The College is conveniently located 40 minutes from London Heathrow Airport and is close to the major railway and motorway networks, with easy links to Reading, London and Oxford. Flexi, weekly and full boarding is available from Year 9 (age 13). The first intake of girls at Year 9 will be in September 2025. Every pupil is placed at the heart of Shiplake life and the College’s ethos is underpinned by what is referred to as the Three Is – Inclusive, Individual and Inspirational.
Inclusive, Individual, InspirationalWith a greater focus on academic rigour in recent years, it is no surprise that the College continues to achieve a year-on-year improvement in GCSE and A-level examination results. There is a wide range of A-level and BTEC subjects available, with all SixthFormers also undertaking an additional UCAS-points earning qualification as part of a bespoke PULSE (Personal Understanding, Learning Skills and Enrichment)programme. Leavers secure places at a variety of leading institutions, including Oxbridge and IvyLeague universities, with 41% of leavers going to Russell Group destinations in 2023.
The majority of pupils joinShiplake in Year 7 (11+), Year 9 (13+) or Year 12 (16+) but occasionally places are available in other year groups. Shiplake College does not select on the grounds of academic ability alone. Applications are welcome from all pupils who have the potential to make the most of the wealth of opportunities that Shiplake can offer.
In addition to a strong academic foundation, the College offers excellent sporting, artistic and co-curricular opportunities. Two afternoons are reserved for an array of clubs and activities, including a comprehensive outdoor education programme, with pupils encouraged to extend their horizons and experience new challenges and responsibilities. Shiplake has a formidable reputation for sports, particularly in rowing and rugby. Other major sports include football, hockey, cricket and tennis. Training takes place on three afternoons a week, Saturday mornings.
A Transformational EducationThe Headmaster, Mr Tyrone Howe, states “A Shiplake College education is transformational. We are a selective school, but welcome a broad range of academic abilities. What is far more important is the sort of person you are. And what excites us is the sort of person you can become.
A broad curriculum offers opportunities for all, while outstanding facilities provide an abundance of co-curricular activities– Shiplake provides a truly holistic education. Above all, rigour lies at the heart of everything we do and our focus is on adding value to every single pupil. Our fuel is ambition and aspiration, and the commitment to always seek improvement. This is a school in which the little things matter and from which great things can be achieved. It’s cool to care and try hard.
The central pillars of Shiplake are its core values, the Three I’s, ‘Inclusive, individual, and inspirational’. This is our DNA and gives us direction, provides cohesion, and fosters a genuine sense of mission. We are a family and look after each other, the well-being of both pupils and staff is paramount. Every person matters.
Our setting is beautiful and uplifting. Who else can boast lunch in the Great Hall while watching our world-classrowers train on the Thames. But it is the people who provide the magic and create Shiplake’s authentic and unique culture.
When you walk through our doors you will be greeted by warm smiles and exuberant waggy tails. Come and visit us and experience the magic for yourself.”
International AdmissionsShiplake College welcomes applications from international students across the globe. Our international pupils, which included British and non-British students resident abroad, represent approximately 5% of the current school population. International applications are permitted into all year groups and are normally for a minimum of one year. Our international pupils soon become fully integrated into Shiplake’s inclusive and welcoming environment. Pupils for whom English is an additional language are offered specialist tuition to improve their verbal and written communication. This is essential to excel in the British education system. However, all pupils must have a reasonable level of fluency upon arrival at Shiplake and therefore all non-native English speakers are assessed as part of the interview process and again upon their arrival at the College to ensure that we can offer the appropriate provision for their needs.
Please go to www.shiplake.org.uk/admissions for further details about the assessment process, admissions timelines and details of our scholarship and bursaries available.
Our latest inspection in May 2022 showed that we meet all the standards in the Regulatory Compliance and that both achievement and personal development have been judged as ‘excellent’. Go to www.shiplake.org.uk/ inspection to read the full report.
_____________________ Mrs Esther Pasmore, Admissions Registrar, registrar@shiplake.org.uk www.shiplake.org.ukX/ Twitter: @ShiplakeCollege Instagram: @ShiplakeCollege Threads: @ShiplakeCollege Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shiplakecollege LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/school/shiplakecollege YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/shiplakecollegeofficial TikTok: @ShiplakeCollege
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