Yu
“I loved […] how unique all the teachers were and the feeling of them being handpicked”
Hindolo
“They are absolutely amazing people, lovely, lovely people and I think they made my experience just as great as my friends”
Ruby
“Obviously they wanted us to get the best grades possible but it was also about thinking outside of the box, bringing new ideas into the classrooms”
Myron
“What Ashbourne have done is they’ve understood my situation, and they’ve spent alot of time explaining to me how to work through the mark schemes”
David
“They really personalise their methods and tailor them to each student”
David
“The quality of the teaching at Ashbourne was really outstanding […] The teachers not only made sure that I was adequately prepared to achieve top grades, but explored beyond the traditional syllabus in order to let me pursue my own particular interests within the subjects.”
Harry
“Ashbourne noticed that I wasn’t working to my full potential, made sure that I was okay both outside and in college and then assisted in motivating me to achieve the grades I needed for my choice of whether or not I wanted to go to university. This kind of assistance I would have never received in my last school and therefore it’s fair to say that Ashbourne is incomparable to any other institution I have ever attended.”
Sam
“They struck the right balance between answering any questions I had whilst also encouraging me to be independent and explore ideas for myself in a way that has prepared me well for my time at university.”
Guadalupe
“I am especially thankful to every one of my teachers for their dedication to teaching and their constant support, for sparking our interest in subjects beyond the A level curriculum, and for encouraging us to think more broadly and critically about the world around us.”
Anita
“The relationships I built with my teachers played such a big part too as they weren’t just there to teach, they genuinely cared and supported me every step of the way.”
Rohan
“The results I was able to achieve and the massive improvements I made were possible because of the incredible staff at Ashbourne College. My teachers continued to motivate me when I was struggling and encouraged me to improve in every lesson more than I thought possible of myself.”
Nadeen
“I have found each and every one of my teachers to be approachable, considerate, organised and eager to help at all times, which is exactly what students require.”
Ruby
“I would describe Ashbourne as such a happy place for me […] I really liked how close-knit the community was here”
Arham
“Everyone was really open it was really easy to make friends […] I always say Ashbourne was one of the best years of my life”
Lilian
“They really strived to bring out the individual natures of each and every student, they valued individuality”
Zaki
“Everyone is really friendly and everyone talks to you […] I don’t think anyone is unfriendly”
Yu
“I hadn’t had an experience calling teachers by their first names, it’s just great […] it makes such a difference”
James
“The wonderful thing about Ashbourne is that it is such a caring and friendly environment, populated by cultured intellectuals of the highest calibre to be found in any college I have ever seen”
Nefeli
“It’s very different to other schools I’ve been in, when you are in massive schools, it’s an inherant aspect of having cliques aswell as different group not mingling, I didn’t find that atall here, it’s sounds cliche but it felt like a family”
Ishan
“Everyone in my classes were determined and pushed the rest of the class onwards so no one was left behind. I was also respected as a young adult but still pushed which seems to be rare in secondary education”
Christina
“A college which encourages students to work to their full potential! Definitely a place where intellectually motivated students will thrive”
Ali
“I believe no one feels left out, for example for me if I see a student that is alone, I’ll just talk to them”
Matvey
“The environment, the social environment at Ashbourne is more conceraterd on actually studying […] people are discussing their lessons, their academics, which is inspiring and quite motivating”
Alaina
“What makes Ashbourne different is the amount of personal connection you get with your teachers […] they are always available so you can actually form a proper connection with them and feel like they really care about your journey”
Omer
“How teachers and other people treat us is amazing. Here you can be friends with anyone and I think that was the best thing”
Zaki
“We went back and fourth with my personal statement around 8 times”
Sofia
“Something that really helped me at Psychology at UCL is the Research Methods club that was happening at Ashbourne”
Leila
“Considering that Ashbourne is not a performing arts college, I still felt really supported in the process of applying to university, especially because it was a conservatoire”
Lilian
“I attended the Ashbourne Medical School Programme which involved regular sessions with teachers who specialised and understood the medical school application process”
Ruby
“I was given endless time with tutors who were able to sit down and help me read over my personal statement”
Sophie
“My UCAS tutor was invaluable in guiding me and gave me amazing advice on writing my personal statement. Ashbourne prepared me in the best possible way for university as it allowed me to gain much more independence and self discipline”
Benjamin
“My UCAS tutor Amy was the keystone to me securing a spot at Cardiff for Dentistry. Without her amazing support and feedback, and urging me to keep editing my personal statement, I would not have made it”
Soala
“I found the Personal Tutor system at Ashbourne extremely helpful and really value the independent work sessions I did with my tutor”
Vera
“I was particularly impressed by how professionally Ashbourne’s staff handled my university application and thoroughly guided me throughout the process. My UCAS Tutor has helped me immeasurably, not only with his fantastic teaching abilities but also by being patient and dedicating so much of his personal time to work with me, allowing me to perfect every aspect of my personal statement”
Lewis
“Time for personal attention is set aside with tutors to get advice at every step which gave me assurance that I was applying to the right university and on the right course”
Le Hong Ngoc
“My UCAS tutor helped me with my personal statement and because I was an international student, he helped me find the best university options for myself”
Muxue
“When I applied […] my PT helped me for my personal statement and gave me feedback on it”
Muzammil
“Meeting with Lee always allowed me to think outside my comfort zone into what I really wanted to do post university and when I had decided to do a degree apprenticeship, he supported me every step of the way.”
Hindolo
“I got the oppourtunity to go to Paris, which was extraordinarily fun, really cool to be with your teachers and your friends and get that sort of experience”
Sofia
“The thing about KPop dance club was that it gave me the confidence to really perform on stage, I wasn’t really a performer before this”
David
“Myself and a few friends of mine we were part of this House Band, and it’s a great oppourtunity for instrumentalists to come together and explore their craft”
Arham
“Having Hyde Park right next door … sports day or just playing volleyball in the summer will be some of my favourite memories”
Leila
“Part of my Ashbourne experience that I really enjoyed was The Revue, I did a ballet solo which allowed me to showcase my technical skills”
Darcey
“I was also impressed by the amount of clubs, events and trips that were on offer. Whether they were academic such as MUN, Natural Science club and the medical programme or fun events organised such as bowling, go karting, workout classes and even trips to Paris there were so many to choose from”
Meena
“From attending activities one of the most important things I’ve learnt is that I can have fun around my teachers and other students, allowing me to be myself”
Holly
“What I loved about Ashbourne is that we would visit museums and galleries as part of our learning, unlike any of my previous schools. These are some of my most memorable moments and a very effective way to show the real world applications of my subjects.”
Irfan
“The variety of extracurricular activities, including sports, arts, and cultural events, provided opportunities to discover new interests and enhance my skills […] the school environment itself was beautiful and welcoming”
Sara
“There’s something for everyone, if you’re interested, from plays like cirque to soleil to go karting and laser tag”
Svetlana
“The highlight of my year would have to be the annual Revue during which all the students have the chance to show off their talents and capabilities. The Revue also helped me truly feel the familial atmosphere the Ashbourne”
Siam
“The creative arts event was amazing, you had all the parents, students and teachers there, its nice to have that support system for you. You are supported in your creativeness as well as your academic abilities”
Saba
“Without a doubt my son has come through Ashbourne a completely changed student, he has gained lifelong friends, truly independent learning and self-reflection. He has gained a strong sense of self confidence and most importantly is fully prepared to face the coming challenges of university life”
Lucio
“She’s more ambitious than ever and works very hard to achieve her goals. She had found some good friends between the students who share the same approach to life”
Griselda
“Our grandson was really almost a school refuser, through having very very careful thoughtful suggestions as to how he could integrate back into the school system, he was really really carefully nurtured. Bit by bit by bit his confidence came back, it was excellent”
Jane
“It has been a real joy and delight to watch [her] grow into herself during her time at Ashbourne, developing much needed confidence in herself and in her abilities, both academically and socially. She is learning to value and believe in herself both inside and outside of the classroom”
Rick
“I think the biggest impact Ashbourne has had on my daughter has been confidence levels. They’re not spoon fed at Ashbourne, they’re left to work on their own, but there is always someone there watching over them”
Waseem
“The school persistently kept track of my son’s performance and gave him detailed feedback on how to improve. I believe that Ashbourne has equipped my son with enhanced skills for university and take a different approach to his studies. Ashbourne […] prepared him with skills to be a better person in the real world”
Jane
“The fact that the college treat their students as capable and independent responsible adults (from Year 10) has really worked for her and we have watched her gain confidence and capability and independence over the last three years. She has great respect for her teachers and the school rules and boundaries set”
Sara
“I would recommend Ashbourne unreservedly; for any child with the maturity to function well in a less structured, more flexible environment. Equally, for families who seek an inclusive, mutually respectful and more mature environment for their kids”
Griselda
“He’s turned into an independent learner, which he really wasn’t when he came here. He absolutely takes responsibility for his own learning and that’s come from the encouragement he’s had here, quite exceptional encouragement really”
Rick
“Coming to central London for college would have been a fabulous experience. I know my daughter sometimes found the travelling the commuting a little bit hard but that in itself is all part of preparing her for life and work afterwards”
Hong
“My son attended Ashbourne for his A levels, coming from abroad. At no point did he feel not supported or out of his depth […] coming here was an important decision for my son’s education, and I would recommend it to any parent in a similar situation as mine”
Anita
“I know when we came to the school they said they would bring individual attention, I think she definitely got that. I think what they gave in addition to that was treating each child as an individual, which I think are two different issues. She was very much accepted as her personality; they wanted her to grow in the way she needed to grow”
Saba
“The senior academic team clearly knows every single student and makes a huge effort to understand each child, what their strengths are, and where their challenges lie. They address this early, with expertise and clear experience, and this is then worked on by the whole team”
Kurshid
“During the 5 years my son attended Ashbourne there was a lot of feedback from teachers as to his progress and suggestions as to how to improve his performance. The staff at Ashbourne were very helpful and actively engaged”
Taras
“The openness of the teachers and their willingness to go beyond the standard material upon student request stood out”
Rick
“Sophie got particularly good support during her university applications, it’s a really difficult time. She got very good advice and support all the way”
Arantzazu
“We have been welcomed as a family into their can-do, motivating culture of learning and achievement, founded on warm, supportive relationships within the classroom and throughout the College. In four years we have seen our two daughters […] both moving through their A level studies onto Cambridge University — something we would never have dreamed of four years ago.”
Melissa
“I chose Ashbourne because of its excellent reputation. I can’t stress enough how appropriate the attention has been to my son’s needs, both academically and pastorally. If he has a problem or concern it is dealt with swiftly and with a tremendous amount of understanding and kindness.”
Caroline
“The curriculum was brilliant actually […] broader than the other places. Not very many places do Film and my daughter wanted to do Film. On the tour when we walked around she was very impressed by the presentation and that made her yearn to come here.”
Anita
“The challenge I face when choosing a school is not only that my daughter is creative, she’s also academic. It’s very easy to find schools that excel either in the creative side where the academic standard isn’t quite as high, or vice versa. What makes Ashbourne quite unique is that they have a massive creative element at an excellent standard, alongside strong academic achievement.”