Ellesmere College is a fully co-educational school set in the beautiful Shropshire countryside in North-West England. As one of the leading independent schools in the region, it offers students between the ages of 7 to 18 the chance to achieve both personal and academic success in their studies and a wide range of activities, including music, art, sport and drama, in a happy, friendly atmosphere. In 2021, Ellesmere College was accredited as a High Performance Learning World Class School – one of only 39 schools worldwide to hold the distinction. We prepare students for their i/GCSEs, A Levels, BTEC and the International Baccalaureate (IB), as well as giving them the opportunity to enjoy a full and varied sports and co-curricular programme. Founded in 1884 and standing in its own stunning grounds covering more than 50 hectares, the school is conveniently located near the small, historic town of Ellesmere, with easy access to Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and London.
The house systems. The Lower School (ages 7–13) has a competitive system based on 3 houses – Brownlow, Phillips and Heywood.
The Senior School (Yr 9–13) has a competitive ‘house point’ system – academic and sporting – based on 4 houses, all of which are co-educational and combine boarding and day pupils:
•Meynell House
•Talbot House
•Wakeman-Lambart House
•Woodard House.
Separate from the competitive houses is the residential house system for day and boarding arrangements:
There are 3 girls’ boarding houses:
•St. Aidan’s – Middle School (13–16 years)
•St. Oswald’s & St. Hilda’s – Sixth Form.
There are 4 boys’ boarding houses:
•St. Patrick’s & St. Cuthbert’s – Middle School (13–16 years)
•St. Bede’s & St. Luke’s – Sixth Form.
Curriculum. In the first year in the Senior School, a full range of subjects is studied, designed to give all pupils a comprehensive introduction before focusing on their core elective subjects for i/GCSE. At i/GCSE all pupils take English, Mathematics, and either Dual Award Science or the three Sciences studied separately. Other subjects depend on individual aptitude and choice.
In the Sixth Form, over 24 academic subjects are available for study to A Level, BTEC Diploma or International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma to prepare for university entrance, the Services and the Professions, or to the USA degree system via our SATs pathway.
Ellesmere College will be launching its International Foundation Programme (IFP) for entry into university as a one-year foundation programme course soon.
Music. The College has very strong musical traditions and has been awarded Artsmark Platinum in recognition of the award-winning arts provision at the College. It possesses two of the finest organs in the country, including the internationally renowned St Mary Tyne Dock Schulze Organ. The Chapel Choir has a wide repertoire of Church Music and a number of other ensembles, all of which give regular concerts. There are House Music Competitions every year, Celebrity concerts, and the community Sinfonia Orchestra.
The Music School is part of the College Arts Centre which provides first-class facilities, including a 220-seat theatre, 8 Practice Rooms, a Recording Studio and Teaching Rooms.
Arts Centre. This purpose-built complex hosts Drama, Dance, Film, Music and Art Exhibitions. A programme is organised in which international artists in all these fields visit the Centre, which shares its facilities with the local community.
Careers. At all levels pupils are encouraged to seek advice from the College careers Masters and Mistresses as well as representatives from the Independent Schools Careers Organisation. A Careers Convention is held each year for pupils in Year 11. Students also take ESB (English Speaking Board), ILM (Institute of Leadership & Management Level 3), SATs and mentoring programmes.
Games and Physical Education. Ellesmere has a long tradition of sporting excellence and has a total of 7 Sporting Academies: rugby, football, tennis, swimming, golf, cricket and shooting. The sporting excellence is supported by the Rugby Academy programme, the Tennis Academy and the Ellesmere College Titans Swimming Team. The Cricket Academy was launched in 2009, the Shooting Academy in 2010, Golf Academy in 2015 and the Football Academy in 2016. The LTA approved indoor Tennis Centre was completed in 2017 and there is also a High Performance Hockey Programme with a pathway to international progression.
All members of the School are required to participate in a regular programme of games, though particular inclinations and aptitudes are taken fully into consideration. Facilities include two sports halls, floodlit multi-sports AstroTurf pitches, a fitness centre, squash courts, a heated indoor swimming pool, indoor and outdoor shooting ranges, two high-tech gymnasia, a purpose-built LTA-accredited indoor 4-court tennis centre, 6 floodlit all-weather tennis courts, a golf course, indoor golf Sky-Trak, rugby pitches, all-weather hockey pitches, cricket squares and an athletics track. The school also has access to nearby lakes, rivers and hills providing opportunities to develop other skills including sailing, canoeing and horse riding.
All pupils are expected to join one of the following: D of E (Duke of Edinburgh's Award – Bronze, Silver & Gold), Outdoor Training Unit, Combined Cadet Force (CCF – Army, Navy, RAF), Social Service. These activities occur on one full afternoon a week, but, in order to extend their activities, twice a year 3 days are set aside when all members of the College participate in 48-hour expeditions. In the Lent Term a single day is devoted to expeditions.
Admission. Students are admitted at all points of entry into the school. Entrance examinations are held in February for Lower School entry. Scholarships for Prep School candidates are held in May, while others take the Common Entrance Examination in June.
Scholarships and bursaries. A wide range of awards recognising a range of talents are available:
•Academic: a maximum of 50% fee remission.
•All-Rounder: a maximum of 25% fee remission.
•Art: a maximum of 25% fee remission. Applications welcome for the The Adlard Scholarship.
•Drama: a maximum of 25% fee remission.
•Music: a maximum of 50% fee reduction and free tuition in two instruments. Exhibitions are worth up to a maximum of 25% fee reduction and free tuition in one instrument.
•The Schulze Organ Award is for Sixth Form candidates only – valued at 50% of fees.
•Sports: a maximum of 50% fee remission.
In cases of need, all awards may be supplemented by means-tested bursaries.
There are reduced fees for children of the Clergy and Service personnel.
Foundation and Regional awards are also available for local children.
Fees per term (from January 2025). Upper School: Boarde rs £16,123, Weekly Boarders £11,511, Day £8,866.
Lower School: Boarders £12,920, Weekly Boarders £10,913, Day £5,433–£6,250.
Fees are inclusive of general College charges and VAT.
‘Old Ellesmerians’ Former pupils of the school become members of The Ellesmerian Club, which in turn enables them to take part in a number of societies and activities. For further information, contact: external.relations@ellesmere.com Charitable status. Registered Charity, number 1103049. It exists to provide education for children.
Governors & Staff:
Founder: The Revd Nathaniel Woodard, DCL, then Dean of Manchester
Visitor: The Rt Revd The Lord Bishop of Lichfield
College Council:
D C Brewitt
Mrs F M Christie
The Reverend Canon B C Clover
Mrs S Connor
J S Hopkins
R A K Hoppins
C E Lillis
A L Morris
Mrs R E Paterson
The Reverend M J Rylands
M D T Sampson
Head: Mrs Vicky Pritt-Roberts
Deputy Head (Pastoral): Dr R Chatterjee, BSc, MSc, PhD, Cert SpLD
Deputy Head (Academic): Mrs S V Pritt-Roberts, BEd, MEd, NPQH
Deputy Head (External Relations): Mr S B Mullock, BA
Head of Sixth Form: Dr T Gareh, BSc, MSc, PhD, CSci, CChem, MRSC
Head of Middle School: Mrs S Phillips, MA
Head of Lower School: Mrs S Morgan, BEd
Director of Activities: Mr C Davies, BA
Chaplain: The Revd Phillip Gration
Director of Operations: M McCarthy, BSc, DMS
Registrar: Ms K Randall, BSc