Aerial view of a large red-brick school building with a clock tower, chapel, and green lawns surrounded by trees and open countryside.

St Lawrence College

St Lawrence College

Ramsgate, England

Founded in 1879, St Lawrence College enjoys a beautiful coastal setting in Kent, just a short walk from the sea. Its 80-hectare campus combines historic architecture with state-of-the-art facilities, including a Science Centre and an Art & Design Technology Centre.The school is renowned not only for its elite performance programmes – attracting sporting talent from across the globe – but also for activities that wouldn’t look out of place in the magical world of Harry Potter. Its hockey and cricket teams rank among the best in the country, and the College has produced not only sporting legends but also journalists, diplomats and senior officers. With an international student body and a warm boarding community from the age of seven upwards, St Lawrence is a place where children can truly flourish – both academically and personally.

In 2024 we placed 2 pupils here
Number of students
625
Number of boarders
250
Percentage of international boarders
70%
Average class size
12
Diploma offered
A-Level
Closest International Airport
1.5 Hrs
London Gatwick - by car
Boys’ hockey team in white jerseys standing in a circle with arms around each other on a blue hockey field, listening to their coach.

The Details

The Academics

For a non-selective school, St Lawrence College achieves very solid academic results – in 2024, 28% of GCSEs were graded 9–7 and 24% of A levels at A or above. The College was also doubly recognised in the Private Education Awards 2024, taking home the titles of Most Nurturing Co-Educational Independent School and Best Boarding & Day School in South East England.

Languages Taught

German, French and Spanish.

The Boarding

About a third of pupils board, most sharing a room with one or two others. The girls live in Bellerby House, right on campus and home to around 60 pupils aged 13 to 18. Tower House accommodates boys in modernised rooms with plenty of historic character, creating a warm, family-like atmosphere. Lodge House, meanwhile, is home to up to 54 boys from around the world, offering not just a place to learn but a traditional, supportive community in which to grow. At St Lawrence, boarding life is all about learning and togetherness going hand in hand.

Spacious, modern boarding house atrium with several floors, wooden accents, sofas, and tables where pupils in school uniforms are sitting and talking.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

Sport is without doubt one of St Lawrence College’s great strengths, with hockey standing out in particular – played to a very high standard and offered year-round. The school’s Elite Performance Programme deserves special mention too, supporting talented pupils in hockey, rugby and cricket.

Beyond the playing fields, there’s an extraordinary range of clubs and activities. Whether it’s chess, film, street dance, cookery or even something as quirky as a pudding or dissection club, there really is something for everyone. Add to that community garden projects, a student newspaper, ancient Greek, fashion and design, mindfulness, STEM clubs, lifesaving, charity work and marketing – the list feels endless.

Weaknesses

The school has quite a high proportion of international pupils and is particularly popular with German-speaking families. In the past, some of our families have felt this was a little too much.

Location

St Lawrence College sits in Ramsgate, a harbour town in Kent full of history and maritime flair. Famous for its Royal Harbour (the only one of its kind in the UK) Ramsgate mixes charm with culture and striking architecture. Once a retreat for King George IV, today it’s perfect for strolls along the promenade, cosy cafés, boat trips and a dose of seaside life. Art and nature lovers will also find plenty to enjoy in the galleries, coastal paths and watersports on the doorstep.

Closest International Airport
Gatwick Airport - 90 min by car
Closest Train Station
Ramsgate Station - 15 min walk
Nearest Cities
Canterbury - 35 min by car
London Centre - 2 hrs by car
Our Opinion

A school that’s sure to delight hockey enthusiasts.

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