Which are the best UK boarding schools for football?
As the most popular sport both nationally and internationally, football looms large within boarding school sports programs across the UK. Yet some schools are known within the sector as providers of more specialised and elite training for the aspirational young footballer. Here, we talk about five of the most significant UK boarding schools for football, as well as outlining other factors to bear in mind when making your choice of boarding school.
Millfield School
Location: Street, Somerset
Fees: £47,775 per annum
Headteacher: Gavin Horgan
Ages: 2-18
Single sex or co-educational: Co-educational
Millfield School, located in Somerset, England, was founded in 1935 by Rollo John Oliver. Originally established as a school for boys, Millfield has since become coeducational. The school is renowned among UK boarding schools for the quality of its sports program, and football is arguably the most important sport at Millfield. There are 11 full size football pitches, as well as 19 coaches offering training programmes to novice and elite players alike. Millfield have also reached eight ISFA Cup Finals, winning four and coming runner-up in four. In 2023, ten students won scholarships to Division 1 universities in the USA. 41.8% of GCSE grades were at Grade 9-7 in 2023.
Repton School
Location: Repton, Derbyshire
Fees: £43,680 per annum
Headteacher: Mark Semmence
Ages: 13-18
Single sex or co-educational: Co-educational
Repton School, located in Derbyshire, England, has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1557. Originally established as a free grammar school, Repton has since evolved into a prestigious co-educational independent school. Football is one of the school’s ‘focus sports’, and as such there is a significant investment of school resources in its training program. Dedicated football coaches Luke Webb and Molly Holder, who lead the boys’ and girls’ training programmes respectively, have come to the school after careers as football players in the English Football League. The academy’s most notable alumnus is Will Hughes, who plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier League club Crystal Palace. The school’s academic record is also fairly strong: 61% of GCSE grades at Grade 9-7 in 2023.
Bede’s School
Location: Upper Dicker, East Sussex
Fees: £42,240 per annum
Headteacher: Peter Goodyer
Ages: 4-18
Single sex or co-educational: Co-educational
Bede's School, formerly St. Bede’s Senior School, was founded in 1978 some 10 miles away from its prep school, which first opened its doors in 1895. The senior school's ethos is rooted in providing a holistic education that combines academic excellence with a strong focus on character development, sports, and the arts. Among these, Bede’s excels in its sports provision, and football is no exception. As one of the school’s ‘core sports’, football coaching is provided, unusually, all year round by the school’s expert coaching staff, composed of Director of Football David Caryer, a UEFA A pre and Sussex coach, former professional footballer Dan Harding (Brighton and Hove FC, Ipswich Town and Southampton), and Oliver Davies, Director of Swerve Football Academy. The school competes against the strongest independent football schools in the HUDL League at Senior 1st Level, which they won in 2020, and successful football alumni include Solly March, who plays as a Right Winger for Premier League team Brighton and Hove Albion. 45% of all GCSE grades awarded in 2023 were at Grade 9-7.
Rossall School
Location: Fleetwood, Lancashire
Fees: £41,970 per annum
Headteacher: Jeremy Quartermain
Ages: 1-18
Single sex or co-educational: Co-educational
Rossall School, located on the north-west coast of England, has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1844. Established by St. Vincent Beechey, the school was originally envisioned as a maritime school to educate the sons of seafarers. Over the years, Rossall has evolved into a prominent co-educational boarding school. Rossall’s football program is also impressive. The school has a partnership with professional EFL club Fleetwood Town, providing both the expertise and facilities to develop young footballing talent. In terms of academic profile, the school does not enjoy a particularly distinguished reputation, with 37% of GCSEs in 2023 being at 9-7 level.
Claremont School
Location: Bodiam, East Sussex
Fees: £35,970
Headteacher: Severine Collins
Ages: 3-18
Single sex or co-educational: Co-educational
Having been a Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep School since 1925, Claremont School in East Sussex opened its doors to ages 13-18 in 2011. It is thus a veritable newcomer on the UK boarding school scene. Don’t let this put you off, however. The school is a leading member of the International Schools Partnership, bringing investment into the school’s already impressive facilities. The football program, headed by the experienced coach Jim Colston, is world class, and focuses on the complete picture of player development, involving fitness and mentality coaching alongside training of football-specific skills. With students from 26 countries participating in its football academy in 2023, the school has a truly international focus and fosters partnership between different football-playing nationalities. The school’s academic profile is currently modest but improving, with 35% of GCSE grades at 9-7 level in 2023.
What other factors should you take into account when choosing between boarding schools?
Whilst the quality of provision for specific sports such as tennis may be an important priority for you as prospective parents, there are other factors to be borne in mind. Here, we give our breakdown of what those are.
Academic level
Academics, expressed in the quality of teaching and examination results, is among the most important things to bear in mind when choosing the right boarding school for your child. As important as football may be as an activity, the financial investment involved in sending your child to boarding school should also yield a dividend in terms of exam results and consequent university and career prospects. There exists a symbiosis, in fact, between academics and extracurriculars in that university applicants who can list other activities on their personal statement are in a strong position to gain places at better universities, which may in turn possess superior teams or facilities for football. The top university for football, Loughborough, has fierce competition for places on its undergraduate course. A boarding school’s academic profile, therefore, cannot be ignored.
Pastoral environment
Boarding schools vary widely in their approach to pastoral provision. Some schools are more firmly Church of England in their ethos, whilst others are markedly secular. Some schools may provide a more holistic educational offering, or more comprehensive support for mental health issues, whilst others may prioritise academic achievement over other aspects of education. The right pastoral environment ultimately boils down to personal preference, and value-alignment between school and student.
Location
Location can have a major impact upon a school’s suitability, especially for international students. Many public schools are located in remote corners of the UK countryside. Although the issue of location is mitigated somewhat by the boarding model, with students able to stay at the school on weekends during term-time, a school’s remote location could make it difficult for your child to travel home during vacations, or on select weekends.
UK boarding school selection with Chapkin Edwards
If you need further assistance with choosing the right boarding school for your child, contact us here. Our team of expert consultants will be more than happy to help you find the perfect fit.