King William’s College was established in 1833.
KING WILLIAM'S COLLEGE
ISLE OF MAN
DEAR AGENTS
Greetings from the External Relations Office at King William’s College in the Isle of Man.
We know that our visiting families enjoy seeing our small, friendly and caring school community in action and are reassured instantly after meeting our staff. We would be delighted to welcome your prospective families to our school. We would also love to welcome our agents to King William’s College and would cover the cost of your flights from the UK. Please do let me know if you would ever like us to arrange this for you. Families can also enjoy a virtual visit, view our school film and meet our Principal, staff and students. We would also be delighted to arrange a virtual coffee with our Principal and for your students to meet our boarders online.
We offer outstanding pastoral care, distinctive academic outcomes, and a rich and varied co-curricular offering, in a spectacular setting.
Getting to the Isle of Man
See just how easy it is to visit our special school in the Isle of Man and meet our incredible community.
VIRTUAL TOUR
HISTORY
HISTORY
HIGHEST ACHIEVING
The highest achieving Isle of Man school, outperforming many leading UK independent schools.
EXTRACURRICULAR
Wide range of enrichment and extracurricular activities.
SMALL CLASS SIZES
Our average class size is 15, reducing to 10 in the Sixth Form. Pupil-teacher ratio of 1:8.
SAFTEY
The Isle of Man is a beautiful, healthy and safe location where young people will flourish.
NATIONALITIES
Approximately 15% of our students are international, representing over 15 nationalities. We support our non-English speakers with qualified English as an Additional Language (EAL) Staff.
King William’s College is an exceptional school, much like the Isle of Man is an extraordinary island in itself. And so are the students. This IB school boasts an incredible school spirit, taking pride in its strong community. The atmosphere is friendly, the academic standards are high, and the support from dedicated teachers is fantastic. The collaboration within the school is truly commendable. The seamless organisation of a student’s short-notice transfer from another school within a matter of hours reflects the school’s efficiency. We appreciate the straightforward communication with the admissions team, as well as the cordial interaction between the school staff and the students. The heart is in the right place at King William’s College, and we wholeheartedly recommend this school.
MEET THE TEAM
The team here at King William’s College is looking forward to speaking with you and assisting with any new enquiries. We would also be delighted to welcome you to visit our school.
Best wishes from us all,
Kara Clague | Head of External Relations
Marion Clifford-Taggart | Admissions Registrar
Hayley Naldrett | Marketing Assistant
Lauren Rafferty-Spiers | Administrative Assistant
BOARDING
Our vibrant, friendly and creative boarding community adds so much to the College environment. There are two boarding houses – Colbourne House for boys and School House for girls.
With a mix of local and international boarders, pupils are given the freedom to become more independent, both socially and academically, fostering friendships which will last a lifetime.
I had a great time visiting King William’s College. With its spectacular location by the sea, your family IB school convinces with its academic as well as extracurricular programme. I especially liked the location, the warm atmosphere from both staff and students and the performing arts centre.
STUDY AT KWC
(I)GCSE AND PRE-IB COURSES
The aim of our Pre-IB Programme is to provide our international students with the language skills and academic foundations to make a success of the International Baccalaureate Diploma. Pupils successfully completing the year will automatically be offered a place to study the IB in our Sixth Form. Pre-IB pupils will become members of the Fifth Form and will join the Upper Fifth tutor groups to help aid integration. All Pre-IB students join existing (I)GCSE classes and study the IGCSE First Language and the IGCSE First Language English courses, which are specifically designed for them. The (I)GCSE course is a two-year course which Pre-IB students join in its second year.
THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
In 2002 King William’s College began teaching the International Baccalaureate Diploma. Since then more than 1,000 students have studied the Diploma with us and we have become one of the largest and most successful IB schools in the British Isles. We believe that it is an excellent preparation for both university and life beyond and it is the only qualification we offer in the Sixth Form. The entry requirement is six (I)GCSEs grade C or above or equivalent. Our average class size is 10.
EXAM RESULTS 2023
(I)GCSEs
Our 59 GCSE/IGSCE Year 11 students achieved an overall pass rate (9-4 or A*-C) of 87%, with 37% of grades at 9-7 or A*/A.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA
The year group of 57 students achieved an average of 32 points. Nine students achieved 40 or more points out of a maximum of 45, putting them in the top 5% of students worldwide.
I have known King William’s College for over 17 years now and it still feels like ‘coming home’ when I land on the island. It is not only the location that makes this school special; it is definitely the students, the staff and the opportunities that our students get at King Bill’s! The pastoral care is notably great and we as agents always get the feeling that our students are in the best hands. The care given to our pupils, the parents and us as agents is exceptional and we feel that should a problem arise, it is dealt with promptly. I would highly recommend this school with its unique setting and friendliness all around!
HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
An education begins in the classroom, but does not end there. There is another dimension to a rounded education: the opportunities outside the classroom. Learning how to lead, how to contribute and how to build and we offer a vast array of opportunity to try new challenges to enrich the academic experience of all our students.
THE SUMMER TERM BOARDING EXPERIENCE - JUNE 2024
The King William’s College Summer Term Boarding Experience is a unique course which is held during the summer term. For three weeks in June (Wednesday 5th to Tuesday 25th June), the Boarding Summer Term Experience provides an opportunity for students aged 13 to 16 to join a fully functioning school. It is designed to empower students to taste boarding school life and discover if they would enjoy studying away from home longer term. The course offers intensive English tuition, with a range of other academic subjects, and total immersion into the School community. It is complemented by a full leisure programme of sports, activities and excursions.
Each student will have approximately 35 hours of English tuition over the course, which will aim to:
- Improve spoken and written English.
- Develop vocabulary
- Enhance listening and pronunciation.
- Build confidence and fluency.
In the first week students will attend English lessons in the mornings, followed by activities in the afternoon. In the second and third week the students will be integrated into regular subject lessons with our current students, according to their age and ability. Our Boarding Summer Term Experience is suitable for students who are preparing for IGCSEs, A levels or the IB Diploma, are thinking of entering a British boarding school, or looking for an interesting and rewarding holiday, whilst improving their English. Places are limited.
KING WILLIAM'S COLLEGE TUITION FEES 2023-2024
Fees are payable by the first day of term. There are three terms per year. Our boarding fees include laundry, linen and full board. The tuition fee includes the cost of books, stationery and lunch. All fees are subject to a periodic increase in accordance with the school’s Terms and Conditions.
| FULL BOARDING FEES | FOURTH FORM | FIFTH FORM | SIXTH FORM |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANNUAL | £34,940 | £39,140 | £41,590 |
| AUTUMN TERM | £11,647 | £13,047 | £13,863 |
| SPRING TERM | £11,647 | £13,047 | £13,863 |
| SUMMER TERM | £11,647 | £13,047 | £13,863 |
I love to express my appreciation for the peaceful and nurturing environment at the school. I praise the excellent Science and IB curriculum and the caring and dedication of the staff and management I had the pleasure of interacting with during my visit. I would love to visit the beautiful Island again with my children.
I am in the lucky position to represent King William’s College for many years as a German agent. As an agent, but as a mother as well, I was always amazed by the wonderful surroundings where KWC is located and by the stunning nature of the Isle of Man. After many years placing German students in to this lovely school, I always describe KWC as a warmly welcoming, familiar and supportive school with amazing people working for and with the school. The new Science wing is one of my favourite facilities at KWC. All my students and my son, who graduated in 2021, have been very happy at KWC.
TRAVEL TO THE ISLE OF MAN
The Isle of Man has great air links with many major airports in the UK and Ireland. Most airlines operate daily flights to the Island, with some flights from the North West taking just under 30 minutes. Once you have arrived on the Island, King William’s College is just a two-minute taxi ride or a 10 minute walk from the airport. You can also access the Island via ferry or fastcraft crossing all operated by Isle of Man Steam Packet. Please check the Steam Packet’s website for timetables, fares and ways to book.
OUR ISLAND
Failt Erriu meaning ‘Welcome’ in Manx Gaelic. Situated between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, in the middle of the Irish Sea, is where you’ll find the Isle of Man. It is a self-governing British Crown Dependency with a beautiful rugged coastline, medieval castles, natural landscape and an abundance of unspoilt beauty. The Island, which is 32 miles by 14 miles and is home to about 84,000 people, has recently been voted the safest place to live in the British Isles.
I am happy to say that since our visit your School and the Isle of Man is mentioned in every parent consultation meeting we hold! When we meet parents who are unsure of their childrens safety, we confidently talk about KWC‘s pastoral care, facilities, the personal connections and the warmth of the student dwellings. It is important for us to apply our policy that we place the right child in the right school, so our track records continues to grow with success and great parent reference. Therefore, we place KWC happily on the list of ‘well established and all round schools’.
