Rochester Independent College Summer School

Building on the College’s reputation for both academic excellence and creativity, we are excited to offer our popular 2-week Art & Design course. This is best for creatively-minded students seeking a British boarding school environment.

Focusing on individuality, diversity and flexibility, Rochester Independent College offers the opportunity to explore a range of creative projects within art, film and fashion, and to develop their English language skills. The urban campus has an award-winning wildlife garden at its heart, providing a university-like campus experience.

At Rochester Independent College, the focus is on individuality, diversity and flexibility; values we’ve woven into our course. We are looking forward to welcoming young people from all over the world to Rochester, to develop their passions and have a taste of life at a British boarding school.

Rochester Independent College (RIC) and SBC are both part of the Dukes Education family of schools. Rochester Independent College is delivered as a collaboration between SBC and RIC. Take a virtual tour of the Rochester Independent College campus here.

Discover Rochester Independent College

Discover a unique independent school that celebrates individuality and inspires artistic expression. Experience the local history of Charles Dickens whilst living and studying a short train ride from London. See what it is about Rochester that makes it a perfect place to study art this summer.

DOWNLOAD OUR SAMPLE TIMETABLE

Discover more about what a typical two-weeks at Rochester Independent College summer school course looks like for our students. Please note our sample timetable is given as an example and can be subject to change.

Life on campus

Rochester Independent College gives students the unique opportunity to live and study in the charming historical town of Rochester. With a high street filled with personality, students can explore antique shops, book stores, and independent boutiques. If you have a passion for history and culture, then students will enjoy everything about Rochester and its location.

Rochester Independent school is made up of Victorian townhouses that surround a tranquil garden that students will love to make their summer camp home.

When students aren’t filled with wonder at the many charismatic surprises hidden away behind the school’s gates, then there is everything on campus to help young artists feel inspired, relax and make new friends.

After art classes, students can enjoy taking part in sports activities. Rochester Independent College has a compact sports court perfect for basketball and five-a-side football, as well as having a small modern gym.

In the common rooms of the accommodation, students can relax, play pool, games and play music, creating a vibrant community feel. At Rochester Independent College, young artists will find the perfect setting to meet like-minded students, further discover their artistic flair, and to even forget the passing of time, such is the impact of this wonderful school.

Academic approach

At SBC we believe that the best form of learning is by doing. In a friendly and encouraging environment, our students are guided and challenged to develop new artistic abilities.

By creating fresh opportunities for important abilities like critical thinking, leadership, communication, and teamwork – students can connect with artistic concepts whilst acquiring the 21st century skills needed outside of the classroom to develop as young artists.

The student experience is at the centre of all we do, so having compassionate, motivating tutors who are knowledgeable in their fields and have global experience is crucial. We specifically look for tutors who are effective at getting the best performance out of students, in addition to being subject matter experts in their field. Teaching is both an art and a science, so we go above and beyond to identify experts who are friendly, talented and share our beliefs, in order to create an impact that will continue long after our students have taken their last session with us.

Time To Shine: The Rochester Students’ Art Festival

Students gather at the end of each week to join in Time to Shine, a group presentation they give to their peers during the Rochester Students’ Art Festival. The culmination of the week’s work, these projects can involve a guided exhibition through their week’s art pieces, or a presentation about a particular artist or movement from art history. This is a fantastic opportunity for our young artists to demonstrate their knowledge and artistic flair.

By practising their collaboration and public speaking skills in front of a wider audience, our students receive invaluable experience.

Available Courses

 

Rochester Programme Highlights

At Rochester Independent College our student experience goes beyond the classroom, with a social programme led by our dynamic team. Our activities and excursions will help our students make new friends from other countries, build self-confidence and build memories to last!

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Every day after class, our College Mentors deliver an exciting range of well-being activities and events. Students will have every chance to build key team-working and communication skills whilst, most importantly, having an amazing time! This part of the experience helps ensure that students socialise with others outside of their classes and build a sense of community throughout the programme.

As well as a wide range of traditional team sports, our artists can choose to take part in other well-being and fun activities such as yoga, poetry and arts & crafts . Led by our outgoing and compassionate College Mentors, everything about SBC’s wellbeing programme has students at the very heart of it. Everything is chosen and shaped around the interests of the students. With the centre of Rochester on their doorstep, our social programme explores much of what the historic town of Rochester has to offer, including informative walking tours by the river Medway and the stunning Norman castle, as well as trips to local shopping malls and the Pirate Cove Adventure in nearby Chatham.

To help ensure that students develop their growing independence, they are provided with free time in small groups (parental permission permitting), in which they can explore their new surroundings, including The UK’s largest second-hand bookstore on Rochester’s high street.

EXCURSIONS

Art & Design students will have two-day trips to enjoy, including a sightseeing-filled trip to London, which is approximately an hour away by train or coach.

Our expert social programme team designs unforgettable visits to London for all of our students to look forward to. This year students will enjoy a range of activities to suit any interest, including a sightseeing walking tour, the British Museum and the National Gallery! Plus many more. In previous years, itineraries have included Kew gardens, guided tours of London and visiting the museums of Greenwich and Knightsbridge. Every London itinerary comes with free time to explore and browse the stores of some of Britain’s most iconic brands. Visits to art galleries and exhibitions are also part of our Art & Design excursion programme.

Other excursions include a visit to the historic city of Canterbury where students will get a guided tour of the famous cathedral, chance to explore the city in their own time and in the afternoon they’ll be treated to an afternoon guided river tour!

End of course celebration

We’re proud to celebrate our students’ achievements with a fun celebration ceremony and disco thrown beneath fairy lights in Rochester’s beautiful garden. At the end of each two week course the celebration provides a moment of reflection to recognise achievements, both personal and academic, alongside new friends.

A certificate will be presented to students during the party. We’ll also provide a report outlining all accomplishments while studying with us, along with helpful tips to guide learners in the right direction towards future success.

Student support and welfare

To guarantee that students have the greatest experience possible while attending Rochester Independent College, our college site is staffed by devoted and skilled College Mentors and a Social Welfare Manager. Through their thorough training, our staff are equipped to ensure that all students can feel safe, secure, appreciated and respected while learning with SBC. These kind and considerate staff members are always available to offer excellent pastoral care and are available around-the-clock.

Student voice is crucial to the college experience, and by supporting that voice, we provide our students the power to have a say in their own learning.

During their stay, students are housed in comfortable and secure accommodation on-site.

Our top priority is the students’ safety and well-being. All workers, volunteers, guests, and contractors are required to abide by our extensive Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and procedures.

Read more about our Accreditations and Awards.

Accommodation

All of our students will live on-site at Rochester Independent College in comfortable accommodation with single study bedrooms with wifi and common room access. Some rooms come fully equipped with ensuite bathrooms and others are shared between a small number of students.

Rochester Independent College’s boarding is all on-campus, and as such students do not have to travel far between teaching buildings and their residences. The accommodation is located in Victorian town houses, which surround the campus grounds. Each house is under constant supervision and staff are available 24/7 should students need any additional support.

Rochester Independent College Summer School FAQs

 

I don’t believe in life-changing experiences, but this summer school is probably as close as it gets to that. Dima came back a more confident and sociable kid with even more drive to learn English than he was before Rochester. He also can’t stop talking about all the friends he made and the fun he had.

Vladyslav, Guardian, Ukraine

Our Awards & Accreditations

  • In partnership with RIC

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  • PIE Awards Logo
  • SafeTravels-Stamp

In partnership with RIC

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PIE Awards Logo
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Brighten your artistic flair at a unique summer camp like no other

Join a global community of aspiring artists and express your art this summer. Complete the enquiry form below and our helpful admissions team will be in touch.