Ashville College

Ashville College is a co-educational day and boarding school for 870 children aged 3-18. Founded in 1877, Ashville has a proud past, and an even brighter future, yet their ethos and values remain loyal to their Methodist traditions, where each child is known and nurtured within a caring, safe and supportive environment.

Ashville has a clear focus on academic excellence, enabling pupils to be prepared for life in an increasingly complex world, without ever losing sight of the individual child, their own talents and their wider development. Their commitment to an inclusive education, where individuals are valued wherever their talents lie, is at the heart of all they do.

They develop young people who are “the best versions of themselves”. They nurture and equip their young people for the challenges of the future, encouraging a global perspective and a digital fluency where adaptability, creativity, resilience and critical self-reflection are key. Problem-solving skills, developed both inside and outside the classroom and an ability to engage and actively listen to others is what sets Ashville pupils apart. Pupils face a lifetime of learning as they prepare and adapt for professions that may not yet have even been invented.

They are confident that the advantages an Ashville education provides are unrivalled, a vision of excellence for all, and hope that you will visit them in person to see for yourself the fine community and family atmosphere that makes Ashville truly unique.

Facilities

Tradition and innovation go hand in hand on the Ashville sixty-four acre campus.

Historic buildings, dating back to 1860, sit alongside 21st century facilities, ensuring that pupils benefit from the most up-to-date learning environments without losing a sense of heritage. Plenty of green space and garden areas also feature around the campus.

International Students

Ashville has been educating international students for over 50 years.

In recent years they have welcomed students from Bermuda, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Malawi, Nigeria, Russia, Spain, Thailand, Turks and Caicos, Ukraine and the USA.  International students join them as both boarding and day students. Students and parents can be assured that Ashville has a wealth of experience of working with a variety of nationalities and cultures. Boarders can join Ashville from the age of eight in their Junior Boarding House.  Students move on to the Senior Boarding Houses at the beginning of Year 9 where they remain until Sixth Form. At school, students will be allocated into a year group relevant to their age and ability.

International English Studies

They also have a thriving International English Studies department that teaches EAL as well as helping students settle into the British culture.  Ashville are an official Cambridge exam preparation centre. EAL lessons prepare students to sit the. Cambridge English exams and enter them through an authorised exam centre.  

Application

Boarders can join Ashville from the age of eight in their Junior Boarding House.  Students move on to the Senior Boarding Houses at the beginning of Year 8 where they remain until Sixth Form. At school, students will be allocated into a year group relevant to their age and ability.

Ashville welcomes applications for students both directly, and via Educational Agents. Applicants whose native language is not English should be reasonably fluent in written and spoken English. All applicants will need to sit the entrance exams in English and Mathematics, and arrangements can be made for students to take the exams in their own country. They work with a network of educational agents worldwide who can provide this service or they can arrange for the student to sit the tests in their own school or nearest British Council office. If students are taking GCSE or iGCSE examinations then they are able to offer places on the basis of a reference from their present school and their predicted grades, which should be at least five good passes at GCSE with preferably a Grade B or above in the subjects they wish to study at A Level.

All applicants will be interviewed by either the Head of Boarding or the Senior Housemaster. This may be in their own country or most often over Skype.

Non EU international students will need to apply for a Tier 4 student visa. They will support families through this application, making the process as quick and an easy as possible.

Scholarships

Ashville recognizes achievement and talent in many different ways.  All children will benefit from excellent teaching, support and facilities.

However, Ashville also places great importance on giving those with outstanding talent the chance to shine.  They award scholarships to students demonstrating academic excellence and those with an outstanding talent in art, music, drama and sport. 

Pupils with Scholarships receive a financial contribution towards their tuition fees and become a member of the Scholarship programme, which hosts a programme of events each year.  Read more about the scholarship programme here. In return, scholars are expected to enrich the school community and act as role models to enthuse their peers. 

Scholarships are awarded to pupils at the start of Year 7, Year 10 and the Lower Sixth. Scholarships are then reviewed at the end of each Key Stage (Year 9 and Year 11)

Academic Scholarships

Academic Scholarships for students joining Year 7 are awarded on the strength of performance in the entrance exams and scholarship day. Children who join the Senior School from the Ashville Prep School are required to sit the entrance exam if they wish to be considered for a Scholarship.  Scholarships awarded on entry into Year 7 are reviewed at the end of Year 9.  

Academic scholarships for entrance into Year 10 are awarded on the strength of entrance exams and references and reviewed for entrance in the Lower Sixth. Offers of Academic scholarships for new entrants into the Lower Sixth will be made on review of Mock GCSE exam results, references, and a meeting with the Headmaster. 

Art Scholarships

Candidates wishing to be considered for an Art Scholarship will need to submit a portfolio of work including painting, drawing and photographs of any three dimensional works they have completed. The pupil will also be required to sit a drawing test and have a short informal interview with Mr Brook, the Head of Art. For Year 7 candidates this will be included in the entrance exam day and for those entering Year 10 and Lower Sixth this will be organised by appointment. 

Drama Scholarships

Candidates wishing to be considered for a Drama Scholarship will be invited to participate in a drama workshop including whole group work, small group work and individual activities.

All pupils will also attend an audition. For Year 7 pupils, this will take place during the Entrance Exam day. Year 10 and Lower Sixth candidates will have an audition by appointment.

Music Scholarships

All candidates wishing to gain a Music Scholarship will be invited to an audition with the Director of Music. The audition will include a performance in each instrumental or vocal discipline, sight reading and an aural test. As a guidance, students wishing to be considered for a music scholarship are expected to be at the levels shown below. Candidates for entry into Year 7 will be auditioned during the Entrance Exam day; candidates for Year 10 and Lower Sixth will be seen by appointment.

Sport Scholarships

Pupils wishing to be considered for a Sports scholarship will be invited to partake in a practical assessment day covering a range of sports.

Applicants should be of a county standard or similar (indicated by times or national body qualifications for Year 10 and above.)  Applicants should offer at least one major sport (hockey, netball, cricket or rugby) and one minor sport.