Senior School Home
Welcome from the Head of the College

St Lawrence College has a rich history and a reputation for excellence. The genuine feeling of community is tangible and there is no doubt that the Christian values, boarding ethos, all-through nature of the school and focus on the individual contribute to a feeling of care and compassion that permeates every corner of the campus. It is my honour and privilege to be leading such an outstanding school.
I started boarding from the age of 7 as my parents lived in Africa, and I loved my time at school. I really valued the variety and the all round education that schools such as ours give – the regular sports, drama and music, the range of other activities and the strong Christian ethos are all essential parts of a rounded education that every child enjoys at St Lawrence College.
Our aim is to nurture every individual to help them achieve their potential and this is most clearly illustrated in our excellent Value Added academic results. A combination of dedicated teachers, a broad and challenging curriculum, strong work ethic and focus on core educational skills combine to provide a stimulating, inspiring and purposeful learning experience for our pupils. All of this is underpinned by High Performance Learning; an understanding that intelligence is not fixed and that high performance in education is achievable by all. We are proud to have been one of only 14 schools globally to have been granted the status of a World Class High Performance Learning School.
This belief in the potential of every child is also seen through our pastoral provision. Our dedicated team of Housemasters and Housemistresses provide excellent pastoral and academic support to the pupils in their care. The link between positive mental health and academic success is well publicised and it is our House Pastoral Teams who ensure that each pupil’s wellbeing is maximised to allow them to fully engage and succeed in all areas of school life. The central role of the Chaplain and strong Christian ethos also ensures that our pupils develop an understanding of tolerance, diversity, faith and forgiveness.
St Lawrence has a long history of sporting excellence, with three OLs representing Great Britain in the 1908 Olympic Games and our first hockey international being capped in 1920! The College still boasts an exceptional team of coaches who have helped a number of our teams to win National Championships and our pupils to gain International Honours. However, it is not just sporting excellence that is prized as we aim to provide our pupils with a genuinely holistic education. Children should be exposed to a raft of opportunities and experiences to find their forte, whether this is in the creative arts, charity and service activities or the CCF.
I also believe it is a school’s responsibility to engender a sense of social responsibility in every pupil, encouraging them to be outward facing and to think about the local and global community in which we live. The leadership opportunities and understanding of self, community and teamwork that comes from a broad ranging extracurricular programme are essential to developing global citizens who are confident, emotionally intelligent and equipped with the skills to lead in the 21st century marketplace.
Whilst we have historic buildings and state of the art facilities, our best asset is our pupils and I would encourage you to visit the school to experience the warmth, sense of purpose and energy that characterises our school day.
Barney Durrant MA
Head of College
Head's Assemblies - Lent Term 2021

We all need to be the light in the darkness – we all have a right to be respected and we all have a responsibility to stand up against disrespectful behaviour of any kind. It is only when we ignore hatred, racism and discrimination that genocide can occur.
Mr Durrant discusses positive ways in which we can make the most out of this lockdown, so that hopefully we can look back and say that we progressed in every area despite lockdown

Mr Durrant talks about service and being there for each other, using a clip from Simon Sinek about the Navy Seals.
Head's Assemblies - Michaelmas Term 2020

Mr Durrant talks about the fantastic pupil achievements this term and wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year as we approach the end of the Michaelmas Term.

'If we genuinely aim high and do not put limits or barriers on ourselves, we can achieve great things' - Mr Durrant

Mr Durrant talks about the importance of giving and how giving to charity can often make us feel empowered and happier.
Mr Durrant discusses academia and introduces the prefects' anti-bullying video.
Mr Durrant talks about Remembrance Day and the importance of honouring the service and sacrifice of those who have served in our Armed Forces.
Mr Durrant emphasises the profound impact that being kind to others can have in helping them.
Mr Durrant talks about Black History Month.
At the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, prefects discuss ways of helping ourselves and others to stay happy and healthy.
Mr Durrant introduces an assembly about Drama at St Lawrence College.
Mr Durrant discusses conflict resolution on the International Day of Peace.
Recent News

Designed and created by our Junior School and Kirby boarders, these beautiful cards are being sold to raise money for CAP (https://capuk.org/) – an organisation that works locally with those most financially affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

St Lawrence College Sixth Formers celebrate fantastic EPQ results



St Lawrence College pupils celebrate GCSE success

2020 A-Level Success

Dedicated Governor passes away after short illness
Summer term ends with virtual celebrations of pupil achievements during 2019-20.

Back in March, before the school went into lockdown, SLC pupils participated in an exciting week of Science and Technology. From an inspiring talk led by BBC TV/Radio Presenter and science journalist, Greg Foot, to homemade hover crafts and discussions about diversity, pupils had to work collaboratively to design detailed research projects to showcase at the fair. Meanwhile, the Junior School pupils got to work creating their very own futuristic designs to showcase in assembly.
Event Highlights
Senior School Statistics
- 138 Years
- 30 Nationalities
- 45 Activities
- 200 Boarders
- 160 Fixtures
- 378 kg of Fruit
140 Years
St Lawrence College was founded 140 years ago in October 1879 at Dane Park House, not far from the present site, as an Evangelical Church of England school, originally called South Eastern College. Under the leadership of Rev E C D’Auquier, its purpose was to combine religious training with “a sound, liberal education”.
Starting with just 5 pupils, by 1884, when a new Main Building was opened, the number of pupils had risen to 125. In 1905 the Archbishop of Canterbury opened the distinctive Tower, which completed the Main Building of the Senior School and is a Ramsgate landmark.
30 Nationalities
St Lawrence welcomes both boarding and day pupils from all around the world to benefit from the best of the British educational system. This diversity makes the school a cosmopolitan and vibrant place, where pupils leave prepared for the challenges of the globalised world. At any one time we have around 30 different nationalities in total.
Our overseas boarders participate fully in the academic and pastoral life of the College, along with the sports and activities programmes. Although almost half of our boarders are English-speaking, we have a dedicated EAL Centre for those students who need additional English support.
45 Activities
Recognising that there is more to education than just exam results, we aim to develop pupils’ wider skills through our extensive range of extra-curricular activities, with over 45 different activities offered each term. The range of options available to our pupils enables every individual to find their niche, from Scuba-Diving to Film Club, Chess to Horse Riding, and we try to ensure a balance of adventurous, sporting and creative options.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and Combined Cadet Force provide further rewarding opportunities for personal development and leadership, with field trips and expeditions offered throughout the year.
200 Boarders
With over 200 full Boarders in the Senior School, boarding is central to the school’s life and is one of its great strengths. Children thrive in the supportive and calm environment and we are very proud of the level and quality of care that the staff provide to all pupils, especially those who are boarders and for whom the school is their home.
We try very hard to provide a 'home-from-home' for our boarding pupils, both in terms of comfort and atmosphere. In recent years, a massive programme of investment has created some truly remarkable facilities for our boarders, and all rooms are en-suite.
160 Fixtures
Over 160 Hockey fixtures were played over the year by senior boys and girls. Building on our strong foundation of sporting success, we are proud of how many pupils represent the school in so many different sports, including the school’s major sport of Hockey. Expert coaching at all levels develops confidence and skills, and the school has several current and ex-international sports coaches on its staff.
An Olympic-standard water-based hockey pitch is a fantastic addition to the extensive sports facilities at St Lawrence College which also include a swimming pool and purpose-built sports centre housing squash courts, dance studio, fitness suite, climbing wall, etc.
378 kg of Fruit
In an average term-time week, the school community consumes 378kg of fruit and 1020 pints of milk! All meals are freshly prepared in-house in the school’s kitchens, with local produce used where possible.
Catering Manager, Mark Curtis, says: “My team and I strive to provide top quality, delicious and nutritious food.” There is a wide choice of food and individual dietary needs are catered for.
As well as the traditional ‘Hogwarts-style’ Dining Hall used for breakfast, lunch and supper, the school’s modern coffee shop is popular with pupils, parents and staff.