The UK’s best boarding schools for boys
The UK has some of the oldest and most prestigious educational institutions in the world. UK boarding schools typically offer entry at 13+, and extend their provision to Sixth Form. Choosing between them can seem overwhelming, since each school offers an altogether different educational experience. Here we give our low-down on five leading boarding schools in the UK, enabling you to make an informed choice.
Eton College
Founded in 1440 by King Henry VI, Eton is one of the oldest and most prestigious boys' boarding schools in the world. Renowned for academic excellence, Eton emphasises a broad curriculum and excellent character development. Its impressive list of alumni includes twenty UK Prime MInisters, as well as writers such as George Orwell and actors such as Hugh Laurie and Eddie Redmayne. 79% of all GCSE grades in 2022 were at Grade 8 or 9, whilst 47 students received offers to study at Oxford and Cambridge.
The school is located in Berkshire, west of London along the river Thames. The beautiful town of Windsor, where King Charles has one of his principal residences, lies less than a mile south, and the college is surrounded by picturesque countryside.
Situated on the Thames, Eton College is highly regarded for its rowing program and has achieved considerable success in national and international competitions. The school competes in various regattas and rowing events, showcasing its strong commitment to the sport and consistently performing at a high level.The Eton College Choir is among the best in the country, and regularly undertakes visits to Oxford, Cambridge and London, as well as further afield to Japan, India and the United States.
The school fees for Eton are £16,666 per half (term) as of the school year 2023/24. There are three halves in an academic year, so total fees equal £49,998 per annum.
Harrow School
Established in 1572, Harrow School has a rich history and is known for its impressive list of alumni which includes Lord Byron, Richard Curtis and Benedict Cumberbatch. It is one of the leading schools in the UK and offers a well-rounded education with a keen focus on academics. 70% of all grades in 2023 were at Grade 8 or 9, whilst 9 Harrovians gained places at Ivy League universities in the US.
Harrow School is located in north-west London at Harrow-on-the-Hill. It is situated within a spacious and verdant 300-acre estate, which nevertheless offers easy access to Central London on both the Piccadilly and Metropolitan Lines.
Harrow prides itself on an inclusive co-curricular programme which cultivates the talents of its individual students. There are as many as 20 teams for each of the major sports at the school, and the school also offers nearly 30 sports in total, including Judo and Fencing. The Cricket and Rugby teams at Harrow are particularly distinguished, with several old Harrovians going on to professional careers in those sports. Students also have access to fantastic opportunities in Art, Drama and Music, and students are given the opportunity to handle priceless historical artifacts in the school's iconic Old Speech Room Gallery.
Termly fees at Harrow are £16,850 and include board, tuition, textbooks, a stationery allowance and laundry. The total fees per annum are thus £50,550.
Westminster School
Founded in 1179, Westminster is steeped in history and has strong ties to Westminster Abbey. It is among the oldest schools in England, with notable alumni including John Locke, A. A. Milne and Louis Theroux. Westminster’s academic record is unmatched: 90% of all GCSE grades received in 2023 were at Grade 8 or 9, whilst 65 students took up places at Oxford and Cambridge.
Westminster School is situated in the heart of the borough of Westminster, and occupies a prestigious place alongside Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament along the banks of the River Thames. Westminster School is within easy reach of public transport, with the nearby Westminster underground station which is served by the Jubilee, District and Circle lines.
Westminster offers a rich co-curricular programme, but is particularly known for rowing, which has been referred to as ‘water’ since the 19th century. Coached by coaches, many of whom have Olympic experience as either coaches or athletes, the Westminster rowing teams practice at their boathouse along the Thames in Putney. They have received notable success in rowing recently, with two of their rowers achieving silver in the Great Britain Eights Crew in the World Junior Championships.
Termly fees at Westminster for the year 2023/24 are £16,506, making for a total of £49,518 per annum.
St. Paul's School
Established in 1509, St. Paul's School has a legacy of academic excellence and intellectual pursuit. This is reflected in its impressive results: 87% of GCSE grades received in 2023 were at Grade 8 or 9. Its prestigious list of alumni includes Samuel Pepys, George Osborne and Isaiah Berlin.
St Paul’s School for Boys is located in Barnes in the borough of Richmond, London, and is located on the bank of the River Thames. The school is accessible by public transport, with the school being a 25-minute walk from Hammersmith underground station, on the District Line.
With a 100-minute lunch break, St. Pauls is a school that prides itself on nurturing the talents of each of its students beyond the classroom. The school also has a prestigious rowing program that has achieved notable success in various competitions and regattas both nationally and internationally. St. Paul's School's rowing teams have consistently performed well in events such as the Schools' Head of the River Race, the National Schools Regatta, and the Henley Royal Regatta, among others. The school's commitment to rowing is evident through its state-of-the-art facilities, dedicated coaching staff, and the success of its rowing crews over the years.
Current school fees for the 2023/24 academic year are £14,891 per term, or £44,673 per annum.
Winchester College
Founded in 1382, Winchester College is one of the oldest and most respected independent schools in the UK. Its notable alumni include the current UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, Antony Beevor and Joss Whedon. It is very strong academically, with 71.9% of all GCSEs at Grade 8 or 9.
Winchester College is located in the town of Winchester, Hampshire. Set within 250 acres of picturesque grounds, the school features eighteen Grade One listed buildings. It is also within striking distance of London: Winchester is less than an hour’s train ride from London Waterloo station.
WInchester enjoys a particularly distinguished reputation for cricket among public schools. With top-level coaches and international tours to South Africa and the West Indies, there is ample opportunity to develop your talents at Winchester. The same can be said for football, in which Winchester regularly outperforms other leading public schools. The school employs a full-time football coach, Jason Dodd, former Club Captain and Director of the Player Academy at Southampton FC.
The fees for the year 2023/24 at Winchester are £49,152 per annum for boarding pupils, which equates to £16,384 per term.