Falklands Year 10 students begin Burford boarding life

The students, from the Falkland Islands Community School, are settling into life at Burford School, one of the oldest schools in the country.

Staff have praised the ‘excellent first impression’ they have made so far, noting how quickly the group has unpacked and familiarised themselves with the routines of the boarding house.

The school noted: “The buildings and setting have made a particularly strong impression.

“The Year 10 arts students wish to express our sincere gratitude to the individuals and companies whose generous sponsorship and support made this opportunity possible.”

Burford School, founded in 1571 by the townsmen of Burford with merchant Simon Wysdom at their helm, initially offered an education to the sons of the ordinary men of Burford, charging four pence for enrolment and a further eight pence for schooling per year.

The school began taking girls in 1924, thanks to the generosity of Elmslie John Horniman, and has now grown to just over 1,500 students.

Today, its community includes 100 boarders from the surrounding region and abroad.

Although the school no longer operates its once-successful farm, it continues to maintain a ‘strong rural feel’.

More than 450 years after its founding, Burford School remains, in its own words, ‘popular and successful’.

Both staff and students said they are ‘immensely proud’ to be part of Burford School.