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Just 100 miles northwest of London lies the Cotswolds, the photogenic ridge of limestone hills extending for about 80 kilometres across south-central England. Here, countless charming villages in five counties that sit amongst bucolic hills personify the dream English countryside.
In the heart of Britain’s largest designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, you’ll find an independent day and boarding school with arguably the best location for children to learn and grow: Rendcomb College.
For one, it’s very green. Research has found that being exposed to nature reduces stress, improves mood and enhances cognitive function – elements critical to learning well. In another study, researchers found that students with access to green spaces do better academically and have higher levels of attention.
Rendcomb College students not only have access to nature, they are in nature – 230 acres of parkland that’s home to a deer park with 75 fallow deers and a forest school. They are surrounded by even more beautiful woodland and wildlife. Distractions and pollution are practically non-existent – only fresh air, greenery, and inspiration remain.
To live in this enviable region is to amass unforgettable experiences. When boarders aren’t busy maximising the crisp air and tranquillity to prepare for their GCSEs and A Levels, they’re taking part in a wide range of activities away from the classroom to truly enlighten their passions. There are sports evenings and weekends, orienteering, laser tag, nighttime walks and enjoying what the Cotswolds has to offer – for which there are plenty.
Beyond campus, the Cotswolds are made up of lively market towns that brim with culture. It’s in these spaces that children grow and thrive in the best ways. A range of educational Cheltenham festivals – Cheltenham Science Festival, Literature Festival, Music Festival, and Jazz Festival – give boarders extra space to learn outside of school about their topics of interest. All even run a “for schools” programme.
Rendcomb College is connected to towns filled with life and learning opportunities. Source: Rendcomb College
But what happens within Rendcomb’s four houses is just as transformative. Located within easy reach to classrooms and sports facilities, this is where boarders live with peers in a prosperous space where they can cook together, socialise with pizza nights, watch TV and films, play games, and blossom in each other’s company. It’s a great way to ease into a new life of independence, slowly building the soft skills that’ll serve them well in the future, such as effective communication and time management.
“Boarding at Rendcomb College offers the opportunity to develop independence, lifelong friendships, and a strong sense of community. I’ve loved my experience at Rendcomb College and I have made friendships that will last,” says graduate Leone, from Italy.
Rendcomb College’s mission is to develop thoughtful, adventurous, and ambitious young people who are life-long learners. In the trembles of a constantly shifting world after graduation, their students grow to lead with confidence and passion. Students have gone on to do everything you can think of: law, veterinary science, musical theatre, film and videography, cybersecurity, and chemistry.
Rendcomb College understands that for children to learn and grow into their identities, it takes more than academic lectures in the classroom. No matter which of their tailored pathways and activities they choose — like the Oxbridge Preparation Pathway, for those looking to attend the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, or the MedVet programme, for aspiring medicine and veterinary students — children can only grow when they venture into the world.
At Rendcomb College, students experience rigorous learning activities both in and outside the classroom. Source: Rendcomb College
And Rendcomb boarders venture a lot, especially in the wilderness. The school takes advantage of the vast expanse of nature surrounding campus — they host team-building activities, campfires, obstacle courses, and mountain biking, where students cultivate outdoor survival skills. It’s where learning and exercise are made fun for students, especially through events like the Rough Runner Challenge, where 11-year-old students conquer outdoor obstacles like river crossings, mudslides, crawl nets, and more through a 2.5 kilometre off-road trail in the parkland.
The best friendships emerge from such experiences. “I can remember when I came to Stable House, the girls’ boarding house, for the first time. I was extremely nervous, but the girls living there made me feel right at home and comfortable,” says graduate Paula.
It only makes sense that she felt nervous. Paula was an international student from Spain who’d come to stay at Rendcomb College for three years, graduating in 2023. But with the warmth and welcome of a multicultural community, settling in came easy.
“There are lots of memories I made at Rendcomb College that I am never going to forget,” says Paula. “I loved water skiing, the Sunday trips, going shopping, watching movies, singing, karaoke, playing sports, and completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award.”
Of course, not all students must stay on campus to learn and to have fun. After all, it’s easy to travel to and from campus. Just a 30-minute drive from campus is the towns of Cheltenham and Gloucester, and a mere 15 minutes is Cirencester. Students can easily go home for a visit, as train stations are just a 20- to 25-minute drive from campus, with direct lines to London, Bristol, Birmingham, and London Heathrow airport is only two hours away.
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