Cheltenham Ladies College VS St. Swithun’s, please help!

Hi there, I am an international student from Hong Kong and I have got a Year 9 boarding offer from both Cheltenham Ladies College and St. Swithun’s. My family and I are now struggling. It would be great if I can hear the comments of the current students or past students of both schools. I personally prefer a school with less Chinese people so that I can learn English better. In additions, I am more interested in Science, so I prefer the school with stronger Science background.

Here are some pros and cons I can think of for both schools. Would you please comment? Thanks a lot!

Pros of CLC:
- Better exam results
- More full-boarding students

Cons of CLC:
- The campus is not exclusive and would that be dangerous as I need to travel from the dormitory and classroom building for a few times per day
- For junior boarding houses, in those 8-people bedrooms or 4-people bedrooms, seem that I do not have my own desk but only can do homework and study at the prep area? Is it on a first-come-first-serve basis?
- Seem I can only have single room until Sixth Form, according to your experience, is it more difficult to concentrate if sharing a room with several people?
- Two Exeat Weekends in each term (Need to leave school?)

Pros of St. Swithun’s
- Single room since Year 8
- I heard the food is good?

Cons of St.Swithun’s
- Less full-boarding students (more boring on weekends?)

St Swithun's has less Chinese students, but you will find that most English students do not mix with the Chinese, due to cultural differences etc... so being in a school with less international students would potentially mean you would have a chance of becoming very lonely. It is not dangerous to walk from school to boarding houses in clc, cheltenham is a very safe town. I have friends at both st Swithun's and clc, but all of them are British so will not have the same experience as you would. Being in a single room doesn't matter much tbh, at year 8 nobody studies, its not needed at all. My friends all got a bunch of 9's at gcse even with sharing a dorm...IMO, You should visit the two schools and see which one has the atmosphere that suits you

Hi there, I am an international student from Hong Kong and I have got a Year 9 boarding offer from both Cheltenham Ladies College and St. Swithun’s. My family and I are now struggling. It would be great if I can hear the comments of the current students or past students of both schools. I personally prefer a school with less Chinese people so that I can learn English better. In additions, I am more interested in Science, so I prefer the school with stronger Science background.

Here are some pros and cons I can think of for both schools. Would you please comment? Thanks a lot!

Pros of CLC:
- Better exam results
- More full-boarding students

Cons of CLC:
- The campus is not exclusive and would that be dangerous as I need to travel from the dormitory and classroom building for a few times per day
- For junior boarding houses, in those 8-people bedrooms or 4-people bedrooms, seem that I do not have my own desk but only can do homework and study at the prep area? Is it on a first-come-first-serve basis?
- Seem I can only have single room until Sixth Form, according to your experience, is it more difficult to concentrate if sharing a room with several people?
- Two Exeat Weekends in each term (Need to leave school?)

Pros of St. Swithun’s
- Single room since Year 8
- I heard the food is good?

Cons of St.Swithun’s
- Less full-boarding students (more boring on weekends?)

Hi UIO, currently a pupil in CLC.

DON'T COME TO CLC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I mean unless you are already here but i would advice you not to come

Hi ningqiushi,

I am a prospective student applying to CLC
Would you mind to share your experiences at CLC?