What’s new in September at our British boarding schools?
Looking ahead to the start of the next academic year, here are a few things we’ve heard about that are new in September at our British boarding schools.
Kent College Canterbury
From September 2025, Kent College will be operating a new co-ed Sixth Form boarding house. Now standard in many schools, this Sixth Form boarding arrangement provides a stepping stone to real life, university and independent living. Under the new arrangement here, girls will be accommodated on the first floor and boys on the second, with clear boundaries and appropriate safeguarding procedures in place to ensure the comfort and welfare of all boarders. All bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms and are a combination of singles, doubles and a large triple room. As well as the large shared common room, there will also be a girls-only snug/common room.
Brentwood School
More boarding news here, with the opening of a purpose-built boarding house, divided into a girls’ house, a boys’ house and a central shared facility. The ground floor of the new building houses communal seating, recreation areas and social spaces, including a kitchen and dining area, a common room, boot room, laundry collection room, and a lift so the whole building is fully accessible. A new Sixth Form Café will act as a hub for boarding and day students, providing a social space for Sixth Form students, a study space and group meeting venue, while a covered arcade provides access to the courtyard and terrace. On the upper floor, 122 new single bedrooms will offer a home-from-home, featuring university-style accommodation with light and airy private ensuite rooms. The new building also includes staff accommodation located at each end of the site, connecting to each boarding house.
British boarding schools are famed for their sports provision, and a few are further enhancing their offering.
St Edmund’s School
St Edmund’s School has a new partnership with Starters Football Academy from September. This football development programme enhances the school’s co-curricular and sports provision, providing pupils with access to elite-level football coaching and development opportunities. Academy founder, Will Rourke, has previously worked within the academy setups of both Arsenal and Chelsea. He and his team of UEFA and FA-qualified coaches will work closely with the school’s own experienced football staff, including coaches with Kent Schools FA experience and a strong record of supporting players on their pathway. Through this partnership, pupils will benefit from enhanced football training as part of the regular games and after-school programme, year-round development for gifted and talented players, and a strengthened girls’ football offering across the school. Starters Football Academy’s emphasis on both athletic and character development aligns perfectly with the values of St Edmund’s, making a meaningful and exciting addition to its sporting provision.
Wells Cathedral School (WCS)
More footie news here with the launch of a Performance Football Pathway, in collaboration with Chelsea FC. This exciting initiative will offer high-level coaching and a structured development programme for boys and girls who wish to pursue football at the top level.
The Pathway will provide:
- Elite individual coaching: 9 sessions per week from Chelsea FC’s experienced coaches, ensuring that each player develops to their fullest potential. Chelsea will have a permanent Head of Football based at WCS to ensure the very best delivery for the pathway.
- Customised strength and conditioning, nutritional, and sports psychology support. Individual mentoring and performance reviews with the Head of Football.
- Career opportunities: the partnership with Chelsea FC will permit access to the Club’s renowned network, which may open doors for progression into professional football pathways.
- Holistic development: as with all specialist programmes at WCS, the Football Pathway will focus on the holistic development of each pupil, combining football training with academic support and wellbeing initiatives.
- A positive impact across the whole school: while the programme is tailored for those wishing to focus on football, it will inspire a new level of enthusiasm and excellence within the school’s sporting culture, providing further opportunities for all pupils to engage with football and participate in a growing and exciting programme. Additionally, improvements in facilities and resources will be felt across the wider school to benefit pupils involved in a variety of sports.
Sidcot School
Providing a fantastic opportunity for students of all abilities to engage with tennis, Sidcot School’s new Tennis Programme launches in September. In line with the school’s general philosophy, the programme will make tennis fun and accessible to everyone, with coaching tailored to experience. Focussing on individual skill development, strength and conditioning, and mental toughness, the experienced coaching staff will help pupils grow and succeed in tennis from whatever their starting point. As well as group or individual lessons at the school’s own Tennis Club, there will be a partnership with nearby Winscombe Tennis Club for further coaching and playing opportunities.
If you’d like more information about these schools or any of the ca. 200 we work with, please contact us.
