International Students

Ashbourne is one of the best private high schools in London and has been delivering highly successful A level courses for more than 35 years.

The college attracts students from all over the world, with the majority from the UK, making Ashbourne a diverse and vibrant place to learn.

Our students consistently achieve outstanding results, 54% A*A (2022-23), and around 60% then go on to Russell Group universities such as Imperial, UCL, Oxford and Cambridge.

Ashbourne’s success is truly a credit to our ambitious, determined and hard working students and the dedication, expertise and professionalism of our teachers and staff.

Ashbourne is different from traditional schools. We embrace a friendly, informal but disciplined approach to education, much like a university.

The exceptional levels of individual support, choice and flexibility we provide help build the confidence and skills needed to attain the highest grades and achieve personal and academic goals.

The college was rated outstanding in all areas by Ofsted (the UK government’s inspectorate of schools and colleges) in 2021 and is placed in the top 5% of UK schools and colleges that offer A levels as a result of the level of performance improvement we achieve, or ‘value added’.

Throughout their time at the college students will work closely with teachers, Personal Tutors and the Director of Studies to monitor and discuss their academic performance and progress.

Being part of the Ashbourne Community means students will receive comprehensive support to make sure they feel secure and confident whilst studying at the college.

Everyone is expected to play their part in making the college a safe and dynamic place to learn. Mutual respect, tolerance and collaboration reflect the grown-up approach to education.

Each A level student is assigned a Personal Tutor who will guide and support them throughout their time at the college. This includes expert, one-to-one guidance on the entire university (UCAS) application process.

Students are on first-name basis with their teachers and take lessons in small groups, usually fewer than 10. This creates an ideal environment to explore and test out ideas and develop critical independent thinking. Teachers are also able to provide lots of individual attention and set more assignments.

Ashbourne offers far more teaching hours for each course than is typical. This allows students to cover all the material and have plenty of time at the end for revision. Students are offered extensive support outside the classroom through weekly Personal Tutor sessions, subject-specific clinics, support classes and peer group mentoring.

Ashbourne offers a comprehensive English language programme for international students so they can confidently undertake their academic studies and attain the language proficiency required for all UK universities. Students are timetabled 2 hours per week in a group from the start of year 12.

• Interactive sessions which prepare students for success in all four sections of the IELTS test: Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing.

• Preparation to ensure students can access the highest possible band scores required by the most competitive UK universities, also enabling students to meet specific Visa requirements where needed.

• Students improve their academic English skills, including essay writing, using clear expression in English, improving grammar and spelling and developing the sophistication of their language to access the highest bands across a range of A level subjects.

• Exposure to a range of different reading and listening sources relating to a variety of different topics, allowing students to improve their general knowledge around British culture – from science and nature to politics and the arts.

• Option for one-to-one English support sessions, providing a crash course in academic English, for success in IELTS as well as ensuring students have the best possible chance of achieving the highest grades in their A level subjects.

• Lunchtime English conversation club which provides students with opportunities to practise their English speaking skills, gain confidence in speaking in English, and of course to make friends.

Ashbourne offers specialist university programmes designed to give students the best possible chance of getting onto competitive courses such as Medicine, Engineering, Finance and related courses and entry to Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

Ashbourne offers an array of clubs, activities and events providing a great opportunity for students to make friends, explore new areas and develop skills.

The Ashbourne Revue, which is a spectacular showcase of student talent, is a real highlight for most students (and staff). The annual European Trip is another favourite as are some of the clubs including the Ashbourne Allstars football team, Bollywood dancing, finance club, Model United Nations and Creative Writing.

Ashbourne attracts students from all over the world making the college a vibrant, diverse and exciting place to learn. Hear what some of our internationals students have to say about their experiences of studying at Ashbourne and living in London.

Please contact Ashbourne’s friendly Admissions team on [email protected], call +44 (0) 20 7937 3858 or complete the enquiry form below.