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Parents strive to provide the best possible opportunities for their children, and selecting the right school lays a crucial foundation for their future success. But what exactly makes a school excellent? To ensure families make informed decisions, Box Hill School, located in the beautiful Surrey Hills, just 40 minutes away from central London, is providing the answer — seven, to be exact.
1) Strong values
Box Hill School is a founding member of Round Square, a global organisation with over 230 schools in 50 countries. They are strongly committed to quality education built around six pillars, otherwise referred to as their IDEALS: International Understanding, Democracy, Environmental Stewardship, Adventure, Leadership and Service.
With the school’s strong values and ethos, students reap the benefits of its transformative impact in a world-class learning environment. Here, they are encouraged to learn, grow, question, lead and become more, under the guidance of dedicated house parents, personal tutors and their friends.
2) Personal bests and respect
Acting Head – Hayley Robinson, encourages students to strive for their personal best while fostering a culture of mutual respect and understanding. Ensuring both involves workshops, a cohesive assembly rota, an extensive co-curricular programme, and more.
Here, students can explore their interests and passions in their spare time, thanks to the school’s extensive co-curricular programme of over 60 options. “There has been a multitude of programmes I could talk about; however, one that stood out to me was the syndicate programme,” shares Gesi, an IB student from Sierra Leone. “This initiative offered me a unique perspective on leadership, expanding my understanding beyond mere actions or behaviours towards others.”
A third of Box Hill School’s student body represents over 30 countries, providing a rich tapestry of cultures, perspectives and experiences. Source: Box Hill School
3) Championing the importance of teamwork
Box Hill School takes teamwork development to the next level by immersing sixth-formers in real-world opportunities — like ongoing projects within their in-house marketing department. In fact, students were actually behind the school’s brand identity, showcasing their commendable creativity. Learners are often tasked to create content, too, offering valuable insights to their peers while flexing their communication skills. They run weekly meetings to discuss marketing and content strategies for their school.
4) High standards and effective communication
From admissions to graduation, Box Hill School constantly communicates with stakeholders, parents and teachers regarding students’ progress and needs. Their Registrars, for example, play a vital role in helping families craft academic journeys to match aspirations.
The theme of support persists long after enrolment, especially for international students. The school is home to an International Study Centre which runs separate programmes of study for EAL students. Boarding staffers collectively speak up to six languages. This dedication to diversity ensures international students transitioning to life abroad never feel too far from home.
“As a young, impressionable international student, I felt I needed to be in a school that valued internationalism, diversity and a sense of community, and I believe Box Hill School to be exactly that and more,” says Bayeh.
Students are guided by teachers in small classrooms, ensuring a personalised learning experience. Source: Box Hill School
5) Fostering a sense of community and responsibility
Box Hill School works closely with local organisations to provide students with volunteering opportunities and charity services. For example, Make A Difference Day has seen students helping at animal shelters and redecorating sports buildings at local Rugby clubs. In the process, they enhance their networking skills.
Plenty of connections are made on campus, too, through Friday nights in, cooking-based activities, dance practice in the drama studio, karaoke, movie and pizza nights, and garden barbeques.
6) A lifelong learning approach
Sixth-form students at Box Hill School can choose between two curricula – A Levels or the International Baccalaureate (IB). The IB is popular, offering 25-30 subjects, including language subjects and courses.
“In our increasingly globalised world, I feel that, more than any other programme out there, the IB programme emphasises a more global perspective by fostering international-mindedness and intercultural understanding,” explains the Head of IB, Mr. Julian Baker.
“We aim to make the diploma as bespoke to the individual’s needs as possible with both their own personal development and their chosen university pathway in mind, always bearing in mind the requirements of a pupil’s national education system if they are not from the UK.”
Lessons place equal emphasis on global issues, ensuring students enter the world with sensitivity and appreciation of other cultures after graduation. “My education at Box Hill has uniquely prepared me for global citizenship by instilling in me a sense of understanding towards diversity, fostering a global perspective and a sense of social responsibility,” affirms IB student Bayeh.
7) Tenacity and inquisitiveness
At Box Hill School, both students and faculty embrace tenacity and curiosity in the pursuit of excellence. Head Boy Harrison fondly recalls reversing his academic performance, achieving three A*s — a testament to his resilience. “I worked very hard and was determined to get into the University of Liverpool, where I will be studying Business Management,” he enthuses.
Meanwhile, his peers are off to Imperial College London, Nottingham University and various other esteemed institutions. Their journey mirrors that of numerous students who have diligently worked to reap the rewards of their efforts — just as their school taught them to.
