Opened in 1984 by mathematicians Brian Pain and Simon de Belder, the college was known as Rochester Tutors and was predominantly 6th form, teaching A levels and retakes.[citation needed] Gradually over the next 3 decades the campus grew to 14 (mainly) listed buildings in the heart of Rochester and changed its name to Rochester Independent College. The Lower School was opened in 2007.
The college mascot is the flying pig, a riposte to the cynicism which greeted the college’s chances of success when it was founded.[2]
It started as one terraced house, but as the school expanded, it gradually bought up 14 (mainly) listed buildings in the heart of a designated conservation area.[citation needed]
A pair of steel sculptural musical gates leads to the grounds. The gates are an art installation created by Henry Dagg, sound sculptor, experimental musical instrument builder and Bjork collaborator. Standing almost four metres tall and eight metres wide across the structure is designed to make music with vibraphone bars, tubular bells, and organ pipe-like tubes with resonating strings that can be plucked, struck or bowed.[4]Medway Council refused planning permission for the gates in 2004 on the grounds of noise pollution, but this was overturned by a government inspector.[citation needed]
Students
The school has a total of about 230 students, with a relatively even mix of boys and girls. About 120 students are boarders and the rest are day students from the local area.[citation needed]
Approximately 25% of the sixth form students are international from countries such as Thailand, Italy, Spain, China, Hong Kong, Nigeria, and Russia. Of the 230 students in the Sixth Form, around 40 will have stayed on from Years 7–11. The majority join from other schools after taking their GCSEs.[citation needed]
Students from Thailand join the College each year funded by the Royal Thai Government Scholarship programme for A level courses.[5]
Students in the Sixth Form study A levels choosing their subjects from a list of nearly 40.[citation needed]
The College also offers intensive one-year GCSE and A Level courses as well as retake programmes. From 2020 the college offered Digital Media and Design as a new subject.
Lower School – Years 7–11
The Lower School is located in New Road House, on the main college campus. It is co-educational and the principal entry point is at Year 7 but there is flexible entry throughout the school. It took its first pupils in September 2007. There are a maximum of 12 in each class.
The Lower School is non-selective. The majority of students are from the UK. Student numbers are about 120.
Inspection judgements
The school was inspected by Ofsted in 2008, and judged Good.[7] Since then the responsibility for assessment has passed to ISI.[8]
