Ladies’ College (Colombo 7) has developed a multi-ethnic and multi-religious student population. It offers education from pre-school through to the GCE Advanced Level (local and London examinations), as well as vocational studies and a BTEC programme. Sports offered include athletics, badminton, basketball, karate, netball, rowing, squash, swimming/ diving/ synchronised swimming, tennis and water-polo. Pupils have been awarded both Sri Lankan School Colours and Western Province Colours in the said sports. There are many clubs and societies, ranging from debating, Model United Nations, and choral singing to drama/ theatre, art, music, dance and so on. The school also encourages Community Outreach projects, fundraising carnivals/walks/sales and volunteering opportunities. LC also proudly houses a Special Education Unit (children with cognitive and physical disabilities) and Institute of Professional Studies (Department of Vocational Studies). The college sits on a 4.32 hectare (10.7 acre) campus close to the Indian Ocean in central Colombo. The main hall/auditorium is used for school assemblies and productions. It is also the regular concert venue of the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka since 1958. Also on the premises is the ‘Chapel of the Hope of the World’. In addition to being a place of worship, the chapel is used for choral performances and weddings. Although a Christian school, Ladies’ College encourages spiritual growth in all religious beliefs through various events and programmes. Also on the property are a Hostel (boarding house), sick room/ nurse, counselling facilities, cafeteria, book shop, sports complex, gym, swimming pool, etc. The school uses the house system (name, motto and emblem after the school's founders as follows): NIXON – “Excelsior” – Irish shamrock; WHITNEY – “Nothing less than the best” – Canadian maple leaf; DALE – “No attainment without effort” – New Zealand fern; LOOS – “The utmost for the highest” – Ceylonese lotus.