Atlantic College

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This article is about a college in Wales. For the university in Puerto Rico see Atlantic College of Puerto Rico.
United World College of the
Atlantic
153 × 96 px
UWCAC logo
Location
St Donat's Castle
Llantwit Major
Wales
Information
Affiliation(s) United World Colleges
President Nelson Mandela
Queen Noor
Queen Elizabeth II
Principal Neil Richards (1st August 2007 -)
Staff 100
Students 350
Type International Baccalaureate
Campus Residential
Established 1962
Homepage www.atlanticcollege.org

The United World College of the Atlantic, more commonly referred to simply as Atlantic College, is an internationally prestigious private boarding school in south Wales. The first of the twelve United World Colleges, Atlantic College is home to around 350 students who come from more than 75 countries. Here they live, study and serve together at a pace and with a passion unique to United World Colleges. Students are selected on merit, regardless of religious, social or ethnic background. Scholarship support remains critical to the Atlantic College ethos, with many students receiving financial support for their two-year place at the College.


Contents

[edit] History

It was founded in 1962 by the German educationalist Kurt Hahn - who also set up Gordonstoun School in Scotland and the Salem School in Germany - as a practical response to the search for new and peaceful solutions in a world riven by political, racial and economic divisions.

Kurt Hahn had been invited to address the NATO Defence College where he saw former enemies from several nations working together towards a common goal. With a number of colleagues Hahn realised how much more could be done to overcome the hostility of the Cold War if young people from different nations could be brought together in a similar way. He envisaged a college for students who were already grounded in their own cultures but impressionable enough to learn from others. Drawn from all nations, the students would be selected purely on merit and potential, regardless of race, religion, nationality and background.

Atlantic College opened in South Wales in 1962 and was hailed by The Times as "the most exciting experiment in education since the Second World War." The College was the fruit of Kurt Hahn's vision and the work of men such as the founding Headmaster Rear Admiral Desmond Hoare, Antonin Besse, who donated St Donat's Castle for the College's premises, and Air Marshal Sir Lawrance Darvall. Robert Blackburn was also influential as founding Deputy Headmaster and Director of Studies.

In 1967, Lord Mountbatten became President of the organisation and the title United World Colleges came into existence. Mountbatten was an enthusiastic UWC supporter and encouraged heads of state, politicians and personalities throughout the world to share his interest. He was personally involved in founding the second UWC – the United World College of South East Asia – in Singapore. A further College followed in 1974: former Canadian Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner Lester Pearson had dreamed of establishing an institution like Atlantic College in Canada and it was fitting that the Lester B Pearson United World College of the Pacific became Canada's living memorial to its much-respected leader.

In 1978, Lord Mountbatten passed the Presidency to his great-nephew, HRH The Prince of Wales.

The current presidents of Atlantic College are Nelson Mandela, Queen Noor of Jordan and Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

[edit] The College

The College's mission is to enable students "to become positive agents of change through action and life choice, fulfilling individual potential and recognizing individual responsibilities as global citizens".

The Beast Garden at St Donat's Castle
The Beast Garden at St Donat's Castle

Students from over 80 countries participate in Atlantic College's rigorous two-year programme in which they combine academic studies with activities and service, many on either partial or full scholarships. Admission, and scholarship awards, are decided by individual UWC committees around the world, which also send students to the other United World Colleges.

At the beginning of the two years, students are obliged to select a service that they will carry out for at least four hours a week. At present, there are nine services offered: Inshore Lifeboat (RNLI), Lifeguards, Cavra, Extramural Centre, Community Education Partnership, Social Service, Estate Service, Arts Centre Service and Visual Rescue (Split into: Analog photography, Digital photography and Videography). At the beginning of each term, students also select three activities, and these must each be carried out for at least two hours a week.

The College is unique in having an active RNLI Lifeboat Station within its grounds, and its Atlantic 75 class boat is manned by staff and students from the College. Much of the development of the Atlantic 21, 75 and 85 classes of lifeboat took place here. ILB training vessels are still built on-site by students and are in regular use in practice and training of the RNLI crews at the station.

[edit] Grounds and Facilities

Atlantic College is located at St Donat's Castle, a 12th century castle near the town of Llantwit Major on the South Wales coast, overlooking the Bristol Channel. The extensive grounds also include the 12th century St Donat's Chapel and the historic terraced gardens, as well as preserved woodland, farmland and heritage coastline. St Donat's Castle is the impressive main building of the school housing the Gothic Dining Hall, The Great (Bradenstoke) Hall, the Tudor Hall, extensive Library and certain academic departments.

Students live in 7 accommodation houses named after either Welsh counties or benefactors to the college:

  • Dyfed
  • Morgannwg
  • Powys
  • Gwynedd
  • Whitaker
  • Tice
  • Sunley

Lessons take place in modern academic blocks built in the 1960s-80s, converted Medieval estate buildings, and the castle itself. Next to the castle are the Social / Gymnasium blocks and the 12th Century Tithe barn (used by the college and open to the public as a theatre, arts centre and cinema). This building with its contemporary glazed extension by notable local architect Chris Loyn, has received much praise in the UK architectural community as well as from groups interested in building conservation. The college owns sports fields, tennis courts, and in addition to indoor and outdoor swimming pools have a range of surf and rescue equipment, kayaks, sailing boats, RNLI training boats, and a cliff suitable for climbing and rescue practice.

In 2004 the college installed a carbon neutral biomass heating system to replace an aging and unsustainable oil based system. It runs on locally sourced sustainable woodchip biomass, and makes the campus the largest site in the UK to be heated in such a way.

During Summer 2008, it is planned that the oldest student house, Dyfed, will be completely refurbished including technologies such as solar power and geothermal heating to lessen its impact on the environment. If the renovation is successful, the other older houses may also be renovated over a period of years.

[edit] Academics

Since 1972 the sole academic programme has been the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, the first students to study exclusively for the IB having entered the College in 1971. The College was influential in the creation of the International Baccalaureate and continues to be actively involved in its development. The average pupil at Atlantic College scores 37 in their IB diploma, a full 10 points higher than the worldwide average. This high level of academic attainment is reflected in the destinations of the school's graduates.

Graduates are typically accepted at the most competitive colleges and universities around the world. Most students take up places at American Universities such as Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Harvard University, Princeton University, and Yale University. Many other students attend British Universities such as Oxford University, Cambridge University and the University of Edinburgh. Students at the college are eligible, after graduation, to participate in the Shelby Davis Scholarship programme, which funds undergraduate study (based on need) for UWC students at universities in the United States. Despite this, the stated aim of the College is that students return to their home communities or regions after completing their studies to enable and encourage social and economic development around the world and across societies, rather than removing those most able to facilitate change from those areas most in need of it.

Middle Lawn at St Donat's Castle
Middle Lawn at St Donat's Castle

[edit] Traditions

Induction Week: When the new year of students arrive in September, the second year students welcome them to the college outside the main gate. The first years spend the first few days at Atlantic College learning about the college and getting to know each other by going on a camping trip.

Open Mic Nights: To raise money for various charities and causes, students organise 'Open Mic Nights' usually held in the Old Staff Common Room. Students pay for entry and watch their fellow schoolmates performing. Causes include Trade Justice, Amnesty International, Students for a Free Tibet and STAR.

National Evenings: Every Sunday, a national group or a conglomeration of national groups (For example: British & Irish, Franco-Italian, Central European (German-Dutch), Latin & Iberic, North American etc.) put together a show celebrating the culture of their region. Nearly every pupil participates and attends the national evenings and the performances are usually both a celebration and a parody of their countries.

ACMUN: Each year the college hosts a Model United Nations conference. This is very accurately staged with various committees, councils and events. Students from other United World Colleges also attend.

Writer in Residence: Started in September 2007, this is when an author lives on campus and helps students with all literature, including essays, letters home and notes to other students. The writer in residence is currently Horatio Clare.

Friday Night Lecturer: Prominent characters present a speech based on their field of excellence to the school. Recent Friday night lecturers include Craig Sams, Anita Roddick and Aernout Van Lynden

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] External links

[edit] References

Biomass Heating at Atlantic College; Carbon Trust case study


United World Colleges

United World College of the Atlantic · United World College of South East Asia · Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific · Waterford-KaMhlaba United World College of Southern Africa · Armand Hammer United World College of the American West · United World College of the Adriatic · Simón Bolívar United World College of Agriculture · Red Cross Nordic United World College · Li Po Chun United World College  · Mahindra United World College of India · United World College of Costa Rica · United World College in Mostar

Coordinates: 51°24′05″N, 03°31′57″W