At Sidcot, we are truly an international boarding school at heart. We welcome students of more than 30 different nationalities to live adventurously, and learn together at our School.
Our long-term experience with such a diverse community means that our staff are accustomed to welcoming students from overseas. We do everything we can to help them settle in happily and quickly, and feel at ease with school life. Our international school students can join us as day pupils or boarders, or choose a flexible boarding option from Year 7 onwards.
A Unique Experience
Joining an international boarding school is a unique experience that brings with it many benefits for students. Sidcot School is an independent boarding school that delivers a high calibre of education while encouraging children to become well-rounded individuals who understand what matters to them and to the world around them. Studying at our international school offers:
- Exposure to diverse cultures with students from all the world learning and growing together
- Academic excellence through a tailored curriculum that focuses on students as individuals and prepares them for their next steps
- Independence fostered through teaching students how to manage their own time, take care of their own needs and make decisions for themselves
- Global opportunities for students who are able to network with peers from all over the world
- Extracurricular activities centred around personal passions and interests
A Stunning Location
Sidcot School is located in beautiful North Somerset and is an ideal location for those who want a rural but accessible international school. Bristol and Bath are a short distance away and there are excellent links to London.
This offers students the chance to study and develop in a peaceful and picturesque setting, with many opportunities to explore the sprawling green spaces. Students with a love of outdoor learning can indulge their enthusiasm for equestrian pursuits or enjoy earning their DofE award. With major cities close by, they are also able to indulge any curiosity about the wider world and spend time soaking in vibrant and bustling city environments.
Our international boarding school houses
Within our five boarding houses, international diversity is celebrated and shared. It is thanks to this rich mix of people that students come to see themselves as global citizens who enjoy getting to understand different cultures. Living together at Sidcot, they engage with each other's language, food, and traditions as part of daily life. Past students often remark on how much they appreciated having the opportunity to learn first hand about life in other countries.
International school students can board at Sidcot from the time they enter our Senior School in the Third Form (Year 7). The younger boarders live in smaller, family-orientated houses, while our Sixth Form students board in larger houses with more independence. Some of the Upper Sixth students live 'semi-independently’ in small houses, giving them some experience of living on their own, which provides an excellent foundation for university life.
Starting At An International Boarding School
We understand that starting at any new school can be a big change, and we want to make that transition as seamless and enjoyable as possible. Students joining our international school provision will be supported as they get used to their new surroundings. We take student wellbeing very seriously, which is why all international school students will need a guardian in the UK who must be appointed prior to a student’s arrival.
Equality and community are at the heart of Sidcot School’s aims and values. We welcome all new students with this ethos at the forefront of all we do, and are confident that all children will integrate into our community and feel at home as they set out on their international boarding school journey.
The International Admissions Process
Whether you’re applying for a place at Sidcot School directly or via one of our international agents, make sure you’re familiar with the international admissions process before you begin your application. Visa support is available for students joining without a UK passport.
An airport transit service is available for students arriving from Bristol International Airport or London Heathrow Airport to ensure international students can travel to Sidcot safely.
International students may wish to complete the Year 11 Pathway One-Year GCSE course, which covers a range of subjects to keep their options open for higher education; having this alongside the IB Diploma can make a degree application much stronger for students who haven’t otherwise sat GCSEs.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the international admissions process or life at Sidcot School. You can also see the school for yourself by booking a place on one of our open mornings or a personal tour.