Christ College Brecon
Brecon, Powys, Wales
Christ College Brecon
Brecon, Powys, Wales
Overview
Founded in 1541 by none other than King Henry VIII on the site of a Dominican Priory, Christ College Brecon certainly had an illustrious beginning. The College aims to provide the facilities, opportunities and experiences that will enable pupils to develop high standards in all personal qualities, not just academically. It also has a spectacular location in Brecon, a market town and gateway to the Brecon Beacons National Park just an hour from the Welsh capital and transport hub of Cardiff.
At a glance
Academic
Central to the College’s aims is academic excellence, with the emphasis on first class teaching of small classes in well-resourced departments, with plenty of individual attention for pupils. Nearly all teachers are also tutors in the boarding houses, meeting their tutees weekly as a group and individually as needed, monitoring academic progress and setting targets to ensure that each individual achieves his or her potential. On average around half of students achieve A*/A at A Level.
Boarding
Each of the 6 houses has its own character and is run like an extended family by houseparents who are responsible for pupils’ welfare, health and academic progress. They are ably supported by a team of assistants, tutors and domestic staff and an ‘open-door’ policy encourages the formation of strong relationships. Boarding and day pupils are fully integrated into the houses, and a broad range of activities is available, along with lively inter-house music, singing and speech & drama competitions.
Sports
Sport at Brecon is about participation and having fun but it is also competitive and specialist coaches with professional playing experience offer pupils an edge. A Talented Player Development programme offers hockey players an international pathway and teams regularly reach the Welsh National finals. Facilities include a Hazell’s Astroturf, a gym, a climbing wall and squash and tennis courts whilst the Brecon Beacons are ideal for mountain biking, cross-country, climbing, canoeing and sailing.
Creative arts
A Creative Arts Centre opened in 2013 offering a 400+ capacity multi-functional auditorium with retractable seating, enabling whole school assemblies and providing a professional venue for speech, drama and music tuition and performance. 40% of pupils have individual music lessons, whilst 17 instrumental groups, 3 choirs, a Choral Society and a regular Open Mic night offer opportunities to perform. Plans are in train to create a modern integrated computer design, photography and art workshop.
Did you know?
- Every pupil proudly bears the ‘h’ logo that links the current members of the school with the founder, King Henry VIII.
- The school motto, translated into English from the Latin, means: ‘They achieve because they believe they can.’
