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Set in the heart of the Cotswolds, Wycliffe’s Boarding School offers a range of options for children from the age of 7 through to 19. From day to full to flexible options, our Boarding enables children to have a well-rounded education and be well-looked after with first-class facilities on campus including a modern gymnasium, Astro-turf, swimming pool and a state-of-the-art theatre. Our Boarding provides the perfect blend of community, culture and high quality tailored care to allow Boarders to thrive and develop.
Display Day & Full UK Boarding School Menu
Wycliffe understand that every family has different needs which is why we offer a range of boarding options including full boarding, day boarding and flexi-boarding*. Whether you require safe place for your child to stay on one-off occasional nights or flexi-boarding for 1 to 4 nights a week, Wycliffe can cater to all requirements. Flexi-boarding proves to be popular with parents with a busy working life or who may work away or if pupils take part in additional extra-curricular activities in the evening.
Staff are around 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so you can feel confident that your children are supported and in safe hands.
*subject to availability
Boarding is available for both boys and girls across a number of Boarding Houses. Our Prep School offers two boarding houses: Pennwood, the boys’ house with 35 boys and Windrush, the girls’ house with 30 girls. Our small Houses offer a sense of community and belonging for our Boarders.
In the Senior School, there are three boys’ Houses: Ward’s House, Robinson House and Haywardsfield; and three girls’ Houses: Ivy Grove, Lampeter and Haywardsend. Loosley Halls is our Sixth Form House for boys and girls in Years 12 and 13, and Collingwood is our co-educational House for Day Pupils. Each house in the Senior School has its own personality and spirit.
Wycliffe are keen to ensure children have a home away from home when Boarding with us. The Boarding rooms and facilities are designed to help children feel safe and secure as well as feel part of a community. All boarders will have their own space in a bedroom with a common room where they can take part in activities together or simply enjoy a bit of down-time. The facilities in each House are of a high specification and quality.
Pupils in Boarding get a mix of free time and activities with other Boarders. Activities are organised by the Housemistress and Housemaster with input from the children to ensure they are happy. Activities are planned on an almost daily basis which may include physical activities such as yoga, games nights and cooking. Our activities aim to bring people together and children may even try out something they may not have thought about doing before. At weekends, the Prep Boarding Houses join together events such as Harry Potter themed weekends, Record Breakers; Laser Tag and Wycliffe Bake Off; and in the Senior Houses, the older pupils often take trips to visit friends, family or for social events, as well as enjoying time on campus.
Ensuring your child is happy and supported during their time at Wycliffe is very important and is why Wycliffe are passionate about well-being and mental health. The relationship between Boarders and staff at Wycliffe is very strong with pupils able to talk to tutors, Matrons, Head of Houses and Boarding Housemaster/Mistresses about any issues they may have. At Wycliffe, we focus on a number of things to help children with their mental and physical well-being including physical health through learning and doing, healthy eating and exercise, good sleeping habits and teaching techniques to build self-esteem and confidence, and how to deal with stress.
If you have any questions about our boarding school or want to apply, enquire using the form below or contact our Admissions Managers.
Email our Prep School Admissions Manager: Mike.Mcdonnell@wycliffe.co.uk
Email our Senior School Admissions Manager: Fiona.lawson-best@wycliffe.co.uk
Boarding schools provide a place where pupils both stay and learn during the school year, compared to a day school where students go home at the end of the day. Schools can offer full boarding which involves staying every week or flexi boarding; part-time boarding where a pupil will stay a few nights a week. See our complete guide to UK boarding schools.
Boarding school can be expensive, and costs to consider include fees, equipment, uniform and travel costs. Fees can vary depending on what type of boarding your child needs, however, some schools offer incentives such as scholarships and bursaries.
Choosing the right boarding school can be an overwhelming choice. Factors to consider include location, boarding options, size of school, age of your children, make up of school community and transport links. To ensure you make the right decision, several steps are involved in the process. Research boarding school options, identify what’s important to you and your child, review the curriculum, campus and facilities, make a shortlist and ensure your visit your shortlisted schools. For more information, read our guide to choosing a boarding school.
Living away from family and home comforts can be daunting. Preparing for boarding school is vital step in making the transition easier. Talking to your children about how they can stay in touch with you can really help while ensuring they pack the right things is vital. Prior to joining, children can come in for a taster stay, where they will have Guardian from their year group with similar interests to look after them. They will spend a day experiencing school life, including lessons, activities and a boarding night. When they join they have a buddy in boarding from their year group and they will share a room with someone from their year group too.
Boarders are offered a programme of well being activities such as pilates, cooking, yoga and life skill lessons (inc mental health wellbeing) and lots of sporting activities.
Our enhanced pastoral care, start with tutors who are pupil and parents first point of contact. Small tutor groups allows tutors to really get to know pupils. House parents in the boarding house are always on hand to provide support and guidance.
Boarders share rooms between Year 3 and Year 9. As they move further up the school, boarders will have fewer dorm mates, until many in Year 11, Year 12 and Year 13 will have their own room (some with ensuite!).
Pupils at Wycliffe get the chance to go out with other boarders at weekends as well as have their own free time. Children may also have set activities they do at weekends if they are part of any sports or music clubs for example. Older children are free to take visits to see friends and family too. Other activities may include themed weekends so you’re child will never be bored.
An important part in getting ready for boarding school is packing the correct items, so your child is comfortable and feels at home. Essential items to pack include slippers, a warm coat, chargers, toiletries, pictures, torch and books. A full list of things to take can be found in our boarding school packing checklist.
In the Prep School, Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 tend to have 4 or 5 boarders to a room, in which they will have their own space including their bed, shelves and storage. Years 7 and 8 will only be 2 or 3 in a room. All Prep pupils share bathroom facilities.
Senior School dorms vary depending on age group. Years 9 and 10 share with one other boarder with each having a desk, bed, wardrobe and shelves with shared bathroom facilities. In Years 11, 12 and 13 many boarders (but not all) have their own rooms and ensuite. If they do share a room, it would only be with one other boarder from the same year group.
A key concern that many parents have is around who looks after your children during boarding. Wycliffe ensures all children are well supported, prioritising well-being and mental health. Staff that are on hand to help are teachers, tutors, Matrons and Head of Houses while Boarding Housemistresses/Masters live in boarding dorms. They are also responsible for organising weekday and weekend activities for the children. This could be everything from going on a hike to yoga, games nights and cooking.
Boarding schools offer many advantages including developing children’s creativity and independence and a sense of belonging and community. There’s also the opportunity to cross paths and make friends with others who may not be local to you, helping to develop an awareness of cultural differences. Read our guide to find out more benefits of going to a UK boarding school.
