Private Sixth Form College in London, England

Rochester Independent College, London:
Rochester Independent College, established in 1984, offers a distinctive alternative to a conventional sixth form and a stepping stone between school and university. We are located in the County of Kent, just East of London. We accept day students from the age of 11 and boarders from the age of 16. Our focus is on examination success in a lively, supportive and informal atmosphere. Students are encouraged to be themselves and achieve exam results that often exceed their expectations. Rochester Independent College is accredited by the ISC (Independent Schools Council) and a member of the ISA (Independent Schools Association). The College's January 2008 Ofsted report judged that "the quality of education is outstanding."

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Students come to us from all over the UK and the world, as well as the local area. There are no bells ringing, no uniforms and everybody is on first name terms. The College has an atmosphere closer to university than school where students are treated as young adults.

The College's reputation for academic excellence is founded on over twenty years' experience of rigorous teaching. Students come to us for a variety of reasons and from many different backgrounds. We are not academically selective; our only entrance qualification is an honest determination to work hard. Our results however are always ranked among the best of the academically selective and students secure places at the best universities in the UK.

Most full time students at the College study GCSE courses in the Lower School, one or two year A level courses in sixth form, ESL ( English as a Foreign Language) courses, Creative and Visual Art courses or a combination of these. The average class size is eight, ensuring each students gets the individual attention they need. Many students are taking subjects / courses for the first time, others may be studying to resit exams. Direct entry into any year group is possible.

Personal Tutors and Form Tutors work closely with students on all courses to give advice about the course combinations that will best suit their future career plans. They can also ensure that their options for the future are kept as wide as possible.

- Classes at Rochester are characterised by the enthusiastic engagement of both students and teachers in the learning process. At A level we have a maximum class size of eight, in the Lower School there is never more than twelve. Students sit around tables, tutorial style, rather than in regimented rows. There is no back of the class in any of our lessons at Rochester.

- The best teaching manages to be both exam focused and full of enrichment material. Our teachers aim to thoroughly prepare students for their GCSEs or A levels but also to inspire in them a thirst for learning for its own sake rather than just narrowly prescriptive examination specificatproions. We ensure that no student, regardless of their academic ability, is left lost, overlooked or let down. A rigorous programme of regular testing undepins teaching at the College at all levels so that students are properly prepared for examinations and can approach them with confidence.

- As well as small classes tutors give freely of their time outside of lessons to see students individually and provide extra support. The College does not close at half term or during the Easter holidays and tutors are available for extra support. Student to teacher ratios are kept lower than even other independent schools.

- The College values traditional academic subjects and creative and practical subjects equally. Many of our students mix the two and successfully gain entry to top universities.

- The College has superb ICT facilities and, where useful, teachers use the latest technologies in lessons. Students are encouraged to use the College’s intranet where each subject tutor has archived materials, online lessons, resources, self tests and web links.

- Each student will be provided with a copy of the relevant syllabus or a synopsis of it at the start of the academic year, together with an indication of the expected start and finish dates for major topics/milestones. Lower School students are all issued with homework diaries which Form Tutors check weekly.

Rochester Independent College is in the Medway Towns in the County of Kent, just East of London - an exciting place to be in the educational field with both the University of Greenwich and the University of Kent currently moving increasing numbers of courses into their Medway campuses because of its strategically important location. Rochester and the other Medway Towns offer better and more affordable living accommodation than London, yet are within cheap and easy reach of all the facilities the Capital City has to offer.

Rochester itself is a historic city, famous for its connections with Charles Dickens and with a magnificent Cathedral and Castle that can be viewed from the College’s classrooms and Halls of Residence bedrooms. The College is at the heart of a conservation area. There are annual events on the High Street including the Dickens festival and the sweeps festival. The Castle grounds host live music concerts in the summer.

The College is only a two minute walk from Rochester Station or a short taxi ride from Chatham Station, both on the main London-Dover train line. Fast trains from London Victoria take only 45 minutes, 20 minutes from Bromley South. There are also trains to Gravesend and Dartford on the London Charing Cross line. For road travel, both the M2 and M20 motorways pass close to Rochester.

The major airports are within easy reach, Gatwick being only one hour and Heathrow one and a half hour away by road. Airport pick ups are arranged at the beginning and end of each term by the College. The Eurostar terminal at Ashford with its direct links to Paris and Brussels is also only 30 miles away. Again, transport to and from the College is easily arranged.