St. Michael’s School is one of the UK’s leading independent schools, consistently highly ranked yet remaining inclusive and committed to our mission of success for all students who join us.
Discover St. Michael’s
Our Ethos
An established heritage of academic excellence
Our GCSE and A-Level results are consistently outstanding, placing us very high in the national rankings. We seek to bring out the potential of every learner, actively looking for personalised strategies to enable everyone to harness their individual talents. Whilst many high performing schools focus on making their statistics favourable first, ours are a natural result of genuine individual success, which is a product of excellent teaching and a motivational climate.
Small enough to care, but big enough to challenge and inspire
With several hundred pupils, there are a wide range of opportunities open to pupils, to forge valuable friendships which enable them to support one another and delight in learning. Everyone is focused on reaching their goals, resulting in a visible synergy in lessons and study periods. Staff know pupils well and are able to provide excellent pastoral care, leading to our learners developing resilience, confidence and strong self-esteem.
An international curriculum with a local emphasis
Our teaching staff deliver a vibrant curriculum, selecting the best subject content and qualifications, combined with a rich variety of activities to develop pupils’ social, moral, spiritual and cultural knowledge. We take full advantage of our beautiful coastal location and easy transport links to the rest of the UK, which affords us a broad choice of extra curricular options and trips, to take learning beyond the school environment.
A home from home
Students who board with us make St. Michael’s their home from home, studying effectively yet also enjoying our comfortable accommodation and leisure facilities. Our team of dedicated House Parents ensure that study time in the evenings is used wisely – it’s supervised, meaning that classroom learning during the school day is fully consolidated. Moreover, staff are on hand to support students’ wellbeing and welfare at all times.
A family school
Our community is centred on mutual respect for one another, which means standards of conduct and behaviour amongst our students are excellent. Family style values permeate every aspect of school life. It results in a happy and safe environment where everyone is able to focus on their learning, whilst also building the foundations for future success, resulting in a memorable education with a long lasting benefit.
Curriculum
We are a traditional yet innovative school, where a strong culture of excellent pupil behaviour and effort leads to truly extraordinary learning. Please click on a curriculum group below to find out more
The Prep School is split into two parts; Pre-prep which is for pupils in Nursery up until Year 3 and then the Prep School which is for pupils in Years 4-6. Both are on the same grounds as our Senior School, which means that pupils are already familiar with their environment when they move up to Year 7.
Nursery
We offer a wide range of subjects to ensure that even our youngest pupils receive a broad and balanced curriculum. The formal teaching of Mathematics and English, which are the fundamental building blocks to understanding and learning, begins in Nursery.
Early Years
We provide a springboard for learning through a balance of structured teaching and play, promoting and developing confidence, independence and perseverance.
Junior School
In the Junior School the formal teaching of Mathematics and English continues and is complemented with “traditional” classroom settings. The Curriculum continues to offer our pupils variety whilst still achieving a solid grounding in the basics.
Years 7 – 9
We offer pupils at this Key Stage a wide range of opportunities for teaching and learning. An afternoon of practical activities is arranged weekly for Years 7 and 8, which every pupil takes part in. Throughout Year 9, pupils are guided through the GCSE options selection process We consult parents and pupils extensively in order that a balanced and appropriate selection is made which suits the needs of each child.
Find out more about Years 7 – 9
Years 10 – 11
Pupils will sit 11 GCSE examinations; There are a selection of core GCSEs that are taken, plus a broad range of options available so that the door to future career paths remains open. Gifted and talented Mathematicians are able to be ‘Fast Tracked’, taking their examinations in Year 10 and achieve outstanding results each year.
We do not follow the Welsh baccalaureate and the study of Welsh language is not compulsory at GCSE or from Year 9 onwards.
Our Sixth Form prepares students for their chosen career path; whether that’s to go on to further studies at university, or to take their first steps into the world of work.
A Levels
Most students will take four AS Level subjects in Year 12, followed by three A-Levels in Year 13. Students are expected to demonstrate an interest in a range of non-academic disciplines too such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, orchestra, choir, drama and a variety of sports.
Students can attend our Sixth Form either as a day student or as a weekly or term-time boarding student.
Medical Preparation Programme
Each year we have great success with student progression to degree courses in a wide range of subject areas, including some of the most competitive courses: Medicine, Dentistry, Engineering, Pharmacy, Law, Veterinary and Economics. Our Medical Preparation course offers a full programme of support and in-depth preparation for Medicine and Dentistry
Academic Results
St. Michael’s School is one of the highest ranking schools in the country. For every pupil at our school, they receive our full attention and guidance in order to achieve their potential. As a result, the vast majority of pupils have earned a place at their chosen university and have been accepted to study courses such as Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Economics.
St Michael’s School offers an academic A Level curriculum, where students take external AS Level examinations in Year 12 and GCE Advanced Level examinations in Year 13. The AS qualification makes up 40% of the overall A Level and is used to generate predicted grades. School reports use an A – E grade system in Year 12 and A* to E in Year 13. All information reported to parents including disciplinary actions are forwarded to colleges and universities.
For some international students where English is a second language, the IELTS examination is taken. Students are not offered SAT/ACT tests although may take these independently.
University Destinations
St. Michael’s School provides an exceptional programme of university preparation in the Sixth Form, with staff at all levels within the school supporting the application process. Our Sixth Formers have traditionally secured places at some of the top universities in the UK and beyond, with an impressive and unusually high rate of entry to Medical Schools far and wide.
Visit our University Destinations page
A Levels (2023)
79.1% of grades were A* or A
94.3% of grades were A* to B
91.5% of students gained at least one A*/A grades
Visit our A Level Results page
GCSE (2023)
87% of grades were A* or A
97.1% of grades were A* to B
90% of students gained five or more A*/A grades
Student Life
In Prep School, Prep pupils are encouraged to join our School Council, which is a great way to learn about leadership and also have a say in what happens in school life. Anyone in the Pre-Prep and Prep schools can put themselves forward for nomination.
Find out more about Prep School Council
In Secondary School, in addition to sports fixtures students we offer a variety of music and drama activities. There are also choirs, orchestra and a variety of smaller ensembles. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is very popular with pupils in Years 9-13 and sees pupils carrying out volunteering in the local community.
Find out more about Secondary School Activities
In Sixth Form, there are many opportunities to develop leadership and professional skills in specific prefect roles, for example: environmental, learning, wellbeing, volunteering and digital. We also offer multiple trips and visits throughout the year and Sixth Formers make up the bulk of our charity committee.
Find out more about Sixth Form Life
Extra Curricular
Sport
Here at St. Michael’s we aim to develop a love of sport that will last our children a lifetime and in offering such a wide range of sports- the emphasis is very much on breadth of opportunities.
In Secondary School, Physical Education is timetabled for two lessons each week and there are many lunchtime and afterschool sports on offer too. There is a strong House System in place and the school has Inter-House cups for rugby, swimming, athletics and winter sports. The school has its own games field as well as tennis, netball and basketball courts.
Find out more about Sport at St Michael’s
After School Clubs
Our Pre School club starts at 8.00am and our After School club runs from 3.30-5.30pm Monday-Fridays. Examples of After School clubs include: Art, choir, chess, netball and our extracurricular programme supplements skills taught in the classroom and beyond.
Find out more about Prep After School Clubs
In Secondary School, we are pleased to offer an extensive range of after-school clubs, which offer pupils the chance to try new experiences and learn new skills. An example of these include our debating club called ‘The Chatroom’, IT Club, Creative Arts & Writing, rock climbing, football, netball, multiple different craft clubs and Chess Club.
Boarding at St Michael’s
Boarding
We accept boarding students from Years 7-13 and we offer the option of weekly or full boarding. Unlike many other schools, we remain open during half term holidays. St. Michael’s boarding offers, strong pastoral care which is varied, imaginative and challenging.]
Find out more about Life in Boarding
Boarding Houses
We have two boarding houses, Parc House which is for pupils in Years 7-10 and Tenby House which is for pupils in Years 11, 12 & 13.
- Parc House is a handsome mansion-house situated off-campus (approximately 3 km from school) and students are transferred to school and back each day on a school bus.
- Tenby House is a purpose-built accommodation building situated on the school site and comprises of single, en-suite rooms.
Find out more about our Boarding Houses
Student Demographics and Characteristics
We recognise the value of cultural diversity and therefore welcome applications from students of any nationality. Currently across the senior school we have students from a range of countries across the world, including China, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Nigeria, Russia, and Thailand creating a vibrant international community. The majority of international students are full-time boarders.
Find out more about Support for International Students
Contact Information
St Michael’s School
Bryn
Llanelli
Carmarthenshire
United Kingdom
SA14 9TU
Phone No: +44 (0)1554 820 325
Email: office@stmikes.co.uk
Headmaster:
Benson Ferrari headmaster@stmikes.co.uk
Deputy Head:
Kay Francis francisk@stmikes.co.uk
Assistant Head:
James Williams williamsj@stmikes.co.uk
Head of Sixth Form /Head Counselor:
Angela Prickett pricketta@stmikes.co.uk
Apply Online
Apply online using our application form or download the form and return to: admissions@stmikes.co.uk