State Boarding Schools
You may be surprised to learn that there are currently 40 state boarding schools.
They offer a more affordable option when considering your child’s education to an Independent Boarding school, mainly because the education is free, with parents only having to pay the boarding fees.
There are eligibility requirements to attend state boarding schools, with admission being restricted to children who are nationals of the UK and are eligible to hold a full UK passport, or those who are nationals of other European Economic Area (EEA) countries or those who have the right of residence in the UK. Holding a BN(O) passport does not make a child eligible for a state boarding school in the UK. A student needing a visa under Tier 4 immigration rules will not be permitted to attend a UK state boarding school.
Most state boarding schools are for pupils aged between 11-18 with most of them being mixed, but there are some that are single sex. Some of which are grammar schools which will require the same tests and entry exams for boarders.
You will be able to view all the key information about each state boarding school from the directory listings below. State boarding schools offer an alternative for parents that may be put off by the high fees, but still like the idea of continuity of education as well as the benefits of smaller classrooms, excellent teaching standards and the continuous support that boarders receive. Many of these school’s rank amongst the highest in the results tables for GCSE’s and A Levels.
The majority of the students in state boarding schools tend to be day pupils, however many of the full time boarders will be service parents children, this is because they often require their child/children to have continued education, without the upheaval of long distance travelling or even changing schools. This is often because serving members of the armed forces can be moved and stationed in different parts of the UK or overseas.
Many boarding schools now offer weekly and termly boarding, which includes all the same benefits for student, a safe and welcoming environment, high quality education, and with Ofsted inspecting the quality of the boarding as well as the education ensures a clean, comfortable and happy place to learn, study and relax in.
State boarding schools give priority to children who have a particular need to board and will assess children’s suitability for boarding. Below are the contact details for each of the state boarding schools
Haberdasher’s Adams
High Street, Newport, Shropshire TF10 7BD
Tel: +44 (0)1952 386300
E-mail: reception@adamsgs.uk
Website: www.adamsgs.uk
Boys full and weekly boarding and co-educational day 11–18
Ashby School
Nottingham Road, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire LE65 1DH
Tel: +44 (0)1530 413748
E-mail: admin@ashbyschool.org.uk
Website: www.ashbyschool.org.uk
Type: Boys full and weekly boarding and co-educational day 11–19
Beechen Cliff School
Alexandra Park, Bath BA2 4RE
Tel: +44 (0)1225 480466
E-mail: headmaster@beechencliff.org.uk
Website: www.beechencliff.org.uk
Type: Boys boarding 11–19 and day 11–16, and co-educational day 16–19
Brymore Academy
Cannington, Bridgewater, Somerset TA5 2NB
Tel: +44 (0)1278 652369
E-mail: office@brymore.somerset.sch.uk
Website: www.brymoreacademy.co.uk
Type: Boys boarding and day 11–17
Burford School
Cheltenham Road, Burford,
Oxfordshire OX18 4PL
Burford Boarding School – Lenthall House, Church Lane, Burford, Oxfordshire OX18 4SA
Tel: +44 (0)1993 823303
E-mail: admin.4040@burford.oxon.sch.uk
Website: www.burford.oxon.sch.uk
Type: Co-educational boarding and day 11–19
Colchester Royal Grammar School
6 Lexden Road, Colchester, Essex CO3 3ND
Tel: +44 (0)1206 509100
E-mail: info@crgs.co.uk
Website: www.crgs.co.uk
Type: Boys full and weekly boarding 16–18 and day 11–16, and co-educational day 16–18
Cranbrook School
Waterloo Road, Kent TN17 3JD
Tel: +44 (0)1580 711800
E-mail: enquiries@cranbrook.kent.sch.uk
Website: www.cranbrookschool.co.uk
Type: Co-educational boarding and day 13–18
Dallam School
Haverflatts Lane, Milnthorpe, Cumbria LA7 7DD
Tel: +44 (0)15395 65165
E-mail: enquiries@dallam.eu
Website: www.dallam.eu
Type: Co-educational full boarding and day 11–19
De Aston School
Willingham Road, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire LN8 3RF
Tel: +44 (0)1673 843415
E-mail: enquiries@de-aston.lincs.sch.uk
Website: www.de-aston.lincs.sch.uk
Type: Co-educational boarding and day 11–18
The Duke of York’s Royal Military School
Guston, Dover, Kent CT15 5EQ
Tel: +44 (0)1304 245023
E-mail: admin.office@doyrms.com
Website: www.doyrms.com
Type: Co-educational full boarding 11–18
Exeter Mathematics School
Rougemont House, Castle Street, Exeter, Devon EX4 3PU
Type: Co-educational weekly boarding and day 16-19
Gordon’s School
West End, Woking, Surrey GU24 9PT
Tel: +44 (0)1276 858084
E-mail: info@gordons.surrey.sch.uk
Website: www.gordons.surrey.sch.uk
Type: Co-educational boarding and day 11–18
The Harefield Academy
Northwood Way, Harefield, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB9 6ET
Tel: +44 (0)1895 822108
E-mail: info@theharefieldacademy.org
Website: www.theharefieldacademy.org
Type: Co-educational boarding and day 11–18
Hockerill Anglo-European College
Dunmow Road, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 5HX
Tel: +44 (0)1279 658451
E-mail: admin@hockerill.com
Website: www.hockerill.com
Type: Co-educational full and weekly boarding and day 11–19
Holyport College
Ascot Road, Holyport, Berkshire SL6 3LE
Tel: +44 (0)1628 770442
E-mail: info@holyportcollege.org.uk
Website: www.holyportcollege.org.uk
Type: Co-educational boarding and day 11–19
Keswick School
Vicarage Hill, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5QB
Tel: +44 (0)17687 72605
E-mail: admin@keswick.cumbria.sch.uk
Website: www.keswick.cumbria.sch.uk
Type: Co-educational full and weekly boarding and day 11–18
Lancaster Royal Grammar School
East Road, Lancaster, Lancashire LA1 3EF
Tel: +44 (0)1524 580600
E-mail: Via website
Website: www.lrgs.org.uk
Type: Boys full and weekly boarding and day 11–18
Liverpool College
Queen’s Drive, Mossley Hill, Liverpool L18 8BG
Tel: +44 (0)151 724 4000
E-mail: admin@liverpoolcollege.org.uk
Website: www.liverpoolcollege.org.uk
Type: Co-educational boarding 16–19 and day 4–19
Old Swinford Hospital
Heath Lane, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY8 1QX
Tel: +44 (0)1384 817300
E-mail: reception@oshsch.com
Website: www.oshsch.com
Type: Boys full and weekly boarding 11–18 and day 11–16, and co-educational day 16–18
Peter Symonds College
Owens Road, Winchester, Hampshire SO22 6RX
Tel: +44 (0)1962 857500
E-mail: psc@psc.ac.uk
Website: www.psc.ac.uk
Type: Co-educational full boarding and day 16–19
Polam Hall School
Grange Road, Darlington, County Durham DL1 5PA
Tel: +44 (0)1325 463383
E-mail: information@polamhall.com
Website: www.polamhall.com
Type: Co-educational boarding 8–19 and day 4–19
The Priory Academy LSST
Cross O’Cliff Hill, Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN5 8PW
Tel: +44 (0)1522 889977
E-mail: general.enquiries@prioryacademies.co.uk
Website: www.prioryacademies.co.uk
Type: Co-educational boarding and day 11–18
QE Academy Trust
Western Road campus, Western Road, Crediton, Devon EX17 3LU
Tel: +44 (0)1363 773401
E-mail: admin@qe.devon.sch.uk
Website: www.qe.devon.sch.uk
Type: Co-educational boarding and day 11–18
Reading School
Erleigh Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 5LW
Tel: +44 (0)118 901 5600
E-mail: secretary@reading-school.co.uk
Website: www.reading-school.co.uk
Type: Boys boarding and day 11–18
Richard Huish College
South Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 3DZ
Type: Co-educational boarding and day 16-19
Ripon Grammar School
Clotherholme Road, Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 2DG
Tel: +44 (0)1765 602647
E-mail: admin@ripongrammar.co.uk
Website: www.ripongrammar.co.uk
Type: Co-educational weekly boarding and day 11–18
Royal Alexandra and Albert School
Gatton Park, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0TD
Tel: +44 (0)1737 649000
E-mail: admissions@gatton-park.org.uk
Website: www.raa-school.co.uk
Type: Co-educational full and weekly boarding and day 7–18
The Royal Grammar School High Wycombe
Amersham Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP13 6QT
Tel: +44 (0)1494 524955
E-mail: Via website
Website: www.rgshw.com
Type: Boys full and weekly boarding and day 11–18
St George’s School
Sun Lane, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 4TD
Tel: +44 (0)1582 765477
E-mail: admin@stgeorges.herts.sch.uk
Website: www.stgeorges.herts.sch.uk
Type: Co-educational full and weekly boarding and day 11–18
Sexey’s School
Cole Road, Bruton, Somerset BA10 0DF
Tel: +44 (0)1749 813393
E-mail: enquiries@sexeys.somerset.sch.uk
Website: www.sexeys.somerset.sch.uk
Type: Co-educational full and weekly boarding and day 11–18
Shaftesbury School
Salisbury Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8ER
Tel: +44 (0)1747 854498
E-mail: office@shaftesburyschool.co.uk
Website: www.shaftesburyschool.com
Type: Co-educational full boarding and day 11–18
Sir Roger Manwood’s School
Manwood Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9JX
Tel: +44 (0)1304 613286
E-mail: info@srms.kent.sch.uk
Website: www.srms.kent.sch.uk
Type: Co-educational full and weekly boarding and day 11–18
Skegness Grammar School
Vernon Road, Skegness,
Lincolnshire PE25 2QS
Tel: +44 (0)1754 610000
E-mail: enquiries@sgs.lincs.sch.uk
Website: www.sgs.lincs.sch.uk
Type: Co-educational boarding and day 11–18
Steyning Grammar School
Shooting Field, Steyning, West Sussex BN44 3RX
Tel: +44 (0)1903 814555
E-mail: sgs@sgs.uk.net
Website: www.sgs.uk.net
Type: Co-educational full and weekly boarding and day 11–18
The Five Islands School
Carn Gwaval, Church Road,
St Marys, Isles of Scilly TR21 0NA
Type: Co-educational boarding and day 5-16
Thomas Adams School
Lowe Hill, Wem, Shropshire SY4 5UB
Tel: +44 (0)1939 237000
E-mail: enquiries@thomasadams.org.uk
Website: www.thomasadams.org.uk
Type: Co-educational full boarding and day 11–18
The Royal School, Wolverhampton
Penn Road, Wolverhampton WV3 0EG
Type: Co-educational boarding and day 4-19
Welbeck – The Defence Sixth Form College
Forest Road, Woodhouse, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 8WD
Tel: +44 (0)1509 891700
E-mail: helpdesk@dsfc.ac.uk
Website: www.dsfc.ac.uk
Type: Co-educational full boarding 16–18
The Wellington Academy
Tidworth, Wiltshire SP11 9RR
Tel: +44 (0)1264 405060
E-mail: admin@thewellingtonacademy.org.uk
Website: www.thewellingtonacademy.org.uk
Type: Co-educational full and weekly boarding and day 11–18
Wymondham College
Golf Links Road, Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 9SZ
Tel: +44 (0)1953 609000
E-mail: enquiries@wymondhamcollege.org
Website: www.wymondhamcollege.org
Type: Co-educational boarding and day 11–18