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University College School, London

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University College School details

Address:

University College School
Frognal, Hampstead, London NW3 6XH

Telephone:

020 74352215

Fax:

020 7433 2111

Email:

office@ucs.org.uk

Website:

www.ucs.org.uk

Authority:

Camden

Gender of entry:

Boys

Age range:

7-19

Number of students:

962

Affiliation:

IAPS, HMC

Gender of sixth form:

Boys

Last inspection:

November 2005. Read the full inspection report.

General information

Headteacher: Kenneth Durham, appointed in 1996.

Background: University College School was founded in 1830 to promote the principles of liberal scholarship. Teaching is orthodox yet varied and provided by a large team of specialist subject teachers working closely with pastoral staff. An extensive ICT network supports teaching and most classrooms are equipped to allow electronic delivery of teaching materials. Subjects prior to GCSE include a variety of modern and classical languages and individual sciences along with personal, social and health education. At GCSE, all students study English, maths, at least one modern language and some science, after which they are free to choose from the options available. AS and A-level choices are similarly unrestricted and pupils have more than 20 subjects on offer. Team games are an important feature of school life and the range includes rugby, football, cricket, basketball and fencing. All pupils have the opportunity to represent the school and an annual programme of overseas touring covers a variety of sports. A state-of-the-art indoor sports centre will open this year, comprising a sports hall, swimming pool, fitness centre and health club. An annual literary festival brings writers, film-makers, artists and poets to the school to work closely with students. School concerts are held through the year including rock and jazz as well as classical singing and playing. The school's Lund Theatre is busy with productions ranging from large-cast musicals to small-scale studio performances. In 2004, pupils raised more than £40,000 for local and international charitable causes.

Alumni: Sir Roger Bannister, athlete; Sir Roger Penrose, mathematician; Alex Garland, author; Sir Chris Bonington, mountaineer.

Approach to discipline: Boys are encouraged from an early age to develop a sense of responsibility for their own behaviour. Much stress is laid upon tolerance of and respect for one another. Considerable effort is made to build a sense of community within the school. Bullying, racism and other examples of intolerance are treated most seriously. Possession or use of tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs is forbidden. The main thrust of disciplinary structures is to help boys to recognise their responsibilities, to learn to consider the feelings of others and to make properly informed choices in their behaviour. Boys may be detained after-school. Serious offences may lead to a boy's temporary suspension from school.

Higher education: 88% (6 Oxford 3 Cambridge).

Special needs: A specialist member of staff is available to provide support, advice and training for pupils with mild learning difficulties.

Inspection: November 2005: Please click the SEE FULL REPORT to view this information online.

Feeder schools: The Hall School, Hampstead; Lyndhurst House Preparatory School, Hampstead; Arnold House School, St John's Wood; Akiva School, Finchley; Hill House Preparatory.

Boys' age range: 11 to 18.

Percentage admitted according to academic ability: 100.

Average class size (seniors; 11-16): 22.

Average class size (sixth form): 11.

University College School Statistics

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