Another great new article from thebestof Cheltenham's Local and Vocal Magazine...
Old school ties
As early as 1840 Cheltenham had a firmly established reputation for both the power of its preaching and the standard of its teaching. The town’s pedagogic repute has endured whilst its pulpit prowess has been somewhat marginalised.
It is no coincidence that Cheltenham boasts some of the finest schools and colleges in the country. By the mid-nineteenth century the town had become a popular and desirable residential town, with a magnetic draw for many military families returning from overseas service in the Empire.
Suppressing foreign natives was thirsty work, so after a few gin and tonics at the East India Club, the returning military types set about finding a decent education for the next generation of little Empire builders. Although the schools’ educational content has changed dramatically since the mid 1800’s the town’s reputation for educational excellence persists.
Gone are the nibs and inkwells, gone are the top hats and tails, with chalkboards soon to be eligible for museum status. What remains is a commitment by Cheltenham’s schools to producing well rounded, confident and responsible characters, and providing a good grounding for their future.
Local & Vocal have done the hard work for you by selecting the best local private schools. After all, your children’s education is not something to be taken lightly*.
*For maximum enjoyment we suggest reading this spread within reach of a cup of tea and a scone.
Set in a beautiful 50 acre parkland site in the centre of Cheltenham, Dean Close School is a long-standing co-educational day and boarding school which provides an outstanding education for pupils aged 2 to 18. Established in 1886, Dean Close is a Christian School; visitors regularly comment on the atmosphere, saying how warm and friendly they find it.
The School believes that education is as much about building character and relationships as it is about gaining knowledge, encouraging independent thinking and the self-confidence to challenge the status quo. It is renowned for focusing on individual development, helping to nurture each person's strengths and talents. The small classes and excellent learning facilities ensure above average academic results.
Dean Close has a strong tradition of music, art, sport and drama and a wide spectrum of extra-curricular activities offering exceptional opportunities that make it possible for every child to achieve success and gain confidence.
The School is small enough to allow pupils to get to know one another and to feel valued. It also gets everyone fully involved in the daily life of the School. The powerful tutorial system means that each pupil is mentored and nurtured by an adult whom they get to know well. However, the School is large enough to have an extremely strong boarding community, vibrant and exciting creative arts, impressive academic results and great sports results including national titles in hockey.
Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College is one of the country’s leading co-educational independent schools for day and boarding pupils aged 3 – 18. Renowned for its richness and breadth of education, the school is situated in 72 acres of beautiful grounds on Cheltenham’s Bath Road. The Prep School (3 – 13) which has outstanding facilities including its own lake and numerous playing fields, is located adjacent to the Senior School. The youngest children (3-7) enter Kingfishers, the warm and vibrant pre-prep which has its own cottage and classrooms within the Junior School.
Since it was founded in 1841, Cheltenham College has built up a strong sense of history, tradition and values, believing firmly in first-class academic education complemented by great depth and breadth in extra and co curricular activities. Indeed the school’s reputation for sport, drama, music, art, design and outward-bound activities is unparalleled.
College pupils are encouraged to develop not only as learners but as independent, confident and responsible young people who are able to make sense of the world around them. Pastoral care across the school is consistently highlighted by parents as excellent and teachers set great store by developing the talents and potential of every individual. The strong House and tutorial system ensures every pupil feels supported and part of the community.
In the words of a current pupil: “Cheltenham College has given me friendships that will last forever. It’s a place to discover who you are.”
Situated in over 200 acres of picturesque Cotswold countryside, Rendcomb College is a co-educational, boarding and day school for 3 - 18 year olds which provides a stimulating, challenging and exciting all-round education.
Founded in 1920, the college has a holistic approach to education that achieves excellent academic results. The commitment to educating the whole child means sporting, dramatic, artistic, musical and cultural activities are valued as highly as academic achievements.
Rendcomb pupils enjoy an exceptional educational experience in a family environment, which both cares for the needs of the individual and encourages mutual support to give pupils the best preparation for the rest of their lives.
The school offers superb and spacious facilities for academic study. Boarding houses provide pupils from the third form upwards with their own comfortable study bedroom with shared kitchens and sitting rooms. There is a dedicated co-educational sixth form house where pupils have their own study bedrooms with internet access.
A broad range of opportunities exists for pupils, inside and outside the classroom, and the development of a huge Art & Design suite along with massive investment in ICT, reflects the school’s commitment to a diverse curriculum. Rendcomb was recently chosen as “Outdoor Setting of the Year” at the prestigious “Eye” magazine’s Early Years Award ceremony.
