University College School A GSG School
- University College School
Frognal
London
NW3 6XH - Head: Mr Mark Beard
- T 020 7435 2215
- F 020 7433 2111
- E ssadmissions@ucs.org.uk
- W www.ucs.org.uk
- A mainstream independent school for boys aged from 11 to 18 with a linked junior school
- Boarding: No
- Local authority: Camden
- Pupils: 898; sixth formers: 324 (102 girls)
- Religion: Non-denominational
- Fees: £19,545 pa
- Open days: September and October
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- Ofsted report: View the Ofsted report
- ISI report: View the ISI report
- Linked schools: University College School Pre-Prep, University College School Junior School
What The Good Schools Guide says..
Much teaching material tailor-made by school's own staff - that's proper teaching. Universal praise for the English dept. 'It's phenomenal,' drooled a parent. Very good languages dept and exchange system. Mandarin is growing seriously now and a new short course in Italian is on its way to the sixth. DT and art are outstanding. Evident creativity, freedom and experimental ethos and the dept has more the air of an art college than a school. Many media, some wonderfully bizarre and arresting work and all good stimulating stuff. Pupils set up clubs to pursue their own interests...
What the school says...
UCS was founded to be different from other schools and we remain so today. Our approach to education is founded on a dual emphasis on liberal academic scholarship and on being a community of individuals; this lends the School a distinctiveness of which we are extremely proud.
We have an outstanding reputation for pastoral care which results in a happy and well-balanced environment for pupils and staff alike. Our pupils are hard-working, thoughtful, enthusiastic, and a lot of fun. We believe in creating a culture of intellectual curiosity where our pupils think outside the box and develop a love of learning for learnings sake. Our inspirational teachers encourage debate and breadth of thought to nurture this culture: our outstanding academic achievements are the result not just of effective learning, but of the fact that UCS pupils leave School as problem solvers.
Our founding principles of tolerance and liberal scholarship can be seen in the kindness and confidence displayed by each of our pupils; their caring attitude is evident not just through the respect with which they treat each other but also through the ambitious programme of charitable fundraising which they undertake each year. We want our pupils to be able to make a real difference to their world, and we take great pride in UCS being such a strong and vibrant community one where the educational experience is truly unique. ...Read more
What the parents say...
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Curricula
Cambridge Pre-U - an alternative to A levels, with all exams at the end of the two-year course.
Other features
All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.
What The Good Schools Guide says
Headmaster
Since 2013, Mr Mark Beard BSc MEd (early 40s), a chemist. Mr Beard came from Brighton College where he'd been deputy head with a period as acting head between the redoubtable Seldon and the remarkable Cairns - a good place to cut headmagisterial teeth. He is credited with this school's greatly increased number of Oxbridge entrants. He began his career at King Edward's School, Birmingham, where he is remembered as 'a jolly good chap', thence to St Paul’s School, as head of chemistry. Mr Beard is married with two young children and enjoys squash, reading and ancient history.
He is energetic, open, likeable, relaxed and clear-sighted. He followed a loved and warmly respected head, Ken Durham, and big shoes can be hard to fill. However, 'I came in to be myself,'...
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Special Education Needs
There is currently one full time Learning Support Specialist in the Senior School. Pupils are screened for dyslexia on entry to the school. Progress of pupils with specific learning difficulties is monitored and reviewed at regular intervals. Individual support by withdrawal from lessons is offered in short blocks (usually 6 sessions) aimed at remediating specific areas of difficulty. If long-term, continuous support is required parents are advised of contacts outside the school. 09-09
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder | |
| Aspergers | Y |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders | |
| CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia | |
| Dyscalculia | |
| Dysgraphia | |
| Dyslexia | |
| Dyspraxia | |
| English as an additional language (EAL) | |
| Genetic | |
| Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory | |
| Has SEN unit or class | |
| HI - Hearing Impairment | |
| Hospital School | |
| Mental health | |
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty | |
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment | |
| Natspec Specialist Colleges | |
| OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability | |
| Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
| PD - Physical Disability | |
| PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty | |
| SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health | |
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication | |
| SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty | |
| Special facilities for Visually Impaired | |
| SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
| VI - Visual Impairment |
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Who came from where
| School | Year | Places | Scholarships | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold House School | 2015 to 2017 | 13 | 1 | Academic Scholarships |
| Chepstow House School | 2017 | 1 | ||
| Hereward House School | 2015 to 2016 | 3 | ||
| Hill House International School | 2016 to 2017 | 4 | ||
| Lochinver House School | 2015 to 2017 | 2 | 1 | Academic scholarship |
| Maple Walk School | 2017 | 1 | ||
| St Anthony's Preparatory School | 2015 to 2017 | 18 | ||
| St Paul's Cathedral School | 2010 to 2015 | 6 | 1 | Music Scholarship |
| The Hall School | 2015 | 2 | ||
| Trevor-Roberts School | 2015 to 2017 | 6 | 1 | |
| Westminster Cathedral Choir School | 2016 | 3 | ||
| Wetherby Preparatory School | 2015 to 2016 | 4 |
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