Number of pupils: 1089
Percentage boarders: 20%
Percentage of international pupils: 15%
Av. class size: senior school - 18 / 6th Form - 10
Closest international airport: London Stansted Airport, 15 minutes by car
Fees per term for 2023/2024: £14,238
A-Levels and GCSEs on offer.
The success rate for A-Levels in 2023 was 100 percent. Of these, 44 percent were A*-A. At GSCE, 73 percent scored between 9 to 7.
The school is selective and offers places only after passing a (quite challenging) aptitude test, school references, and an interview. Almost equal importance is placed on diligence, ambition, and a personality that fits the school at Bishop’s Stortford College. As the school is very popular not only because of its location, we recommend applying early.
The core subjects for GSCE are: English, English Literature, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Four additional subjects, one of which must be a modern foreign language, are chosen from History, Geography, Design and Technology, Latin, French, Spanish, German, Art and Design, Music, Drama, Ethics, Philosophy, and Religious Studies. Sport, as well as Personal, Social, and Health Education, are also on the curriculum. Moreover, the school arranges internships with local businesses.
For A-Level, students can choose from Art, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Classical Civilisations, Design and Technology, Drama, Economics, English, English Literature, Ethics, Philosophy and Religious Studies, Film Studies, French, Geography, German, History, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Latin, Music, Physical Education, Physics, Politics, Psychology, and Spanish.
30% of pupils live full-time at school.
Boarders in the senior years (13–18 years old) live in four single-sex boarding houses: two for boys (Rowe House and Robert Pearce House) and two for girls (Trotman House and Young House). All houses are modern and equipped with the latest technology. They offer cooking facilities as well as communal and study areas. Most rooms have their own spacious bathroom. Students up to the 12th grade share a room with one other student, and seniors have single rooms.
On average, there are two exeat weekends per term, which are optional.
Bishop’s Stortford College is a modern and down-to-earth school, and for being just an hour away from London, remarkably grounded.
The school's principal, Kathy Crewe-Read, emphasizes that the school is large enough to offer a wide variety of programs, and small enough to notice, know, and accordingly support each student.
The sports program is huge, with swimming, hockey, and tennis being particularly strong.
The school's art studio is truly magnificent and offers, in addition to the classic art curriculum, pottery, fashion design, and photography.
Drama is especially strong here, with many high-quality performances throughout the school year.
We'd prefer a few more boarders. The 30% the school has are very well integrated, however!