St. David’s College

School St. David’s College was created by John Mager in 1965 for children who could drown in the general educational system, but would flourish in specially created conditions.

The school has 260 students. Here children from all over the UK study, as well as a number of foreigners. Parents choose this school because it provides students with a comprehensive education, special attention to individual needs, and because there are small classes.

This is a school that dramatically changes the lives of young people who, when they enter, are often modest in their ambitions and not very confident in themselves. Comprehensive support allows them to improve their skills, straighten their shoulders, become completely independent and successful.

DIRECTOR (stand 2023)

Andrew Russell, Education - University of Southampton, degree in accounting and economics; Bangor University, PGCE certificate (with the right to teach in schools).

FAMOUS SCHOOL GRADUATES

• Edward Cadogan, Viscount Chelsea
• Jerry Moffatt, rock climber
• Simeon Oakley, Program Manager for British Television
• David Head, former CEO of Pepsi Australia
• Nick Elfik, sculptor

KEY FACTORS

• Student-teacher ratio less than 5: 1. And this is half as much as in most boarding schools. This ensures maximum attention to the needs of each student.
• Most of the graduates enter universities, most often in technical specialties. As a rule, students enter the university that they originally selected.
• Academic performance is significantly higher than the national average; the curriculum is focused not only on class work. From the point of view of “added quality”, which boarding schools are so famous for (taking a child to new frontiers, for example, when a three-player becomes a drummer, and a drummer becomes an excellent student, a middle-athlete is a member of the “A” team, etc.), the results the school is outstanding.
• The school has first-class IT training, with excellent equipment.

PROGRAM

GCSE

The program for obtaining a certificate of general secondary education. Required to study 7 subjects and 4 subjects of choice.

A-level

A two-year university preparatory program. Pupils choose 4 or 5 subjects. Each subject is studied 5 hours a week.

BTEC

An alternative to the A-level program: a pre-university training course with maximum emphasis on the development of practical skills, the application of theoretical knowledge in real life. You can get a BTEC qualification in the following specialties: performing arts, music, outdoor education, sports, business sciences, computer-aided design.

The school was one of the first to apply the teaching policy in one subject to several teachers. The support program allows students to take individual lessons at the Cadogan Centre, a special building on the school grounds. An individual training plan has been created for a number of students that best meets their needs.

The school employs 16 teachers - specialized specialists, three of whom help children exclusively with mathematics, and 3 more specialize in writing and reading and writing. Specialists also teach foreign children English as a foreign language. The school employs experts from various fields, including two psychologists. All teachers of the department of additional support work under the guidance of an invited speech therapist. Conducted regular speech classes for small groups of children. Everything is done so that children gain self-confidence and are able to reach their maximum.

The school has a program “More capable and talented”, which distinguishes children with the potential to reach heights in one or more areas who are gifted an order of magnitude more than their peers. About 20% of children register for this program annually, special attention is paid to the development of their talents. If the child has a gift, he will certainly be noticed!

SPORTS AND  ACTIVITIES

The school believes that extracurricular activities allow you to build teamwork and increase self-confidence of each student. School opportunities may well challenge even Indiana Jones! Sailing, rock climbing, mountain running, kite flying, tennis, soccer, rugby, netball, cricket, field hockey, swimming are just some of what the school has to offer.

Great attention is paid to sports here. Due to the excellent location between the sea and the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park, the possibilities of the students from the point of view of sport are practically unlimited. Pupils of the school are proud of the skills acquired here, and continue to develop them after graduation.

The students' favourite day is Wednesday, when lessons end at 13:10 and you can try yourself in a breath-taking adventure: you can choose one of 20!

Why not learn to drive a jeep in our vast expanses of forest. Or go skiing in Great Orme, ride on the Clwydian Mountain range; go climbing, kayaking or canoeing in Snowdonia National Park?

The school provides children with the opportunity to try many different things and find their niche. The main goal is the development of self-confidence and constant preparation for an independent successful life. And the school is doing this!

The school also presents: hiking in caves, in the mountains, kayaking on the sea, kayaks on mountain rivers, mountain bicycles, sailing. Students from grade 10 (14-15 years old) can begin to specialize in one of these types of sports activities. The school offers these students a specialized training program, the result of which is a weekly expedition in the summer semester.

Examples of expeditions:

• Traveling to Ireland on a sailing yacht
• Sea kayaking in Sweden
• Canoeing in Sweden
• Rock climbing in Switzerland
• Kayaking at sea in Alaska
• SCUBA diving in the Red Sea
• Dog sledding expedition in Sweden
• Rock climbing in France
• Tracking in Nepal
• Sea kayaking in Greenland
• Kayaking at sea in Canada
• Kayaking on mountain rivers in the Alps
• Surfing in Morocco

In high school, many children enrol in a special program, seeking to receive the British national award for success in sports BTEC National Award in Sport (Outdoor Education).

Art at school is also popular. About 75% of students learn to play a musical instrument, there is room for practice.

COST, 2023-2024

£9,415 - £13,475 per semester (depending on age).
There are 3 semesters in the school year.

Included in cost

• Teaching
• Accommodation and meals

Extra paid

• Deposit - £4,000
• Flights
• Transfers to / from the airport
• Visa
• Services of the company "Paradise"
• Guardianship (as required by British law)

SERVICES OF THE EDUCATIONAL COMPANY INCLUDE

• Selection of 5-6 schools that best meet the individual characteristics of the child, further goals, talents, with the desired environment. Help in the correct interpretation of school ratings, an explanation of why the school occupies one place or another. Help in obtaining reliable information about schools that are not included in the ratings, with an explanation of the reasons for non-participation in it.
• Admission to 1-3 schools, selected from the proposed. Which includes the preparation of the necessary documents, school reports, characteristics, recommendations. Selection and submission of tests to prepare the student for exam testing, assistance in preparing essays. Preparation for an interview with the teacher / principal, registration for the exam. The necessary list of recommendations when attending school for passing entrance examinations. Correspondence with the school (far from all schools enter into correspondence with foreign parents, they are cautious, trust only a trusted agent).
• Assistance in paying registration fees, deposits, bills. Clarification of school rules, including disciplinary and legal aspects.
• Filling out the required medical forms.
• Selection of guardians required by UK law.

Student supervision during the first month of training is provided as a gift: assistance in resolving issues related to resettlement, billing, informing parents about the child’s health status, assistance with understanding of academic programs, organization of ext. classes for the child in a particular subject, help in choosing the program most suitable for the child, transfer to another class, etc. etc.

Impressions from a school visit

Olga Karpova
Paradise Boarding School Expert
karpovaos@yandex.ru

Warm and a  friendly atmosphere greeted me upon arrival at St. David’s college in North Wales. The climate is harsh, the winds blow, and the windows of the main building (the former estate of the 15th century) have an amazing view: green hills, rocks in the distance, centuries-old trees. It's October, but the weather whispers: plus 20 degrees.

The morning meeting of teachers takes place in the fireplace room: a couple of questions about the children to each, so as not to miss anything. Moreover, without negativity, only what everyone needs to know to help a particular child become better. Someone is sitting on the floor, someone is drinking coffee, someone is quietly talking with a neighbour. And absolutely everyone smiles sweetly.

The assembly is awarded for achievements in sports and reports on the summer expedition to Uganda. The video about the elephants crossing the road, shot by the students, causes great admiration.

Every school employee I spoke to mentions an activism extracurricular program that supports interest in class.

There is enough sport, and the most popular is rugby, everyone plays it, young and old.

Very individual attention to all students: in classes up to 12 people, there is a special time when you can deal with teachers one-on-one, with any subject! 20 school teachers have a master's degree in working with children with special learning needs. These are not just words. Here you can see how the system works.

Three children of the director, who has been working at the school for 26 years (and started as a simple teacher), study at this school. Level of quality!

In his free evening on Thursdays, the chef teaches everyone, especially high school students, how to cook healthy food: they will soon go to university. By the way, the food is really fresh and tasty. You can go for the supplement.

The students are joyful, everyone is busy with his own business, they will answer adult questions and are interested in themselves: “Hello, Miss! How was your day? "

I saw that everyone is happy: teachers, because they live a busy life and see the result of their work, and students, because they are interested and not afraid to learn. They know that in difficulties they will certainly be helped, they overcome themselves and show good results.