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What it's like

Founded in 1920 as a boys' school, it has been co-educational since 1992. It opened a junior school in 2000. It has very handsome buildings and is part of a tiny village in a superb 200-acre estate of Gloucestershire countryside. Generously endowed, it has excellent modern facilities and recent developments include an all-weather sports pitch, multi-purpose sports hall, and a co-educational sixth-form house. A very friendly atmosphere prevails; it has all the advantages of a small school and describes itself as being caring and academically strong. Average class size is 16 up to GCSE and 12 at A-level. Examination results are good. Very strong music, drama and art departments. An impressive record in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and a commitment to being involved in the local community.

Pupils & entrance

Pupils: Total age range 3-18; 397 pupils, 292 day (158 boys, 134 girls), 105 boarding (60 boys, 45 girls). Junior department, 3-11, 145 day pupils (70 boys, 75 girls). Senior department 11-18; 252 pupils (148 boys, 104 girls). Entrance: Main entry ages 3, 4, 7, 11, 13 and 16. Common Entrance and own exam used; for sixth-form entry, 5 GCSEs at least grade C (grade B in sixth-form subjects). No special skills or religious requirements. State school entry, 50% of main intake plus 25% to sixth form. Many senior pupils from own junior school.

Scholarships & bursaries

Number of means-tested bursaries and scholarships, some up to 50% fees: academic, sport, art, drama, music (awarded at 11, 13 and 16); 1 free place at 11. Forces bursaries. Music tuition extra (£200 per term).

Head & staff

Headmaster: Gerry Holden, in post from 1999. Educated at St Andrews University (history). Previously Deputy Head at Frensham Heights. Teaching staff: 46 full time, 20 part time. Annual turnover 5%. Average age 35.

Exam results

GCSE: 46 in Year 11, all gaining at least grade C in 8+ subjects. A-levels: 28 in upper sixth, all passing in 3+ subjects, with an average final point score of 310.

Pupils' destinations

90+% of sixth-form leavers go on to a degree course (20% after a gap year). 5% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 20% in science and engineering, 20% in business and law, 20% in humanities, social sciences, and religious studies, 10% in art and design, 25% in other vocational courses eg hotel management, tourism, languages, education, physiotherapy. Others typically go directly into employment.

Curriculum

GCSE, AS and A-levels. 13 AS/A-level subjects. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; general studies is not taken. 33% take science/maths A-levels; 33% arts/humanities; 33% both. Key skills included in school's cultural enrichment programme, which also includes cooking, budgeting, car maintenance, driving etc. Languages: French, Spanish and German offered to GCSE and A-level. Multi-media languages centre. Special provision: Some provision for pupils with dyslexia. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. Computers for pupil use in 4 computer suites and sixth-form studies; all networked and with email and internet access.

The arts

Music: Over 45% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 20 musical groups including wind, string band, chamber group, choir, choral society, jazz quartet, several rock groups. Drama and dance: Both offered. AS-level and A-level theatre studies. Majority of pupils are involved in school productions (eg recently Outside Edge). Art and design: On average, 20 take GCSE, 10 A-level. Textiles also offered. About 4 pa go on to art schools.

Sports & activities

Sport: Athletics, basketball, badminton, cricket, cross-country, fitness training, football, golf, gymnastics, hockey, horse-riding, judo, lacrosse, netball, orienteering, polo, rugby, sailing, shooting, squash, swimming, table-tennis, tennis. Cricket academy for outstanding cricketers. Pupils can take AQA PE, also AS and A-level. Activities: Pupils take bronze and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award and work with local organisations in the community. Over 50 clubs, eg riding, design, dance, printing, sports leadership, drama, fishing, life-saving, shooting, climbing, computing, photography, vehicle maintenance, woodwork.

School life

Uniform: School uniform worn throughout (except in free time). Houses and prefects: Prefects, head boy and girl, head of house and house prefects. School Council. Religion: Christian. Compulsory assembly once a week, church service on Sundays. Social: Numerous social events at college, particularly at weekends, and with other schools. Exchanges with France and Germany and numerous trips. Pupils allowed to bring own bike to school. Meals in dining hall and rations for houses. Village shop in grounds.

Discipline

School rules are intended to impose only such restrictions as necessary for the safety and well-being of the school and the individual.

Boarding

Own study bedrooms for pupils aged 14 and over; others in dormitories usually of 4. Resident qualified nurses; doctor in village. Central dining room. Pupils can provide and cook own food. Half-term and 2 long-weekend exeats each term. Visits to local town allowed with permission.

Association of former pupils

Old Rendcombians, is run by Mrs Jane Gunner, c/o the College.

Former pupils

David Vaisey (Bodleian Librarian); Richard Dunwoody (jockey).