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Parents today rely on schools to create the right environment for their children to grow. And when considering a British boarding school overseas, this becomes an even more significant point. Families want reassurance that their child will be challenged academically, known as an individual, and genuinely happy — not simply looked after.
At Leweston School, a Catholic boarding and day school in England, that combination is exactly the experience pupils describe when you ask them.
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Leweston offers a personalised academic experience that larger schools often find difficult to replicate. With fewer than 20 pupils in each class, pupils have the keen attention of faculty as they complete a full suite of GCSE subjects (the standard British qualification taken at age 16). Then in Sixth Form, they choose between the sciences, humanities, the arts, and business for A Levels or take the BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council), a vocational qualification recognised by UK universities.
A place to learn
The school's Talent Pathways Programme adds another layer of personalisation. It identifies each pupil's strengths early and builds on them throughout their time at Leweston. For international students, a dedicated Director of International Students provides academic, pastoral, and practical support from the day of arrival, including English as an Additional Language (EAL) provision built into daily lessons.
This support runs from Year 7 through to Sixth Form, with results to show for it:
A campus designed for impact
Leweston World
Leweston World is an all-inclusive package that covers full boarding, airport transfers each half and full term, on-site Exeat stays (so no need for host families), EAL support, exam fees, CAS documentation, weekend activities, and all books and materials. Families even get a funded 48-hour taster visit before making a decision.
The only costs left to family discretion are individual elective subjects, music, LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts), equestrian, and other elite sports. You’ll only pay for what your child genuinely wants to pursue. This takes away the guesswork and makes the whole process much clearer.
Creativity takes centre stage
There's plenty of room to be creative at Leweston. Younger students explore ceramics, Computer Aided Design, photography, and woodworking, before choosing from three A Levels Arts subjects. Those in the Fine Arts explore everything from sculpture, installation art, and lens-based media to printmaking, painting, and digital manipulation. Fashion and Textiles combine textile art, interior design, garment construction, and fashion photography, while 3D Design involves experimenting with materials.
Outside the curriculum, creative clubs run for all ages, and talented students can take on commissions. Scholars are involved in workshops and trips to galleries like the Tate and Victoria and Albert Museum, which help inspire new ideas. And every year, exam students show their work in an exhibition and a fashion show.
Education without limits
With 50 acres of stunning Dorset parkland and the Blackmore Vale countryside, learning naturally extends beyond the classroom. Prep School students spend time in nature with the Great Outdoors programme while Senior students challenge themselves through the Duke of Edinburgh and Ten Tors Challenge.
This active, outdoor-focused ethos is complemented by a broad range of physical activities. Whether it’s team sports such as netball, football, hockey, and rugby, or individual activities including tennis, swimming, fencing, and shooting, there’s something for everyone. All of it is backed up by top-notch facilities, including a sports hall, a fitness suite, an athletics track, outdoor courts, and more.
A Leweston speciality
Modern Pentathlon, an Olympic sport, is not something available in most UK schools. But it is at Leweston. With fencing, swimming, laser-run, riding, and cross-country, it challenges students to build confidence, resilience, and focus. But it's also a structured pathway for students with a competitive spirit. Led by expert coaches, students have the support they need if they choose to compete regionally and nationally.
An exceptional equestrian experience
The Leweston Chedington Riding Academy (LCRA) goes far beyond what students can expect from a usual school riding programme. With one of the top National Schools Equestrian Association (NSEA) teams in the country and a partnership with Chedington Equestrian, a world-class training facility used by Olympic riders, students benefit from access to competition jumps, dressage arenas, and elite coaching environments that most schools rarely offer.
Opportunity backed by care
The variety of opportunities at Leweston means every student has the chance to uncover new talents and passions. No matter where they begin, they’re backed by all-round support.
A home away from home
At Leweston, the international student community is intentionally small. Boarders and day pupils mix naturally, rather than sticking to their own circles. It also means every student is truly known, with houseparents (many of whom were boarders themselves) on hand to help new students settle in quickly.
Where everyone belongs
International students are given a warm welcome with language support, cultural integration, and a structured settling-in programme. After that, the celebrations continue all year round, with Language Week, a Christmas Market, international evenings, and multicultural community events. Leweston’s Catholic values are at the heart of the school, shaping a culture built on community, responsibility, and dignity. Families from all faiths feel comfortable here.
Opportunity backed by care
The variety of opportunities at Leweston means every student has the chance to uncover new talents and passions. No matter where they begin, they’re backed by all-round support.
Where everyone belongs
International students are given a warm welcome with language support, cultural integration, and a structured settling-in programme. After that, the celebrations continue all year round, with Language Week, a Christmas Market, international evenings, and multicultural community events.
Leweston’s Catholic values are at the heart of the school, shaping a culture built on community, responsibility, and dignity. Families from all faiths feel comfortable here.
A home away from home
t Leweston, the international student community is intentionally small. Boarders and day pupils mix naturally, rather than sticking to their own circles. It also means every student is truly known, with houseparents (many of whom were boarders themselves) on hand to help new students settle in quickly.
Opportunity backed by care
The variety of opportunities at Leweston means every student has the chance to uncover new talents and passions. No matter where they begin, they’re backed by all-round support.
A home away from home
At Leweston, the international student community is intentionally small. Boarders and day pupils mix naturally, rather than sticking to their own circles. It also means every student is truly known, with houseparents (many of whom were boarders themselves) on hand to help new students settle in quickly.
Where everyone belongs
International students are given a warm welcome with language support, cultural integration, and a structured settling-in programme. After that, the celebrations continue all year round, with Language Week, a Christmas Market, international evenings, and multicultural community events.
Leweston’s Catholic values are at the heart of the school, shaping a culture built on community, responsibility, and dignity. Families from all faiths feel comfortable here.
Out with the old
SCI-Arc relocated several times — from Santa Monica to Marina del Rey, to Beethoven Street, and finally to downtown Los Angeles. Each move was both logistical and symbolic. “Moving to the Arts District was a big deal, and a bold move,” said Kevin McMahon, who’s worked at the school since 1987. “It was the right thing to do.”
The shifting geography of the school mirrored its belief in transformation. “This place is a chameleon,” said International Advisor Lisa Russo, who joined in 1986. “Just when you’re getting comfortable, you’ve got to get comfortable in a different way.”
This is why the architect, in SCI-Arc’s conception, is a connector: a synthesizer of form, systems, politics, science, and culture. Across physical installations, speculative fiction, urban reuse, and artificial intelligence, students’ thesis work reaffirms this.
“People come from all over the world to see thesis reviews at SCI-Arc. They want to see what the future of architecture holds. And the secret is — that’s why we come too.”
Erik Ghenoiu, History + Theory Coordinator
Preparing students for what’s next
Students can take part in a wide range of enrichment activities, including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, LAMDA examinations, public speaking, creative commissions, leadership opportunities, and community outreach. In Sixth Form, they benefit from greater independence within a supportive environment, with dedicated spaces, tutoring, and guidance for UCAS applications.
“Leweston’s pastoral care is about creating a home from home. Through strong relationships, personalised attention, and a culture of warmth and inclusion, we ensure every pupil, wherever they come from, feels safe and supported.”
John Paget-Tomlinson, Headmaster
Go anywhere from here
A British education at Leweston opens doors all over the world. Many students go on to top UK universities, including Russell Group universities, while others head abroad to Hong Kong or the US.
There’s also a strong track record in creative pathways, with students progressing to the University of the West of England Bristol (UWE), Camberwell College of Arts, Brighton University, Chelsea, Central St Martins, University of the Arts London, and Falmouth University. Fashion and textile graduates are now working at Vivienne Westwood, Selfridges, Tom Ford, Elizabeth Arden, and Sleek Magazine.
Hear from more students
An enriching education awaits at Leweston School