Windermere School UK

• Founded: in 1863
• Location: Windermere, United Kingdom
• Age of the students: 3-18 years old
• Total number of students: 350 people
• Type of accommodation: residence (boarding house)
• Type of education: mixed
• Language of instruction: English.

Prestigious private boarding school Windermere School UK takes a joint form of training, but otherwise faithfully follows the classic British educational traditions, polished by centuries of successful work. Today, there are about 350 boys and girls who are offered a full educational cycle – from 3 to 18.

The school was founded in 1863: Windermere School UK prides itself on its roots and history, simultaneously without fear of mastering modern technologies, innovative pedagogical approaches and techniques, introducing new curricula and additional subjects.

The school works in the organization Round Square, annually passes a strict check from Independent Schools’ Inspectorate (ISI). The combination of academic, physical, creative and personal development helps the school to receive the highest scores in all main categories, and allows students to study in a comfortable, friendly environment. The motto of Windermere School UK is the phrase "The winner is the one who defeats himself."

Anna Chebotar

Regional Manager CIS

What makes British schools so special for families around the world?

— British Secondary School gives children the opportunity to try different subjects during GCSE programs (high school course for children aged 14-15) and determine the priority direction for themselves when entering the university. Moreover, the certificate of the British school gives the opportunity to enter the most famous and respected universities in the world, including Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, MIT, etc. At the same time, the educational model at secondary schools in England teaches children to think critically, work with information correctly, organize their time, and approach any issues structurally. And, of course, a teacher in England is a friend who helps to maximize the child's potential, work with his strengths. The student is listened to, his opinion is important.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average person spends 87% of their life indoors plus another 6% in a car — that's just 7% of their entire life spent outdoors. Many children spend their school days indoors under fluorescent lights and in front of computers and then return home to spend the evening in front of a television screen.  At Windermere School, the staff is committed to providing the ideal physical and psychological environment for students to avoid the daily sitting in a classroom and instead walk, run, play, study, or simply be outdoors. The Forest School is designed to develop confident children who are well prepared for future education: connecting children to the world around them through a variety of exciting outdoor activities, Forest school reinforces what they learn in class. Teachers and qualified leaders take on the role of facilitator, giving students the freedom to lead their own activities: this allows children to develop imagination, perseverance, communication skills, decision-making skills and self-confidence. 

Typical activities of the Forest School: 

• Physical development: walking, running, climbing trees, stringing a "kebab" of leaves, carrying equipment,
• Mathematics: counting leaves and beetles, measuring branches (longer than an arm, shorter than a finger, etc.), weights heavier and lighter than a stone, searching for different shapes,
• Literacy: the ability to listen, to use beautiful words to describe the area,
• Learning and understanding the world: mixing materials, caring for the environment, observing change,
• Creativity: using your own imagination to create your own resources, boats from driftwood, wooden and rope swings, nature paintings,
• Personal, social, and emotional development: following rules, helping each other.

The Forest School site sits on nearly 20 acres of Lake District landscape that makes up the Elleray Estate. There are small trees and bushes to climb, magical places to hide, places to build a lair, secret passages through the bush and a log circle where you can tell stories, sing songs, and eat toasted marshmallows – all available throughout the year. Preschool and junior high school students take part in outdoor activities every week. The focus is on activities in the forest that begin to develop life skills that are important for children's education: self-awareness, independence, motivation, confidence, empathy, and determination. 

Windermere School has three academic departments, each of which educates students in a specific age group: Elementary, Senior and Sixth Form.

Windermere School international students live in a cozy, well-equipped campus residence. Separate blocks are provided for boys and girls, and the age parameter is taken into account when resettlement. The rooms offer an impressive view of the lake, are equipped with all necessary furniture (bed, a place for independent work, storage of things) and home appliances.

In each residence there lives a senior educator. He follows the observance of cleanliness, order, discipline, helps students solve household, administrative and other issues.

Subject list: Art, biology, chemistry, Civics, computer techologies, design, English literature, geography, history, maths, music, Natural science, physical education, physics

During the academic year, during the week and every weekend, students participate in a variety of activities and trips aimed at improving their lives and their experience of living in the residence. Clubs, sports, music practice, volunteer work are all part of life at Windermere School, and there is plenty of time for students to just relax and be with friends.

Weekends are filled with activities and trips, many of which day students are also invited to. Cycling, climbing, walking, and movie nights are all favourites, depending on the time of year, the school organises trips to the town of Windermere to visit the local Christmas market, go ice skating or head to the local beach for boating.

On a regular basis, a wide range of handicraft workshops, numerous sports, and games are offered. Evening entertainment – discos, barbecues, quizzes, movie nights and karaoke – are also regular, everyone can join in the fun and games.  

Off-campus activities can range from going to the cinema to bowling or ice skating, visiting an exciting theme park, or attending a Premier League football game. Sometimes visiting teachers in special skills, such as music or dance, visit the campus to deliver individual or group classes.  For example, the Scottish Flute Trio hosted a flute weekend, Richard Ingham recently held a jazz weekend, and previously Deborah Catterall, coach of the National Youth Choir, inspired singing enthusiasts. For pupils, there are trips to concerts and other musical events: Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, Music Live at NEC Birmingham, international music tours to Barcelona and Venice are just some of the possibilities for music lovers.

Sport is an integral aspect of a healthy lifestyle at Windermere: the programme of sports activities includes team sports, coaching sessions, sports days and tours. Team training and classes are held on a wide range of sports activities and are adapted to the needs of different age groups. The main competitive sports are netball, ice hockey, football, tennis, cricket and athletics, which provide regular opportunities for competition. Support is provided to many students participating in the program at the district level and beyond.   Horse riding is offered as a recreational activity, but the school supports many students who compete internationally in this sport. For high school students, national and international sports tours are organized: over the years, students have enjoyed competing in Barbados, South Africa, Spain and France.

Extracurricular activities, as well as in the process of academic training, are taught:

• Dramatic Art,
• Speech lessons,
• Performing Arts,
• Technical Roles in Performing Arts: Stage Lighting, Prop Making, Backstage Management,
• Fine Arts: painting, design, postcard making, and other types.

Windermere School is stunningly situated in a UNESCO World Heritage Site: England’s Lake District National Park. The rugged beauty of the landscape not only makes for an inspiring educational setting but enables students to make use of what surrounds them. The School boasts its own RYA (Royal Yachting Association) accredited watersports centre and boathouse on the shores of Lake Windermere. The School has been awarded British Youth Sailing Recognised Club status for its race training and is the only school in the UK to hold this accreditation.

The school is located in the central part of the large Lake District reserve: the city of Windermere is located 4 hours drive from London, in a calm, green countryside.

The school campus of Windermere School UK is located on the shore of a beautiful quiet lake: children like to walk along the coast, often engage in water sports - canoeing, Kayaks, yachts, swimming, active games.

The total campus area reaches 100 acres - there is absolutely everything that pupils can need for living, studying, resting and leisure :

• Water Sports Center;
• Own Concert Hall;
• Modern Sports complex;
• Study and Residential Buildings;
• Open athletic fields and track and field;
• Functional scientific laboratories;
• Theater Studio;
• Extensive Library;
• Computer labs and much more.

The cost of training in Windermere School varies depending on the chosen training program and the preferred housing.

Some services are paid additionally to tuition fee:

• Transfer to Liverpool or Manchester airports;
• Transfer to Liverpool or Manchester airports outside the established days;
• Preparing for IELTS (available in the fall and summer trimester);
• Additional course "English as a foreign language" (+10 lessons per term);
• Language support and additional intensive English language course (+2 lessons per week);
• Registration fee;
• Educational deposit;
• Round trip tickets;
• Visa fees and expenses, translation and certification, courier delivery of documents;
• Consular fee (payable at the Embassy);
• Personal pocket expenses;
• Mandatory health insurance;
• Custody ( Registrar In the agency + guardian services).

Extras:

• Transfer (one way) 150 GBP
• Registration fee (for a programme/course) 50 GBP
• Deposit for a course/programme 2000 GBP

The admission procedure to Windermere School consists of several stages:

• Arrival at the campus for trial days if possible and desired,
• Submission of the application with the required documents,
• Payment of the registration fee,
• Receiving a positive response from the admissions office, with the help of which you can apply for a visa,
• Passing tests in English and mathematics, interviews,
• Receiving an official letter of admission,
• Making a deposit to book a seat in a class, residence,
• Arrival on campus, accommodation in residence and start of training.

In the last two years, 95% of Sixth Form students have gained access to the university of their choice, and 69% of IBDP students have gone on to study at Russell Group institutions.

To date, 68% of schoolchildren have immediately secured places in prestigious universities, such as Sheffield, Edinburgh, Leeds, and Nottingham.

The Admissions Committee needs a report card from the previous place of training (estimates for the last 2-3 years). Applicants will have to take math and English tests (if the academic performance was excellent, no additional exams are assigned, but other subject tests are possible), and also have a personal interview-(by Skype or phone).

Windermere School encourages students who have distinctive abilities in learning, sports, creativity, service to the community by providing scholarship programs that cover up to 75% of the program's cost. Financial support is provided to families who, under normal circumstances, might not consider a Windermere school for their child for financial reasons.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision