As a boarder at Berkhamsted, you will experience life at a traditional English independent school as a member of a small, diverse boarding community of around 80 or so students.
Our boarding community is a mixture of full boarders (termly), weekly boarders from Year 9 (Sunday – Thursday nights) and local pupils who flexi-board from Year 7, on one or two nights a week due to school commitments.
The School has two boarding houses: St John’s for girls and Incents for boys. Both are located in Chesham Road within a few minutes’ walk of both Senior and Sixth Form campuses and the town centre. All bedrooms are furnished and decorated to a high standard and many are en-suite. Each House has a common room and kitchen facilities. There are large gardens shared by both Houses.
Dining facilities allow boys and girls to meet together and joint house outings are arranged on a regular basis. Boarders can also use their free private membership at the Knox-Johnston Sports Centre, which offers a fitness suite, sports hall and 25m swimming pool. Here, boarders can take part in any of the classes run in the evenings or at weekends ranging from aqua aerobics to pilates.
- Year 13 St John's International Boarder
- Incents Boarder from Hong Kong
We provide inspirational teaching, outstanding support with university applications and effective careers advice so that a Berkhamsted education serves as a stepping stone between school and university or the professional world.
At Berkhamsted we pride ourselves on a consistently high academic performance. In Sixth Form, A Level courses are offered in 28 subjects and are examined at the end of the Upper Sixth (Year 13).
50 students have gained a place at Oxford and Cambridge since 2012.
56.2% of Berkhamsted international boarders achieved an A*-A in 2019.
The overwhelming majority of students go to university, although there is a strong support for those intending to enter the world of work straight after school. Heads of House and academic departments offer detailed advice to students and great care is taken over UCAS applications resulting in a strong record of success in gaining offers and progression to chosen universities
Both houses provide a warm, friendly and secure atmosphere in which students are valued, supported, encouraged and challenged so that they can be themselves and realise their potential.
Each House is managed by a Head of House who acts ‘in loco parentis’. The Heads of House are supported by matrons and two residential tutors in providing a caring environment in which pupils can work and develop both as individuals and as part of a community.
Wellbeing is a priority and Berkhamsted is proactive in talking about and promoting mental health. We have a full-time Deputy Head in charge of Wellbeing who oversees a team of counsellors and runs a programme of wellbeing courses for our community, not just our pupils.
Above all, we hope all pupils will be happy during their time with us and that they will enjoy the opportunities and challenges a busy boarding community will afford them.
Why choose Full boarding?
This enables students to focus on academic studies while participating fully in all that the School has to offer. Boarding also offers an ideal preparation for university. At Berkhamsted, we offer a number of Full-time boarding places to overseas students.
Why choose Weekly or Flexi boarding?
These options offer families the added benefit of being able to fulfil work commitments during term-time knowing that their children are being cared for. It can also offer last minute accommodation for pupils who may need support during unexpected family difficulties or to help pupils who have a long daily journey to school to spend a few nights at the boarding house to minimise the amount of time involved transporting them to and from school each day.
Getting in Touch
For enquiries about boarding please contact Miss Rachel Bradley (for girls rbradley@berkhamsted.com) or Mr Chris Sutton (for boys csutton@berkhamsted.com).
- Year 8 St John's Flexi Boarder
- Parent of a Year 10 Incents Weekly Boarder
The School has two boarding houses, located within a few minutes’ walk of both Senior School campuses and the town centre. The girls’ boarding house, St John’s, has a mixture of single and twin bedrooms. All bedrooms are furnished and decorated to a high standard and many are en-suite. There are two common rooms, kitchen facilities and large shared gardens. The boys’ accommodation, Incents, includes a mixture of single and twin bedrooms for senior boys, some of which have en-suite facilities. The house also has two common rooms, kitchen facilities and a games room.
Although the majority of pupils attending Berkhamsted are day pupils, we offer the facility to board to overseas students who generally enter at Sixth Form level (aged 16).
Berkhamsted Boys may consider applications from international students aged 13 (entering at Year 9) and aged 14 (entering at Year 10) to study at GCSE level. Berkhamsted Sixth may consider applications from international boys and girls aged 16 (entering at Year 12) to study for two years and completing A-Levels.
Prospective pupils should contact the Admissions Office if they wish to register at any time. Admissions will then advise if a candidate registration form should be completed, along with the non-refundable registration fee.
Overseas students, once registered, are required to sit a CAT4 test and complete an online form with questions on the subjects they wish to study at A Level under exam conditions through a recognised partner agent, at the nearest British Council office, or at their current school. Students will have an interview with the Director of International Admissions. A reference from the student’s current school is also required.
In addition, candidates will be invited to interview with the Headteacher of Berkhamsted Sixth or the Director of International Admissions.
Progression to Year 13 depends on satisfactory attainment, as determined by the student’s term grades and results across the course of the Lower Sixth year, in addition to the end of year examinations. Work ethic, discipline record and contribution to the wider life of the school are also taken into account.
Prospective pupils may be registered at any time. A candidate registration form should be completed, and along with the non-refundable registration fee, should be posted to the Berkhamsted Admissions Department.
Entry to the School is dependent upon satisfactory attainment at respective stages of the Curriculum as well as a good interview and a reference that reflects a sound disciplinary record and a commitment to the wider aspects of school life.
Progression from one section of the School to another can never be guaranteed, however, we endeavour to make decisions on entry with the expectation that pupils should be able to progress through the School.
Prospective pupils may be registered at any time before the registration deadline. A candidate registration form should be completed, and along with the non-refundable registration fee, should be posted or emailed to the Berkhamsted Admissions Department.
Berkhamsted is a beautiful market town set in the Hertfordshire countryside, just 30 minutes from Central London by rail – and the multitude of world class universities located there – and 36 minutes from Heathrow Airport.
Berkhamsted prides itself on a consistently high academic performance, with many students securing a place at Oxford or Cambridge University and other Russell Group universities after A Levels
Please complete the enquiry form if you would like to find out more about becoming an International student at Berkhamsted School