Basic Information & Location
Kent College Pembury is an independent girls’ boarding and day school founded in 1886. In 1939, the school moved to its current location, Pembury in Kent. Locating in the southeast of England, it takes only one and a half hour train to London. It also locates in the area of top girl independent boarding schools such as Benenden School, Mayfield School and Woldingham School. The school has a 75-acre rural parkland site, settling its students in the refurbished Victorian manor house. International students are not common in the school; there are high percentage of British students studying in the school.
Academic Development
Students who aged 11 to 14 years old can study Year 7 to 9 In the school. The Lower School curriculum provides a greater variety of subjects to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum. In Year 7, all girls are first taught in groups. They will study three modern languages (French, German and Spanish), as well as traditional subjects such as English, Mathematics and Science, so as technical subjects like Information and Design Technologies. In Years 8 and 9, students would choose two of the three modern languages and are introduced to Latin.
Students who aged 14 to 16 will progress to Years 10 and 11 and follow the two-year GCSE course or International IGCSE courses with public examinations at the end of Year 11. Students study subjects like English language, English literature, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. They also need to select four to five subjects from seventeen choices, including Art and Film Studies , one must be a modern language.
For the Sixth Form students, the A level programme lasts for two years. During the two years, students will study more deeply and independently. Each subjects will provide various chances of participating in conferences, lectures and visits. Ensuring their mental and physical health, one afternoon per week is set aside for physical education.
To assist the students to progress into higher education, the school has contributed a lot. From the Career Program to make people aware of whole range of career possibilities, to the advices and resources like talks by speakers or visits to universities, can all help students to develop full picture of university education and career. In fact, for 2017, 84% students could progress to their first choice course, and nearly 80% of students can study in highly competitive courses in Russell Group Universities, such as University of Exeter, University of Bristol and University of Nottingham, studying International Relations, Economics and Geography.
Referring to the 2016 report by Independent School Inspectorate (ISI), all of the nine criteria have been graded “Excellent”, including the quality of pupils’ achievement and personal development, as well as the school’s contribution of curricular and extra-curricular. As a matter of fact, the average class size is 16 girls per class, and the size would be smaller at GCSE or A level. This enables the school to provide high level of individual attention and close monitoring. And since the provision of curriculum is board, students’ linguistic, mathematical and scientific skills are highly developed, at the same time having excellent outcomes in art related subjects. In 2016, 42% of students were graded A* to A in A level, which was a very fine result.
Pastoral Care & Boarding
There are two boarding houses in the school, one for Year 4 to 9 students, another for Year 10 or above. Year 13 students can each have their own room, while the Year 12 one can share in twins. Other boarders would share a bedroom for three to four girls. Each house would has its own Senior Housemistress and assisting team of staff. Students can choose to be full or weekly boarders, to stay at weekends, or go home on Friday evenings. At the weekend and during the week after lessons, there are always activities, including visits to theme parks, cinema or skating rink, or a trip to London for shopping and galleries, craft activities and multi-sport competitions, suited to the age and interests of the girls.
Extracurricular & personal development
To ensure students can thoroughly develop their each aspect of life, the school offers a varied and exciting program of over 100 extra curricular activities. Special clubs like film-maker club, Zumba dance and cake-making, offering additional scope to let them discover their strengths. Further challenges are like the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme is also available. Students can also participate in community services, helping to raise fund for charities. There are also residential trips, both at home and abroad. Locations and themes including Religious Studies and History cruise to Turkey, Greece, Lebanon, Science trip to Indonesia or skiing trip to Italy. There are exchange chances for sporty, language and drama students to America, Australia, Spain, France and Germany.
