Ranked by verified data

The best boarding schools in the UK

Judged on verified data rather than exam-league prestige, the UK boarding schools that score highest on Boardingly's Worldly ranking are Cardiff Sixth Form College, Epsom College, Wellington College, Caterham School and Headington School. The full ranked table of 151 schools — with estimated annual boarding fees and location — is below. No school pays to appear.

How the Worldly score is calculated →

#SchoolWorldly scoreBoarding fees/yr (est.)Location
1Cardiff Sixth Form CollegeCo-educational75International≈ £77,000/yrCardiff, WalesProfile →
2Epsom CollegeCo-educational75International≈ £59,000/yrEpsom, SurreyProfile →
3Wellington CollegeCo-educational69International≈ £62,000/yrinc VATCrowthorne, BerkshireProfile →
4Caterham SchoolCo-educational69International≈ £57,000/yrCaterham, SurreyProfile →
5Headington SchoolGirls (Co-educational in Nursery & Prep)66International≈ £47,000/yrOxford, OxfordshireProfile →
6Sevenoaks SchoolCo-educational65International≈ £62,000/yrSevenoaks, KentProfile →
7Eton CollegeBoys64International≈ £53,000/yrWindsor, South EastProfile →
8Dulwich CollegeBoys63International≈ £67,000/yrLondon, LondonProfile →
9Brighton CollegeCo-educational63InternationalOn requestBrighton, East SussexProfile →
10Bishop's Stortford CollegeCo-educational62International≈ £54,000/yrBishop's Stortford, HertfordshireProfile →
11Leighton Park SchoolCo-educational62International≈ £59,000/yrReading, BerkshireProfile →
12Abingdon SchoolCo-educational61International≈ £58,000/yrAbingdon, OxfordshireProfile →
13Gresham's SchoolCo-educational61International≈ £53,000/yrHolt, NorfolkProfile →
14Canford SchoolCo-educational60International≈ £57,000/yrinc VATWimborne, DorsetProfile →
15Radley CollegeBoys60International≈ £64,000/yrAbingdon, OxfordshireProfile →
16St Catherine's BramleyGirls60National≈ £46,000/yrBramley, SurreyProfile →
17Wellington SchoolCo-educational58National≈ £50,000/yrWellington, SomersetProfile →
18Bedford SchoolBoys58National≈ £53,000/yrBedford, BedfordshireProfile →
19Benenden SchoolGirls57National≈ £64,000/yrinc VATCranbrook, KentProfile →
20Fettes CollegeCo-educational57National≈ £57,000/yrinc VATEdinburghProfile →
21Bede’s Senior SchoolCo-educational57National≈ £55,000/yrUpper Dicker, East SussexProfile →
22Dean Close SchoolCo-educational56NationalOn requestCheltenham, GloucestershireProfile →
23CranleighCo-educational56National≈ £57,000/yrinc VATCranleigh, SurreyProfile →
24Wycombe AbbeyGirls56National≈ £65,000/yrHigh Wycombe, BuckinghamshireProfile →
25HaileyburyCo-educational55National≈ £59,000/yrHertford, HertfordshireProfile →

Ranked by the Boardingly Worldly score — a verified measure of formation, not an exam league table. Annual fees are estimated from each school's published rate (termly figures ×3) for comparison, not a quote. No school pays to appear. See all 151 schools →

Frequently asked

What are the best boarding schools in the UK?
Judged on verified data rather than exam-league prestige, the UK boarding schools that score highest on Boardingly's Worldly ranking are Cardiff Sixth Form College, Epsom College, Wellington College, Caterham School and Headington School. The full ranked table of 151 schools — with estimated annual boarding fees and location — is below. No school pays to appear.
How does Boardingly rank boarding schools?
Every school is scored on the Worldly ranking — a verified, evidence-based measure of how well a school forms a child across eight pillars (academic, forward thinking, alumni, pastoral and more), drawn from ISI/Ofsted reports and public data. It is not an exam league table, and no school pays for placement.
How much do UK boarding schools cost?
Full boarding fees vary widely — the ranked table lists an estimated annual boarding fee for each school (termly figures are multiplied by three; treat it as a comparison aid, not a quote). The Worldly pass report breaks down realistic all-in costs, bursaries and value for money for every school we cover.
Can international and expat families apply?
Yes. UK boarding schools admit international pupils, though most require a UK-based guardian for overseas families. Boardingly is built for globally mobile families and covers the admissions reality for overseas applicants.
Are these rankings paid placements?
No. Boardingly does not receive fees from schools, and no school can pay to rank higher or appear on this page. Credibility is the product.

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