The College has always been international, both in spirit and in the make-up of our student roll and staff. We have students from 44 different countries on roll this year.
English private boarding schools are associated with traditions,historic buildings and Harry Potter style school uniforms. RIC is different and the focus is on preparation to top universities. Not all UK Private Schools though wear uniforms. In fact, like Rochester Independent College, some of the most high performing sixth form boarding colleges in the league tables are non-uniform schools.
Vasilisa
Filippo
Angel
Good balance of UK and international among the boarders – the latter from eg Italy, Nigeria, Hong Kong, Russia, Thailand plus Japan, Australia, South Africa, Brazil and Mexico.
Many of our overseas students come to us through positive word of mouth rather than via agents. Our overseas students are fully integrated into the life of the school rather than in a separate international study centre. Some RIC boarders are UK students, sometimes those whose parents are in the armed forces or ex pat workers based overseas. We also welcome students from international schools who join us for A levels after their IGCSEs or the IB Middle Years programme.
RIC offers a passport to the UK’s best universities. We do not offer foundation course or access programmes as A levels are the most reliable and respected route for international students to follow.
Unlike the IB Diploma programme, or most overseas post 16 systems, A levels allow students to specialise in three or four subjects.
Specialist English language teaching prepares students for their IELTS examinations which are also required for university entry.
RIC is more like an international school in style than a traditional British boarding school. Students and teachers are on first name terms. Unlike some other independent sixth form colleges that offer accommodation all of RIC’s boarding is on campus. Students are closely supervised, the site is totally secure and there are resident staff based in each of the buildings.
RIC is a short walk from Rochester railway station, 20 mins from London Stratford (for the Olympic Stadium) and 40 mins from London St Pancras or London Victoria. Our students can enjoy everything that the capital city has to offer without the problems of living in it.
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 of term by the College for students arriving independently.
