Book for our Discovery Mornings

Discovery Mornings are a chance to explore the Schools on a normal working day.

You and your family will tour the School in the company of one of our pupils and will meet the Principal and senior team over tea and coffee.

Junior School (Reception – Year 6):
Wednesday 15 May 8.45am – 10am

Senior School (Year 7 – Year 11):
Wednesday 15 May 10am – 11.30am

Spaces at a Discovery Morning are limited so that you can have as much time as you need to see the School at your own pace and discuss your child as an individual.

International Admissions

On this page

Enquire or Apply Today

Welcome to Stamford, England

Stamford welcomes international students from around the world and values the cultural richness and diversity they add to our community. 

Stamford offers the educational quality of an HMC School in one of the UK’s safest and most historic towns.

Stamford is a very inclusive school, where all students are provided with excellent education and support. We believe in respecting others and celebrating difference – and we do everything we can to help our students find the right path in life.

International Admissions Process

Contact Us

For all international enquiries please contact our International Registrar.

Alex Kennedy
International and Military Registrar

01780 750380
internationalregistrar@ses.lincs.sch.uk

Enquiry Form

Introduction

We currently have around 160 boarders, including students from 10 different countries.

We know that living and learning in a new country can be a daunting experience, and that is why we run an induction programme and offer continuous guidance and support to ensure our students settle in well and are able to adjust to life and learning in the UK quickly and smoothly.

Our extended induction takes place before the academic year starts in September, allowing new students to find their feet, familiarise themselves with the School and town itself, and complete all necessary induction tasks in advance of their first day of school.

Buddy System

All new boarders are allocated a current boarder to be their ‘buddy’ during their first few weeks.

This enables students to be able to learn and understand exactly what school and boarding life at Stamford entails. It is also a great way to begin to make friends! Our House Parents are there to listen to any concerns a boarder may have, as well as answer their questions and truly make them feel as though they are living in a home away from home.

Support

Our boarders are surrounded by friendly and helpful boarding, academic and support staff, as well as a strong UK boarding community.

They are therefore well integrated in a traditional British education, whilst mixing with other students from many different countries around the world.

Boarding Houses

All seven of our boarding houses are busy and vibrant and continue to be at weekends.

Our boarding House Parents canvas the students’ interests when planning weekend activities and our students often enjoy fun outings to nearby adventures such as escape rooms, laser tag, the theatre, or dinner at a local restaurant. We have great transport links to nearby cities such as Cambridge, Lincoln, and London, which means a day trip further afield can also often be on the agenda. 

Closer to home, we are very fortunate to have Rutland Water (which has a fantastic Aquapark in the summer!) and Burghley Park on our doorstep, both of which our boarders enjoy in the warmer months.

Culture and Interests

Our international students are particularly encouraged to share their culture and interests.

Whether that’s with a House Cooking night making dishes from their home country, or by recognising and celebrating cultural events such as Chinese New Year and Armenian Christmas.

Our boarding community is what it is because of our international students. We would love to welcome you and help you to discover Stamford Schools.

How to Apply

In order to apply, our digital application form should be completed and submitted along with the £100 application fee.

Entrance Assessment

We require a scanned passport copy, two years’ of school reports and a handwritten personal statement from all of our applicants.

All applicants will sit our online entrance assessment and take part in an interview with a senior member of academic staff. 

International applicants can sit entrance papers in a number of ways; either in online in examination conditions invigilated by Stamford Schools, at offices of the British Council, at the applicant's current school under exam conditions, or at the offices of a recognised international agent working with Stamford Schools. Our Registrar will be able to help you choose which option is best for you. 

Please note that, other than in exceptional circumstances, we do not permit our tests to be taken at home or administered in either lawyers’ offices or the applicant’s current school.

EAL

If English is not a student’s first language, our EAL (English as an Additional Language) Department will help establish the amount of support needed, if any. 

This will be assessed using their entrance exam results and through discussion with a senior member of academic staff. Staff continue to monitor students’ progress throughout their time at Stamford.

Our EAL Department places a strong emphasis on academic progress, but supports students far beyond teaching English. Our EAL team help students adjust to life in England and learn about British customs and traditions, whilst welcoming and celebrating students’ home cultures. They also work as part of a wider team towards seamless pastoral and academic support.

Securing a VISA

Stamford is licensed to sponsor students under the Child Student route, and can support your visa application by issuing a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

We are not immigration specialists, and therefore cannot provide legal advice.

An HMC School

As members of HMC, the professional association of the Heads of the world’s leading independent schools, we provide academic excellence, outstanding pastoral care, and very good co-curricular opportunities. 

We offer 28 subjects at A Level, as well as 3 BTECs in Applied Science, Sport and Business and 1 Cambridge Technicals course in Digital Media, and students leave us to complete degrees at Oxford, Cambridge, Russell Group, elite and international universities, alongside a wide range of career and study choices.

Guardianship

All international students are required to have an educational guardian based in the UK.

A guardian acts as the parents’ representative and should be available to contact 24/7 in case of an emergency. They are expected to communicate with the School regularly regarding the student’s welfare, and liaise with the School regarding travel and accommodation arrangements during school holidays.

Guardians must be appointed before a student joins us. The School cannot allocate or recommend a guardian on the parents’ behalf; it is an important decision that lies solely with the parents.

Stamford During Covid

Since March 2020, we have done everything we can to make Stamford Schools as Covid secure as possible. 

Whilst many measures were school-wide to protect the welfare of all students, other measures were specifically implemented for our international students.

Throughout, we have followed the BSA Covid Safe Charter and complied with all UK Government guidance. We recognise that Covid has been around for over two years now and will likely continue to impact international travel and families decisions as to whether to send their child to school in the UK.

Online Prospectus

Interested in reading more about our school and what we have to offer? Then why not view our prospectuses. 

Get In Touch

You may have heard about us from someone else, or are yourself an Old Stamfordian who wants to see if it is the right fit for your child.

This form will let us know you are interested and we will get in touch with key dates and details of things that might be of interest to you.

Apply Today

When you know, you know, and there is no time like the present to get the paperwork started on your child's enrolment at Stamford Senior School.

We are ready and excited to hear from you and will be in touch with more details once you have submitted your application form.