and well-known graduates:

• Francis Osborne (wife of the Chancellor of the United Kingdom);
• Kate Middleton (Duchess of Cambridge), as well as her brother;
• Eugene (the Duchess of York);
• Sir John Betzhemen (writer and poet);
• Samantha Cameron (wife of the Prime Minister of Britain);
• Musician and composer Chris de Burg;
• Jeffrey Fisher (Archbishop of Canterbury) and many others: military, athletes, politicians and statesmen, musicians and scientists.

Senior pupils in the Sixth Form have the opportunity to study in the structured course MEI (Mathematics in Education and Industry) - it can get up to three A-level credits, which will be very useful for students seeking to thematic professional faculties and departments: architectural, engineering , physical, economics, mathematics. Also in the course of mathematics for high school students are included special blocks of preparation for exams in Oxford and Cambridge.

At a high level, foreign languages ​​are taught at the school: there are more than 9 pedagogical teachers in the staff. For students of 11th grade and older, interactive lessons are practiced every week, which help develop oral, colloquial speech.

Separately, it is worth noting and excellent equipment for astronomy - according to these parameters the school is considered the best in the UK. The campus has its own, perfectly equipped observatory with a modern powerful telescope. Students can study astronomy as an additional subject on the GCSE course and even pass an exam on it (an average of 80 people per year).

The school still adheres to historical Christian, Anglican traditions, but persistently they are not imposed on anyone - here students of any confession and religion can study. Students visit the church and the chapel about once a week and on major holidays, but this is more a tribute to tradition and an opportunity to see the origins of English culture, history and mentality. At their request, students can visit other city churches: the Roman Catholic Church of St. Thomas, the Methodist, Reformer, the Quakers' prayer house.

A uniform is accepted, which can be a general business style of clothing. Discipline is quite strict: additional tasks for non-fulfillment of homework or non-observance of the rules are common, and alcohol / drug / cigarette use, humiliation of others and sexual harassment are punished with immediate exception.

In addition to the teaching staff, the student can count on the help of a class teacher and personal curator - individual meetings with them are held every week. A supporting English language course for foreigners (EFL) is offered, and there is also the possibility of teaching students with mild dyslexia.

Students from 13 years of age and older live in a full board in the comfortable residences of the college. Total buildings for housing here are 15 -  for girls, 6 mixed and 6 for boys (mixed are located just in the distance from the central part of the college): these are both Victorian buildings and modern dormitories with all the amenities and designer renovation. Each house is designed for about 60 people, and the total number of boarders reaches 840 people.

For young students there are common rooms for 4-6 people, high school students live for 2-3 people, pupils of graduation classes (16-18 years) occupy private bedrooms. For each house, a qualified educator and his team of assistants are responsible: they monitor the observance of cleanliness, order and discipline, help students solve any household and administrative issues (families of educators also live on campus). In addition, educators are assisted by the elders and prefects, who are appointed personally by the director from the number of successful, responsible students of the senior age.

Board meals are served in the common spacious dining room of Norwood Hall, there are also occasional cafeterias in mixed dormitories. According to recent checks, the diet and variety, the freshness of products at Marlborough College were recognized as the best in the UK! High school students can also use the kitchens in residences, independently prepare their favorite dishes or snacks for tea, using products from the local store.

Senior students are allowed twice in the trimester (on weekends) to leave the school, after lunch to visit Marlborough (with the notification of educators), they also have a small vacation in the middle of each trimester.

Subject list: Art, biology, chemistry, design, drama, geography, Information Technology, maths, music, physical education, physics
Activity list: badminton, basketball, cricket, excursions, football, hockey, netball, rock climbing, rugby, tennis, yoga

In the 9th-10th class, sports training for students is mandatory - in the senior classes they can already manage their own schedule. The opportunities for sports in Marlborough College are unusually wide:

• Rugby;
• Tennis;
• Swimming;
• Cricket;
• Netball;
• Golf;
• Yoga;
• Hockey;
• Polo;
• Athletics;
• Small-caliber rifle shooting;
• Volleyball;
• Lacrosse;
• Cross-country;
• Basketball;
• Squash;
• Fencing;
• Trampoline jumping;
• Aerobics;
• Badminton;
• Dancing;
• Water polo.

Both male and female teams are assembled; Some sports are available only for the season, but most are all year round. School teams participate in competitions both in the county, and at the national and even international level, they win and take prizes.

There is an occupation for the soul and for creatively gifted students - on campus there is a huge number of clubs, sections and circles of interest:

• Scientific societies in various subjects;
• Chess;
• Publication of school magazines;
• Jazz band;
• Production of films;
• Travel in Britain and abroad (France, Germany, Spain);
• Chapel;
• Cinema Science;
• Community of social anthropology;
• Design;
• Hunting (at school they keep their own hounds);
• Contests of short films and photos;
• Chamber choir;
• Art exhibitions;
• Chamber orchestra;
• Shakespeare Society;
• Course of seminars on the history of culture;
• Discussion club;
• Community of Natural History;
• Ceramics and pottery;
• Fishing;
• Symphony Orchestra;
• Poetic society;
• German club;
• Brass band;
• Legal club;
• "Bibliophiles";
• "The drama of the twentieth century";
• String orchestra;
• Bench shooting;
• Russian club;
• Psychology Club;
• Club of Classical Lovers;
• Arabic club;
• Rock bands;
• Philosophy;
• Spanish club and much more.

More than 50% of students are constantly engaged in music and participate in the activities of school groups, many earn scholarships even when enrolling in Oxford and Cambridge (for example, for playing organ or choral singing).

Separately it is necessary to note a special faculty of employment on fresh air where interesting actions, excursions, employment for pupils are constantly organized:

• Rock climbing;
• Diving;
• Mountain biking;
• Canoeing;
• Horseback riding;
• Expeditions of different levels of complexity.

Marlborough College is considered one of the leaders of the UK on the Cadet Movement and one of its founders: annually the United Cadet Corps (CCF) in the college is gaining more than 300 people. For students of 14 years, 1 trimester of lessons in CCF is mandatory.

Students do not lag behind in the fight for the prestigious Prize of the Duke of Edinburgh, they actively participate in charity and volunteer activities. Thus, the gifted musicians of Marlborough College collaborate with the professional orchestra of Southbank Sinfonia and often give charity concerts, seminars and performances.

• 2012 - the 24th place on the results of A-level in the list of "100 best private English schools of joint education".
• Entered the virtual encyclopedia P & A "100 best schools of the world.
• Was awarded a separate publication in the magazine Tatler.

Marlborough College can safely be called an innovative educational institution, a pioneer in many educational endeavors:

• Many unique and advanced educational methods, pedagogical projects;
• College was one of the first to allow girls to study (in 1969, by 1989, completely switched to a system of mixed education);
• One of the first to introduce business courses for students;
• One of the first to teach Chinese and Arabic in the UK;
• Became one of the developers of a unique mathematical course for stuednts - the School Mathematics Project (1961);
• The International Baccalaureate (IB) program, Pre-U and EPQ (professional qualification) programs;
• Works on the creation of an alternative GCSE program together with other outstanding schools in the UK;
• Created an integrated humanitarian course.

The total campus of Marlborough College exceeds 200 acres: it is a picturesque hilly terrain with a huge number of historical, architectural and cultural monuments, with the nearby Kenneth River. One of the first buildings on the territory was a house for noble people, erected in the 17th century - today it is the center of the campus - which surrounds the buildings of the 18-20 centuries, most of which are considered objects of cultural heritage. So, one of the residences was erected on the personal project of Edward Blor (he was the author of projects for Vorontsovsky and Buckingham Palace); one can not help but note the beautiful chapel built in 1886.

The lively, beautiful and ancient town of Marlborough is 120 kilometers from London, but excellent rail links make it easy to get to the capital (about an hour) and the central counties, as well as to the south and west of Britain.

On the territory of Marlborough College reigns a truly university atmosphere - the school administration constantly modernizes and develops it, pouring in substantial funds. There is absolutely everything that students can need at any time:

• Scientific center Medavar with its own conference hall;
• A center for lessons on the Extended Project (using the Harkness method);
• 2 own theaters;
• Special Language center: here are equipped with a cinema hall and projectors in the classrooms, a library, modern language laboratories and interactive whiteboards, audio and video equipment;
• Greenhouses for workshops in the natural sciences, a small own farm;
• Scientific and practical laboratories;
• 4 ultramodern computer labs (with equipment for full color printing, scanning and other services) - they work every day from 8 to 22 hours; Also on each of the faculties (there are 6 of them) have their own computer classes;
• Full coverage of WiFi throughout the territory, own local area network;
• An excellent library with a huge number of electronic and printed sources;
• The Honi Center Art Center, built in 2001, offers modern equipment and studios for music, dramatic and theatrical art, venues for stage performances and performances;
• Modernized in 2005 art school;
• Observatory;
• 11 Rugby Fields;
• 22 cricket grounds;
• 8 courts for netball;
• Indoor pool with 8 lanes (length - 25 meters);
• Indoor fields for badminton, volleyball, basketball;
• 13 tennis courts (hard cover) + 12 courts with professional coating "Astroturf";
• Functional sports and gyms;
• 7 football fields;
• Golf course;
• 4 fields for lacrosse;
• 2 all-weather fields, modernized in 2013: professional coating "Astroturf" makes it possible to train even on hockey or tennis;
• 6 fields for hockey (grass cover);
• 2 volleyball courts;
• Climbing wall;
• Shooting range.

Round the clock on site operates its own medical center with a hospital - a nurse on duty 24/7, a therapist takes every day. Here pupils can get help from a dentist or a physiotherapist, a psychotherapist or a professional sports doctor's service.

The academic year is divided into three terms:

• Autumn - from September 5 to December 13 (vacation October 13-29);
• Spring - from January 3 to March 21 (vacation February 9-18);
• Summer - from April 10 to June 29 (vacation from May 26 to June 3).

Tuition fee already includes:

• Eduaction on the chosen program;
• Accommodation and meals (residence, full board);
• 24-hour child care and guarantee of its safety;
• Basic medical insurance, the help of the school doctor as necessary;
• Regular reports for parents, constant check of a level of knowledge;
• A leisure and excursion program, sports and creative clubs, sections, educational exchanges and trips.

List of services to pay additionally to tuition fee:

• Registration fee;
• Examination Boards;
• Educational deposit;
• Additional academic and language classes (optional): EFL course for foreigners;
• Additional leisure activities and excursions (optional);
• Guardianship (registration with the agency + guardian services);
• Air tickets;
• Transfer;
• Compulsory medical insurance;
• Personal pocket expenses;
• Visa fees and services, translation and certification of documents;
• Consular fee (paid at the Embassy).

Extras:

• Registration fee (for a programme/course) 250 GBP

Most new students are enrolled at Marlborough College at the age of 13 and 16. It should be borne in mind that the school is one of the selective and very carefully approaches the choice of its students: it will be necessary to demonstrate not only a high level of linguistic and academic level, but also a comprehensive development (in sports and creativity as well), an appeasable character and the ability to work in a team, purposefulness and desire to realize their own potential and opportunities. But there is no discrimination: students of any nationality, color, sex and religion can study at Marlborough College.

For those entering the age of 13, it is necessary:

• register for 2-4 years (!)
• provide recommendations from the previous school, characteristics, letters from teachers and directors
• pass the internal testing of the college - a computer test of academic knowledge and 2 personal interviews (conducted in the spring).

Applicants at age 16 (Lower Sixth) are waiting for:

• registration at least 1-1,5 years before the start of studies
• passing the entrance examinations (usually in November, almost a year before enrollment)
• the provision of a GCSE certificate (a minimum of 6 subjects, surrendered not lower than B, including necessarily English and mathematics are mandatory requirements).

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision