The Elms School

• Location: Colwall, Herefordshire, England,
• Foundation year: 1614,
• Number of students: approximately 170,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of education: mixed.

The Elms School — a private general education school for students aged 3-13.

The institution began its history in 1614, making it the oldest preparatory school in Great Britain to have retained its original appearance. The official date of the opening of The Elms School in its current format, accepting and educating children as it does now, is considered to be 1867. Throughout its existence, the school has not changed location, focusing on improving infrastructure and landscaping the existing territory — today it provides students with extensive green areas for walks and games, modern technologies in classrooms, and a variety of facilities for intellectual, physical and creative development.

According to reviews from parents of students and assessments by national agencies, The Elms School has numerous advantages: a rich curriculum, personalized attention to each student, engaging extracurricular activities and modern campus facilities, thorough academic preparation, which allows students to continue their education at leading schools and colleges in the country.

An important element of education for each age group is outdoor activities: every week all students participate in gardening lessons, animal care and Forest School classes. This is a special place, safe and equipped for acquiring important practical skills:

• Construction of housing from available materials,
• Safe use of tools, proper starting and extinguishing a fire,
• Cooking in camping,
• Food foraging: identifying useful and dangerous mushrooms, berries, plants,
• Manual labor: knot tying, wood carving,
• Orientation.

Through teamwork and independent problem-solving, students develop leadership skills, learn about safety and responsible environmental practices, explore the world around them, and discover their own abilities.

The academic system of The Elms School includes programs for preparatory preschool year and grades 1-8.

The residence, located within walking distance of the educational building and agricultural facilities, can accommodate up to 50 students. Students can choose the most suitable accommodation option for themselves:

• Full board — permanent stay on campus,
• Partial board — pre-booked accommodation for one to three nights a week,
• Flexible board — periodic accommodation in the residence for one night with the possibility of urgently booking a room, out of turn.

The residential building includes furnished rooms, shared bathrooms and play areas. Qualified staff live in the residence with children, providing 24/7 support and ensuring safety.

Accommodation on campus provides balanced, varied three meals a day. The menu changes regularly, and dishes are prepared by qualified school kitchen cooks: children can choose options for hot meals and salads, healthy snacks, drinks and sweets. Students studying in a daytime format receive lunch and snacks and can bring their own packed lunches from home.

The extracurricular life of The Elms School students is diverse: The Elms School offers a variety of sports sections, performing arts programs, opportunities to interact with animals and work on the farm. Starting in the third grade, students attend weekly classes on the farm, where they care for cows, pigs and sheep, and engage in plant and horticulture. Every year, The Elms School livestock participates in regional exhibition events, which are accompanied by students. Agricultural events are also held on campus, open to all visitors.

Another tradition of British schools is the equestrian section — students of The Elms School rent a pony or horse to practice skills of any level: from beginner to professional. Participation in the section provides an opportunity to compete in this area with pupils from other schools.

Performing arts are represented by several areas: music and theater. Students interested in developing their talent in music can join the choir, orchestra or ensemble, attend individual lessons on musical instruments. Most participants in music clubs enjoy showcasing their talent at regular entertainment and cultural campus events, whether it's a concert to celebrate a holiday or a charity evening. Lovers of theatrical art have the opportunity to practice acting and oratory skills under the guidance of professional teachers, participate in and independently stage musicals, performances, theater competitions.

On weekends, students remaining in the residence can relax after a busy week and spend time with friends. Sunday morning begins with a leisurely late breakfast, followed by organized activities: ice skating, surfing, horseback riding, swimming, laser tag or a trip to the cinema.

• A long history of successful academic activity,
• Average class size — 12 people,
• Flexible accommodation options adopted to the student's wishes,
• A wide range of extracurricular activities, including horseback riding and agriculture lessons,
• More than half of the students receive scholarships from the schools they enter,
• Individual attention to each student with consideration of his talents and strengths.

The Elms School is located in the countryside of Herefordshire, near the town of Colwall, on a 40-acre estate. The Elms School is one of fewer than 100 schools in the UK that has its own farm! It is home to dozens of Hereford cattle, Gloucester Spotted pigs, Shropshire sheep, several pygmy goats and chickens. Nearby are gardens and greenhouses, an equestrian arena and spacious areas for walks, sports activities and outdoor recreation. The building includes classrooms, subject laboratories, a library and a computer room, a number of art studios with specialized equipment. Some sports classes take place in the large hall inside the building, others — on open grounds and the stadium, in the swimming pool.

The Elms School has its own small fleet of buses that serves five routes in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire: the buses transport local children to and from lessons, are used during excursions, organized airport pick-ups and transfers.

The academic calendar consists of three trimesters:

• Autumn: September-December,
• Spring: January-March,
• Summer: April-July.

Classes are held from Monday to Friday, and extracurricular activities are organized after their completion and on Saturdays. Rest is provided on weekends and holidays, during trimester breaks.

Approximate list of additional expenses includes:

• Registration, administrative fees and deposits,
• Accommodation,
• Meals,
• Kids' club before and after classes,
• Some extracurricular activities,
• Individual music lessons, horseback riding training and other clubs,
• Medical insurance,
• School visa support,
• Personal learning materials,
• Personal expenses.

The admissions committee invites everyone to the Open House and personal tours to answer all questions and show the school campus with all its advantages. Next, applicants need to fill out a registration form, provide the required documents and pay the fee, after which they will attend a trial study day, during which teachers will evaluate candidates in an informal setting. A decision on admission is made within several weeks and official invitations are sent at the beginning of the education.

100% of students successfully pass the Common Entrance exams in their final year at The Elms School, after which they move on to leading secondary schools in the UK. Schools that have accepted graduates from The Elms School in recent years include:

• Ampleforth College,
• Cheltenham College,
• Clifton College,
• Malvern College,
• St Mary’s Ascot School,
• Wellington College,
• Hereford Cathedral School,
• Radley College,
• Eton College,
• Sherborne School for Girls.

To apply to The Elms School, international families need to provide personal documents: a passport, health insurance, a visa or residence permit. Depending on age, academic transcripts from the previous school may be required, as well as certificates from teachers, speech therapists, or psychologists.

The Elms School provides a discount program for military families, which will reduce tuition costs by 10%, and supports funding for families in difficult life situations.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision