Country guide

Boarding Schools in the United Kingdom

In England, GOV.UK sets out the national curriculum as key stages from Reception (ages 4 to 5) to Year 11 (ages 15 to 16). Boarding schools, whether local-authority maintained or independent, must meet the national minimum standards for boarding schools published by the Department for Education. These standards describe the safeguarding and welfare requirements for children in boarding accommodation. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own education systems, which this profile does not describe.

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Coverage: 130 schools and 131 campuses published so far. Research is substantial for this country but not exhaustive.

Terminology: Year groups in England and Wales (for example Year 9, Sixth Form), different year names in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and is listed here. The Republic of Ireland is listed separately.

Country notes reviewed 17 October 2026.

How boarding works in United Kingdom

Year groups and key stages (England)

As published by GOV.UK on 2026-10-17: Reception is ages 4 to 5, Key Stage 1 covers Years 1-2, Key Stage 2 Years 3-6, Key Stage 3 Years 7-9 and Key Stage 4 Years 10-11 (ages 15 to 16). Pupils' ages therefore map to year groups rather than grades. official source

National minimum standards for boarding

GOV.UK describes the national minimum standards as the standards boarding schools must meet to safeguard and protect the children in their care, applying to maintained and independent schools that provide accommodation for children. The page's update history refers to Ofsted inspections against the standards. Check the official page for the current version. official source

Child Student visa (ages 4 to 17)

As published by GOV.UK on 2026-10-17: applicants must be aged 4 to 17, hold an unconditional offer from a licensed Child Student sponsor, have a suitable place to live in the UK and enough money. Study at an independent school is permitted; a further or higher education institution is not. Applicants need parental or legal guardian consent to study and live in the UK, and a parent who wants to accompany the child must apply for a separate Parent of a Child Student visa. The page does not give further guardianship detail; check it before applying, as it does not guarantee a visa or place. official source

Sources

Nations with schools

Schools

131 campuses from 130 schools, listed A to Z by school name. Paid placements are labelled and never change this order.

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Boarding is for

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Maximum annual boarding fee

Original currency only; no conversion. Schools without a calculable annual figure are not shown.

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Accepts international applicantsScholarships or financial assistance publishedDay places also availableReligious affiliation published

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West Buckland School
Barnstaple, Devon, England
- Research checked
A co-educational independent day and boarding school at West Buckland near Barnstaple, Devon, with boarding from Year 5.
Boarding
Full boarding, Weekly boarding, Flexible boarding
Boarding entry
Boarders are welcomed from Year 5 upwards, with weekly and full boarding options.
School
Co-educational, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Ages taught: Nursery (3+), Reception to Prep 5-6, Senior Years 7-13 (ages 11-18)
Annual boarding fee
Fees published, but no boarding total can be calculated from them.
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Westonbirt School
Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England
- Research checked
A co-educational independent day and boarding school at Tetbury in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, for pupils aged 2 to 18.
Boarding
Full boarding, Weekly boarding, Flexible boarding
Boarding entry
Sedgwick House is the junior boarding house for pupils in Years 7 to 9.
School
Co-educational, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Ages taught: Boys and girls aged 2 to 18
Annual boarding fee
£40,785 to £50,295 per year
full boarding. 2026-27. Range across the year groups the school lists.
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Winchester College
Winchester, Hampshire, England
- Research checked
Independent boarding school in Winchester, Hampshire, for boys aged 13 to 18, with a co-educational Sixth Form for day pupils and boarders.
Boarding
Full boarding
Boarding entry
13+ entry and 16+ entry.
School
Varies by age group, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Ages taught: 13+ entry (Year 9), 16+ entry (Sixth Form) (ages 13 to 18)
Boarding fee
£20,700 per term
boarding (pattern not named). 2026-27. Tuition and boarding, published per term; the school does not state how many terms make a year.
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Windermere School
Windermere, England
- Research checked
A co-educational independent day and boarding school in Windermere in the Lake District, with full, weekly and flexible boarding.
Boarding
Full boarding, Weekly boarding, Flexible boarding
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Co-educational, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Ages taught: Pre-Prep & Prep, Senior School and Sixth Form
Annual boarding fee
£54,000 per year
full boarding. 2026-27. Tuition and boarding, published per year.
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Woldingham School
Woldingham, Surrey, England
- Research checked
An independent boarding and day school for girls at Marden Park, Woldingham, Surrey, with full, weekly and flexi-boarding.
Boarding
Full boarding, Weekly boarding, Flexible boarding
Boarding entry
Boarding Age: 11-18 (BSA record).
School
Girls, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Ages taught: Years 7 to Upper Sixth
Boarding fee
£18,252 to £20,628 per term
full boarding. 2026-27. Range across the year groups the school lists.
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Woodhouse Grove School
Apperley Bridge, West Yorkshire, England
- Research checked
A co-educational day and boarding school at Apperley Bridge, West Yorkshire, whose senior school takes day and boarding pupils from Year 7 and offers long-term…
Boarding
Flexible boarding
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Co-educational, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Ages taught: Years 7 – 10; Years 11 – 13
Boarding fee
£15,114 to £15,210 per term
boarding (pattern not named). 2026-27. Range across the year groups the school lists.
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Worksop College
Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England
- Research checked
A co-educational independent day and boarding school for ages 11 to 18 in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, with flexi, weekly and full boarding; its prep school Ranby House is…
Boarding
Flexible boarding, Weekly boarding, Full boarding
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Co-educational, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Ages taught: Year 7 & 8; Shells - Fifth Form; Sixth Form (ages 11 to 18)
Boarding fee
£11,531 to £14,884 per term
full boarding. 2026-27. Range across the year groups the school lists.
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Wrekin College
Wellington, Shropshire, England
- Research checked
A co-educational day and boarding school in Wellington, Shropshire, with single-sex boarding houses for pupils aged 11 to 18.
Boarding
Full boarding
Boarding entry
Boarding is available for pupils aged 11 - 18.
School
Co-educational, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Ages taught: Reception to Sixth Form (Wrekin Prep and Wrekin Senior & Sixth)
Boarding fee
£13,518 to £15,718 per term
full boarding. 2026-27. Range across the year groups the school lists.
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Wycliffe College
Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, England
- Research checked
Independent day and boarding school in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire; the Senior School covers ages 13 to 19 and offers full, flexi and day boarding.
Boarding
Full boarding, Flexible boarding
Boarding entry
Not confirmed
School
Not confirmed, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Ages taught: Senior & Sixth Form Years 9-13 (ages 13 to 19)
Boarding fee
£18,600 to £19,800 per term
full boarding. 2026-27. Range across the year groups the school lists.
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Wycombe Abbey
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England
- Research checked
Independent girls' school in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, with a full-boarding model and day places, entering mainly at ages 11, 13 and 16.
Boarding
Full boarding
Boarding entry
Main entry points are at age 11, 13 and 16.
School
Girls, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Independent · Ages taught: Main entry points are at age 11, 13 and 16.
Boarding fee
£21,500 per term
full boarding. 2026-27. Tuition and boarding, published per term; the school does not state how many terms make a year.
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Wymondham College
Wymondham, Norfolk, England
- Research checked
Co-educational state boarding and day school in rural Norfolk, part of the Sapientia Education Trust, with boarders from age 9 to 18.
Boarding
Full boarding, Flexible boarding
Boarding entry
Boarders from ages 9-18; flexi boarding is named for the Prep School. (ages 9 and over)
School
Co-educational, day places
Curriculum
Not confirmed
Public / state · Ages taught: Pupils from ages 4-18.
Annual boarding fee
Fees published, but no boarding total can be calculated from them.
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