Which is the Best UK Boarding School for Your Child?

Academically, Sevenoaks is fast-paced and both their exam results and university entry statistics are impressive, although they are emphatically not a hot house. Students leave Sevenoaks as broadly educated critical thinkers and creative problem solvers.

All Sixth Formers take the International Baccalaureate Diploma, which has been taught at Sevenoaks for nearly 50 years. In the Middle School, all students study for IGCSEs and GCSEs, alongside their own core curriculum which encourages critical thinking.

Together, students of Sevenoaks achieved an average IB Diploma score of 39.0 points, more than eight points above the world average and in line with the pre-pandemic results. Significantly more than half their students, 57%, earned 40 points or more – a fantastic result, with 73 students earning 42 points or more.

Five students achieved the maximum Diploma score of 45 points, among just 25 students in the UK to do so this year.

At Radley College, an education encompasses a lifelong commitment to nurturing boys into exceptional young men, instilling values and a holistic approach. As one of the UK's few full boarding schools for boys aged 13 to 18, Radley, with over 175 years of tradition, harmonizes its rich legacy with innovation and dynamism.

Celebrating academic excellence, A Level results hit 77% A*-A, and I/GCSE saw 87% at grades 9-7 in 2022. The curriculum spans varied subjects like Drama, Design Electronics, Computer Science, and Geology, supplemented by the Sixth Form Curriculum Extension Programme. Notably, 71% of Sixth Formers entered Russell Group Universities including 12 students to Oxford University, with 10% pursuing international destinations such as the US, including offers from prestigious institutions like Stanford and Harvard.

Abingdon, boasting a rich 750-year legacy, blends tradition with modernity, providing top-tier education and fostering alumni excelling across diverse professions globally. Abingdon offers plenty of access to an extensive Other Half (extra-curricular) programme, with 150+ activities spanning music, sciences, arts, and sports. Travel opportunities enrich students' experiences, including language exchanges and cultural tours.

Academically selective, the school consistently achieves outstanding exam results: 10 GCSEs in the Fifth Year and a flexible Sixth Form curriculum encompassing 25 subjects, with nearly 40% securing A* or A grades in three or more A levels. A dedicated career advisory team supports university applications, with students entering esteemed institutions like Oxbridge, Russell Group, Ivy League colleges, and worldwide universities.

Caterham School, awarded the 2023 "Independent School of the Year" by the Times Education Supplement, is a leading UK co-ed day and boarding institution. Graduates secure placements in prestigious UK and global universities, with 85% of Upper Sixth leavers in 2022 obtaining their first-choice university, including eight entering medical school. Over the past five years, 12 pupils received offers from Oxford or Cambridge, summing up to 61 offers from top-tier universities.

Recognized as an EdTech 50 and Apple Distinguished School, Caterham stands as a global academic innovator, equipping students with diverse skills for an ever-evolving world through its unique EDGE curriculum, blending entrepreneurial, digital, and problem-solving abilities with top-notch academic excellence.

Caterham offers extensive grounds, including woodlands, high ropes courses, and an outdoor learning center. Emphasizing sustainability, initiatives like woodland restoration and beekeeping are integral to school life.

Headington Rye Oxford is a curious, confident, ambitious school set in a beautiful location, opening in September 2024 following a merger between neighbouring schools Headington School and Rye St Antony.

At Headington Rye Oxford there is a firm focus on preparing pupils for the future, both in terms of excellent academic outcomes and a comprehensive careers, university application and future-planning programme. We have strong links to Oxford and Oxford Brookes universities with lectures, workshops and masterclasses both on site and at university facilities. The school is academically selective and regularly appears among the top performing schools in the UK for GCSE and A Level results.

Alongside that is an unparalleled commitment to and investment in pastoral care, with each child treated as an individual and provided with the support they need to succeed in every aspect of their lives.

Cardiff Sixth Form College has been the top academic school in the UK over the past 12 years. In 2023 95% of students gained all A*-A grades and 99.5% A*-B. 83% of students went onto the QS top universities worldwide and 67% to Russell Group. Key subject choices include medicine, engineering, law, natural sciences, computer science, architecture, business and economics with students going onto the top G5 universities in the UK.

A full super-curricular programme of careers, work placement , skills development, online courses, critical thinking and research projects supplements the excellent academic programme. There is a year-long, one to one university preparation programme in place to help students navigate the UCAS system, the differences in courses, provide guidance on interviews and personal statements and tutor for top university admissions tests as well as many visits from external speakers and university admissions advisors.

Shrewsbury School, Independent School of the Year 2020, has a world-class reputation for all-round excellence. Fully co-educational, with a seven-day boarding heartbeat and an integral day community, Shrewsbury delivers a dynamic education that develops the abilities and enthusiasms of each and every individual girl and boy.

In 2023, 87% of students progressed to their first-choice university destinations with 30% of Salopians enrolling in a university ranked in the world's top 50. 72% of pupils achieved A Level grades A* – B, closely matching results achieved in 2019. 91% achieved A* – B in the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), a separate Level 3 qualification designed to develop independent research and project management skills, which is valued highly by universities and employers. Shrewsbury's Futures Department offers expert advice and engages with pupils throughout their school career, to empower them to forge the educational path that most inspires them.

Bromsgrove School's Curriculum is wide and varied, GCSE pupils study the sciences as separate subjects and all study one or more modern foreign languages. In Sixth Form, pupils can choose either the IB Diploma or A-levels; BTECs in Sports Performance and Business are also offered.

The School's results are excellent with an average IB score of over 39 points and at A level almost 60% of candidates attain a grade A*/A; with almost 90% achieving A*/B. The majority of pupils continue to top UK and world universities such as UCL, Durham, Exeter, Bristol, Nottingham and overseas universities including USA, Canada and European destinations.

Bromsgrove boasts a varied extra-curricular programme and pupils can participate in activities from creative arts, performing arts, additional sports and academic extension activities. Sport at Bromsgrove is particularly strong with individuals and teams regularly reaching national finals in sports such as hockey, swimming and cricket.

The National Mathematics and Science College was created to meet the demands of a specialised STEM college, with a unique concentration of skill and talent, aiming to prepare the world's best students to read Maths, Science, Medicine and other top disciplines at the world's leading universities.

The National Mathematics and Science College is the perfect springboard for studying STEM subjects at the best universities in the UK and around the world. In 2023, 70% students scored A or A* grades for their A Levels.

The college provides specialist support for all applications including Oxbridge, Medicine/Health Care degrees, US Applications and other international universities. This includes tailored support for any entrance assessments, support with personal statement or application essays, and interview practice sessions for all students.

A high-achieving day and boarding school for 11 to 18-year-olds, d'Overbroeck's offers a progressive education that unlocks each student's unique academic and personal potential.

d'Overbroeck's exceptionally qualified teachers will build a great relationship with your child, nurture their talents, and stretch learning beyond what's needed just to pass an exam. This means offering the right mix of challenge and support, and packing our world renowned English National Curriculum with experiences that engage and excite.

Happy, supported, and doing what they love, students achieve outstanding success. d'Overbroeck's consistently rank among the top 5% of UK schools for academic progress, with students far-exceeding their predicted GCSE and A-level grades. This opens doors to the futures of their choice, including places at the world's top 100 universities.

St. Andrew's College Cambridge has been offering both UK and international students the opportunity to study in central Cambridge for over 40 years. What makes the college different is that it is a small school with dedicated staff who are committed to helping students achieve success.

Students get weekly sessions with personal tutors to remain on track with their academic studies – progress is carefully monitored with clear direction given on how to improve. Tutors also provide university preparation, guiding students through the UCAS process. Those aiming for top G5 universities (Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College, LSE and UCL) are paired up with a Cambridge University PhD student to provide additional advice and support.

The administration team and many of the college's teachers have been working with St. Andrew's for more than 10 years and this means they all have the experience needed to help and support you in every aspect.

One of the top-performing A-level colleges in the UK, Oxford International College (OIC) has a longstanding reputation for academic excellence. Oxford International College goes beyond conventional education. Their innovative curriculum seamlessly combines three pillars – academic excellence, career preparation, and personal development – which enables every student to chart their own journey to success.

Studying in OIC will equip you with the specialist subject knowledge and breadth of skills you need to excel academically. OIC also provides exciting career-focused experiences that prepare you for the university course or job of your dreams. Every step of the way, you'll be guided by some of Oxford's finest tutors, all of whom are experts in their fields.

Their tried-and-tested, fully personalised approach sees students achieve outstanding results. OIC is consistently among the top A-level schools in the UK, with over 90% of grades at A* or A year-on-year.