Thinking about enrolling your child into boarding school? Below are some of the best ones to put on the top of your radar.
Cothill House School
Cothill is a leading co-educational prep school for ages seven to 13, set in 26 acres of Oxfordshire countryside. Boarding lies at the heart of Cothill and for more than 150 years, the school has built its boarding experience around a simple ethos: to be a home away from home. In the close-knit, family community of just 160 pupils, every child is known, valued and supported, creating the sense of belonging that allows children to flourish both academically and socially.
This exceptional pastoral care underpins every aspect of school life. Children gain confidence, resilience and independence in a warm, structured environment where they are encouraged to embrace new opportunities, from an extensive evening activity programme and boarding house events to adventurous weekends and cultural experiences. Combined with personalised teaching and high academic standards, Cothill provides the foundations for success, with a strong tradition of preparing children for entry to the UK’s leading senior schools.
Ludgrove School
As the country’s only boys’ full boarding prep school, Ludgrove is a rare find. The school ensures that all pupils learn to live together in the same environment with the same opportunities. The traditional boarding model means that all 180 boys are either in school or at home on exeat weekends every fortnight, so no boy feels left behind as they see friends disappear at the end of the school day.
The nurturing environment helps the boys to achieve inside and outside the classroom, with many receiving academic, creative and sports awards from senior schools, including two Eton King’s scholarships this year.
Having thrived in a 130-acre rural oasis for five years, enjoying an atmosphere of happiness, good manners and kindness, Ludgrove takes immense pride in waving the boys off as well-rounded young men, confident to take on the next chapter but always remembering, ‘once a Ludgrovian, always a Ludgrovian!’
Dragon School
The Dragon is an extraordinary independent co-ed day and boarding prep school in Oxford for children aged four to 13. The Dragon strives to foster free thinkers and lifelong learners; to encourage pupils to raise their hand, roll up their sleeves, join the dots and explore their passions. To reach for the sun. The most fulfilling education celebrates individual character and ambition, while being part of something bigger.
Boarding is the beating heart of this vibrant school and within the eight-family style boarding homes you can feel the energy, warmth and comfort that the houseparents, their families, and the pupils emit. The school is proud to be truly co-educational, and inclusive in every sense of the word.
With all boarding options on offer, from flexi to full, The Dragon caters to individual family needs, and provides children with vast opportunities, experiences, home comforts, support, guidance and above all, fun.
Burford School
Burford stands alone as the region’s only state secondary school offering boarding, a truly unique opportunity. Set in one of Oxfordshire’s most beautiful towns, this 450-year-old boarding house is home to 100 students who enjoy the best of both worlds: the warmth of a small, nurturing family alongside the outstanding resources of a thriving school of 1,000 pupils.
Here, students are known, supported, and encouraged to grow in confidence. The school is proud of its academic strength, but values equally the breadth of opportunity beyond the classroom, with a vibrant co-curricular programme set within superb grounds and facilities. For busy families, it offers flexible, affordable access to an excellent education. The boarding community helps pupils build independence and lasting friendships, while the short walk down the hill adds to that comforting sense of returning ‘home’ at the end of the school day.
Summer Fields School
Boarding at Summer Fields provides a supportive environment where boys thrive academically and personally. Each lodge has dedicated lodge parents responsible for the boys’ wellbeing, supported by other staff who work regularly across the six lodges. This creates a close-knit community and consistent pastoral care, helping boys build strong relationships and develop confidence, independence, and resilience.
From playing golf, backgammon or hide and seek to practicing individual instruments, rehearsal their lines or simply reading a book, they have additional opportunities to develop skills, enjoy their passions and spend time with friends
A varied and exciting weekend programme further enriches boarding life, with trips, activities, and opportunities for adventure, friendship, and creativity. Together, these experiences make boarding at Summer Fields balanced, engaging, and highly rewarding.
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