Windermere St Anne's School
Circa 2007-2008

At one time this was the official website of the Windermere St Anne's School.
Recently I discovered that the domain for WSASchool.com was available, so I bought it with the goal of recreating some of its content from archived pages and to point visitors to their current site. I definitely didn't want someone else purchasing the domain and re-purposing it for something that had nothing in common with this exceptional school. I learned about this school when our daughter asked if she could spend at least a year at an international school in England. She had chosen England since her maternal grandmother lived there. A colleague at work, Satya Rangarajan suggested this school. Not only did Satya have friends in England whose children were attending, but he was familiar with the philosophy of the Round Square group of schools of which WSA is a member. Satya was gracious to introduce me to his friends and after several conversations we contacted the headmaster of Windermere St Anne's School. My mother-in-law lived relatively close by and she was more than willing to be the guardian of our daughter. Our daughter was accepted at WSA and spent four wonderful years there. We all have a special place in our hearts for this school.

Their current website is at www.windermereschool.co.uk where you can find all the most up-to-date information regarding the school.

 

 

As a recent graduate of Windermere St Anne’s School, now leading a development team in a thriving tech company, I can confidently say that my time at this exceptional institution has played a pivotal role in shaping my professional journey. The environment at Windermere St Anne’s fostered a healthy self-image, confidence, and a thirst for learning, all of which have been instrumental in my success.

One of the most significant impacts of my education at Windermere St Anne’s is the confidence it instilled in me to challenge the status quo and advocate for necessary changes. Recently, in my role as a team leader, I encountered a situation where one of our biggest clients continued to use Microsoft Access, an obsolete and unsupported software. Drawing from the leadership skills and problem-solving abilities honed during my school years, I led the charge to replace this outdated software. Through persistent efforts and clear communication of the risks involved, I finally convinced our management to allocate a budget for a modern software replacement for outdated MS Access. The success of this initiative was celebrated by everyone on my team, and it felt like a real victory not just for me, but for the values and skills instilled in me by Windermere St Anne’s.

The school's emphasis on internationalism and leadership through the Round Square programme allowed me to gain a global perspective and an appreciation for diverse cultures. This background has been invaluable in my professional life, where I often work with clients and team members from around the world. The school's dedication to adventure, environmental stewardship, and service taught me the importance of resilience, ethical responsibility, and the joy of contributing to the community. These experiences have not only made me a better professional but also a more empathetic and proactive leader.

 

 

Windermere St Anne's School, Windermere, LA23 1NW
Tel: 015394 46164

Welcome to the Windermere St Anne's School website! I hope you will enjoy the snapshot view it provides of the school, and that you find you can navigate your way to the pages you want or need to see.

Behind the snapshot stands the real school, which is a living organisation of people engaged in a common pursuit of really important outcomes for the young people entrusted into our care. We believe that we will have done our jobs well if students leave us imbued with the following characteristics:

  • A healthy self-image
  • Confidence
  • A thirst for learning
  • Respect

If they have also discovered and tasted a passion to last them all their lives, they will truly have been well served.

If I have not met you yet, I hope to do so soon.
Allan Graham Head

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Windermere St Anne's is an independent co-educational school situated in the beautiful and inspiring Lake District.
The School accepts boys and girls from the age of 2 to 18, with boarding available from 8 years.
A distinctive international perspective is brought to the School through membership of the Round Square group of schools. This global network of schools is committed to the principles of service, democracy, leadership, adventure and the preservation of our environment. The School attracts a diverse intake of pupils from around the world who further enhance the School's global dimension.
Our challenging watersports and outdoor leadership programme is offered to all pupils. Our private Watersports Centre on Windermere and access to the landscape of the Lake District National Park provide a magnificent natural environment in which we develop inspiring and courageous individuals.
A strong boarding ethos is at the heart of our philosophy, with pupils benefiting from modern accommodation and a strong family atmosphere. We combine a caring environment, and a commitment to developing each pupil as an individual, with a strong tradition of high academic achievement.
Exceptional pastoral support for pupils and a broad range of extra-curricular activities further enhance the appeal of our School.
The School has a long history of excellence in Sport, Music, Art and the Performing Arts, with facilities that enable our pupils to excel in their chosen field.

A Unique Location

Located in the heart of the Lake District National Park, our school offers a rich environment in which young people flourish. It combines the beauty and tranquillity of a wooded campus overlooking the mountains and lake with the hustle and bustle of a thriving Cumbrian community. This combined with the rich literary and cultural heritage of the Lake District provides a unique setting for study, self-development and fulfilment.

Even with its breathtaking location, the school is very convenient to get to, with easy access to the motorway, main rail lines and major airports.

Proximity to Nature

At Windermere St Anne's we believe we can offer a truely unique space in which children can grow and develop as well rounded individuals. There is no denying the backdrop of the School is just stunning, overlooking the lake and mountains beyond. But you really do need to visit the campus to experience the real sense of beauty, inspiration and happiness that is felt by everyone within the school.
The School is set on 90 acres of woodland, on two campuses providing plenty of room to appreciate nature and the space of living outside a crowded city, yet it is right in the heart of the most popular area of the English Lake District. The thriving villages of Windermere and Bowness are just a short walk away, but there are many other larger towns and cities also within close driving distance such as Kendal, Lancaster, Preston and Manchester.

Ethos

Our mission at Windermere St Anne’s is:
“To educate individuals to the best of their academic potential. Personal development through service, challenge, creativity, adventure and international understanding encourages the confidence and skills that create positive and caring members of a global society.”
Our Vision:
By 2008 Windermere St Anne’s will be recognised as a community with an international outlook that develops courageous, responsible, inspiring individuals.
We Aim to:

  • Provide a broad and balanced curriculum, which prepares students for modern life.
  • Create a challenging but secure environment where students can develop independence and individual responsibility.
  • Help students take an increasing amount of responsibility for their own learning.
  • Provide equal opportunities for all students irrespective of gender, race and beliefs and encourage students to value and respect differences.
  • Help students develop a sense of responsibility for the community and the environment.
  • Help students develop a positive awareness of their own worth and respect for other people.
  • Help students discover and develop their individual academic, creative and sporting talents.
  • Provide a strong, flexible boarding ethos which benefits all pupils.

  6th Form

Being a Round Square Member School

The School actively promotes global understanding among its pupils. Much of this work is sustained through membership of the Round Square Group of Schools. This is a worldwide association of schools sharing unique and ambitious goals. The common goal of Round Square Schools is to develop every student into a whole person through academic, physical, cultural and spiritual experiences.
Its origins come from the philosophy of Kurt Hahn, who taught that schools should have a greater purpose beyond that of preparing students for future study at University. He believed in educating young people for life in the fullest sense and much of this is embraced by the vision of Windermere St Anne's School.
Round Square programmes help institutionally and culturally different schools work together through service projects, annual conferences, student exchanges and outdoor expeditions.


Exchange Programme

Pupils in Year 9 have the opportunity to participate in the Round Square international exchange programme. This involves spending a term at a partner school in countries such as Australia, South Africa, India and Canada.
This is a fantastic opportunity for pupils to learn about other cultures through their own experiences.
Windermere St Anne's regularly welcomes pupils from Round Square Schools, and this enables all pupils to benefit from living and learning with children from all over the world.

Conferences

Each year, Round Square schools send teams of representatives to a five day conference held at a member school. Friendships are made through activities, expeditions and events organised by the host school. Visitors are introduced not only to the host school, but the country, the culture and the environment.

Service Projects

School based projects are organised, staffed and logistically supported by a base school. In recent years projects have taken place in Turkey, Kenya, Thailand, Indonesia, Venezuela, Niger and Russia.
Larger projects may be directed by Round Square itself. The organisation has the leadership, expertise and funding needed to take on complex, logistically difficult projects such as school construction and disaster relief projects. Students at Round Square schools raise money each year to supply construction and emergency relief materials.

The IDEALS of Round Square

The six pillars around which the Round Square association operates are Internationalism, Democracy, Environment, Adventure, Leadership and Service.

Internationalism

As Round Square schools are situated worldwide, students share the opportunity to experience exchanges.
Schools organise several student exchanges per year. Most often these last a whole term, worked out on a school to school basis. Exchanges also bring young students interested in a career in education for gap year experiences, working as teaching assistants.
The Round Square network makes it possible to match an exchanged student or teacher to a school. As exchange is popular, each school is enriched by an annual flow of visitors bringing the views and values of other nations and cultures, and by returning students whose perspective on society, education and the world has been deepened through personal experience.

Democracy

Active participation in the democratic process is essential in Round Square schools. Students learn the importance of self-discipline, and are trained and obliged to share in the daily operation of the school. Each year Round Square school’s are asked to nominate candidates for the Kurt Hahn Prize, given to one or more students who have acted courageously to serve mankind or preserve life.

Environment

Round Square schools are actively involved in maintaining a concern for all natural environments.

Adventure

Round Square students are also educated in the appreciation of physical exercise and moral fortitude.
The unique location of Windermere St Anne's School in the Lake District National Park, ensures our pupils place great emphasis on these aspects of the Round Square philosophy.


Leadership

Students learn that true leadership is found in those whose convictions are rooted in personal responsibility, kindness and justice. Senior students' roles are substantial in every aspect of school life.

Service

Round Square prepares students for life by giving experience of the privilege and values of service.
Community service in schools and international projects in developing countries all educate students in the importance of serving others.

 

More Background On WSASchool.com

 

WSASchool.com originally served as the official online presence of Windermere St Anne’s School, an independent co-educational institution in Windermere, Cumbria. From roughly the mid-2000s until later rebranding efforts, the website operated as the primary digital gateway for families, students, prospective enrollees, and the international community connected to the school. Its purpose extended well beyond simply sharing admissions information—it also communicated the school’s values, philosophy, location advantages, extracurricular offerings, and global affiliations, particularly its involvement in the worldwide Round Square network.

As is common with older educational domains, the original WSASchool.com site eventually went offline as the school restructured, updated its branding, and consolidated its online presence under the more modern and unified digital identity. The archival record of WSASchool.com, however, offers a rich and detailed snapshot of the school during a period of growth, internationalization, and programmatic expansion.

Today, the domain has been responsibly repurchased and preserved by an individual with an authentic personal connection to the school, ensuring it remains aligned with its original educational purpose rather than being misused or repurposed by unrelated parties. This places WSASchool.com in the category of “legacy school domains” that represent historically significant web artifacts connected to real institutions.

Ownership Background

Historically, WSASchool.com represented a functioning institutional domain belonging to Windermere St Anne’s School, managed internally or by contracted IT administrators responsible for maintaining pages, updates, admissions information, and school communications.

In recent years, the domain became available and was acquired by a previous parent of the school whose daughter had attended the institution for four years. The motivation behind purchasing the domain was not commercial but preservation-oriented: the goal was to prevent misappropriation and instead maintain a respectful online presence that honors the school’s legacy while accurately directing visitors to the school’s current official site.

This type of stewardship is common among alumni, parents, and archivists dedicated to maintaining historical continuity. It ensures that decades of institutional history are not lost or contaminated by unrelated commercial activity.

Location and Proximity Advantages

Windermere St Anne’s School was—and, under its current organizational identity, remains—located in the heart of the English Lake District National Park, one of the most celebrated landscapes in the United Kingdom. The region’s natural beauty, geographical accessibility, and cultural heritage all played central roles in shaping the school’s educational philosophy and daily student experience.

Key location advantages historically highlighted on WSASchool.com included:

  • A wooded campus overlooking mountains and Lake Windermere

  • 90 acres of natural landscape for exploration, sports, learning, and recreation

  • Close proximity to the thriving villages of Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere

  • Access to larger towns and cities such as Kendal, Ambleside, Preston, Lancaster, and Manchester

  • Convenient access to motorway connections

  • Access to major rail lines and airports for international students

This combination of tranquil natural surroundings and strong logistical accessibility made the school appealing to families seeking both pastoral immersion and practical transport connectivity.

Academic Structure and Goals

WSASchool.com historically emphasized an educational framework built on academic rigor, personal development, and student independence. The school welcomed pupils from ages 2 to 18, supporting both day and boarding students.

Core academic goals included:

  • Encouraging independence and responsibility

  • Promoting a broad and balanced curriculum

  • Developing each student’s unique academic, creative, and athletic talents

  • Preparing students for modern life through relevant coursework

  • Integrating international perspectives into the learning environment

  • Reinforcing confidence and self-worth

The messaging stressed not only scholastic excellence but also personal growth, ethical development, and leadership readiness.

Boarding Ethos and Student Life

A strong boarding tradition was central to the identity presented on WSASchool.com. The school offered boarding opportunities beginning at age eight, emphasizing a warm, familial environment supported by modern dormitory facilities and comprehensive pastoral care.

Features highlighted included:

  • Comfortable, modern boarding accommodations

  • Supportive houseparents and pastoral staff

  • A community-based environment encouraging friendships across cultures

  • Shared meals, structured routines, and balanced academic schedules

  • Supervised outdoor activities and personal development programs

Boarding life at WSA was presented not simply as lodging but as a structured ecosystem designed to enhance social development, independence, and global readiness.

Internationalism and the Round Square Affiliation

One of the defining characteristics of WSASchool.com was its detailed focus on the school’s deeply integrated relationship with the Round Square global network. This organization, inspired by the educational philosophy of Kurt Hahn, promotes a holistic education centered on:

  • Internationalism

  • Democracy

  • Environmentalism

  • Adventure

  • Leadership

  • Service

These six “IDEALS” were prominently discussed on the website, with examples of how they were integrated into both the academic and extracurricular structure of the school.

Exchange Programs

Students—especially those in Year 9—were encouraged to participate in international exchange experiences with partner schools in:

  • Australia

  • South Africa

  • India

  • Canada

  • Other Round Square member regions

These exchanges helped students develop global awareness and cultural fluency, reflecting the school’s emphasis on shaping well-rounded global citizens.

Conferences and Service Projects

WSASchool.com highlighted the school’s participation in:

  • Annual Round Square student conferences

  • International service projects in Turkey, Thailand, Venezuela, Russia, Kenya, and other locations

These experiences allowed students to engage in real-world problem-solving, humanitarian support, environmental stewardship, and cultural exchange.

Outdoor Education and Watersports

One of the most unique features of the school—and prominently showcased on WSASchool.com—was its access to a private Watersports Centre on Lake Windermere, enabling an extensive outdoor leadership and adventure program.

Activities included:

  • Rowing

  • Sailing

  • Canoeing

  • Kayaking

  • Windsurfing

  • Mountain trekking

  • Orienteering

  • Rock climbing

The school believed that adventure and physical challenge helped develop resilience, teamwork, discipline, and courage—values consistent with the Round Square philosophy.

Arts, Music, and Performing Arts

WSASchool.com devoted space to describing the school’s longstanding commitment to creative arts. Students had opportunities to study:

  • Visual arts

  • Ceramics

  • Painting and sculpture

  • Photography

  • Orchestral performance

  • Choir and vocal training

  • Theatre production

  • Drama and movement

Performing arts facilities supported concerts, staged productions, and exhibitions, cultivating creativity and self-expression alongside academic learning.

Student Demographics and Audience

The school attracted a wide range of student populations, both domestic and international. Because of the Round Square connection and the boarding ethos, WSASchool.com often emphasized its diverse student body, consisting of:

  • Local families from Cumbria

  • UK families seeking a boarding experience

  • International students from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas

  • Children of expatriates or globally mobile professionals

The school’s messaging highlighted inclusion, equality, and respect across gender, ethnicity, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds.

Reputation, Popularity, and Reviews

Throughout its operational period, WSASchool.com positioned Windermere St Anne’s as a respected independent school known for:

  • Strong academic performance

  • A nurturing environment

  • An international outlook

  • Exceptional outdoor education

  • Boarding excellence

  • A balanced curriculum

Parents and students routinely praised the school for its compassionate teachers, individualized attention, and supportive environment that encouraged confidence and self-discovery. Alumni frequently attribute personal growth, leadership skills, and global awareness to their time at the school.

One archived testimonial highlights how WSA instilled the self-confidence necessary to lead organizational change later in life, demonstrating the long-term value of its educational philosophy.

Historical Evolution and Branding Transition

The original WSASchool.com represented an earlier era in the school’s digital communication strategy. As technology evolved and educational websites modernized, many institutions retired earlier domains in favor of consolidated branding.

Windermere St Anne’s underwent a reorganization and rebranding that brought its communications under a revised identity and updated domain. This transition mirrored broader trends among independent schools moving toward unified digital ecosystems that integrate admissions portals, learning management systems, alumni networks, newsletters, and interactive media.

Cultural and Social Significance

WSASchool.com and the school it represented played an influential role within:

The Lake District Community

  • Contributing cultural events

  • Supporting local organizations

  • Hosting public performances

  • Participating in community outreach

  • Offering employment in education and boarding care

The Round Square Global Network

  • Contributing leadership talent

  • Hosting exchanges

  • Sending students abroad

  • Supporting international service projects

The UK Independent School Tradition

Windermere St Anne’s embodied the characteristics of a British boarding school with a modern, international orientation—blending academic rigor, pastoral care, cultural exchange, and outdoor education.

Why Preserving WSASchool.com Matters

Preserving a historical school domain serves multiple purposes:

  1. Protecting brand identity
    Prevents misuse of an educationally significant domain.

  2. Maintaining historical continuity
    Allows families and alumni to revisit the digital record of a meaningful era.

  3. Supporting archival research
    Ensures historians and educators can study past educational models.

  4. Preserving memories
    Families, alumni, and staff retain access to a digital representation of their experiences.

In this case, stewardship is particularly meaningful because the current owner has a personal connection to the school and a desire to honor its legacy.

 

WSASchool.com represents more than a defunct domain: it captures an important phase in the evolution of a respected independent school deeply rooted in local heritage and international values. Through its emphasis on academic rigor, personal development, outdoor education, and global citizenship, Windermere St Anne’s School established itself as a distinctive institution that blended tradition with progressive educational ideals.

The preservation of WSASchool.com ensures that this legacy remains intact, accessible, and protected from misuse, honoring the experiences of the students, parents, and educators who helped shape its history.

WSASchool.com