Concord celebrates 30 years of Lower School
Published by Concord College on Friday 13th of June 2025
“It takes a village to raise a child” – Susan Correll, Head of Lower School
Concord College has marked 30 years since the opening of its Lower School with a special awards assembly.
Concord’s Lower School was founded in 1995, with just five classes and 36 students, in the former primary school building in Acton Burnell, a short walk from campus. Over the last 30 years student numbers have increased sixfold, with a great mix of international students and students who have joined from local schools in Shropshire.
In addition to the increase in student numbers, perhaps the most notable thing about Concord’s Lower School today is the outstanding exam results. In 2024 90% of GCSE grades were 7-9 (equivalent to an A or A*) compared to the UK national average of 22%.
After the assembly we had the opportunity to sit down with the current Head of Lower School, Susan Correll and two of her predecessors, Jeremy Kerslake and Rachel Coward to reminisce about the last 30 years and find out more what makes Concord College Lower School such a success.
We started by asking our Heads why they think the students achieve such good exam results.
Rachel Coward (2015-2023):
“In 2006 around 70% got As or A*s and now it’s 90%. Ultimately the success can be attributed to the high calibre of the students. All of them take admissions tests before they start to make sure they have a good character and an aptitude for learning. We also make sure they have a good understanding of English and will thrive in a rigorous learning environment as well as being far away from home. The energy in the College is all about the thirst for learning.”
Susan Correll (2023 to present):
“By integrating the Lower School with the Sixth Form on a day-to-day basis, younger students quickly see what it means to be a good Concordian. If you walk round College on a Friday evening you’ll see all the students studying – because they want to. They also respect each other, and their teachers.”
Jeremy Kerslake (2005-2009):
“Rigour and natural ability is important – but the joy of learning and thirst for knowledge makes the difference. Our students let us know that they want to learn, and want to be pushed. They also like to get involved. The children who won awards in the assembly today wanted to celebrate their success with their peers.”
How much do younger students mix with the older ones?
Susan Correll:
“There is no dedicated Lower School building today as we think it’s important for them to integrate. They meet with their Lower School form tutors every morning in the Hawkins Building, and live in different boarding accommodations. The younger ones may have different interests as they get older, but all students belong to ‘houses’ and societies, so have plenty of opportunities for year groups to mix and learn from each other.
Rachel Coward:
“There is lots of horizonal mixing in year groups and vertical mixing in clubs and houses; it’s the ‘warp and weft’ of their lives at Concord.
Beyond exam results, what makes Concord so special?
Susan Correll:
“Concord is nothing like schools and colleges that only promise high exam results.
Concord is like a village community – where everyone looks out for every child. There are 450 boarders and 17 boarding houses and there are always things going on – not just during the week, but in the evenings and every weekend too as we have no compulsory exeat, so students can stay on campus every weekend during term time if they choose to. There are so many activities that we actually have to be careful that they do not get involved in too much! They have to learn how to manage their time.
A few years ago we introduced ‘Coming Home to Care’ and ‘Ten to Turn to’. These ensure staff are always to hand to help or advise on little jobs – perhaps if students want to do some cooking or wash some clothes themselves – or perhaps they need guidance on friendship issues. We have staff for all the typical things a parent might do.”
Rachel Coward:
“Many of our international students have been used to living in cities, and often in apartments. They may find all the green outdoor space strange at first, but they quickly embrace it.”
Jeremy Kerslake:
“An ‘exam factory’ environment would never work at Concord – in a factory you have foremen and managers driving the workers, with people standing over them all the time. We don’t do that, the drive comes from within the child. We foster that, but do provide a safety net and help them to cope. By the time they go to university they have learned how to be independent.
With some students, who are so motivated and ambitious, you sometimes have to sell the other side of the coin – that they do not need to be perfect. We take their mental health very seriously.”
What makes a good Lower School Concordian?
Jeremy Kerslake:
“A word that struck me in assembly this morning is the word ‘endeavour’ – which really sums up what we are fostering in the students.
Before the assembly we asked teachers to nominate students who they think have endeavoured the most for an award. We already know who will get the ‘achievement’ awards, but the endeavour prize often surprises the recipients.”
Susan Correll:
“Yes, we had a great example this morning – a student was shocked to win as he knew he wasn’t the best at maths. But he is determined to get a grade ‘9’ at GCSE and works his socks off.
How do local day students fit in with the international boarders?
Jeremy Kerslake:
“We sometimes have issues getting the day students off campus to go home. House Arts, for example, is so popular and day students like to stay into the evening to take part in all the rehearsals. Day students do not like to be gazumped by their international friends, they rise to the challenge.”
Susan Correll:
“Yes, I have to tell them to go home! I’ve been here at 10pm and the day students are still here playing tennis. The Form 3 boys love to play football – it’s great to see an international group of children, putting their jumpers on the ground for goal posts, playing as children should.”
