School Life

All new international pupils are invited to take part in our International Induction Weekend before term begins in September. This is led by the Assistant Head (International), International Pupil Leaders and School Leadership team.

The programme provides an introduction to life at Dean Close and allows pupils some time to familiarise themselves with the campus facilities.

We understand that moving to a new country can be a stressful time and so the aim is to alleviate that for those international pupils have when arriving in the UK to study for the first time.

The programme is offered to all new international pupils and includes: 

• Treasure hunt around our beautiful campus, helping new pupils find their way around; with the largest green area in Cheltenham, it is a relaxing and safe space to be

• Sports, team-building and Adventure taster sessions 

• Academic subject introductions, timetable check and running through academic routines and expectations 

• IT and Microsoft Teams setup to help maintain communication with friends and families at home 

• Library visit 

• BBQ and Tea with the Chaplain

• Firepit and evening event to get to know Houseparents. 

Dean Close School welcomes international pupils in all year groups, some of whom arrive in Fourth Form (Year 9) or Remove (Year 10) or Lower Sixth (Year 12) to begin their GCSE or A Level programme, and others who come for a Short Stay experience to immerse themselves in English and to enjoy the many opportunities and activities on offer. 

Our ELT Department prides ourselves on our flexibility and dedication to individual needs. Pupils for whom English is a second language are assessed during the first couple of weeks after arrival to identify particular language strengths and weaknesses. Each pupil has an individual programme of ELT and we monitor progress to ensure they are on track and able to access the curriculum fully and to express themselves with increasing fluency and confidence in English. We are able to offer a high level of flexibility and support in a range of ways: 

• Small group / individual lessons* 

• Subject-specific ELT study sessions 

• A minimum of three ELT lessons per week timetabled to replace Modern Foreign Language lessons in Fourth, Remove and Fifth Form 

• Additional individual ELT sessions arranged at any point during the School year 

• A drop-in ELT Study Centre open at lunchtimes and after lessons for exam preparation, vocabulary / grammar exercises, academic support and wider reading 

• Cambridge First Certificate and Cambridge Advanced English packages*, including booking with and transport to Cambridge exam centres in nearby Bristol or Oxford 

• IELTS exam preparation courses* and official IELTS Testing on site at school  

• Trinity College English ISE I & II exam preparation 

• Individual support for UCAS applications, university choices and writing personal statements, CVs and work experience 
  
  NB* Some courses may incur an additional fee In Remove and Fifth Form, pupils attend GCSE Extra English ELT lessons where they develop skills to pass GCSE English Language. Please note that achieving a pass in English Language (“C” grade) is a minimum requirement for university in the UK and increasingly many universities require a higher grade. Whilst we endeavour to accommodate individual preferences, due to timetable constraints it is not always possible for parents /guardians to choose teaching group sizes. Depending on level of English, some courses may form a compulsory part of an offer or a place. 

Each year we have a dedicated team of Sixth Form (Year 12 & 13) pupils whose role is to support our international pupils and promote intercultural inclusivity across the School. This International Student Committee works with our Houses to ensure that the international voice is heard and to contribute to our warm sense of community.  

International Pupil Leaders also support the work of the ELT (EAL) Department in offering the International Chat Room as drop-in for pupils who want to talk to older pupils about anything from homesickness to academics. The Committee has taken a lead in organising a wide variety of special events such as the Lunar New Year dinner and fireworks, Mid-Autumn Festival, St Niklaus, Maslenitsa pancake day, International Music Night, House Assembly presentations, the International Dinner and Dean Close’s ‘International Day’!