We are proud to be home to pupils from around the world, and we make sure every child quickly feels part of our lively, welcoming community. With boarding seven days a week, life at Mount Kelly is full of opportunities to learn, try new things, and make friends for life.
The application process for Years 7 to 11 is very similar for both UK and international applicants. Wherever possible, we invite families to visit us in person for a tour and to meet our staff. If travel isn’t possible, we’ll arrange an online interview via Microsoft Teams or Zoom, and can even walk you around the school virtually so you can get a real sense of our environment.
During your visit (virtual or in-person), you and your child will have the chance to meet the Head Master and the Deputy Head (Academic), who will discuss the academic pathways and opportunities we offer.
For entry into Year 7 and above, we ask applicants to complete entrance assessments. These can be taken at Mount Kelly or overseas under appropriate supervision.
For entry to the Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13), the same application process applies. If your child is studying a British curriculum, we’re happy to accept mock GCSE/IGCSE results instead of entrance assessments.
Wherever you are in the world, our Admissions Team is here to guide you through every step, making the journey to Mount Kelly as smooth and exciting as possible.
At Mount Kelly we do everything we can to ensure our international pupils have a safe journey to school and home at the start and end of each half term. We organise pick-up and drop-off services to London Heathrow, Bristol and Exeter airports and the cost of this is included in the fees as long as travel is booked to coincide with the published term dates. Details of how to book airport transfers and other forms of travel can be found here:
Mount Kelly requires all pupils whose families live outside the UK to have an appointed guardian. This is regardless of the pupil’s age. The role of the guardian is to play an active part in supporting your child’s life at the School and are warmly invited to attend events such as plays, concerts and sports fixtures. Parent Consultations are run online so that overseas parents can attend but you may want your chosen guardian to attend to help with translation. The guardian will be the main point of contact for your child’s Housemaster/Housemistress and should keep them informed of all practical arrangements such as holiday plans and travel arrangements. Guardians should also be available to give permission for routine and emergency medical procedures although we will always try and make contact with parents as soon as possible. A guardian can be a relative or family friend living in the UK, preferably close to the School, over 25 years old. For immigration reasons, this person must be a British Citizen or have Permanent Right to Remain. Please speak to our Admissions Team for advice on Guardians. Lists of recommended guardianship companies can be found here:
At Mount Kelly, food is more than just fuel, it’s part of the experience. Wherever possible, our meals are prepared with fresh, locally sourced produce and cooked on site by our talented catering team from Thomas Franks. They create a vibrant and varied menu, bringing flavours from around the world to our dining halls. This means that sometimes our overseas pupils find the comforting taste of home, while at other times everyone is tempted to discover new and exciting dishes.
Each term, sample menus are posted on our website so you can see exactly what your child will be enjoying. We cater for all dietary requirements and allergens, and our Head Chefs are always happy to discuss individual needs.
Food is also a celebration here. From the sparkle of Christmas to the colour of Chinese New Year, the warmth of Thanksgiving and the tradition of Burn’s Night, our dining halls come alive with themed decorations and deliciously authentic menus that make each occasion memorable.
At Mount Kelly we do all we can to ensure that our overseas pupils settle down happily in their new environment both in the boarding houses and in the class room. The spiritual, moral and social development of all our pupils is, of course, very important however even more so for those of our pupils whose family live so far away. The English as an Additional Langauge (EAL) department help in many ways to provide this support and is about so much more than just language acquisition. Small group sessions not only help provide the pastoral element of the care but also allow our EAL staff to tailor lessons to the academic needs of each pupil based on their subject options and abilities. Our pupils take a variety of external EAL examinations information about which you can read here:
All timetabled EAL lessons are included in the fees.
Every term, our boarding pupils can look forward to a lively programme of Sunday Trips. These weekly adventures might see you mountain biking through the moors, go-karting at speed, cycling scenic trails, surfing the Cornish waves, or scaling a climbing wall.
For those who prefer a gentler pace, there are regular outings to the Theatre Royal in Plymouth to see West End shows on tour, as well as relaxed cinema trips. And when December rolls around, nothing beats the excitement of our most popular trip of the year — Christmas shopping in Exeter!
Example of previous Boarder’s Trips
Applying for a visa can be a daunting and complicated process. Mount Kelly, a UKVI sponsor, retain work with a company called Sable International who will liaise with you and the School to ensure all aspects of the process run as smoothly as possible. We can begin the visa application up to six months prior to the start of the term in which your child plans to join the School. We will initiate the application within this timeframe as soon as we receive the signed contract and deposit to confirm your child’s place.
Child Student Visa Policy for Parents
Sable Introduction for International Students and Parents
At Mount Kelly we never forget what an enormous privilege it is for us to be chosen by you to care for your child often many hundreds of miles from home. Our Housemasters and Housemistresses and their team will do everything they can to help your child settle in and make the most out of their time here. In addition to the day-to-day support given by the House Staff your child will have an Academic Tutor with whom they will meet at the start of every school day.
