Three boarding schools with everything needed for a great pathway to university and beyond

It’s no secret that children grow in response to the environments that surround them. This is why fostering independence and strong values from an early age is crucial – to help them shoulder the responsibilities of the world and prepare them to step out into the world on their own one day.

This is what a boarding school experience is all about – teaching students to self-manage and succeed. Their methods work, as proven by a study conducted by the Arts & Science Group of Baltimore for the Association of Boarding Schools. It found that boarding school students are more likely than those from private and public schools to earn an advanced degree and achieve faster career advancement.

Need further convincing? Think diverse and inclusive communities where your child can explore their passions, challenge their perspectives, and develop a global outlook. Rigorous academic programmes, competitive sports or vibrant arts and cultural activities. If this is an experience you’re seeking for your child, consider one of these three schools:

Founded after World War II, St Clare’s is driven by a mission to “advance international education and understanding.” Source: St Clare’s, Oxford

St Clare’s, Oxford

Support and care are at the heart of every student’s journey at St Clare’s, Oxford. With an average class size of just nine, learners receive individualised attention while a dedicated pastoral system ensures students feel safe, seen, and supported — essential foundations for everyone in this community of students from over 45 countries to feel belonged and respected.

This inclusive atmosphere empowers students to take ownership of their learning. They manage their own time, balance commitments, and make meaningful decisions about their learning. Being trusted to do this builds resilience, independence, and maturity, skills key for university and beyond. The Leadership Programme complements this approach – honing skills in decision-making, teamwork, ethical leadership, and initiative so students are ready for their next steps and equipped to become future influential changemakers.

Academic results reflect this ethos. St Clare’s is the oldest IB World School in England, with nearly 50 years of IB expertise. In fact, teachers here shape the prestigious programme, by training aspiring IB educators and helping write its textbooks. But for all its heritage, it is the school’s results that continue to impress. The coeducational independent school ranks in the top 1% globally, with 90% of students scoring above the world average and many achieving the full 45 points.

Their success extends to university and career outcomes. With the University and Careers Counselling team’s unlimited one-to-one guidance alongside a rigorous careers education programme, students here have all they need to apply to the best university, internship, or gap year for them worldwide. Over the last three years, about 95% attend their first-choice university, including globally leading institutions and competitive courses.

Apply to St Clare’s now.

Oakham School teaches students to have a sense of pride in what they do and to take care in everyday tasks and opportunities. Source: Oakham School

Oakham School

Nestled close to Rutland Water in the heart of rural England, Oakham School is a fully co-educational boarding and day school. The beautiful 70-acre school campus is home to nearly a thousand 11 to 18-year-olds from vibrant international backgrounds – a uniquely balanced community of 50:50 boarders and day pupils and 50:50 girls and boys. 

An Oakham education is built upon three fundamental pillars of learning: Academic, Co-Curricular, and Pastoral. It’s the kind that nourishes a child’s intellectual, artistic, athletic, social and emotional development. Oakham believes wholeheartedly in the importance and value of developing the whole person; of creating a culture of mutual respect and trust, where everyone has a sense of responsibility for themselves and others within the community.  

A wide range of academic pathways are available here – 27 subjects at GCSE level, and at 16+, there are the IB Diploma, A-levels and BTECs. Regardless of choice, Oakham strives to provide the highest standards of teaching, enabling all students to fulfil their academic potential and develop a lifelong love of learning, paired with a natural intellectual curiosity.  

Supplementing this experience is a rich variety of co-curricular activities that offer avenues to exercise innovation, teamwork, and leadership skills. Sports, art, design, technology, drama, dance, music – the list goes on; adventurous learning is an example in which students can gain invaluable life skills beyond the classroom through camps, Combined Cadet Force (CCF), and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Every student here is guaranteed access to state-of-the-art facilities to enhance their competitive and recreational opportunities.  

At Bryanston School, education is not limited to the classroom. Source: Bryanston School

Bryanston School

Set in more than 400 acres of Dorset countryside, Bryanston School is an award-winning co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged three to 18. It prides itself on providing students with a happy, creative, and forward-thinking place to learn, along with the freedom to explore and cultivate individual interests. 

“Since 1928, creativity and individual spirit have been at the heart of our culture. Our commitment to unbounded thinking inspires us to remain open-minded and continuously challenge ourselves,” says School Head Richard Jones. 

 The reason for this ethos is simple – the school understands that many of its students will pursue careers and fields that don’t currently exist. Therefore, it’s imperative that creative thinking is nurtured, and a child’s value isn’t solely weighed against their academic success. Here, imagination, perspective and boldness are as applicable in History, Science, or Maths as in Music or Art.  

Each student is assigned a Method teacher and tutor for one-on-one learning. Every week, the tutor guides each tutorial pupil in taking responsibility for their learning and discusses their well-being and progress during the weekly one-to-one tutorial. They help pupils plan and manage their deadlines and priorities throughout the week, encouraging independence. As a result, when students progress through the years, their ability to manage independent study increases, honing their critical thinking skills and international mindset.   

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International