The Boarding Schools' Association (BSA) is the largest association of boarding schools in the world, representing hundreds of independent and state boarding schools across the UK and overseas. Its core mission is to promote and support excellence in boarding education. The BSA provides professional development and training for school staff, offers guidance on best practices in pastoral care and safeguarding, and serves as the collective voice for the boarding sector when liaising with government and inspection bodies. It champions the benefits of a boarding education and supports member schools in delivering the highest standards.
BSA Member Schools (100)
ACS Cobham International School is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 2 to 18, situated on a 128-acre campus in the Surrey countryside. The school offers a global curriculum, including the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and the American Advanced Placement (AP) programme. Facilities include a state-of-the-art sports centre with a 25-metre competition pool, an Olympic-sized track, and a 510-seat performing arts theatre. Founded in 1967, the school emphasises developing well-rounded global citizens through a diverse range of academic, sporting, and extracurricular opportunities.
Aldro is a co-educational day and boarding preparatory school for pupils aged 7 to 13, located in Shackleford near Godalming. Founded in 1898 and relocated to its current Surrey site in 1940, the school operates with a Christian foundation. Set within extensive grounds, facilities include a rowing lake, an adventure island, and a swimming pool. The school focuses on the development of the whole child through a broad curriculum and co-curricular programme, preparing pupils for transition to leading senior schools via the Common Entrance pathway.
Aldwickbury School is an independent day and flexi-boarding preparatory school for pupils aged 3 to 13, set within 20 acres of grounds in Harpenden. Originally established in 1948, the school is housed in a Victorian mansion and recently began its transition to a fully co-educational environment. Its ethos focuses on holistic development and pastoral care, encouraging kindness and resilience. Notable facilities include a dedicated STEM hub, a heated indoor swimming pool, and a modern sports hall with a climbing wall. The school offers a broad extra-curricular programme alongside traditional academic foundations.
Amesbury is a co-educational day school for pupils aged 2 to 13, situated within 34 acres of grounds in Hindhead, Surrey. The school is housed in a Grade II* listed building designed by the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. It offers a broad curriculum that balances academic study with creative and physical activities, supported by facilities such as a purpose-built visual arts centre and extensive sporting grounds. The school focuses on personal development and community, preparing children for transition to a variety of leading senior schools.
Ardingly College is a co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged 2 to 18, situated on a 230-acre campus in the West Sussex countryside near Haywards Heath. Founded in 1858 by Canon Nathaniel Woodard, the school features notable Gothic Revival architecture and a Grade II listed chapel. The college emphasises a "world-ready" ethos, providing a choice between A-levels and the International Baccalaureate in the Sixth Form. Facilities include a dedicated art school and access to a reservoir for water sports. It maintains a strong focus on competitive sports, including football, hockey, and cricket.
Ashford School is a co-educational independent day and boarding school in Kent for pupils aged three months to 18 years. Founded in 1898, the school operates across two campuses: the Senior School at East Hill and the Prep School in the village of Great Chart. Facilities include an All-Steinway music school, indoor swimming pools, and a modern sports centre. Part of the United Learning group, the school occupies a 25-acre main site and incorporates a Grade II listed building. The curriculum is designed to foster individual character and adventurous learning.
Battle Abbey School is an independent coeducational day and boarding school for pupils aged three months to 18 years, situated in Battle and Bexhill, East Sussex. The Senior School occupies the historic site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings, utilising the 13th-century Abbot’s House and surrounding grounds. The school claims to foster an ethos of kindness, compassion, and mutual respect, prioritising individual pastoral care. Facilities include a dedicated Sixth Form centre and a preparatory department in Bexhill featuring extensive gardens and a 25-metre indoor swimming pool.
Bede’s Prep is an independent, co-educational day and boarding school situated on a coastal site in Eastbourne, East Sussex. Located at the foot of the South Downs National Park, the school overlooks the sea and educates children from three months to 13 years. Its ethos centres on a holistic approach to learning, aiming to nurture individual talents through academic, creative, and sporting programmes. The grounds include historic buildings and modern facilities, such as a swimming pool, sports hall, and dedicated outdoor learning spaces.
Situated in the Sussex countryside in Upper Dicker, near Hailsham, Bede’s Senior School is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 13 to 18. The school claims to offer a holistic education that prioritises individual interests, combining academic study with traditions in the performing arts and sport. Notable facilities include an on-site zoo housing over 70 species and the Legat School of Dance. Its ethos focuses on cultivating curiosity and ambition within an inclusive community that values personal growth and both creative and academic achievement.
Beechwood Park School is a co-educational day and flexi-boarding preparatory school for children aged 3 to 13, set within 37 acres of Hertfordshire parkland near St Albans. Housed in a Grade I listed Queen Anne mansion, the school occupies a site with history dating back to a 12th-century Benedictine nunnery. Its child-centred ethos focuses on nurturing well-rounded individuals through a broad curriculum. Facilities include an indoor swimming pool, a purpose-built music technology suite, and a unique pottery cellar. The grounds also feature an extensive Forest School and numerous sports pitches.
Beechwood School is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 18, located in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Set within 23 acres of landscaped grounds, the school is centred around a grand Victorian mansion constructed in 1855. Founded in 1915 by the Society of the Sacred Heart, it maintains a nurturing ethos based on its founding traditions while welcoming children of all faiths. Facilities include a dedicated auditorium, sports gym, and MUGA pitch, supporting a broad curriculum that offers a wide variety of academic and creative subjects at GCSE and A-level.
Benenden School is an independent boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18, situated within the 250-acre Hemsted Park estate near Cranbrook, Kent. Founded in 1923, the school is centred on Hemsted House, a Victorian mansion built in the 1860s. Its educational approach follows a 'Complete Education' model, which integrates academic study with professional skills and personal development. Facilities include a dedicated science centre, a professional-standard theatre, and a music school with a concert hall. The expansive grounds accommodate a variety of activities, including lacrosse, hockey, and equestrian sports.