Studying at Rochester Independent College combines academic rigor with a creative buzz. There's no uniform and students and staff are on first-name terms. Accepting day students from the age of 11 and boarders from 15, the average class size is 8.
Students enjoy being here and are treated as young adults. Our teachers have masses of expertise and experience and get teenagers. It’s a place for individuals and a real alternative to traditional schools.
We encourage our students to voice their opinions, to think critically, creatively, and independently. They leave not only with excellent examination results but with enthusiasm for the future and new confidence about themselves and their education.
RIC interviews are a chance to explore your education, including things that haven’t worked out as planned. Routes forward may look different for every student who joins us. A small school allows this flexibility.
- RIC aims to give students an enjoyable and successful experience of school in an international environment with small classes and high-quality teaching and pastoral care.
- The focus is on examination success and preparation for university in a lively, supportive and informal atmosphere.
- We encourage students to search for their answers, to voice their opinions, to think critically, creatively, and independently. We value academic and creative achievements equally.
- Our only entrance qualifications are an honest determination to work hard and behave well.
- We aim for students to leave us not only with good examination results but also with enthusiasm for the future and new confidence about themselves and their education.
- The college ethos is designed to foster respect, challenge prejudice, and develop an imaginative and informed attitude.
- The college aims to play a role in the local community with a particular emphasis on the arts and the environment and to support the growth, welfare, and development of its staff.
Our aim in the boarding is to ensure that all students are well supported to live in an international environment where the informality of a College is combined with supervision appropriate to the age of the students.
We understand that our boarding students are often far away from home and we aim to ensure that they:
- Live and learn in a safe and secure environment
- Thrive in a caring atmosphere
- Have clean and comfortable accommodation
- Are well fed
- Can talk to a member of staff or an independent contact about any issue or concern
- Receive as much attention as they need
- Are happy and well looked after
- Have the opportunity to express their wishes
- Are respected
