Ethos
Designed specifically for students from non-British educational backgrounds, daily life at Bishopstrow is based around creating the most successful and enjoyable EFL learning experience for all.
Our caring, kind, well-organised boarding community focuses on respect and tolerance for others. This is reflected in the professional and personal relationships, and the day-to-day experiences of students and staff.
Aims
Consistent with the underlying ethos of the College are its aims:
- To give each student the best linguistic, cultural, academic and sporting preparation, so that they can enjoy a seamless and happy transition to a British boarding school.
- To ensure that each student who leaves Bishopstrow not only feel comfortable in a classroom with English speakers, but is able to compete at the appropriate academic level in their next school.
- To give each student the correct advice, assistance and qualifications to select and gain entry to a suitable British independent school for the next stage of their education.
- To emphasise our ‘Five Virtues‘ so that each student sets themselves high standards and develops self-awareness, resilience and confidence.
- To prepare each student for appropriate EFL qualifications, such as the Cambridge English Language Assessments and, British public examinations.
Achieving These Aims
Using small class groups, well-structured EFL based teaching and appropriate resources, we introduce international students to conventional British teaching and learning approaches. This enables the College to increase our students’ EFL knowledge and proficiency in spoken and written English, and across an appropriately broad and balanced academic curriculum adapted for EFL learners.
Time out of class is also planned to promote learning. The College has a 24-hour curriculum with broad outlines which enable flexibility in use, but which make clear how all aspects of Bishopstrow life support our Ethos and Aims.
With generous staffing levels, we create a caring, efficient and effective boarding community that responds positively to EFL learners, parents and agents. We keep parents and agents comprehensively informed of welfare matters so that students feel clearly supported, well-known and understood.
We report in detail to parents at least twice each term. This provides feedback to parents, a summary for the students themselves and also forms a clear report to destination schools about the effort and progress made by the student, and their strengths and weaknesses.
Both academically and pastorally our structures and practices conform to the requirements of UK law, including safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students, and we welcome external audit in a spirit of further improving everything we do.
We work closely with other distinguished British independent schools that our students are interested in joining and co-operate with them in support of the most effective transition from Bishopstrow to their destination school.
