Shiplake College

Shiplake College is a thriving and relatively young HMC school. It caters for boarding and day pupils aged 11-18. There has been a co-educational Sixth Form since 1998 and in September 2023 girls joined in Year 7 (making up 42% of the cohort) as the College goes fully co-educational. In September 2023 it welcomed a record 521 pupils to the school - an increase from 400 in September 2013.

Overlooking the River Thames, two miles upstream of the famous Henley Royal Regatta stretch, pupils enjoy a beautiful and inspiring 45-acre rural site. The College is conveniently located near major air, railway and motorway networks, close to Reading, London and Oxford and just 40 minutes from Heathrow. Full, weekly and flexi-boarding is available from Year 9, with ad hoc ‘overnight stays’ also an option for day pupils.

Every pupil is placed at the heart of Shiplake life and the College’s ethos is underpinned by the three Is – Inclusive, Individual and Inspirational.

Shiplake provides a friendly, supportive and structured environment to bring out the best in each and every pupil. Renowned for outstanding pastoral care and personal development, the College welcomes pupils with wide-ranging skills and talents, who will make the most of the many opportunities offered to them. The College provides an education that is tailored to the individual, achieved through engaging and inspirational teaching, delivered in small classes where the teachers can know and understand each pupil’s method of learning.

Headmaster

Tyrone Howe

Values and Vision

Shiplake College understands the importance of not just an all-round education, but an education that offers specific skills needed in the modern job market to help students progress successfully after leaving. The admissions policy aims to identify potential students with a wide range of talents, to ensure a learning environment that offers the highest chance of success.

Our mixture of boarders and day pupils form a vibrant and busy community, where every day brings fresh challenges and new opportunities. At Shiplake, the passionate teaching and support staff make the energetic and dynamic boarding school a welcoming place in which to work. A rich and inspiringly-taught curriculum creates an environment where personal values and a strong work ethic can develop. This is underpinned by the finest pastoral care, and pupils are encouraged to participate in co-curricular pursuits such as sports, musical ensembles, drama productions or community service, which is as vital for personal development as classroom-based teaching. Taking a holistic approach to education is key to working at Shiplake; supporting our pupils in their endeavours and embracing the lifestyle at this busy and vibrant boarding school is paramount for anyone working here.

Pupils will leave Shiplake College well-shaped socially and academically, thanks to the structured and supportive nature of the school. Promoting Christian values, teachers encourage every pupil to respect their peers by exercising tolerance, compassion and humility.

Working at Shiplake College

As well as providing a fantastic learning and living environment for young people, Shiplake offers an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding working environment.

We strive to recruit the best possible teaching and support staff to drive the College forwards and ensure we continue to provide the best possible rounded education for our pupils.

For all teaching appointments, a willingness to participate in the varied extra-curricular life of a busy boarding and day school is essential. Shiplake has a contributory pension scheme (TPS or alternative option for support staff) and its own salary scale. Accommodation may be available on site and further paid responsibilities may also be available. Excellence in the classroom and an ability to inspire young people are paramount and non-negotiable.

Shiplake College offers a beautiful working environment, supportive colleagues and all staff enjoy a free lunch and evening meal if on duty. In addition, staff are encouraged to make use of the onsite gym facilities, open air swimming (during summer months), and join a variety of staff teams such as football, touch rugby and cricket.

ISI Report

In its ISI Inspection in May 2022, Shiplake College achieved full compliance and the top category of EXCELLENT in both “the quality of the pupils’ academic and other achievements” and “the quality of the pupils’ personal development”.