WHAT? WHERE?

Stoke College is a rural co-ed secondary day and boarding school in beautiful Stoke-by-Clare, near Sudbury for 11-18 year olds (until recently it had a prep school, but this has now moved to nearby Barnardiston Hall and the school maintains close links with the prep students). The school is known locally for its family-orientated vibe, excellent pastoral care and nurturing environment. Currently it has a very small cohort, with just 150 pupils, so there’s lots of individual attention for children. The small classes sizes allow the staff to really get to know each student, allowing them to simultaneously teach one subject from many viewpoints. The school was taken over by new ownership in 2019 who are investing heavily in new facilities and staff. The are also ambitions for the number of students to increase to around 280 (50 of these boarders), with a strong emphasis on increasing student diversity with overseas pupils, especially in Sixth Form. The Sixth Form is a particular draw with an excellent extra- curricular offering and super-curricular development of each student including a university counselling service and UCAS support.

Stoke College setting — The setting of the school on the River Stour

The school is in a stonkingly lovely setting, easily commutable from lots of major towns including Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds, Colchester, Braintree and Saffron Walden. There are flexi, weekly and full boarding options and good school bus routes too if parents prefer not to have a winding country road school run each day. It feels like a National Trust estate as you approach via a private road surrounded by pretty countryside, an historic church and river views. There’s a beautiful centuries-old main building that has a fascinating history, with period outbuildings and modern additions around it, plus 28 acres of grounds that border the River Stour, which is used by the pupils for sports like wild swimming and fishing.

FACILITIES

There are no snazzy concert halls or Olympic-sized swimming pools here… yet. Stoke College is in the middle of an exciting new phase of development. The new Chinese board of directors includes investor Mark Wang, a significant figure in the United World College movement, a passionate believer in bringing sixth formers from around the world together and an all-round remarkable role model for overcoming adversity (he was paralysed as a child and educated in hospital).

There are grand plans in progress and several millions of pounds being spent on improving pretty much every inch of the school. The school currently has all the facilities it needs to deliver brilliant academic and co-curricular results (students have access to an astro turf, indoor sports hall, cricket fields, rugby pitches, purpose built performing arts facilities and a heated outdoor swimming pool used for PE and clubs from April – October). However, a lot of areas will benefit from an upgrade, especially as student numbers increase. The plans include new boarding facilities, a state-of-the-art theatre, purpose-built library, the upgrade of the sports hall, and pitches, new classrooms, laboratories and a technology centre. The formal gardens in the gorgeous grounds have recently been brought back to their former glory with a literary walk around the gardens. Busy times ahead for this quiet corner of Suffolk.

But to focus on facilities entirely misses the point of Stoke College, which is its outstanding pastoral care and focus in finding each individual student’s passion and strength.

The beautiful main building is currently home to the CEO’s office, a newly renovated event space, a very well-regarded Learning Development Centre, the English department, library (with stunning views of the garden and river beyond), as well as the dining hall to the side. This house is a history lesson in itself, with a staircase that once belonged to Sir Christopher Wren and having been the original home of John Elwes, who inspired Charles Dickens’ Ebenezer Scrooge character.

The large and well-regarded Learning Development Centre

No need to be a Scrooge about the school fees here though, they’re some of the most affordable in the UK, plus there’s a 25% discount for any families that live in Stoke-by-Clare. With schemes like the fee discount, events and work experience, one of the school’s other big focuses is on integrating with the wider community.

The college also lays claim to being the birthplace of the Church of England – the last Dean was Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury under Elizabeth I, and effectively the founder of the Anglican church. There’s a beautiful church just at the entrance to the school, which is used twice weekly for assembly.

Outside there are a collection of more modern outbuildings, which house the classrooms, including a large DT room and cookery room, which smelt divine when we entered with vegan muffins cooling on the side. The music and arts block and sciences buildings are all light, bright and fit for purpose, but will definitely be much improved when the building work is complete.

The old stables is now the current girls’ boarding house and still retains cool, quirky features like the original iron hooks that horses were tied up to. Younger students share a room of up to three while older students all have generous individual rooms, which they are free to make their own. The communal spaces are welcoming and well-equipped.

CLASS SIZES

Class sizes are tiny given the numbers (15 students max), so students get a huge amount of individual attention, every teacher knows each student extremely well, and teaching is tailored to ensure each and every student is reaching the best of the their potential, whatever that might be in.

THE ARTS

Music is a strong suit for the school. There are the usual variety of small lunchtime and after school music ensembles and the chance to take individual instrument and singing lessons. With Dr Matthew Olyver, a celebrated contemporary composer and Old Stokian as Head of Music and snazzy new facilities on the way, you can expect to see music become even more popular here over the next few years. Kids will be excited to hear that Matt Cardle, of X Factor fame, is an alumnus of the school.

Performing Arts is a very strong focus for the school with every student encouraged to participate in the whole-school production each year with recent performances including West Side Story. The school also organises half-termly arts and music events and there’s an incredible 100% Distinction pass rate in LAMDA examinations. Stoke College has twice been shortlisted for Performing Arts School of the year in Independent School of the Year Awards.

SPORT

You wouldn’t send your child here if you want them to be in the 1st team for all the classic competitive school sports. With the small amount of students the current sporting strengths are mostly in individual pursuits like cross country and athletics, as well as sports like squash and tennis.

sport hall at stoke college — The current sports hall, due to be upgraded in the near future

With the parkland campus, access to the river, and sport-loving teachers, Stoke College pupils get a lot of chance to exercise without leaving the grounds, taking part in sports like rugby, hockey, athletics, table tennis and swimming. There’s also an annual River Festival.

SIXTH FORM

physics lesson with telescope in background

The one-to-one attention continues in years 12 and 13 and Sixth Formers are taught in extremely small tutor groups and have daily personalised mentorship from their tutor. As well as A Levels all Sixth Formers at Stoke enter the EPQ to help their uni applications stand out.

ACADEMIC RESULTS

Impressive, proving that the individual attention really works to get the best out of students. Expect the results to just get better and better as Stoke College is now a selective school with new starters required to take part in an assessment day with tests in maths, English and non verbal reasoning.

In summer 2022 the school celebrated 84% of GCSE results at 9-4 and almost a quarter being 9-7. The Sixth Form at Stoke was only established in 2018, but A Levels are already excellent with 92% A* to C in 2022. The school’s future plans aren’t just about enhancing facilities, there’s a real focus on improving academic excellence, so expect to see these results improve year after year.

THE PRINCIPAL

The school is currently recruiting a new headteacher to replace former headmaster Dr Gareth Lloyd. In the interim, CEO Mr Mark Logan, who is highly experienced in school management, having worked for a mixture of large multinational, technology, private equity and government backed organisations, including Nord Anglia and the British Council, is running the school supported by the Senior Deputy Head and Deputy Head Pastoral.

PASTORAL CARE

Pastoral care is an area that Stoke College really excels in. Children here have a lot of one-to-one attention and there’s no chance of slipping through the net thanks to the small class sizes, attentive form tutors and supportive house structure. In a nod to the equal emphasis placed on wellbeing and brainpower, there is a Deputy Head of Pastoral and Designated Safeguarding Lead as well as a separate Deputy Head of Academics. There are no barriers between the children and staff here – with an extremely friendly and light-hearted atmosphere and relaxed communication evident throughout the school.

QUIRKS

Stoke College is a pretty traditional school in terms of set-up, but the school’s size makes catering to individuality its core promise and as such it can be pretty flexible in its approach to letting children pursue whatever subjects and clubs spark their personal interests (pilates, fishing, gilding and upcycling to name a few).

FEES

Some of the most affordable in East Anglia and a really good option for parents put off by some of the eye-watering fees of the central Cambs schools. Years 7-11: £5,100 per term; and Sixth Form: £5,000 per term. Full boarding from £10,739 per term and fees for international boarders are £41,800 per annum.

Stoke College calls itself a ‘family school’ and that’s very evident in the fee structure. Families can benefit from sibling discounts and scholarships are available to the academically gifted for Sixth Form.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Parents who put happiness at the top of their wish list for their child. Making sure each child is enjoying school life and identifying each individual’s strength(s) are top of the agenda here. Also great for parents who are torn by the cost of some independent schools in the area. Fees here are some of the lowest in the country and even with the massive development plans intend to remain that way.

Not for: Tiger parents and competitive kids who want to be in a large school with all the wow facilities and who value academic success above all else.

Dare to disagree? Be my guest! There are Open Events throughout the academic year and the admissions team can accommodate individual visits too. Find out more here.

Stoke College, Suffolk

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