Founded in 1852 it has an impressive site on a spur overlooking the town of St Helier with fine views over the bay to the south. There are parkland, gardens and playing fields. The original Victorian buildings (including the Great Hall) are still used, and there have been numerous modern additions. The prep school is sited at the south end of the college lawn. A well-run school, it has high academic standards and gets good examination results. By sharing expertise with Jersey College for Girls, the sixth-form curriculum is broad and flexible, enabling pupils to build up their own programmes. It is strong in music, drama and art. A wide variety of sports and games is available and high standards are achieved (representatives at county and national level). The college has a flourishing CCF and a large number of students take part in a wide range of activities.
Pupils: Total age range 7-19; 995 day boys. Senior department 11-19, 705 boys. Entrance: Main entry ages 7, 11 and 16. Common Entrance and own exam used; for sixth-form entry, at least 5 GCSEs grade C. No special skills or religious requirements. 35% of senior intake from state schools (plus small number at 16); majority of pupils from own prep (enquiries to the Victoria College Preparatory School, Pleasant Street, Jersey JE2 4RR; tel 01534 723468).
Bursaries up to 50% of fees (or full fees in some cases). Parents not expected to buy textbooks; 200 pa maximum extras.
Head Master: Robert Cook, appointed in 2000. Educated at Barry Grammar School, and at Bretton Hall (music), Cardiff University and Liverpool University (philosophy, education). Previously Headmaster at St Augustine's College, Trowbridge, and Deputy Head of St Gregory's High School, Warrington. Also Ofsted inspector. Teaching staff: 51 full-time, 3 part-time. Annual turnover 6%. Average age 38.
GCSE: 102 pupils in upper fifth, all gaining at least grade C in 5+ subjects. A-levels: 97 in upper sixth passed on average 3.1 subjects.
92% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (22% after a gap year). 4% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 22% in science and engineering, 20% in humanities and social sciences, 8% in arts subjects,38% in other vocational subjects eg education, business, finance, journalism, sport science, marketing, hotel management. Others typically go onto foundation courses or employment locally.
GCSE, AS and A-levels: 27 examination subjects offered. Sixth form: AS-level general studies offered. Vocational: Work experience available (compulsory for 16-year olds). Languages: French and Spanish offered to GCSE and A-level; Latin and German to GCSE. ICT: Taught across the curriculum. GCSE IT taken by 70% of pupils. 350 computers for pupil use (8+ hours a day), all networked and with internet access through school intranet on Wide Area Network.
Music: Over 30% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Numerous musical groups including brass, woodwind, chamber ensembles, bands, choirs. Several members of Jersey Youth Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra, Jersey Youth Wind Band and Channel Islands Youth Orchestra. Drama: Offered at GCSE and A-level theatre studies may be taken. Many pupils are involved in school productions and majority in house/other productions. Art and design: On average, 50 take GCSE, 35 A-level. Design also offered.
Sport: Football, hockey, cricket, athletics, swimming compulsory. Optional: tennis, squash, fencing, archery, rugby, cross-country, shooting, sailing, golf. GCSE and RYA exams may be taken. Regular Hampshire hockey representatives, several Jersey rugby reps; 2 in English Schools cross-country team; very strong in swimming, sailing, golf, shooting (recent successes at Bisley). Sports tours to UK and further afield. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. CCF at age 14 (very popular and a BTEC qualification offered via CCF). Community service compulsory in sixth form. Various expeditions (CCF, World Challenge). Up to 30 clubs, eg music, drama, sailing, flying, chess, theatre, computer, DTP, choir, sports, shooting.
Uniform: School uniform worn to Year 10; business suits in Year 11 upwards. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, head boy, head of house and house prefects - appointed by senior staff. School Council. Religion: Weekly Christian assembly. Social: Jersey Youth Orchestra and Theatre, local Eisteddfod; annual dramatic productions. Regular sports tours (eg France, Austria, UK, Barbados); expeditions eg World Challenge to Andalucia, CCF to Tanzania. Pupils allowed to bring own bike or motorbike to school. Meals self-service in college bistro. School shops (nearly-new uniform).
The Old Victorians' Association, c/o Victoria College Foundation.
Kenneth More (actor); Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Alcock; Ambassadors Sir Martin Le Quesne and Sir Arthur De La Mare; Sir William Haley (Editor, The Times); Sir Peter Crill (Bailiff of Jersey).
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