School Report: Safe, happy and supportive

Colchester High School aims to create a safe, happy and supportive environment in which each individual feels valued and respected and is able to develop into a confident, disciplined and enquiring learner

Colchester High School is Colchester’s only independent school for girls and boys from 2½ to 18 years and provides a caring, friendly and happy environment with small class sizes, experienced and professional teachers and an individualised learning programme. This ensures that each child achieves his or her full potential.

Developing the whole child Well-planned, well-paced lessons, based on clear and precise learning objectives are shared with the pupils. Children are encouraged to think aloud, explaining and questioning their work and developing their own learning skills.

In addition to ensuring academic excellence, Colchester High School firmly believes in the importance of developing the whole child. The school therefore offers a varied and challenging extra-curricular programme of activities and experiences to try to encourage all pupils to try a new sport, learn new skills or contribute to school life, thereby building confidence, well-being and creativity.

The school is located on Wellesley Road, Colchester, giving pupils the benefit of immediate access to a range of excellent local sporting facilities, which allows pupils to participate in a wide range of sports. The use of these specialist facilities, together with the dedication of the school’s dynamic teaching team, has ensured consistent and numerous successes in local, county and national competitions.

Senior scholarships are awarded in art, music, performing arts, science and sports with top performers in the school’s assessments also being invited to sit for academic scholarships.

New Sixth Form Centre The educational offering at Colchester High School has recently been expanded to include A Level studies with the opening of the school’s Sixth Form Centre to the first cohort of students in September 2014.

Located in a beautiful Victorian building in Oxford Road, the Sixth Form Centre boasts a state-of-the-art science laboratory, a bespoke contemporary Common Room and a library and study area, complete with extensive resources to support students in their studies.

The Sixth Form students enjoy a unique experience with many benefits, including small class sizes and a tailored approach to learning. Under the school’s individualised learning approach, a learning programme is prepared for each pupil, setting appropriate targets for progression to create the right amount of challenge, thereby ensuring that the students achieve the best possible grades at A Level.

Colchester High School also offers Sixth Form students a comprehensive enrichment programme which helps expand the students’ horizons and prepare them for the next stage of their lives, whether university or the workplace, and to be leaders of their generation.

The location of the Sixth Form provides students with the freedom to enjoy a more independent collegiate atmosphere while still retaining close contact with the main school and ensuring that they still receive the highest standards of pastoral care, advice and guidance.

Sixth Form scholarships are available and are awarded on the basis of outstanding individual achievement and potential in a specific area. n

Colchester High School

Wellesley Road, Colchester CO3 3HD

01206 573389 (school office)

01206 217116 (admissions)