Private school Windermere School

Welcome to Windermere School

Windermere School was founded in 1863. The school is located in the heart of the Lake District National Nature Reserve. (Lake District), in Windermere, 1.5 hours from Manchester and Liverpool airports and 3 hours from London by train. The school campus is located on the shore of a lake, near which children often walk during their free time.

Windermere – A small school that values ​​the individuality of each student. The school offers an education that combines academic excellence with a variety of extra-curricular activities enhanced by a spirit of adventure. Representatives of 25 nationalities live at the school at the same time. Students discover and accept the similarities and differences between countries and cultures. The school motto is: “He who conquers himself wins.”

The Good Schools Guide describes Windermere as “a school that enjoys a heartfelt approach to everything” from the scientific community to friendship."

The school has about 300 students.

Director (for 2026)

Jenny Davis.

Famous school graduates

• Julia Tizard, Vice President, Virgin Galactic
• Jackie Bailey, politician
• Samuel Etherington, inventor and James Dyson Award winner
• Kate Holt, photojournalist
• Evie Plumb, lead singer of LOWES

Key factors

• Small classes – on average 12 people.
• Teacher to student ratio – 1:8, almost individual approach to everyone!
• At school you can practice water sports at a serious level.
• In high school, students study only the IB (International Baccalaureate) program, which makes it possible to then enroll in almost any university in the world.
• The school has a special program “Outdoor Education”. This is an experience that brings up the “hard to measure” ones. life skills such as self-awareness, independence, motivation, confidence, empathy, resilience and determination, creating a growth and development mindset in students.

Equipment

Windermere School provides an ideal environment for musical, theatrical and artistic expression. Equipment helps with this: dance studios, a theater, a separate concert hall in the music department. There is a dedicated studio with natural light, a large gallery and individual workspaces for creative projects. The Art and Design Studio is a large open space making the most of the school's beautiful surroundings.

Sports facilities include tennis courts, a sports field, a full-size floodlit all-weather field and a separate sports hall.

The school has its own water sports centre, Hodge Howe, located one kilometer from the main building. Windermere School has been operating as a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) training center for several years now. In 2018 it became the RYA British Youth Sailing Club, the only school in the UK with such accreditation.

Program

GCSE

Two-year program to obtain a certificate of general secondary education. 6 subjects are required to study, 4 subjects are studied electively.
What is the difference between IGCSE and GCSE programmes?

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)

International Baccalaureate program recognized by universities around the world. 6 subjects are studied: 3 at an advanced level and 3 at a standard level. In addition to this, students write an extended essay, take a course in “Theory of Knowledge” and (practical philosophy) and the CAS course ("Creativity, activity and mutual assistance").
Find out more about IB program

BTEC

Pre-university training course with maximum emphasis on the development of practical skills and the application of theoretical knowledge in real life. You can obtain a BTEC qualification in the following specialties: business sciences, sports.
Find out more about BTEC program

Accommodation and meals

Children under 16 live in one of two residences: one – with a gorgeous view of the mountains, a friend – overlooking the lake. Accommodation in single and double rooms, boys and girls live in different residences. Children are under24/7 surveillance. In the residences, children feel at home: comfortable rooms for relaxing with friends, wide-screen TVs and kitchens. There are quiet study areas, as well as a separate schedule of classes with subject tutors every evening.

The weekend program is rich: trips to the theater, excursions around the surrounding area, shopping trips, as well as recreational activities such as bowling and roller skating.

High school students 16-18 live in a special residence, Westmorland House. Accommodation is organized in individual rooms, apartment style, each with its own common rooms, study areas, and adjoining bedrooms and bathrooms. The children have at their disposal a shared open-plan kitchen and dining area, as well as a large recreation room, a TV room, a pool table, a games console, and a laundry room. Students have their own garden with barbecue and adjacent parking.

Nutrition has a direct impact on student learning, as well as physical and mental development. The school's chefs pride themselves on combining fresh and seasonal ingredients in creative and varied ways. There are themed days and weeks throughout the year to stimulate discussion about food. This ensures that students know what they are eating. The school takes into account requests for special types of food for children with food intolerances and allergies.

Sport

Sports – an integral aspect of a healthy lifestyle. Many school students successfully compete in sports competitions at local and national levels. The sports program includes team sports, coach-led activities, sports game days and sports tournaments.

The main competitive sports in which competitions are regularly held – netball, hockey, football, tennis, cricket and athletics. Also popular are basketball, rounders, cross-country running and volleyball, horse riding, golf, archery, and rock climbing.

Water sports

The school is located next to the lake, and the children take full advantage of this location. Canoeing and kayaking – a popular activity throughout the year. Sailing and windsurfing are popular activities. The school has several boats of different sizes used for teaching sailing. The school team competes in races, including Grand Prix series across the country, national championships and world championships.

Children also learn survival and map reading skills, participate in team-building exercises and gain first aid qualifications.

Additional activities

Dance classes are popular at the school; they take place in a specially built studio and are taught by professional dance teachers. The school offers training in ballet, tap and jazz. Children choreograph their own routines for the school's annual musical.

Theater arts can be studied as part of the GCSE and IB school programs. Several large concerts are held throughout the year where children perform performances. Individual and small group speech and drama classes are available for an additional fee. Many students take advantage of this opportunity and successfully achieve high marks in LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Drama) exams.

Performing arts – It's not just about performing on stage. The school has a whole team that provides technical support for performances. Stage lighting, prop production and backstage management – All this is taken on by the students.

The school curriculum includes visits to theaters. This is not only fun, but also an opportunity to get inspiration for your own creativity. For example, children go to London to see the famous musicals “The Lion King” and “Hairspray.”

The art studio provides children with classes in making greeting cards, landscape painting, and making props for school plays.

Music classes are popular at school. There is an orchestra, chamber ensembles for strings and wind instruments, junior and senior choirs, jazz, flute, string and saxophone groups. Individual lessons in playing musical instruments are provided.

Outdoor Education Program

In an ever-changing world, young people must be able to adapt to different environmental conditions. While supporting academic subjects, Windermere School's adventure program aims to create individuals who are not only confident, tenacious, independent and happy, but also resilient, willing to fail and try again. This allows children to maximize their potential in all areas of life, including academics. All schoolchildren take part in the program every week.

PrikThe Lucenian program includes water sports: sailing, windsurfing, canoeing or kayaking, fishing. And also outdoor adventures: overnight camping, mountain walking, wilderness survival skills, navigation skills and orienteering.

Children who study outdoors are more attentive. Constant exposure to nature reduces stress and anxiety, helps lift your mood, and helps with emotions, promoting a positive learning experience. At school, geography becomes a reality and the science lesson is related to environmental conservation. An English lesson might include a trip to Rydel Caves to reinforce the use of "spooky" characters. adjectives, and a poetry lesson can take place under old oak trees.

Learning this way makes learning more memorable and allows children to be more involved in their own education. The course has a strong emphasis on personal development in the areas of leadership and the acquisition of outdoor skills.

Cost, 2026-2027

£54,000 per year.

Included in price

• Training
• Accommodation and meals

Additional charge

• Registration fee - £60
• Deposit – cost of 1 semester
• English as a foreign language classes - £335 - £650 per semester (depending on the number of hours)
• IELTS course - £470
• Air travel
• Transfers to/from/airport
• Visa
• Paradise Company Services
• Guardianship (requirement of British law)

Paradise Education London services and fees 

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