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UK high schools
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Studying in a UK high school is an established sector in the international education industry and schools report a growing diversity of students. |
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The high school sector in the UK is popular with many international students worldwide due to its promise of entry into higher education. Linde Melhuish, Principal of Padworth College in Berkshire, says, “The majority of overseas students have their sights ultimately set on going to British universities and so many of our students come to study for A-levels.”
The pursuit of higher education goals is a motivating factor for many different nationalities and Padworth College welcomed students from 28 different countries in 2008. Hazel Ormrod, Marketing Manager at the school says, “[We had] significant numbers of students from China, Nigeria, Vietnam, Iran and Saudi Arabia. We have noticed an increase in enquiries from Russia and the Ukraine and the Middle Eastern countries. In addition, there are more students from France and Germany who are looking to come for a term or two to experience life in a British boarding school.”
With an average yearly tuition and boarding fee of £22,059 (US$35,351), according to the Independent Schools Council in the UK, studying for any length of time at a high school in the UK is not a cheap option and nationality trends are largely based around the economic fortunes of provider countries. Russia has traditionally been a strong provider country and Richard Gorst form St Clare’s in Oxford says that Russian students still tend to predominate. “For some time we have had to be careful to limit the number of Russian speaking students,” he says. “There is of course huge demand now from China and oil rich countries like Kazakhstan.” He adds, “We have always had strong links in Europe, in particular with Germany, Poland and Italy.”
With so many nationalities represented at schools in the UK, and schools limiting numbers from one country, ensuring that international students mix well with UK students and other nationalities is not such a problem. However, schools report that they ensure this happens through orientation programmes and accommodation provision. At Davies, Laing and Dick College (DLD) in London, where accommodation is not on site, students have an even greater chance to integrate with local students from their own school and beyond. “Students over the age of 17 can be lodged at International Student House on Great Portland Street [in the centre of London],” says Caroline Marshall at the school. “The college has a secure floor where only students from DLD and our sister college, Abbey London, can live. We have a member of DLD staff who also lives there as a kind of housemaster.”
When it comes to recruiting international students, a variety of methods are used in order to appeal to all student markets. Gorst says that half of their international students enrol at the school through word-of-mouth, with the rest coming through the Internet or trade fairs. He adds, “Working with agents is all about the relationship and trust. We have an annual fam trip for agents new and old at Christmas which is a lot of fun and works really well.”
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Education Travel Magazine
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