ABBEY GATE COLLEGE

Abbey Gate College is a popular private school in Chester, offering day places to boys and girls. The school is a selective, all-through, fee-paying school. Having been established in the 1970s, it is the oldest independent school in the area. Abbey Gate is split across two campuses with the infant & junior school based in the village of Aldford and the senior school occupying the former St Werburgh’s abbey in Saighton. Both locations are rural settings on the outskirts of Chester in the North of England.

ABOUT

The college was founded in the mid-1970s by a group of parents who sought a local private school that offered a modern education to boys and girls. Furthermore, they felt that the area was underserved as existing options for non-boarders were limited, being faith-based, gender-segregated or overly traditional in ethos. In addition, they hoped to make Abbey Gate College the leading private school in Chester and one of the top independent schools in the North East of England.

Since opening in 1976, Abbey Gate College strives to be a nourishing environment focussing on academic results and character development providing a rounded education that still delivers the typical independent school approach one would expect from a British private school. As part of that approach, the school offers a broad range of sports and activities, including debate, various STEM clubs and varsity level sports teams.

Pupils are admitted on a selective basis at various entry points right through to Sixth Form with an entrance exam for Year 7 entry (11+ equivalent).

The school is a member of the Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools, the Independent Schools Association, the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association and The Society of Heads.