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Ellesmere College

United Kingdom, Ellesmere

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees £16,002 - 49,104
Ages 7 - 18 years
Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 1884
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum, IB (DP), BTEC Qualification
Taught languages French, Spanish, German, Latin
Strengths Academic Enrichment, Sport, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Located in Shropshire, Ellesmere College is a co-educational boarding and day school for ages 7–18. The curriculum blends the British system with the International Baccalaureate Diploma and a BTEC Sport route alongside A-Levels. The school is structured into Lower School (Years 3–8), Middle School (Years 9–11) and Sixth Form (Years 12–13). Academic support is provided through an Academic Enrichment Programme, High Performance Learning and Support for Learning, with languages including French, Spanish and Latin. The campus spans 160 acres with Blocks for English, History and Media; another for Business, Economics and Politics; a Science Block; and spaces for Art, Design Technology, ICT and Music. Facilities include an Arts Centre, Theatre, Library and Reading Room; sports spaces, a 25m pool, sportshall, all-weather pitch, tennis, netball, a 9-hole golf course, and archery/shooting ranges. Co-curriculars include Debating, MUN, drama, choir, Duke of Edinburgh and Leadership pathways; sport academies and overseas trips.

Ellesmere College, Shropshire, SY12 9AB, United Kingdom

The Essentials

Ellesmere College has instruction in English.

Location
The College is set in the Shropshire countryside in the market town of Ellesmere. The campus covers about 160 acres and provides outdoor spaces and sporting facilities. It has UK students and an international cohort representing over 30 nationalities.

Stages
Lower School (7-13 years); Middle School (13-16 years); Sixth Form (16-18 years). The Sixth Form is hugely successful and provides a platform for pupils to develop leadership, communication and employability skills alongside their academic and co-curricular programmes.

Type
The school is a co-educational boarding and day school.

Pupil Nationality Mix
UK students and a wide international cohort representing over 30 nationalities.

Additional learning support
Support for Learning is available, including dyslexia and related conditions, and the College is a CReSTeD category DU school.

Religious affiliation
Christian

School day structure
Lunch is staggered by year group: Lower School starts at 12:30 and Senior School at 13:10, with the evening meal from 17:45 to 18:40.

Bus service
A School Bus Transport service is provided with published timetables for routes across Shropshire and neighboring areas, and airport transfers are available.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Boarding is on-site in dedicated houses with Housemasters and Housemistresses supporting younger and new students. Rooms are mostly single and twin, with en-suite options; there are common rooms and a study area, and Wi-Fi is available throughout. Residential staff are on site 24 hours a day, weekly boarding is available, and Middle School boarders live in St Aidan's (girls) and St Patrick's/St Cuthbert's (boys) while Sixth Form boarders live in St Oswald's/St Hilda's (girls) and St Luke's/St Bede's (boys).

Uniform Requirement
The College uniform is supplied by School Shop Direct of Shrewsbury, with an on-site shop located next to The Terraces Tuck Shop and adjacent to the top sports field. Uniform can be purchased in-store at the College or in Shrewsbury, online or by telephone. Second-hand uniform is available via the College.

Food Options
The College provides hot meals at breakfast, lunch and dinner for all students, including weekends; the large dining area is the social hub of the school. Catering facilities exist within each boarding house, and dietary requirements or allergies can be accommodated by indicating them in advance on the medical form.

House System
Students are members of one of four traditional Competitive Houses: Meynell, Talbot, Wakeman-Lambart and Woodard, with inter-house competitions in drama, debating, music and sport. Each pupil is also allocated to a Boarding House—Middle School boarders live in St Aidan's (girls) and St Patrick's/St Cuthbert's (boys); Sixth Form boarders live in St Oswald's/St Hilda's (girls) and St Luke's/St Bede's (boys).

Governance and Ownership
An active Board of Governors provides strategic direction across Ellesmere College and Ellesmere College International. The Chair of Governors is Mr Charles Lillis (Custos), who leads the team that meets at least once per term to discuss and make major decisions.
Fees

Annual tuition at Ellesmere College ranges from GBP 16,002 to GBP 49,104 for 2026/27.

Registration & Deposits
- Registration fee: GBP 120 (non-returnable) payable at registration.
- Guarantee deposit: GBP 200, required on receipt of a formal offer; this amount is deducted from the first term invoice.
- Returnable deposit (invoiced on the first term account and refunded on the final invoice when a pupil leaves): UK pupils GBP 500; EU pupils GBP 2,000; other international pupils GBP 9,000.

Tuition fees by age / year group (termly and annual amounts)
- Upper School (Ages 13–19, School Years 9–13):
- Full boarders: Termly gross fee GBP 16,368 (Termly net GBP 13,640; VAT GBP 2,728). Annual gross = GBP 49,104.
- Weekly boarders: Termly gross fee GBP 11,556 (Termly net GBP 9,630; VAT GBP 1,926). Annual gross = GBP 34,668.
- Day pupils: Termly gross fee GBP 7,740 (Termly net *GBP 6,450; VAT *GBP 1,290). Annual gross = GBP 23,220. (See applied-award note below.)
- Lower School (Ages 7–13):
- Day pupils Years 6–8: Termly gross fee GBP 6,186 (Termly net GBP 5,155; VAT GBP 1,031). Annual gross = GBP 18,558.
- Day pupils Years 3–5: Termly gross fee GBP 5,334 (Termly net GBP 4,445; VAT GBP 889). Annual gross = GBP 16,002.
- Compulsory school lunch (charged separately, VAT-exempt): Years 3–8 GBP 280 per term (annual GBP 840); Years 9–13 GBP 380 per term (annual GBP 1,140).
- Asterisk / award note for senior day pupils: where a senior-school day pupil has been granted an award, such awards are applied against the full rate and the applied (net) amount is GBP 6,450 per term.

Boarding & occasional boarding fees
- Full boarding and weekly boarding are covered in the tuition figures above (see Upper School full and weekly boarder fees).
- Occasional & weekly boarding options (separate charges):
- Occasional boarding (maximum two nights per week, no guarantee of same bed): Years 7–8 GBP 50.40 per night; Years 9–13 GBP 60 per night.
- 3 nights per week option: GBP 2,862 per term.
- 4–5 nights per week (weekly boarding-style option): GBP 3,816 per term.

Charges for English-language support, learning support and private tuition
- EAL (exempt from VAT) – per term:
- 2 lessons/week: GBP 655; 3 lessons: GBP 940; 4 lessons: GBP 1,210; 5 lessons: GBP 1,430; 6 lessons: GBP 1,675.
- Support for Learning (termly charges):
- One-to-one: 1 lesson/week GBP 618; 2 lessons GBP 1,200; 3 lessons GBP 1,746; 4 lessons GBP 2,266 per term.
- Group sessions: 1 lesson/week GBP 438; 2 lessons GBP 797; 3 lessons GBP 1,162; 4 lessons GBP 1,476 per term.
- Private music lessons (minimum commitment ten lessons per term): 10 private lessons GBP 391 per term; hire of college instrument GBP 120 per term. Other private tuition (tennis, hockey, etc.) typically charged at GBP 9–40 per lesson. Weekly activities/CCF/expeditions: GBP 66 per term (GBP 48 per term in Lower School).

Extra / occasional charges and the billing schedule
- Extras such as transport (buses, taxis), trips, some books, school photographs and external exam fees are charged in the term after they occur. The school's extras may be significant in Sixth Form.
- A full term's written notice to the Head on or before the first day of term is required to remove a pupil; failure to give that notice means no refund will be made for fees already paid for the remainder of that term. Returnable deposit is refunded on the final invoice after a pupil leaves.

Immigration / visa fees (where applicable)
- Immigration surcharge fee applied when the school arranges sponsorship: 1-year ISF GBP 595 (added to the initial deposit invoice to generate the CAS); 2-year ISF Year 1 GBP 595 (initial invoice) and Year 2 GBP 300 (added to the Michaelmas invoice at the start of Year 2). Refunds of visa application fees are subject to UKVI processing rules; fees are refunded only if UKVI has not begun processing the application.

Refunds and notice of withdrawal
- Registration fee: non-returnable. Guarantee deposit: deducted from first term invoice. Returnable deposit: refunded on the final invoice after a pupil leaves. A term's written notice to the Head on or before the first day of term is required to terminate the contract; no refund will be made for the remainder of the term if notice is not given as required. Extras are charged in the term after they occur.

Payment options and payment terms
- Standard billing schedule: school fees are payable by the first day of each term unless fees are paid in advance or the family is enrolled in the College Direct Debit Scheme. Monthly instalments are possible via the College Direct Debit Scheme. Extras are billed termly in arrears.
- Accepted payment methods: bank transfer (bank details on the fee invoice), cheque (payable to ‘Ellesmere College Ltd'), debit/credit card (secure online card payment option), and direct debit schemes (three schemes offered at no additional cost). Cash payments are not accepted. Payment queries are handled by the Finance Office.

Other practical notes on charges
- All fees are inclusive of VAT unless specifically stated otherwise; certain services (EAL, compulsory lunches) are VAT-exempt as indicated. Extras (private tuition, trips, exam fees) are additional and billed separately. Extras will be charged in the term after they take place.
Academics

Ellesmere College teaches British Curriculum, IB (DP), BTEC Qualification for students aged 7 to 18.

Curriculum
The school offers an enhanced curriculum that includes the International Baccalaureate (IB) alongside conventional A levels. A BTEC Sport route sits alongside A-Levels for those who know their career path. The curriculum is structured across Lower School (Years 3–8), Middle School (Years 9–11) and Sixth Form (Years 12–13). Academic support is provided through an Academic Enrichment Programme, High Performance Learning (HPL) and Support for Learning to help every student. There are opportunities to study languages such as French, Spanish and Latin, and the curriculum emphasizes field trips and overseas opportunities.

Exam Results
A-level pass rate is 98%, with many Ellesmere students securing places at top universities in the UK and overseas. GCSE results in 2025 show an 83% pass rate and 31% of grades in the top 9–7 range.

Higher Education Progression
Over 85% of Ellesmere students gain their first-choice university place, including Oxford, Cambridge and Russell Group institutions.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Wellbeing is at the heart of pupil development and emotional literacy is developed to build resilience. The wellbeing provision is delivered by the nursing team, with a Mental Health Lead coordinating mental health support. Staff work with individual students to help them understand and manage their emotions and cope with challenging times. The school maintains strong links with families and collaborates with external agencies when needed to support wellbeing. Pupils receive practical guidance on looking after mental health through six key ways, and are signposted to wider mental health resources. Useful contacts and resources include Parent Kind, BeeU, Young Minds, Anna Freud National Centre for Children & Families, Place2Be, Papyrus, and NHS guidance.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Support for Learning is available on a temporary or permanent basis for pupils experiencing difficulty with a particular area of the curriculum. Pupils do not need to have an identifiable learning barrier to benefit from support lessons. The provision is tailored to individual needs with particular expertise in supporting dyslexia and related conditions such as dyspraxia and dyscalculia. The College is a CReSTeD category LSC school. For dyslexic pupils, lessons may be timetabled in place of French to fit the pupil's curriculum. Support for Learning lessons are charged as an extra to the school fees.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English Language Support is provided for international students to develop English beyond basic communication. Specialist teachers work closely with students who need to increase their English level quickly, with small-group classes to develop speaking, listening, reading and writing. In some cases, small-group sessions may replace some mainstream lessons if staff believe it will benefit the pupil. IELTS preparation is offered with group and one-to-one tuition for Years 12 and 13; a proficient level for study at Ellesmere is typically A or B+.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental health is regarded as everyone's business and a core part of well-being. The wellbeing provision is led by the nursing team, with a Mental Health Lead coordinating the program. Staff work with pupils to support them through challenging times and to develop strategies to manage their emotions. The school provides a range of resources and connections to external services, including Parent Kind, BeeU, Young Minds, Anna Freud National Centre for Children & Families, Place2Be, Papyrus, NHS guidance, and other reputable sources. Pupils are encouraged to engage with the six key ways to look after their mental health.

Safeguarding
Every pupil should feel safe and protected from any form of abuse. The College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all members of the community to share this commitment. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone's responsibility. The Child Protection policy can be accessed through the college's safeguarding documents. To report a concern, email safeguarding@ellesmere.com. In an emergency, contact the police by dialing 999; NSPCC and Childline provide additional support via 0808 800 5000 and 0800 1111 respectively.
Parent Experience

History
The foundation stone of Ellesmere College, formerly St. Oswald's School, was laid on St. Oswald's Day, August 5, 1879, and the school opened on the same date in 1884. The founder was Canon Nathaniel Woodard, who began a chain of Woodard Foundation Schools, starting with Lancing College in Sussex. The land on which the College sits was provided by Lord Brownlow, whose wife laid the foundation stone. The school began with 70 boys and four masters and was organized into three parts: a grammar school, Servitors' School and Training School for Masters. A fire destroyed the chapel and dining hall in 1966, and they were reopened in 1969.

Community
Ellesmere has a community built on friendship. The campus sits in the Shropshire countryside and includes UK and international pupils representing over 30 nationalities. Over 40% of the community are boarders, with options for day, weekly or full boarding. ECPS, the Ellesmere College Parents' Society, arranges a range of events and activities throughout the year, with monthly meetings in term time to involve families and support school life. Macmillan Coffee Morning is hosted by the ECPS and brings staff, pupils and families together to raise funds for charity.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
ECPS is an inclusive non-profit society run by volunteer parents. Its aim is to foster a supportive, engaged environment and strengthen connections between families and school life. All parents, guardians and carers of Ellesmere pupils are automatically members; ex-parents are honorary members and can join an ECPS Alumni group. Meetings are held monthly in term-time, with the AGM incorporated into the last meeting in the Summer Term. ECPS arranges a variety of events and activities throughout the year, including Macmillan Coffee Morning, Winter Ball, Christmas wreath-making, Burns Night Supper, Easter Creativity Workshop, Charity Bake Sale and Ladies' Lunch, and also supports pupils at music and drama productions. Dates for meetings and events are circulated termly and published on the ECPS WhatsApp group; follow ECPS on Instagram at ellesmerecollege.ps for updates.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Ellesmere College campus covers approximately 160 acres in Shropshire. New Block houses English, History and Media, while a second New Block houses Business, Economics and Politics. A Science Block provides Chemistry and Biology facilities, and dedicated spaces exist for Art and Design Technology, Music and Modern Foreign Languages. The campus includes an Arts Centre and Theatre, a Library and dining facilities, with spaces for general learning and performance across the site. The grounds include extensive sports and other specialist spaces to support the school's broad programme.

Sports Facilities
Ellesmere College Sports Centre offers on-site facilities for both competitive sport and fitness, with access before and after school and during holidays. The facilities include a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, a sportshall, a cardio/weights area in the gym, squash courts and outdoor provision such as an all-weather pitch, tennis and netball courts and a 9-hole golf course. There are also indoor and outdoor shooting ranges and an indoor archery range. The school supports a wide co-curricular sport programme with extensive coaching and fixtures across many activities.

Academic Facilities
Classrooms in the Lower School are spacious and well-equipped, with a dedicated ICT room and a refurbished Reading Room to support reading for pleasure. Across English, Mathematics, Science, Languages, Art and Design, Drama, Information Technology and Music, teaching is delivered by specialist staff. In Years 7 and 8, language study includes French, Spanish and Latin, alongside Design Technology and other core subjects taught by subject specialists. The curriculum is complemented by resources and spaces such as dedicated ICT facilities and the Reading Room to foster independent, enquiry-based learning. The campus houses a Science Block for Chemistry and Biology and additional spaces for Design Technology, Art, ICT, Music and Physical Education.

Extra Curricular Facilities
A wide range of co-curricular sports is offered, including archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket, cross country, golf, netball, table tennis, tennis and swimming. The PSG Academy UK partnership provides a football pathway on site, and the Tennis Academy offers academy-standard coaching and facilities. Drama, music and performance life are active, with ensembles, choirs and recitals, and optional individual instrumental tuition. Additional clubs and activities complement the academic programme, spanning sports, creative and performing arts, and other interests.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Academic Enrichment is a core part of Ellesmere College. The Debating Society develops students' research and analytical skills and the programme extends to Europe for Model United Nations conferences. Debating and MUN are integral to Academic Enrichment and strengthen critical thinking and communication. These activities connect with academic subjects to broaden students' educational development.

Arts & Creative
Arts form a central part of daily life at Ellesmere College. Regular performances occur in the UK, with a biennial drama tour to the USA and an annual choir tour in Europe. The drama program includes LAMDA qualifications, offered through the arts programme.

Cultural & Language
Debating is a key cultural activity and includes participation in the Model United Nations Conference in Europe. Language development is supported by an International Immersion Programme, including short-term immersion programmes for school groups to improve English proficiency. These activities provide opportunities for cross-cultural exchange and communication.

Social & Hobbies
Social and hobby life includes a broad range of clubs and activities. Examples include Chess Club, Photography, Arts Award, Drama Club, Choir and Orchestra. The Co-Curricular programme also emphasizes singing, dancing, acting and debating as part of student life.

Community & Service
The Duke of Edinburgh Award is widely pursued at Ellesmere College. Combined Cadet Force provides additional leadership and service experiences. Other community-based volunteering opportunities are part of the co-curricular programme.

Leadership & Professional
Leadership and Employability offers pathways to develop leadership and professional skills. The programme includes Debating, The Arts, Lamda, ILM qualifications, Extended Project Qualification, DofE, English Speaking Board Exams and Sports Leaders Award, among others.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Ellesmere provides an extensive sports programme across the year. There is an on-site golf course with access to local clubs, and both girls and boys participate in competitive and recreational sport, including house matches and fixtures.
Languages

Language Provision
French, German, Spanish and Latin are taught. In Lower School, French is taught in Years 3–6, with Spanish and Latin added in Years 7–8 while continuing French. At Sixth Form, Languages B & Ab Initio (IB) and Languages / MFL (French, German and Spanish) are available, and Latin & Classics are offered at A-Level or IB. English as an Additional Language (EAL) is provided with small-group support, and IELTS preparation is offered for Years 12–13.

Immersion Programs
Short-Term Immersion Programmes for school groups. Language development is a focus, with English proficiency improved through immersive learning and daily communication. Each group must be accompanied by two staff from their school to supervise students. Provisional bookings for the 2026/27 academic year are available.
Reputation

Awards
Scholarships, exhibitions and awards; means-tested bursaries

Accreditations
HMC, AFEC, ISC, ACE, APA, HPL, BSA, BAISIS, PSG Academy UK
Admissions

Admissions
1. School Visit: Open Day or a personal visit with the Admissions Office; a tour of the school and a chance to meet the Headmaster and senior staff; about 1.5 hours. 2. Registration: A registration form is included with the prospectus; it should be completed before an exam assessment is taken. 3. Taster Day: An individual day in school with lessons of interest to the visiting pupil; for boarders, an overnight visit can be arranged. 4. Place Offer: A place is offered subject to exam performance and school references. The Academic Entrance Exam is held on the first Saturday in February; late applicants may be examined after this date. Common Entrance candidates are examined on the date set by the Independent Schools Exam Board. 5. Scholarships & Bursaries: Academic Scholarships are awarded based on performance in the College Entrance Exam or, for Common Entrance, in the separate Common Entrance Scholarship Exam. Sport, Music and Performing Arts scholarships are assessed via a practical assessment and supporting documentary evidence and references. 6. Applications for Scholarships & Bursaries: Applications are considered throughout the year; early applications are encouraged as demand is high. The bursary process is administered by BAL; families must register and the admissions team will issue the bursary form; the application is submitted to BAL and supported evidence is uploaded via a secure portal; BAL interview(s) may be conducted by telephone or Zoom, and a report is sent to the School for Governors' consideration and a final decision. Notes: For all International Students an interview is part of the entry requirements, along with Maths and English examinations. All Lower School candidates attend a taster day. Years 6–9 must sit the College entrance exam; Years 3–5 sit tests in class. Sixth Form candidates do not sit an entrance exam and receive a conditional offer based on GCSE results; Sixth Form students applying for an academic scholarship attend an interview with the Head of Sixth Form. The Admissions Office can be contacted for further guidance.

Scholarships
The College offers a broad Scholarships and Bursaries programme. A wide range of scholarships, exhibitions and awards are available, plus means-tested bursaries to supplement these awards. An Application Form and a Scholarship Guidance Booklet are available to help families choose the right award. The programme includes both non means-tested and means-tested awards, with typical awards described in the guidance. Non means-tested scholarship awards are limited and usually amount to about 10%–20% of school fees. Scholarships and Exhibitions may be combined with other awards, but the total combined award should not exceed 25% when considering OE (Overseas/Other) or Sibling discounts. The main categories are:
- Academic Scholarships (award-based on performance in the College Entrance Exam or the Common Entrance Scholarship Exam) and Exhibition/Other Academic Awards (including Regional Schools Scholarships such as the Jebb Scholarship and All Round Award Scholarships).
- Arts and Humanities Scholarships (Music Scholarships, Organ Scholarships, Drama Scholarships, Art Scholarships) and related awards (Woodard Award, Woodard Foundation Award – note: some awards are closed).
- Music and Organ Scholarships; Schulze Organ Award; and related awards listed in the Scholarship Guidance Booklet.
- Sports Scholarships (Cricket, Football, Golf, Rugby, Shooting, Swimming, Tennis, All Round Sports Scholarships) and related awards.
- Other sources of bursary assistance (means-tested) and the Armed Forces Covenant scholarship.
- BAL-administered bursaries for means-tested financial support, with annual reassessment of parental circumstances. Means-tested bursaries may be supplemented by external trusts where applicable, as detailed in the guidance.
- Regional and other specific awards (e.g., Regional Schools Scholarships) and the possibility of combined awards with restrictions (maximum 25% total when combined with OE/sibling discounts).
An Application Form is available for those wishing to apply for scholarships, along with the Scholarship Guidance Booklet, which outlines eligibility, award types, and review processes. External sources and further information about bursaries can be discussed with the Admissions team as part of the application process.
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