The UK is more than just London and the idyllic countryside pastures. It is also the birthplace of the boarding school — where students are educated and cared for by teachers and staff in designated learning and living spaces.
A great boarding school is a home away from home where students from all backgrounds gain critical academic and life skills such as communication, independence, time management, and more. As a result, students are more prepared for their next steps in life and that is why many parents all over the world are willing to invest in a good boarding school for their children.
Nina Wirk not only got to attend a boarding school that’s good, but one that’s “truly remarkable.” The graduate of Farringtons School remembers her time there as “so much fun” with “wonderful friends.” “I credit the time I spent at Farringtons School in instilling in me the work ethic and curiosity that allowed me to succeed at university,” she says. “It really was such a blessed time. I was very lucky to go to Farringtons School.”
Where students grow in wisdom
With a long history dating back to 1908, Farringtons School originally started as a school for Methodist girls before being granted a royal charter in 1928 and becoming co-educational in 2010.
Today, guided by their motto “Growing in Wisdom” and strong Christian ethos, the medium-sized school continues to nurture their students’ intellectual, physical, moral and spiritual growth, ensuring each student can shine with their individual talents.
“We believe strongly that learning should not be limited to the classroom, nor measured solely by exam results,” says David Jackson, Head of School. “Indeed, we place great emphasis on providing opportunities for pupils to pursue a wide range of extra-curricular interests, on developing the art of leadership and teamwork, as well as those all-important soft skills. This is seen not only in sport but also in music, drama and the arts.”
Located in Chislehurst, Kent, Farringtons School is close to London and major airports. The campus exudes a village-like community in a city location. Grounds are safe and secure. Classes and boarding houses are small, making it possible for the school to offer high-quality pastoral care and form excellent staff-pupil relationships. “The fact that we are a deliberately medium-sized school certainly helps with this – the teachers know the children in our care extremely well,” adds Head, Mr Jackson.
Fantastic facilities for all-rounded development
Set within 25 acres of beautiful grounds, Farringtons School is home to outstanding facilities for many co-curricular activities including the two-storey Sports Hall which houses the main sports hall, a mirrored dance studio with sprung wooden floor, a fitness room (for use by Year 10 and above) as well as GCSE and A Level classrooms.
Students can participate in numerous sports such as badminton, basketball, football, cricket, gymnastics, tennis, rugby and even trampolining. The heated pool is available for swimming; others can also join athletics and cross-country running. Inter-house matches and fixtures are often organised along with local and county events.
In 2021-22, the school launched a new co-curricular activities programme, called “Floreat,” meaning “to thrive.” Existing within the structure of the normally timetabled school day, it offers challenge, enrichment, and diversity for students in Years 7 to 12.
The programme aims to hone students’ social, moral, spiritual and cultural skills, boosting young peoples’ ability to succeed in education, work and society. By trying a variety of new activities ranging from archery to mindfulness, from odcasting to Japanese culture, students here develop greater self-confidence, leadership skills and the joy of discovering new things.
Advantages of boarding and studying at Farringtons
Having over 100 years of experience means Farringtons has the expertise to provide a second home where boarders stay happy, healthy and academically motivated. In its boutique-style family-run boarding houses, there are expert House Staff, and superb pastoral care.
Students stay in single-gender boarding houses (West House for girls and South House for boys) and get to mingle with boarders of various ages, cultures and personalities. With evenings filled with activities such as baking, gym or watching movies and weekends exploring London, it doesn’t take long before everyone feels like family.
Each student has a Form Tutor for academic and social support. Pastoral team leaders support these tutors; while parents partner with staff to make students feel valued. Regular Parents’ Meetings mean parents are updated on their children’s progress.
Academic excellence
With these outstanding facilities and superb support, it is little wonder that Farringtons students achieve fantastic grades in their GCSEs and A Levels; despite the challenges of an unprecedented 2021, students received places in Russell Group universities including Oxford, UCL, King’s College London and Exeter.
“The success our pupils have enjoyed is a fitting outcome in every sense and it is very pleasing to see that all their hard work, as well as that of their teachers, has really paid off,” says Head, Mr Jackson.
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