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 (193)
Situated in Eastbourne on the East Sussex coast, Eastbourne College is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 13 to 18. Established in 1867, the school is located between the beach and the South Downs, describing itself as a ‘blue health school’ that promotes well-being through its maritime environment. The campus features the Birley Centre and the Winn Building, offering a mix of modern and traditional facilities. The school claims to focus on a holistic education underpinned by its core values of excellence, integrity, participation, and kindness.
Cumnor House Sussex is a co-educational nursery, pre-prep, and prep school set within a 60-acre campus between the South Downs and the Ashdown Forest in West Sussex. Founded in 1931, the school offers day and flexible boarding options, preparing pupils for entry into senior schools. The extensive grounds feature outstanding facilities, including a state-of-the-art STEM building, a 300-seat theatre, a 17th-century music barn, a high-specification art barn, and heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Pupils also benefit from extensive sports pitches, a bespoke dance studio, and a nine-hole golf course.
Holmewood House is a co-educational day and boarding preparatory school for pupils aged 3 to 13, set within 32 acres of parkland in Langton Green, Kent. The school is centred around a mansion designed by Decimus Burton, formerly the residence of Sir Charles Locock, physician to Queen Victoria. Established in 1945, Holmewood House focuses on a holistic education that balances a broad curriculum with pastoral care. Notable facilities include a 360-seat theatre, an indoor swimming pool, and a purpose-built music school. The school provides flexible, weekly, and full boarding options.
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.
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.
St Catherine's Preparatory School Bramley is an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 11, situated on a 25-acre campus in the Surrey Hills. Founded in 1885, the school provides a Church of England education that focuses on the personal and intellectual development of its pupils. The grounds feature a Grade II listed school house and a Victorian chapel with Kempe stained glass windows. Specialised facilities include the WonderLab science centre and Soundscape music suite, alongside extensive outdoor learning spaces such as a cottage garden and woodland areas.
The Royal Masonic School for Girls is an independent day and boarding school for pupils aged 2 to 18, set within 315 acres of parkland in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. Founded in 1788 to provide for the daughters of Freemasons, the school relocated to its present site in 1934. The campus features a blend of historic architecture and modern facilities, including a planetarium, a dedicated performing arts centre, and extensive sports grounds. The school focuses on nurturing individual talent and potential, offering a broad curriculum alongside a diverse range of extracurricular activities.
Reed's School is an independent day and boarding school for boys aged 11 to 18, with a co-educational Sixth Form, located on a 40-acre site in Cobham, Surrey. Founded in 1813 by the Reverend Andrew Reed as the London Orphan Asylum, the school moved to its current premises in 1946. It offers a variety of academic and extracurricular programmes, with dedicated facilities including an indoor cricket centre and a regional tennis academy. The school maintains an emphasis on character development and pastoral care, rooted in its historical foundation as a charitable institution.
St John's School, Leatherhead, is an independent co-educational day and boarding school in Surrey for pupils aged 11 to 18. Founded in 1851 to provide education for the sons of the clergy, the school moved to its current 50-acre site in 1872. The campus features a blend of Victorian red-brick architecture and modern facilities, including a sports centre with a 25-metre swimming pool. St John's emphasises a balance of academic ambition, strong pastoral care through its house system, and a broad range of co-curricular opportunities in sports, performing arts, and community service.
The Mill Hill School Foundation is a co-educational day and boarding group in London, catering to pupils aged 3 to 18 across its Pre-Prep (Grimsdell), Prep (Belmont), and Senior (Mill Hill) schools. Situated ten miles from the city centre, the schools are set within 160 acres of grounds featuring woods, fields, and sports pitches. The foundation provides a broad curriculum alongside extensive co-curricular, sporting, and artistic programmes. Originally established by Christian nonconformists, it focuses on developing well-rounded pupils equipped for future challenges.
Westonbirt School is a co-educational independent day and boarding school for pupils aged 2 to 18. Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, the school caters to nursery, prep, senior, and sixth form stages. Originally established as a girls' school, it is housed in Westonbirt House, a notable Victorian stately home set within 210 acres of Cotswolds parkland. The school provides an all-through education designed to encourage pupils to be curious, creative, and courageous. The expansive grounds feature specialist teaching facilities and outdoor recreation spaces, including a nine-hole golf course.
Tring Park School for the Performing Arts is a co-educational day and boarding school in Hertfordshire for pupils aged 7 to 19. Housed in a Grade II* listed mansion originally designed by Sir Christopher Wren and once owned by the Rothschild family, the school is set within 17 acres of parkland. It provides a dual curriculum that balances rigorous academic education with vocational training in dance, drama, musical theatre, and music. Notable facilities include the Markova Theatre and specialised studios, enabling students to pursue professional performing arts pathways alongside their academic studies.