Founded as Stafford House Tutorial College, it was renamed Worthgate in 2022 within the CATS Global Schools group.
Co-educational British boarding and IB World School in Canterbury, founded 1952
Why this school
Founded as Stafford House Tutorial College, it was renamed Worthgate in 2022 within the CATS Global Schools group.
It was the first school in the UK to create a university foundation route for overseas applicants.
Authorised to teach the IB Diploma since 2007, one of relatively few UK colleges offering it to international students.
The Worthgate School is a co-educational independent boarding school in Canterbury, Kent, founded in 1952. Around 300 students aged 13 to 19 study here, a scale that keeps teaching genuinely personal. Canterbury sits roughly an hour from London by train and close to the Channel Tunnel at Folkestone, making it one of the more internationally connected locations in the UK independent school landscape. The school holds ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate), BSA (Boarding Schools’ Association), ISA (Independent Schools Association), and CIFE accreditations. Its programme range spans GCSE, A-Level, IB Diploma, and a University Foundation Programme the school developed itself in 1985.
The Worthgate School runs GCSE, A-Level, and IB Diploma alongside its own University Foundation Programme (UFP), Pre-A Level, Pre-GCSE, and Academic English pathways. Students who arrive at different stages of secondary education, or with different language starting points, can find an appropriate entry route. With roughly 300 students across the school, class sizes are naturally small.
The IB Diploma results are straightforward to read: in 2025, The Worthgate School recorded a 100% pass rate with an average score of 34, against the global IB average of 30.38. At A-Level in 2025, 74.20% of grades were A*–C.
Sixth form students may follow either A-Level (three subjects) or the IB Diploma. The UFP, developed in-house in 1985 and now accepted by 95 of the top 100 UK universities, provides an additional route for students targeting undergraduate entry. Tuition-only fees for A-Level, IB, and UFP students are £35,115 per year (2025–26, VAT-inclusive). Full boarding in single en-suite catered accommodation brings the all-in figure to £54,935 per year, or £58,305 with a premium room. The school’s IB average of 34 in 2025 sits well above the global mean. The UFP has been building its university acceptance record for four decades.
A-Level results
74.20% A*-C (2025)
All boarding accommodation is single en-suite, with a catered arrangement. At around 300 students in total, pastoral oversight is direct rather than delegated through large house structures. Canterbury provides a genuine city environment: cathedral, independent shops, theatres, and transport links that give students real autonomy at weekends without a school minibus. The international profile of the student body runs through daily life, supported by Academic English provision and a structured pathway system for students arriving at different points in their education.
The Worthgate School runs Summer Programmes and UK High School Term options alongside its main academic calendar, keeping the campus active across a broader part of the year. The international composition of the student body, drawn together by a shared academic focus rather than a single national tradition, shapes the social texture of the school. Canterbury’s cultural offer adds to what the school provides on site. The city has theatres, galleries, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site close at hand, giving students a richer backdrop than a rural campus typically affords.
The Worthgate School is in Canterbury, Kent, a historic cathedral city with direct rail links to London (approximately one hour) and proximity to the Channel Tunnel at Folkestone. The campus serves a full boarding population in single en-suite accommodation. Students have direct access to city amenities, and the school’s position in the south-east makes it straightforward to reach from major European airports and Eurostar.
Annual tuition
£54,935 per year · full boarding · A Level (3 subjects)/IB/UFP - International, boarding all-in (tuition + single en-suite catered)
Other tier breakdowns shown below.
| Stage | Year groups | Type | Audience | Fee / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Level (3 subjects)/IB/UFP - International, boarding all-in (tuition + single en-suite catered) | Full boarding | — | £54,935 | |
| A Level (3 subjects)/IB/GCSE/UFP - International tuition only | Day | — | £35,115 | |
| Accommodation - single en-suite (catered) | Full boarding | — | £19,820 | |
| Accommodation - premium single en-suite (catered) | Full boarding | — | £23,190 |
Additional fees
Deposit
£2,500
Registration
£600
Canterbury, Kent; Gatwick is approx. 75 miles; Channel Tunnel (Folkestone) nearby.
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The Worthgate School offers GCSE, A-Level (three subjects), IB Diploma, and its own University Foundation Programme (UFP), alongside Pre-A Level, Pre-GCSE, Academic English, UK High School Term, and Summer Programmes. The range accommodates students from age 13 to 19 at different stages and with different language starting points.
International tuition-only fees are £35,115 per year (VAT-inclusive). Full boarding in single en-suite catered accommodation adds £19,820 per year, bringing the all-in total to £54,935. A premium room option raises the boarding element to £23,190, giving an all-in figure of £58,305. All fees are VAT-inclusive from 1 January 2025.
In 2025, The Worthgate School recorded a 100% IB Diploma pass rate with an average score of 34. The global IB average for the same year was 30.38.
In 2025, 74.20% of A-Level grades at The Worthgate School were A*–C. Students follow a three-subject A-Level programme aimed at progression to UK and international universities.
The UFP is a one-year programme developed by The Worthgate School in 1985, designed to prepare international students for direct entry to UK undergraduate courses. It is currently accepted by 95 of the top 100 UK universities.
The Worthgate School offers both boarding and tuition-only options. Boarding is in single en-suite catered rooms. Students who do not require accommodation pay tuition-only fees of £35,115 per year (2025–26, VAT-inclusive).
The school is in Canterbury, Kent. Direct rail links to London take approximately one hour, and Folkestone’s Channel Tunnel terminal is nearby, making the school accessible from mainland Europe as well as major London airports.
The Worthgate School is accredited by ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate), BSA (Boarding Schools’ Association), ISA (Independent Schools Association), and CIFE, the specialist accreditation body for sixth-form and further education colleges.
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