Rochester Independent College

Opened in 1984 by mathematicians Brian Pain and Simon de Belder, the college was known as Rochester Tutors and was predominantly 6th form, teaching A levels and retakes. Gradually over the next 3 decades the campus grew to 14 (mainly) listed buildings in the heart of Rochester and changed its name to Rochester Independent College. The Lower School was opened in 2007.

The college mascot is the flying pig, a riposte to the cynicism which greeted the college’s chances of success when it was founded.[2]

The college joined the Dukes Education Group in 2016.[3]

It started as one terraced house, but as the school expanded, it gradually bought up 14 (mainly) listed buildings in the heart of a designated conservation area. What would once have been the back gardens to these houses now form the grounds with ancient apple trees and wild garden areas, green paths, a viewing platform to climb – and an oversized garden shed where maths classes are held. Students work on garden projects such as the allotment as part of their Duke of Edinburgh award and the gardens have won a Kent Wildlife Gold Award.

The college's facilities include Science Labs, a photography block, a MUGA area for sport, a gym, two canteens and a performance area.

The theatre, Underhill Hall, in the grounds is also known as the Womble building. The theatre space is underground, whilst over the top, there’s an outdoor seating area used as an open-air auditorium. The College hosts regular performances from the European Arts Theatre Company. A pair of steel sculptural musical gates leads to the grounds. The gates are an art installation created by Henry Dagg, sound sculptor, experimental musical instrument builder and Bjork collaborator. Standing almost four metres tall and eight metres wide across the structure is designed to make music with vibraphone bars, tubular bells, and organ pipe-like tubes with resonating strings that can be plucked, struck or bowed.[4] Medway Council refused planning permission for the gates in 2004 on the grounds of noise pollution, but this was overturned by a government inspector.

An igloo-like, oak gall structure in the garden is used as an outdoor classroom, shelter, and quiet space. It has a central roof opening for cloud watching.

A geodesic dome, built in 2021 serves as a classroom with a sky and garden view.

The Sixth Form still forms the largest part of the school. The Sixth Form is based in the row of Georgian townhouses on Star Hill and the students use the facilities of the whole school campus which stretch from St Margaret’s Banks to New Road in Rochester.

It has a total of about 230 students, with a relatively even mix of boys and girls. About 120 students are boarders and the rest are day students from the local area.

Approximately 25% of the sixth form students are international from countries such as Thailand, Italy, Spain, China, Hong Kong, Nigeria, and Russia.

Of the 230 students in the Sixth Form, around 40 will have stayed on from Years 7–11. The majority join from other schools after taking their GCSEs and most go on to study at UK universities.

About 50 percent of students have been previously in the independent sector, but a lot of pupils come from families with no tradition of private education.

Students from Thailand join the College each year funded by the Royal Thai Government Scholarship programme for A level courses. The scholars return home, often after completing doctoral study, and work in senior positions in the Thai government and in academia.[5]

The College staff includes a number of practising photographers, graphic designers, fine artists and musicians. Former tutors include BAFTA award-winning film director Clio Barnard and artist and musician Billy Childish.[6]

Students in the Sixth Form study A levels choosing their subjects from a list of nearly 40. Because these are not organised in option blocks, practically any combination of subjects is possible.

The College also offers intensive one-year GCSE and A Level courses as well as retake programmes. Since 2017 the college has offered A level Computer Science. From 2020 the college offered Digital Media and Design as a new subject.

The Lower School is located in New Road House, on the main college campus. It is co-educational and the principal entry point is at Year 7 but there is flexible entry throughout the school. It took its first pupils in September 2007. There are a maximum of 12 in each class.

The Lower School is non-selective. The vast majority of students are from the UK. Student numbers are about 120.

The fledgling school as assessed by Ofsted in 2008, and judged to comply with all baseline standards and to be good.[7] Since then the responsibility for assessment has passed to ISI.[8]

Rochester Independent College is affiliated to the Independent Schools Council (ISC) and a member of the Independent Schools Association (ISA). The college is also a member of British Boarding Schools Connected.[9]

• Rochester Independent College website
• Alternative Education High School
• Boarding School Fee Comparison From The Observer Magazine.
• Full Ofsted Inspection Report.
• Liz Lightfoot Feature Article from The Independent
• Good Schools Guide Review 2014