Culford School
Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England
Culford School
Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England
Overview
Culford is a co-educational boarding and day school set in an 18th Century mansion surrounded by 480 acres of parkland, yet only an hour away from Stansted International Airport. The School wants learning to be challenging, enriching and fun, and seeks to develop the whole child, producing well rounded, fulfilled individuals alongside excellent academic outcomes. Facilities are regularly upgraded, with a £2.2 million library and a 2nd artificial turf pitch being the most recent major additions.
At a glance
Academic
Pupils at Culford are challenged and stretched within the structure of a highly personalised learning programme that helps them achieve their individual potential. Personal tutors meet their tutees briefly every day, with a more formal weekly one hour session, and pupils have input into the setting of their targets. A 1 year iGCSE programme runs alongside traditional GCSEs, whilst a broad range of 25 subjects is offered at A Level. On average over 55% candidates achieve A*/B at A Level.
Boarding
With a mix of year groups and fully integrated day pupils, the 4 boarding houses are under the guidance of friendly and experienced housemasters/mistresses and resident assistants, who together create a family atmosphere. They take an interest in pupils’ personal development, keeping in close touch with parents. Personal tutors guide pupils in balancing extra-curricular activities with academic work, whilst weekends offer karting, bowling, meals out and trips to London and nearby Cambridge.
Sports
Sport at Culford combines challenge, enjoyment and the opportunity to reach sporting goals. Facilities include 2 all-weather artificial turf pitches, a 25m indoor pool, an indoor Tennis Centre, a climbing wall, 2 fitness suites, a gym and a golf driving range. Top performers in tennis, swimming, golf and cricket benefit from bespoke sports programmes, whilst close links to local clubs support elite hockey and rugby players. Other sports offered include badminton, football and horse riding.
Creative arts
Art disciplines on offer range from drawing, painting and sculpture to textiles, photography and 3D design, whilst visiting artists to the Foundation Gallery deliver student masterclasses, and Design Technology boasts a 3D printer and a laser cutter. Ensembles and choirs give over 30 performances a year, from tea-time recitals to full orchestral pieces. Drama has a modern 120 seat professional theatre, whilst the 3 major dramatic productions a year include the much anticipated School Musical.
Did you know?
- In 2009 a new Music school was developed in the East Wing of Culford Hall. This included turning the old Billiard Room into a recital room complete with Steinway grand piano!
- Collette Reynolds, in charge of Netball at Culford, played international lacrosse for England for 10 yrs and went to 3 World Cups, coming 3rd once and 2nd twice!
