We asked Cheryll, one of our international boarders, to give us an insight into what life is like for a boarder at Chigwell School. Read on to find out what she said.


My name is Cheryll, I come from Hong Kong and I joined Chigwell School last September as an international boarder, so I am now in Year 13 and getting ready for University.

Boarding at Chigwell was not what I expected. The people at the school have been extremely friendly and are very willing to help out. I chose Chigwell not only because of its rankings nationwide but also its vast grounds, outstanding facilities and proximity to London.

The support from our teachers and houseparents has been absolutely amazing.

A typical day in Church House, where I board, is just (on weekdays) a normal day in school and coming back to our free time to chill or do our homework. From 7-9pm is prep time, when we do our assignments and revise for tests. On the weekends we are free to explore London or stay in bed. When I first arrived, I was welcomed by my houseparents who were friendly and very helpful, so I settled in fairly quickly. Some of my favourite things about Chigwell include the Sport and Wellness Centre, the grounds and the Sixth Form Centre. The sports centre is well equipped with a variety of sporting events, the grounds are very beautiful to take a walk or play in, and the dedicated Sixth Form Centre is a place for us to study and relax at the same time; where we have our café too! The support from our teachers and houseparents has been absolutely amazing. They look after our mental and physical wellbeing, and with our studies if and when we need them.

I enjoy reading and drawing, and I love to play basketball. My aspiration is to become a scientist and delve into the field of genetics.

If I had to give myself advice before I joined Chigwell School, I would have said not to fret so much as everything is going to turn out fine. If you are an A Level student joining Chigwell School, enjoy the time you have because I think you will regret it if you don’t take advantage of all the amazing opportunities available here. I would not have done anything differently, if I had the chance to reconsider. The fact that I have become more talkative and optimistic, I give credit to the influence of my Chigwellian education.

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