St. Michael’s School

The school was founded in 1923. The founders of St. Michael's School were the Rees brothers, who from the very beginning fought for the high academic reputation of the institution.

The school is located in the small village of Bryn, in the suburb of Llannelly, on the coast of Bristol Bay. The Lower River flows nearby. This is a calm, picturesque natural region with magnificent landscapes, fresh sea breezes and the absence of noisy highways and roads.

Nearby there are small shops and cafes, a post office, and a pharmacy. A little further away, on the coastal side, there are recreation centers, the large Mackinis Peninsula Park with several lakes and a golf club.

In 3 hours by car or 4.5 hours by train you can reach the nearest major city, Birmingham. London and the capital's Heathrow Airport can be reached in about 3 hours, and a major airport in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, can be reached in an hour and a half.

St. Michael's School includes a primary and secondary school with approximately 450 students.

Director (for 2024)

Benson Ferrari, holds a BA with honors.

Famous school graduates

• Robert Bucklan, MP, politician, Lord Chancellor
• Cerys Matthews, singer
• Kirsty Williams, politician, Minister for Education and Skills for Wales
• Ivor Richard, politician and diplomat, British Ambassador to the United Nations
• John Geoffrey Jones, British judge
• Sian Gwenlian, politician

Key factors

• A fairly rated and selective school, according to A-level exam results it is among the top 15 co-educational schools in the UK.
• According to The Sunday Times, it is one of the best schools in Wales.
• There are only a couple of Russian-speaking students every year.
• In St. Michael's School provides strong training in all subjects, but they especially highlight the program for preparing for medical universities – for directions in medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine.
• In the UK, only about 10% of applicants succeed in securing a place at medical school, so specialist advice and support is essential. Over the past 10 years, 90% of school leavers who applied to medical universities received places – approximately 3 times higher than the average in private schools.
• 16 students in 2022 successfully enrolled in courses in health sciences, pharmacy, veterinary medicine or dentistry. 100% of students who applied to university to study Health Sciences, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine or Dentistry were awarded a place in 2022.
• The education of good manners, discipline and responsibility is harmoniously integrated into the curriculum along with sports and creative electives, so that children develop and grow as unique individuals.

Equipment

The school's campus area is 5.5 hectares, on which there are residential residences, dining buildings, educational buildings, classrooms with projectors, interactive whiteboards, science laboratories, a library, music classes, art studios, acting rooms, playgrounds and rest.

Program

GCSE

Two-year program to obtain a certificate of general secondary education. 6 subjects are required to study, 4 subjects are studied electively.

A-level

Two-year program to prepare for entering the university. Students choose 4 or 5 subjects for in-depth study.

Preparation for medical universities

Students meet one-on-one with the head of the sixth form (grades 12-13) and an experienced teacher of the medical support program. Students are provided with personalized support and guidance throughout their medical training and UCAS application.

This includes exploring students' strengths and areas for development, advice on work experience and voluntary work, choosing the right university and course for them, and discussing any further research they need to do toimproving their portfolio.

As part of the course, students prepare for specialized exams UCAT and BMAT, work on an EPQ project (extended project qualification), listen to lectures by invited speakers, university professors and industry representatives, have the opportunity to gain experience in volunteer work, undergo an internship in their specialty, working side by side side by side with practicing doctors and receive a certificate of completion of first aid courses.

Students also take part in competitions such as Olympiads in chemistry or biology.

Schedule of preparation for admission to a medical university (grades 12-13):

• 12th grade, September-March – selection of suitable universities, introduction to the NHS system
• 12th grade, March – registration for an internship in the UK, volunteer work (for example, nursing homes)
• 12th grade, June – preparing for UCAT and BMAT, attending open days, starting work on essays
• 12th grade, August – writing the first draft of an essay, taking the UCAT test
• 13th grade, September – final essay, interview practice and medical ethics study
• 13th grade, October – attending an interview course, submitting a UCAS application
• 13th grade, November – passing an interview
• 13th grade, January-April – receiving offers of places from universities

Students are also encouraged to sign up for various free MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) courses to further develop and pursue their interests related to their chosen path, such as Anatomy Studies, Predictive Medicine, Dentistry ; or "Veterinary Medicine". Many of these courses provide certificates of completion, which will add value to students' medical applications.

Each student is asked to complete a practice interview online or in person with a senior staff member or the medical school admissions committee. After mock interviews, individual feedback is provided on performance and areas for improvement.

Many universities now use the “multiple mini-interview” interview style. (MMI), in which students conduct a series of several mini-interviews lasting several minutes, each conducted by a different interviewer. They are designed to test both educational and personal skills such as communication skills, subject knowledge, ability to resolve ethical dilemmas, data analysis and empathy.

This form of interview assesses their ability to cope with difficult situations, remain calm and confident, and “think on their feet.” At the school, staff strive to simulate this experience as closely as possible.

Relevant work experience and long-term volunteer work in the community are required for students choosing medicine, veterinary medicine or dentistry — this is key information that universities look at before considering an application for admission. The skills and experience that students gain through work and volunteer work strengthen their personal work.

St Michael's has dedicated staff to help students find relevant work experience, but it is the student's own responsibility to take advantage of such opportunities. Past jobs include:

• Experience of working in a local NHS hospital, working alongside doctors and other healthcare professionals. The opportunity to see with your own eyes a typical doctor’s day and witness small procedures in action.
• Volunteer at a local nursing home, charity shops and local school.
• Opportunities to volunteer, help out at local community events, and raise money at charity events.
• Students can take part in a first aid training course provided by an ambulance service and receive a certificate.

Students attend the “Oxford and Cambridge Conference” at the beginning of July. They have the opportunity to attend seminars in medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine to gain a realistic understanding of what admissions teachers look for in their applicants.

Lesson “Writing a competitive essay” helps students understand how to make their application stand out and what steps they need to take to improve their essay.

The school regularly invites professionals such as consultants, doctors, dentists, veterinary surgeons and nurses to speak about their experiences in the healthcare sector. For example, in a recent workshop with a radiologist, students were able to ask questions about her work experience. This then allowed us to see the role of the doctor from a different point of view.

Accommodation and meals

Students live on the school grounds in one of two boarding houses.

Students of grades 7-10 live in the Parc House residence – it is a beautiful mansion located off campus (about 3 km from the school). Students are transported to and from school every day by school bus. 22 schoolchildren live in the house; the floors are divided into male and female areas. Parc House has the feel of a family home with plenty of communal space and well appointed and spacious bedrooms. All rooms are single or double. There is a large common room that is used for relaxing, dining and studying.

Students in grades 11-13 are accommodated in the Tenby residence, which is located just a few minutes' walk from the school building. The living conditions are excellent. Tenby House – This is a purpose-built residential building located on the school grounds and consisting of single rooms with private bathrooms. The head of the boarding house and his family live in the same building and take a personal interest in each student, supporting him. Thanks to the team of staff, schoolchildren living in the boarding house are safe. An adult is always available if the child has a problem or concern that needs to be discussed. All employees have extensive experience and are distinguished by patience, a good sense of humor, caring and energy.

Sport

Sport plays an important role in the lives of many of our students and we offer many opportunities to get involved and try something new. On the school grounds there is a swimming pool, sports and gyms, fields for football, netball, rugby, basketball, golf, cricket, tennis courts, bicycle paths, and ski jumps.

Sports sections: golf, tennis (large and table tennis), rock climbing, rugby, netball, football, basketball, swimming, chess, baseball, athletics, skiing.

Additional activities

The extra-curricular program for schoolchildren is in no way inferior to the school course in its richness and diversity: in their free time, children are offered so many activities and hobbies that absolutely everyone can demonstrate their unique talents and abilities.

The arts are an integral and important part of school life and the school is immensely proud of the work that teachers and students do each year. The school has a wealth of talent and staff work with pupils to inspire creativity, confidence and excellence in music, art, speech and drama.

Why not try your hand at playing a new musical instrument or audition for a school play? If public speaking is more your thing, you can take lessons from dedicated LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) certified teachers. There are also choirs, an orchestra and many small ensembles.

A number of concerts are held each year, such as Christmas celebrations, drama and art presentations, and an annual performance day to celebrate students' achievements throughout the year.

Creativity and art:

• playing musical instruments – solo or in a group
• vocals and singing in the choir,
• dramatic, theatrical art,
• master classes in public speaking and debate,
• law lessons,
• «Course for young businessmen»,
• editorial staff of the school magazine and newspaper
• foreign language clubs (including Chinese),
• choreography.

The school offers a wide range of extra-curricular clubs which give pupils the opportunity to try new experiences and learn new skills. For example, a discussion club called "Chat", an IT club, creative arts and writing, rock climbing, football, netball, several different craft clubs and a chess club.

Thematic events, excursions:

• big Christmas concert
• lectures on career guidance, employment issues, university admissions,
• trips to Bristol, London, Stratford,
• excursions to the campuses of major universities
• ski tours in Europe (twice a year),
• additional English language courses for foreigners + preparation for the IELTS exam.

Cost, 2023-2024

£39,480 - £40,980 per semester (depending on age).

Included in price

• Training
• Accommodation and meals

Additional charge

• Registration fee - £500
• Deposit (refundable) - £2,500
• Air travel
• Transfers to/from/airport
• Visa
• Educational company services
• Selection of a guardian, which is a mandatory requirement of a British school

Paradise Education London services and fees 

How to choose a school