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UWC Atlantic College (formerly United World College of the Atlantic)
UWC Atlantic College logo
Location
St Donat's Castle Llantwit Major Wales
Information
Type	International Baccalaureate
Established	1962
Principal	John Walmsley (Appointed 1st January 2012)
Staff	100
Number of students	350
Campus size	30 Hectares
Campus type	Residential
Colour(s)	Green and Blue
Affiliation	UWC (formerly United World Colleges)
Website	www.atlanticcollege.org

UWC Atlantic College (formerly the United World College of the Atlantic), also known as Atlantic College and often abbreviated to 'AC' by its students and staff, is an international IB Diploma Programme independent (private) residential Sixth Form College in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1962, it was the first of the United World Colleges and was among the first educational institutions in the world to follow an international curriculum. It is known for its liberal, progressive and radical education, its global ethos and its strong focus on local and global sustainability. It is attended by approximately 350 students from more than 90 countries. In addition to the International Baccalaureate curriculum, the College places student participation in community service at its core.

History [edit]

Atlantic College 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 post-war 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.^[1]

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,^[2] and Air Marshal Sir Lawrance Darvall. Robert Blackburn was also influential as founding Deputy Headmaster and Director of Studies.

In 1967, Lord Mountbatten of Burma 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.^[1] 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: Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Canadian Prime Minister 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, Mountbatten passed the Presidency to his great-nephew, HRH Prince Charles The Prince of Wales. The current presidents of Atlantic College are Nelson Mandela, Queen Noor of Jordan and Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

The College [edit]

The College's stated 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".

Students from over 75 countries participate in Atlantic College's rigorous two-year programme in which they combine academic studies with activities and service. Admission, and scholarship awards, are decided by national 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 for the duration of their time at the college, with the choices including manning and running the RNLI lifeboat station at the college, working on the college’s own organic farm, providing music therapy for dementia patients or running activity sessions with disabled children. Students can choose from ten services offered: Arts Centre Service, Cardiff and Vale Rescue Association (CAVRA) Service, Estates Service, Extramural Centre Service, Inshore Lifeboat Service, Lifeguard Service, Marine Environment Monitoring Service (MEMS), Media and Communications Service, Performing Arts Service, and Social Service. At the beginning of each term, students also select three activities, which 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.^[3] 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.

Atlantic class 21.

What was to become the world’s most widely-used craft for inshore rescue, the rigid inflatable boat (RIB), was conceived, designed, and built at Atlantic College under its founding headmaster, retired Rear-Admiral Desmond Hoare.^[4] The B Class Atlantic Inshore Lifeboat was named by the RNLI after its birthplace, the College. It has often been claimed that, had the College earned royalties on every rigid-hulled inflatable boat now in service, its scholarship fund would have never looked back. But Desmond Hoare, who finally patented the design in 1973, handed over all rights to the RNLI for the nominal fee of one pound. He did not cash the cheque.^[4]

David Sutcliffe, a member of the founding staff of the Atlantic College in 1962, published The RIB The Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Lifeboat and its Place of Birth The Atlantic College in 2010, a book that tells the story of the inception of the RIB (rigid inflatable boat).^[4]

Grounds and facilities [edit]

St Donat's Castle in 1775

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 castle has been continuously inhabited since it was first built. The extensive grounds also include the 12th-century St Donat's Church 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 College, housing the Tudor Great Hall, the Gothic Dining Hall, the Bradenstoke Hall used for assemblies and performances, an extensive 25,000-book Library, staff offices, student common areas and certain academic departments such as History, Economics and Theory of Knowledge.

Students live in seven accommodation houses named after either ancient Welsh kingdoms or benefactors to the college: Pentti Kouri — 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.^[5] 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.

The earliest to be built student house, Pentti Kouri (formerly Dyfed), was refurbished in the autumn of 2008 to include technologies such as geothermal heating and an energy usage monitoring system to lessen its impact on the environment. If the renovation proves successful at reducing the environmental impact, while being comfortable to live in, the other older houses may also be so renovated over a period of years.^[6]

Academics [edit]

One of the first colleges in the world and first in UK to follow an international curriculum, Atlantic College continues to lead the way in pioneering new options for the broad-ranging International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.^[7][8] Since 1972 the sole academic programme has been the IB, with the first students to study exclusively for the IB having entered the College in 1971.^[9] The College was influential in the creation of the International Baccalaureate and continues to be actively involved in its development.

IB graduates are typically accepted at the most competitive colleges and universities around the world, with many enrolling in Ivy League universities. Many other students attend British universities. Students at the college are eligible, after graduation, to participate in The Davis United World College Scholars Program, 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.

The class of 2008 were academically the college’s most successful year in its 46-year history.^{[citation needed]} Seventy-six students, almost half of the graduating class of 163, received a total of 151 unconditional acceptances at top US universities, and 13 students were offered conditional places to study at Oxbridge.

Among the offers, there were 21 acceptances to Ivy League universities such as Harvard, Columbia, Yale, Cornell and Princeton.

Middle Lawn at St Donat's Castle.

Courses [edit]

Students choose six subjects from six groups: two Languages (the mother-tongue being one) and courses from Individuals in Societies, Experimental Sciences, Mathematics and the Arts. Three subjects are studied at Higher Level and three at Standard Level.

The following groups of courses are available at Atlantic College:

Group 1, Language A:

Higher Level: English Literature, English Language and Literature, Norwegian, German, Spanish, Danish, Chinese

Standard Level: English Literature, English Language and Literature, Chinese, Spanish, German, Danish, Norwegian, Self-taught

Group 2, Language B or ab initio (beginners):

Higher Level (B only): English, French, Spanish

Standard Level: English (B only), French, Spanish, Mandarin (ab initio only), Arabic (ab initio only)

Group 3, Individuals and societies:

Higher Level: Geography, Economics, History

Standard Level: Geography, Economics, History, Political Thought (school-based syllabus), Peace and Conflict Studies (school-based syllabus), World Religions, Environmental Systems and Societies*

Group 4, Experimental Sciences:

Higher Level: Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Design Technology

Standard Level: Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Environmental Systems and Societies*

Group 5, Mathematics:

Further Maths, Mathematics

Mathematics, Mathematical Studies

Group 6, The Arts:

Higher Level: Visual Arts, Music, Theatre

Standard Level: Visual Arts, Music, Theatre

• Environmental Systems and Societies is a trans-disciplinary course. This means that students meet the requirements for groups 3 and 4 in one course and have more choice for their fifth and sixth subject as a consequence.

^[10]

Traditions [edit]

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Induction Week

When the new year of students arrive in September, the second year students welcome them to the college outside the main gate by creating noise with pots and pans.^{[citation needed]} 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: Afro-Caribbean, 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 called ACMUN. This is accurately staged with various UN committees, councils and events including the Security Council, where issues like those in Palestine and North Korea are discussed. Students from other United World Colleges and state schools from the local area and around the UK 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 most recent writer in residence was Horatio Clare, an ex-student.

Friday Night Lectures

Prominent characters present a speech based on their field of excellence to the school. Friday night lecturers have included entrepreneurs Craig Sams and Dame Anita Roddick, Margot Wallström, European Commission Vice Presidentn, the journalist Aernout Van Lynden, an ex-student of Atlantic College, Member of Parliament Stephen Doughty and Guardian journalist, Luke Harding.

Showerings

When a student has a birthday, their roommates are responsible for "showering" them the night before with buckets of water, often including extra surprises. If it happens to be their 18th birthday, this student is carried and thrown into the outdoor pool.

End of Codes

In the week that second year students finish their classes (codes) before exams, they subject their first years (who will continue to have classes) to various pranks that often involve waking first years up at 6am, rearranging their dorms, hiding their mattresses and encouraging them to dress up in humorous costumes.

Notable former pupils [edit]

• Sir Howard Newby (1947–), Pro Vice Chancellor of The University of Liverpool, former Vice Chancellor UWE, former VC University of Southampton.^[11]
• Pentti Kouri (1949–2009), Finnish economist and venture capitalist.^[12]
• Kenneth Surin (1948–), Professor of Literature and Critical Theory, Duke University. Author.
• Marjan Šetinc (1949–), Slovenian politician and diplomat.
• Jorma Ollila (1950–), Finnish executive, former CEO of Nokia Corporation, current Non-Executive Chairman of Royal Dutch Shell and Nokia.^[13][14]
• Seppo Honkapohja (1951–), Finnish board member of the Bank of Finland, former Professor of Macroeconomics at University of Cambridge.^[15][16]
• Chris Morgan (1952–2008), Welsh journalist.^[17]
• Edoardo Agnelli (1954–2000), heir apparent of Fiat.
• Kari Blackburn (1954–2007), BBC reporter.^[18]
• Aernout van Lynden (1954–), war correspondent and journalist in the Middle East.
• Tarek Ben Halim (1955–2009), investment banker and founder of Alfanar, the Arab region's first venture philanthropy organization.
• Hakeem Bello-Osagie (1955–), Chairman of the United Bank for Africa^[19]
• Spyros Niarchos (1955–), Greek shipping heir.
• Fernando Alonso (engineer) (1956–), Head of Airbus Test Flight Division (A380 first flight crew member).^[20]
• Charles Kuta (1956–), American computer engineer and co-founder of Silicon Graphics.
• Priscilla Rattazzi-Whittle (1956–), author and President of the College's US Foundation.
• Pedro Alonso Fernandez (1957–), founder of the Manhica Center of Health Research.^[21][22]
• Jonathan Michie (1957–), Director of the Department for Continuing Education and President of Kellogg College, University of Oxford and founder of the Manchester United supporters´ trust.^[23]
• Julie Payette (1963–), Canadian astronaut (1982).^[24][25]
• Willem-Alexander (1967–), king of the Netherlands^[26]
• Eluned Morgan (1967–), politician.^[27]
• Saba Douglas-Hamilton (1970–), conservationist and TV presenter.^[28]
• Louise Leakey (1972–), palaeontologist.
• Horatio Clare (1973–), author.^[29]
• Ashraf Johaardien (1974–), playwright, columnist, performer and arts manager.
• Kara Miller (1974–), writer, director and presenter.
• Felicitas von Lovenberg (1974–), German journalist and author.^[30]
• Sally El Hosaini (1976–), film-maker and writer.^[31]
• Princess Raiyah bint Al Hussein (1986–), daughter of King Hussein and Queen Noor of Jordan.
• Luke Harding, political journalist at The Guardian

References [edit]

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Atlantic College, Wales

• Atlantic College
• United World Colleges
• AC (for and by students and teachers)
• United Words (UWC Student Magazine founded and led by Atlantic College Students)

Coordinates: 51°24′05″N 03°31′57″W / 51.40139°N 3.53250°W / 51.40139; -3.53250