What it’s like
Founded in 1981 as a co-educational sixth-form college and now an educational charity, CCSS has three main teaching sites in the city centre. Comfortable school houses, with individual study bedrooms, communal facilities and supervision by resident staff, are located within easy reach of the teaching buildings. All A-level students receive individual tuition alongside classroom teaching in small groups. All lower sixth students complete an enrichment programme, consisting of general studies, IT and interest options. Exam results are very creditable. There is a standard range of optional games and sports. Regular trips abroad are organised in relation to subjects studied.

School profile

Pupils & entrance
Pupils: Age range 15–19; 170 pupils, 52 day (30 boys, 22 girls), 118 boarding (74 boys, 44 girls).
Entrance: Main entry at 16. No entrance exam; for sixth-form entry, reference and 4 GCSEs at least grade C. No special skills or religious requirements. State school entry 15%; pupils come from some 70 schools.

Scholarships, bursaries & extras 2 pa sixth-form scholarships, value up to 50% tuition fees. 7 bursaries available. Parents not expected to buy textbooks; average £125–£175 pa extras.

Parents Up to 35% live within 30 miles of the school; 55% overseas.

Head & staff
Principal: P C Redhead, in post from 1981. Educated at Sevenoaks and Cambridge University (applied biology).
Teaching staff: 25 full time, 31 part time. Annual turnover 10%. Average age 42.

Exam results
GCSE: In 2003, 15 pupils in upper fifth: 40% gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects; 33% in 5–7; and 27% in 1–4 subjects. Average GCSE score 39 (36 over 5 years).
A-levels: 75 in upper sixth: 84% passed in 3+ subjects; 11% in 2; and 3% in 1 subject. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 315.

University & college entrance 92% of 2003 sixth-form leavers went on to a degree course (5% after a gap year), 2% to Oxbridge. 3% took courses in medicine, dentistry & veterinary science, 34% in science & engineering, 3% in law, 55% in humanities & social sciences, 5% in art & design. Others typically go straight in to work or to art foundation courses.

Curriculum GCSE, AS and A-levels offered. 33 AS-level subjects (including photography, graphics, fashion, media studies, psychology, law and film studies), 32 A-level.
Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; general studies not taken but AS-level critical thinking taken by all. 25% take science A-levels; 50% arts/humanities; 25% both. Key skills taught through AS and A-level subjects, except IT taught separately; no key skills exams.
Languages: French, German and Spanish offered to GCSE, AS and A-level; also modern Greek at A-level and Italian and Russian to GCSE and A-level.
ICT: Taught across the curriculum. 25 computers for pupil use (10 hours a day), all networked and with email and internet access.

The arts
Music: Some pupils learn a musical instrument; choir etc via city ensembles.
Drama: GCSE and A-level theatre studies offered. A few take part in school productions.
Art & design: On average, 8 take GCSE, 12 A-level. Fashion and photography also offered. 3–4 go to art schools each year.

Sport & activities
Sport: Some compulsory sports for Year 11; squash, badminton, hockey, tennis, volleyball, basketball, soccer, swimming, shooting, rowing, cricket, rugby, trampolining, aerobics, weight training are optional.
Activities: Pupils can take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Community service optional. Up to 5 clubs eg cinema club, magazine production, web design.

School life
Uniform: None.
Houses & prefects: No competitive houses or prefects. School Council.
Religion: No compulsory worship.
Social: Regular trips related to subjects eg Italy (history of art), Europe (languages), Russia/America (politics and history), Australia (fun). Students may bring own bike. No alcohol allowed.

Discipline Pupils failing to produce homework once might expect a discussion with their subject teacher; students caught smoking cannabis on the premises should expect suspension or expulsion.

Boarding All have own study bedrooms (many ensuite and with telephone lines). Supervised houses of 7–50, divided by age group – some single-sex, some mixed. Unlimited exeats allowed at weekends, so long as students are up to date with their work. Unlimited visits to the local town (day/early evening).