Tower College are keen to emphasise that the school is not just for the privileged few: “Everyone, regardless of their background, wants to give their child the best start in life”

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It may not be Hogwarts, but the teachers inside Tower College - with its wood panelled walls and stunning grounds – know how to work their magic on children. As well as achieving yet another outstanding set of GCSE results, we are currently celebrating a string of successes in areas as diverse as music, squash, tennis, the Duke of Edinburgh Award and public speaking.

However staff at Tower College are keen to emphasise that, despite its grand appearance, this private school is not just for the privileged few. “Everyone, regardless of their background, wants to give their child the best start in life and provide a springboard for their future,” says the Vice-Principal Mrs Knox. The school is proud that its achieving pupils come from all walks of life and, while private education doesn’t come cheap, Mrs Knox believes that when it comes to a child’s future, it could be worth making a few sacrifices now.

She believes the reason independent education works for thousands of children throughout the region is that it provides a happy, homely atmosphere where teachers know the pupils well and the small class sizes ensure they receive all the attention they need. It is this environment that has been instrumental in Tower College’s successes.

“We have a happy, secure, family atmosphere in which pupils thrive,” says Principal Miss Rachel Oxley. And she should know, as she was a pupil at Tower College herself, along with her brothers and cousins.

“The school was founded by my parents, Charles and Muriel Oxley, in 1948, and the family atmosphere is still evident; staff members include past pupils and former and current parents. My father’s wish was for the school to have successful pupils in academic work, in sport and in music. My mother just wanted the children to be kind to one another.”

Judging from the school’s recent successes, those wishes have most certainly come true!

www.towercollege.com

Meet the head:

Q) If you hadn’t become a teacher, what would you have done instead?

A) I cannot imagine any other profession that would still be fresh and exciting after 33 years!

Q) Was there any type of school dinner that you couldn’t stand?

A) Anything with broad beans or followed by tapioca!

Q) What were your favourite lessons at school?

A) Religious Education ~ my father was my teacher!

Q) If you were Prime Minister for one day, what’s the first thing you’d do?

A) Separate politics and education. Children are too important to be politician’s guinea pigs.