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26 May 2025
by Ferdinand Steinbeis
by Ferdinand Steinbeis
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English Boarding Schools in Profile: Cheltenham College, a Classic Boarding School in England's Loveliest City
Hello from Richmond!
Today we’re off to Cheltenham College in picturesque Gloucestershire, one of those beautiful English counties on the edge of the Cotswolds.
We've had a long-standing relationship with Cheltenham College. For over 30 years we've been connected to this quintessentially British boarding school, having recommended more than 50 students there. Situated in the heart of a historic spa town, this nearly 200-year-old school exudes a touch of upper-class atmosphere combined with genuine warmth and hospitality.
Far from experiencing typical English reserve, we were warmly welcomed by the Admissions team in the grand main building. The team enthusiastically praised the German students for their excellent manners, noting happily that numbers haven’t declined despite Brexit and Covid—quite the opposite, in fact!
Today, we’re exploring what makes Cheltenham College such an attractive boarding school. Our extensive campus tour, guided by two Year 8 students, takes us through Leconfield House (one of the boys' boarding houses), and into a grand, wood-paneled dining hall worthy of Hogwarts itself! Our entire consultancy team often joins these visits to ensure all advisors can speak from firsthand experience.
Cheltenham College, to put it simply, offers a distinctly British rather than international atmosphere, providing a genuinely English boarding-school experience.
Join us on our tour—it’s worth it!
Beautiful gothic stone windows abound
The Setting
For us, this trip is a deep dive into British "upper-class" life. The town of Cheltenham is synonymous in England with horse racing, literature, science, and music festivals. Additionally popular as a spa resort, it hosts some of the most renowned schools in England, making the town a complete package.
We thought about comparable places in Germany and came up with Bad Homburg and Baden-Baden. Cheltenham shares a similarly elegant atmosphere and refined lifestyle, where British understatement is the norm.
Cheltenham College was founded in 1841, centrally located in town. “This is ideal for us as a school—the town is very safe, and students attend the Science Festival to hear lectures from around the world or participate in one of the music festivals,” says Head of Admissions Simon Conner. There's always something happening, fostering students' independence and self-confidence.
Best of both worlds: school and town
Our journey from London takes approximately two and a half hours. Those arriving from London Heathrow Airport can take the comfortable National Express coach as an alternative to the train. Other international airports nearby include Bristol Airport (about 90 km away) and Birmingham Airport (about 135 km away).
Due to its town location, the school is not just a self-contained campus. Students cross streets to reach certain classrooms and may need a few minutes to walk to their boarding houses. Especially during the first days, orientation support is essential, provided during introductory days. Nobody has gotten truly lost yet, and those who do quickly find their way by orienting themselves towards the magnificent chapel or the clock tower on the main grounds.
Simon guides us through the nearly 200-year-old main buildings featuring the distinctive architecture of Tudor-era English colleges. Initially established as a boys' school for the upper middle class, the original classrooms now house the impressive Chatfeild Library, with tall Gothic windows and a portrait of the Queen—dignified yet far from stuffy. Every morning, students gather in the school chapel built in 1896 for a morning assembly. Sunday services, compulsory for all, feature the impressive Harrison and Harrison organ, making many churches envious of this monumental instrument.
Stunning - Chatfeild Library
Simon clearly enjoys guiding us through his school. Especially in the classic buildings, incredibly well-preserved, there's a sense of grandeur—you feel part of something greater. Yet Cheltenham also has many contemporary buildings to accommodate a wide range of activities, like the modern science block. On our way there, we meet a group of girls firing up a self-made kiln in the garden. “We fire our own ceramics here.” The school’s dedication to the arts is evident from numerous artworks displayed throughout the grounds—glazed vases and small clay faces line our path.
Prepping for a debate in the Big Classical
The multifunctional theatre hall "Big Classical" with 300 seats sees frequent use for debates, discos, and major theatrical productions. "Students stage up to six productions a year, with the recent highlight being the musical 'Legally Blonde'," says Simon, impressed by the quality of performances.
Before continuing, Year 8 students Sam and Marcus take over our tour. The teenagers from Hong Kong and England seem slightly nervous guiding a German group around their school, but they are professional tour guides and enthusiastically describe life at school. Marcus plays rugby, hockey, and cricket—keen to try everything. He briefly joined the animal dissection club, quickly raising his eyebrows in hindsight, happily settling instead into the cooking school, where he now enjoys making his own pizza.
Bench and flowers close to the art deparment
Sam and Marcus lead us through narrow, winding pathways past majestic sandstone buildings. The art department, housed in a former gallery with impressive rooms, offers a broad spectrum from classical painting to photography, textile design, and 3D art.
Finally, we arrive at the sports facilities, beautifully maintained and ready for afternoon activities. A huge multi-purpose sports hall unfolds before us, marked with abstract-seeming lines indicating a vast array of sports played here. Additional facilities include a 25-meter swimming pool, two artificial turf pitches, tennis and racket courts, eight rugby fields, five cricket pitches, and a historic cricket pavilion—enough to tire you just walking around!
The school's brandnew pupil café
Lastly, we visit the recently renovated cafeteria. Meals are now prepared in a modern kitchen, offering healthy salads alongside classic fish and chips, before being served in the magnificent dining hall with its towering ceilings, paneled walls, long wooden tables, and the teachers' table elevated on a platform—evoking Hogwarts. Another distinctly British feature: teachers and students dining together, creating a strong sense of community and equality.
The school's recently refurbished dining hall
What makes Cheltenham College special
Cheltenham College stands out due to its high percentage of full-time boarders and excellent weekend care — something that's increasingly rare in the UK. With only around 40 new students admitted to the Sixth Form each year, newcomers integrate quickly into the community. The large number of full-boarders ensures constant activity in the boarding houses, offering our students a truly immersive boarding experience.
Thanks to its central town location, Cheltenham College offers the best of both worlds - school life and town life. We highly recommend you plan visits during the festival season from May to October.
Seen in recital room: guardian angel to watch over pupils
Lastly, we particularly appreciate that Cheltenham College actively supports students' emotional, social, and physical growth, helping them better understand themselves and their environment. Students are guided through every step of their personal development, in alignment with the school’s five core values: Curiosity, Character, Community, Creativity, and Continuous Excellence.
Natural sciences very popular here: dissection club, anyone?
The Academics
The current academic results are impressive: In 2024, 56% of GCSE students achieved grades 9–7, while A-Level results showed 41% achieving A/A and 75% achieving A–B. It’s important to note that Cheltenham College offers A-Levels rather than the International Baccalaureate (IB).
Popular subjects at Cheltenham College include Business, International Relations, and Economics, followed by Science, Humanities, and Law. Academically, the school emphasizes differentiated learning, grouping students by ability in English, Maths, and languages. Two foreign languages, typically French, Spanish, or German, are mandatory at GCSE, with additional languages like Russian, Italian, or Chinese available individually. The curriculum is enriched by an optional program in the Lower Sixth (Year 11 in Germany), offering courses such as Mini-MBA, Art History, Life Drawing, or the Sports Leadership Award.
Beautiful space: the art department
A highlight is the innovative elective program running alongside GCSEs. These one-year electives, held twice weekly without formal assessment, focus on the joy of learning. Courses include Entrepreneurship, Biochemistry, Sociology, Criminology, Ceramics, Coding, and Retro Game Design—even fashion design with dyeing and printing techniques. The goal is to inspire curiosity, discover talents, and make learning an adventure.
In the Sixth Form, three A-Levels are standard, with classic subjects at the core. Smaller groups allow for subjects like Latin and Ancient Greek. The Sixth Form curriculum has recently expanded to include Psychology, Business Studies, Art History, Computer Science, and Economics.
Fabulous DT department!
All students use iPads with keyboards and pencils; computing courses are integrated into Year 9. Class sizes are capped at 22, typically between 10 and 14 in the Sixth Form.
In the Design and Technology Department, we saw impressive A-Level projects, including a self-built trailer with a mounted clay pigeon shooting device and a mobile dock—showcasing innovative thinking. Students explore woodworking, metal, plastic, and computer-aided design, often producing university application-worthy projects directly from the 3D printer.
From Year 9 onwards, students receive dedicated support in the 'Futures Department' near the main library, preparing them early for life beyond school. Personal consultations from Lower Sixth onward ensure individual pathways are effectively planned.
Fashion design as part of the creative curriculum
Cheltenham College graduates typically move onto universities, with Exeter being recently popular alongside Reading, Newcastle, Oxford Brookes, Bristol, Cardiff, and University College London. In 2024, four students gained admission to Oxford or Cambridge, including three for medicine.
Increasingly, graduates are also heading abroad. In 2024, students attended institutions such as Huron University (Canada), the University of British Columbia, the University of Southern California, Boston University, and universities in Thailand and Malaysia for medical studies.
Simon compares Cheltenham College favorably with schools like Marlborough College, Shrewsbury School, and Uppingham School. Cheltenham’s advantages include its proximity to town and smaller size, fostering quicker personal connections—an essential factor for shorter stays.
Lots of extracurriculars, amazing pottery!
Extracurricular Activities
Students at Cheltenham College will never get bored—that's a promise! Even day students frequently stay longer because there’s so much to do here. Besides regular lessons, the school offers an impressively diverse co-curricular program with up to 30 clubs weekly. Whether pottery, dance, film production, drama, or even sport shooting—students can pursue their passions, try something new, and develop individually. We took a closer look at the program.
The school's modern sports hall
Let's start with sports: Cheltenham College fully lives up to its sporty reputation. A few numbers first: the school boasts 130 teams across 15 different sports, plus an additional five sports that are practiced recreationally without regular competitions. Training is available at every level—casual participation is encouraged just as much as competitive athletics. Many specialized coaches are former professionals, which greatly motivates children at all skill levels. Boys mainly play rugby and cricket, while girls primarily focus on hockey, netball, and cricket. Students achieve national and international success in these disciplines as well as in equestrian sports, polo, and rackets. Exceptional talents, such as hockey player Flora Peel, are even honored with golden plaques in the main building. The school takes pride in its significant role in talent development.
The sports program is continuously expanding: girls' football has firmly established itself, and rowing is currently experiencing a major comeback. Badminton and squash are very popular, and the fitness program for older girls—including Pilates, yoga, or circuit training—is in high demand. More exclusive sports like polo, horseback riding, or shooting are also available.
We witnessed a breath-taking piano pratice recital by a teacher!
Just like sports, music is also impressive in numbers: more than 70 performances take place annually at various venues. Over 20 ensembles rehearse weekly, ranging from string quartets to the 80-member College Choir. Approximately 300 individual music lessons are given weekly, and currently, 40 students hold music scholarships. Cheltenham holds the title of being a "Steinway School," meaning students rehearse on high-quality instruments. It's the only school in the country housing two world-famous Steinway Model D concert grand pianos in its main concert halls. The relatively new music director is bringing fresh energy—from lunchtime DJ sets to atmospheric Evensongs in the chapel. For us, this constitutes an exceptional musical offering.
If your head is already spinning, there's more to come: Cheltenham places great value on a diverse extracurricular offering. Twice a week, students choose from over 35 activities—including CCF (Combined Cadet Force, a scout-like group with a military touch), Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, photography, cooking, robotics, debating, polo, and five-a-side football.
Lamps in the school's café
Particularly noteworthy is the strong community engagement: weekly, students volunteer in care homes, food banks, charity shops, local groups, and hospitals. The school maintains close partnerships with All Saints Academy and other schools both domestically and internationally—joint projects such as the "Chemistry Spectacular" brilliantly showcase science.
Engaged student societies invigorate school life—from rocket building to the popular "Egg Drop Challenge." "Learning Lunches" provide space for personal presentations in a relaxed atmosphere—such as discussions on life as an international student or experiences with neurodiversity. The "Wilson Challenge," an extracurricular leadership competition, is also extremely popular. Opportunities for personal growth here are simply outstanding.
Here’s your isolated English translation of the requested paragraph:
Gardener en route to boarding house
Boarding Life
Cheltenham College now has 750 students, approximately 80 percent of whom are full-time boarders. This is impressive and particularly beneficial for our German students—after all, the higher the number of full-time boarders, the richer the weekend activities and offerings.
One of the most critical aspects for us when evaluating boarding schools is comprehensive personal support—known as pastoral care. This is a central feature of British boarding schools, ensuring students not only thrive academically but also feel emotionally and socially secure. Strong pastoral care is especially important for our international boarding students to have a positive experience abroad, and Cheltenham College certainly delivers in this area.
Darts at Leconfield House
The school consists of eleven houses catering to students from Year 3 to Sixth Form—nine for boarding students and two for day students. A strong sense of community characterizes life here and is a key reason why students flourish and feel at home. Around 80 percent of students live permanently on campus, meaning the houses are far from empty at weekends—quite the opposite. Most students deliberately stay, even if they come from nearby, because there’s always plenty happening both on campus and beyond.
We visited Leconfield House, led by Dan Evans and easily recognized by its distinctive light-blue house colors. Seventy boys aged 13 to 18 live here, with older students having single rooms. About 80 percent stay over the weekend, and it’s easy to see why. Besides Saturday classes, numerous trips are organized to the beautiful surroundings of the Cotswolds or the nearby Forest of Dean for kayaking, mountain biking, climbing, rafting, paddleboarding, or even skiing on a dry slope. "On weekends, there’s also bowling, cinema trips, and axe throwing," Dan tells us with a grin. Axe throwing wasn't something we expected, but we'll chalk it up to cultural uniqueness. Additionally, house events, museum visits, nearby castle tours, and charity events are regularly scheduled.
House gym at Leconfield House
Inside Leconfield, an older student limps upstairs—yesterday, he played in a rugby tournament final, and today, rest is on the agenda. Last year, two Sixth Form students even participated in a rugby exchange program in South Africa. Clearly, sports at Cheltenham can take you far. Dan explains that the houses regularly compete against each other: "You don’t always need to perform at the top level, but everyone works hard for their houses."
Leconfield’s common room is practical and straightforward—typical for a boys' house—with large sofas and a kitchen. A few things have changed recently: "Previously, girls' houses had around 16 washing machines, and we had just five. Now each house has three," Dan says, clarifying that the boys indeed handle their laundry and keep their rooms tidy. "These are basic principles everyone learns here," he adds.
Double room at Leconfield House
To balance household chores, students enjoy communal cooking sessions, outdoor cinema evenings, and creative activity nights. The large garden is perfect for barbecues. Dan also showed us past his private residence into the basement, revealing a fitness room and a party space.
Sixth Formers have considerable freedom, permitted to dine out in approved restaurants from age 17 and visit school-approved bars at 18. "The boys are remarkably controlled—I haven’t seen any excesses. Nowadays, they’re much more interested in their phones," says Evans. The school's smartphone policy is strict; younger students hand in their phones during the day and get them back only briefly in the evening. Rules are more relaxed in Sixth Form.
A helpful tip: For a glimpse inside the boarding houses—including those for girls—take a look at the school-produced videos.
Beautiful ceiling at Cheltenham's art department
Who is Cheltenham College suitable for?
In our opinion, Cheltenham College is ideal for academically capable students with great curiosity, enthusiasm for a variety of activities, and a willingness to immerse themselves fully in British boarding school life. Thanks to its central town location, Cheltenham College particularly suits independent and self-confident students.
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Holbrooke House
34 - 38 Hill Rise
Richmond
TW10 6UA
Tel: +44 (0) 203 9534063
Email: info@buloweducation.com
Holbrooke House
34 - 38 Hill Rise
Richmond
TW10 6UA
Tel: +44 (0) 203 9534063
Email: info@buloweducation.com