Private school Pangbourne College

Pangbourne College Virtual Tour

Pangbourne College was founded in 1917 as the Men's Academy of Maritime Education. Today it is a well-known coeducational school, but elements of the naval heritage still exist: solemn parades are held, students put on a naval uniform, a lot of attention is paid to teamwork and leadership development.

The school is located in the village of Pangbourne, in the county of Berkshire, near the city of Reading. From the school you can quickly get to Heathrow Airport (45 minutes) and central London (30 minutes).

The UK's best schools Guide ‘’The Good Schools Guide’’, describes Pangbourne College as follows: “A small, distinctive, family-oriented school that places great emphasis on self-discipline, teamwork and leadership. Caring and supporting every student, Pangbourne boils with activity and encourages its students to grow. ”

The school has about 450 students.

DIRECTOR (FOR 2026)

Oliver Knight, Education - Uppingham School; Postgraduate certificate with the right to carry out teaching activities.

FAMOUS SCHOOL GRADUATES

• Jeffrey Bernard, journalist and columnist for The Spectator Magazine
• Beverly Cross, screenwriter
• Jeffrey Richard, businessman, former Lord Mayor of the City of London
• Jefferson Hack, journalist and editor of the magazine
• Mike Halewood, motorcycle racer
• Patrick Howes, composer
• Rodney Pattisson, a yachtsman, twice Olympic gold medallist
• Ken Russell, film director, “Patriarch of British Cinema” (films “Devils”, the series “Lady Chatterley's Lover”)
• Andrew Simpson, sailor, Olympic winner
• Tom Spencer, politician
• Baron Nigel Vinson, businessman and inventor
• Frank Davis, music producer

KEY FACTORS

• The school offers to study 21 subjects on the GCSE program and 25 subjects on the A-level program.
• Small classes, so teachers give more individual attention to each child.
• Huge opportunities for sports and participation in competitions. Pangbourne is one of the most successful rowing schools in the UK.
• Pangbourne College has its own small farm, in the development of which children are actively involved. Fresh produce is grown on the farm, five chickens carry fresh eggs daily, students pick berries and make jam. Plans to create their own apiary and a wildlife pond.
• The school has a department for supporting children with dyslexia and dyspraxia. Classes are taught by qualified teachers - specialists in working with children with specific learning difficulties.
• Children whose English is not native can attend additional language classes.

EQUIPMENT

Pangbourne College covers an area of ​​93 hectares in the beautiful countryside. The school has excellent sports equipment: 9 indoor and 5 outdoor tennis courts, a 400-meter grass treadmill, equipment for long and high jumps, discus throwing. The school has many sports fields for playing sports, a heated 25-meter pool with 6 lanes.

The school has its own boat club, located on a wide six-kilometre stretch of the Thames, which used to be the venue for school national regattas. Children can study not only on the school grounds, but also in partner sports clubs.

The art department includes two large studios and three classes for printing, ceramics and photography. The school has three Steinway concert pianos, as well as many high-quality musical instruments.

PROGRAM

GCSE

A two-year program for obtaining a certificate of general secondary education. Required to study 6 subjects, 4 subjects are studied by choice.
What is the difference between IGCSE and GCSE programmes?

A-level

A two-year university preparatory program. Students choose 4 or 5 subjects for in-depth study.
Find out more about A-level program

BTEC are also offered in a number of subjects including creative digital media, design and technology, entrepreneurship, sports. These are also examined with a final exam at the end of the course.
Find out more about BTEC program

ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD

Residence in a residence in one of 7 houses. Each house has common rooms where children can socialize and relax, many have table football, table tennis, a large TV, library, board games.

Meals in a beautiful newly renovated school cafeteria, the food is varied and plentiful. Students can order soup, hot and cold dishes to choose from, salad bar dishes and dessert. There is always a choice of vegetarian dishes.

SPORT

Pangbourne College is committed to developing each child’s abilities in a variety of sports. Offering a wide sports program, the school gives students the opportunity to achieve their goals: whether they are speaking at competitions or just having fun. Pupils play sports 4 times a week; on Wednesdays and Saturdays there are competitive matches.

Sports at school: athletics, basketball, shooting, cricket, soccer, golf, hockey, netball, horse riding, rowing, rugby, sailing, swimming, tennis.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

Pangbourne School is famous for its extensive and diverse program of events, including: theatre, art, French culture, a cinema club, a club for discussing current affairs in the world, fitness, a program for the prize of the Duke of Edinburgh, technological design, mathematics, mountain biking, music, Young entrepreneurs, "the united cadet corps and much more.

The school has excellent conditions for practicing art: ceramics, printing, photography, drawing, painting. Children can prepare for classes and exams or practice for fun. Students' works are published in the school journal and exhibited in the houses and in the main school building. Every year, the art department holds a contest of Christmas cards.

Students who wish to study art at the university receive great support from teachers. High school students go to the University of London every year on a special creative day. Such trips are very inspiring, give children an idea of ​​how to successfully work in the creative industry. The school invites famous artists and photographers with lectures.

Theatre classes are very popular at school. Three large-scale productions take place annually. Children visit theatres throughout the year to watch various performances, this serves as a useful tool in developing interest and passion in this area. Students can prepare for a theatre career and pass the Trinity exams.

The school has many opportunities for musicians of all abilities. Children take part in the college choir, chamber choir, jazz band, marching band, drum corps, percussion and chamber ensembles. At school, you can learn to play musical instruments, offering clarinet, saxophone, cello, oboe, piano, drums and percussion, guitar (classical, electric and bass), bassoon, flute, trumpet, organ. Children can learn vocals.

School music groups have the opportunity to perform at the Nancye Harding Concert Hall, as well as more formal events and services at the Drake Hall and the impressive Falkland Memorial. The school hosts the annual piano festival, where dozens of pianists from South England compete.

COST, 2026-2027

£14,115 - £18,645 per semester (depending on age).
There are 3 semesters in the school year.

Included in cost

• Teaching
• Accommodation and meals

Extra paid

• Registration fee - £240
• Deposit - the cost of 1 semester
• Flights
• Transfers to / from the airport
• Visa
• Services of the company "Paradise"
• Guardianship (as required by British law)

Our services and fees

Impressions of visiting the school

I speak English fluently, but I want to be even more fluent. From the school programme of the 80s I remember ‘this is my red scarf’ and my father's cackling: ‘who blew his nose on the cupboard?’. I remember the numb face of the teacher, shocked by my victory at the city Olympiad: ‘You speak English so well?’. Surprise, surprise!

I remember I was 12, and I was on summer duty at the school grounds: rustling the pages of my self-teaching book to the accompaniment of bumblebees and flies. There were no tutors.

I remember, I'm 14, and I'm enrolled in the adult library for courses at my request. A favour, because the courses start at 16 and there are no others in 1987. I am shaking with fear: what if my classmates start torturing me with questions from the school programme. After all, they told me to pretend to be a tenth-grader. At uni I studied journalism, but I was lucky: the language was taught cool and 4 times a week. ‘English’ Galkina did not speak Russian in principle, which suited me just fine. As a fat bonus to my thirst for English knowledge, the English added to my life: brave students from Durham, who came to hungry Russia in the 90s to learn Russian and drink alcohol Royale. I joined their party and spent 5 happily fruitful years in it. Of course, flying to England and living with everyone a little bit at a time. ‘In the people,’ like Gorky.

So, I'll be honest, I can't get it into my head when clients claim it's difficult to integrate into an environment. There would be a desire. The girl in the photo is a Serbian citizen, Iva. She studies at the English boarding school Pangbourne college. FOR FREE.

Iva won a competition organised by Head Master's conference in 12 countries. 1000 (thousand) people for 1 place!!! And the child won.
Standing ovation.

This humble girl has never had a single lesson with a tutor. Two English lessons at school - that's all the love. Books, films and a wild, desperate desire helped her to end up in a prestigious boarding school without any help from her parents. Not surprisingly, Iva's brother had won the competition two years earlier. He studied in Scotland.

The girl had no problems with integration: she just went to the people and got to know everyone to the maximum. She says her best friend is English. And Iva has only been at Pangbourne College for a year!

Oh, the magic power of MOTIVATION!!! The golden key to the magic door of opportunity.

WHY do our children lack ambition?