The SBSA is the national association for state boarding schools in England and Wales
State Boarding Schools’ Association (SBSA) schools provide high-quality boarding at the lowest possible cost. Parents of boarders at SBSA schools pay only the cost of boarding, as the education is free. As a result, parents of pupils who board at an SBSA school pay only a fraction of the cost of boarding at an independent school.
Eligibility for admission
Admission to state boarding schools in the UK is limited 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.
About the schools
Most state boarding schools are for pupils aged 11–18, two offer primary boarding as well as secondary boarding, and one is for pupils aged 11–16, which has a nearby sixth-form college. Most schools are mixed, but there are some girls’ and boys’ state boarding schools.
There are only 35 state boarding schools in the UK, but they have enjoyed Government support in recent times. Some of the new academies are already exploring the possibility of opening boarding provision.
Of the 35, some are not generally available. The Five Islands School is meant for children in the Scilly Isles. Haydon Bridge, in Northumberland, is for pupils within its catchment area but who live too far away to make the daily trip to school. Two are sixth-form colleges, and one of these is Welbeck – The Defence Sixth Form College, taking only young people intending to join one of the Services – Army, Air Force, Navy or the Ministry of Defence Civil Service (Defence Engineering and Science Group) – as engineers (A-levels in maths and physics compulsory!).
There is a development at the Duke of York’s Royal Military School in Dover. From September 2010, it will become an academy. At the moment, it is for the children of serving or recently serving Forces personnel, but it intends to increase its numbers from 500 to 700 full boarders by 2013.
Some of the schools are grammar schools, with the same academic entry requirements for boarders as for day pupils. Most are comprehensive. One of the comprehensive state boarding schools, Hockerill Anglo-European College in Hertfordshire, has been a consistently high performer, and was the top-performing state school in 2006, 2007 and 2008 in The Independent newspaper’s UK league tables for post-16 exam results. The College has been an International Baccalaureate school for over ten years, and when inspected by Ofsted in 2007 was described as ‘outstanding’ in all 39 inspection categories.
Boarding standards and inspections
In all the state boarding schools, pupils are likely to find the same levels of care both in and out of the classroom as they would expect in any boarding school. Schools are members of the SBSA in addition to being members of the Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA), with access to the training for boarding staff which the BSA offers.
The boarding part of all boarding schools is inspected by Ofsted. In state boarding schools, Ofsted also inspects the education in the classroom. Parents have the security of being able to review the inspection reports on the Ofsted website as well as at the school.
Competition for boarding places at these schools is particularly fierce for the sixth form. If you are interested in applying to any of them, get in touch early, ideally in the autumn before proposed entry.
As with any boarding school, as well as excellent work in the classroom, your child will find a wealth of opportunity outside it, with staff, facilities and time to encourage the all-round development that is the hallmark of a happy and successful boarder.
Further information
For further information about state boarding schools, please contact:
The Director, Boarding Schools’ Association,
Grosvenor Gardens House, 35–37 Grosvenor Gardens,
London SW1W 0BS
Tel: +44 (0)20 7798 1580 Fax: +44 (0)20 7798 1581
E-mail: info@sbsa.org.uk Web: www.sbsa.org.uk
Listing of state boarding schools in England and Wales
Adams’ Grammar School
High Street, Newport, Shropshire TF10 7BD
Tel: +44 (0)1952 386300
E-mail: adams.grammar@taw.org.uk
Website: www.adamsgs.org.uk
Type: Boys full and weekly boarding 11–18 and day 11–16, and co-educational day 16-18
Ashby School
Nottingham Road, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire LE65 1DH
Tel: +44 (0)1530 413748
E-mail: schoolhouse@ashbyschool.org.uk
Website: www.ashbyschool.org.uk
Type: Boys full and weekly boarding and co-educational day 11–19
Brymore School of Rural Technology
Cannington, Bridgewater, Somerset TA5 2NB
Tel: +44 (0)1278 652369
E-mail: office@brymore.somerset.sch.uk
Website: www.brymoreschool.co.uk
Type: Boys boarding and day 13–17
Burford School and Community College
Cheltenham Road, Burford, Oxfordshire OX18 4PL
Tel: +44 (0)1993 823303
E-mail: Boarding.4040@burford.oxon.sch.uk
Website: www.burford.oxon.sch.uk
Type: Co-educational boarding and day 11–19
Burleigh Community College
Thorpe Hill, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 4SQ
Tel: +44 (0)1509 554400
E-mail: boarding@burleigh.leics.sch.uk
Website: www.burleigh.org.uk
Type: Co-educational full boarding and day 13–19
Colchester Royal Grammar School
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
Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3JD
Tel: +44 (0)1580 711800
E-mail: office@cranbrook.kent.sch.uk
Website: www.cranbrookschool.co.uk
Type: Co-educational boarding and day 13–18
Dallam School
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 245024
E-mail: headmaster@doyrms.com
Website: www.doyrms.com
Type: Co-educational full boarding 11–18
The Five Islands School
Carn Thomas, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall TR21 0LB
Tel: +44 (0)1720 422929
E-mail: enquiries@fiveislands.scilly.sch.uk
Website: www.fisonline.org.uk
Type: Co-educational boarding 11–16 and day 4–16
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
Haydon Bridge Community High School
North Bank, Haydon Bridge, Hexham, Northumberland NE47 6LR
Tel: +44 (0)1434 684422
E-mail: admin@haydonbridge.northumberland.sch.uk
Website: www.haydonbridgehigh.co.uk
Type: Co-educational weekly boarding and day 13–18
Hockerill Anglo-European College
Dunmow Road, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire
CM23 5HX
Tel: +44 (0)1279 658451
E-mail: admin@hockerill.herts.sch.uk
Website: www.hockerill.herts.sch.uk
Type: Co-educational full and weekly boarding and day 11–19
Keswick School
Vicarage Hill, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5QB
Tel: +44 (0)17687 72605
E-mail: boarding@keswick.cumbria.sch.uk
Website: www.keswick.cumbria.sch.uk
Type: Co-educational full and weekly boarding and day 11–18
Kings’ School Winchester
Romsey Road, Winchester, Hampshire SO22 5PN
Tel:+44 (0)1962 861161
E-mail: kingschoolhouse@btconnect.com
Website: www.kings-winchester.hants.sch.uk
Type: Boys boarding 11–18 and co-educational day 11–16
Lancaster Royal Grammar School
East Road, Lancaster, Lancashire LA1 3EF
Tel: +44 (0)1524 580605
E-mail: ajarman@lrgs.org.uk
Website: www.lrgs.org.uk
Type: Boys full and weekly boarding and day 11–18
Old Swinford Hospital
Heath Lane, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY8 1QX
Tel: +44 (0)1384 817300
E-mail: admissions@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
Queen Elizabeth’s Community College
Western Road, Crediton, Devon EX17 3LU
Tel: +44 (0)1363 773401
E-mail: admin@queenelizabeths.devon.sch.uk
Website: www.queenelizabeths.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: admissions@readingschool.reading.sch.uk
Website: www.readingschool.reading.sch.uk
Type: Boys boarding and day 11–18
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
Amersham Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP13 6QT
Tel: +44 (0)1494 524955
E-mail: admin.staff@royalgrammar.bucks.sch.uk
Website: www.rgshw.com
Type: Boys full and weekly boarding and day 11–18
St Brigid’s School
Plas-yn-Green, Denbigh, Denbighshire LL16 4BH
Tel: +44 (0)1745 815228
E-mail: bursar.st.brigids@denbighshire.gov.uk
Website: www.st-brigids.co.uk
Type: Co-educational day 3–11 and 16–18, girls boarding 7–18 and day 11–16
St George’s VA 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: admissions@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
Sandwich, Kent CT13 9JX
Tel: +44 (0)1304 613286
E-mail: head@srms.kent.sch.uk
Website: www.srms.kent.sch.uk
Type: Co-educational full and weekly boarding and day 11–18
The Skegness Grammar School
Vernon Road, Skegness, Lincolnshire PE25 2QS
Tel: +44 (0)1754 610000
E-mail: admin@skegnessgrammar.lincs.sch.uk
Website: www.skegnessgrammar.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: sgsboarding@sgs.uk.net
Website: www.steyning.w-sussex.sch.uk
Type: Co-educational full and weekly boarding andday 11–18
The Thomas Adams School
Lowe Hill, Wem, Shropshire SY4 5UB
Tel: +44 (0)1939 237000
E-mail: adamshouse@thomasadams.net
Website: www.thomasadams.org.uk
Type: Co-educational full boarding and day 11–18
Welbeck – The Defence Sixth Form
College
Forest Road, Woodhouse, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 8WD
Tel: +44 (0)1509 891700
E-mail: principal@dsfc.ac.uk
Website: www.dsfc.ac.uk
Type: Co-educational full boarding 16–18
The Westgate SchoolCheriton Road, Winchester, Hampshire SO22 5AZ
Tel: +44 (0)1962 854757
E-mail: contact@westgate.hants.sch.uk
Website: www.westgate.hants.sch.uk
Type: Girls full and weekly boarding and co-educational day 11–16
Wymondham College
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