Entrance gate into a courtyard with a fountain and with two potted trees either side

The Insider, a magazine about British boarding schools

von bulow

Welcome to The Insider!

Many moons ago, we began sharing our impressions of British boarding schools, and the response was incredible. As our readership grew, so did the idea: to launch The Insider, our own Online-Magazine. Here you’ll find articles, opinion pieces, podcasts and our glossary of the most important boarding school terms. All designed to give you a deeper understanding of boarding school life and what makes each school unique.

Happy reading and listening!

Our Article Series - an Overview

 We’ve created a range of recurring editorial features exploring different aspects of boarding school life that you might enjoy.  

A white Georgian-style building surrounded by green fields and trees, overlaid with the text “How was it?” and a white hand holding a microphone graphic.

How Was It?

 “How Was It?” is our interview series with pupils fresh home from their boarding school stay – candid, unfiltered, and covering the good, the bad, and sometimes the ugly.

School building with a logo saying School Visits

English Boarding Schools in Profile

"English Boarding Schools in Profile” offers in-depth accounts of our visits to renowned UK schools – exploring every detail that might matter to you.

A grand piano in a bright music room with chairs and windows, overlaid with a graphic reading “VBE’s Top 5.”

vBE's Top 3 & Top 5

In our ‘vbE’s Top 3 & Top 5,’ we highlight our current favourite schools for specific activities, talents, or academic strengths – a quick guide to the very best in each field.

Our Podcasts - An Overview

Our two podcasts bring British boarding schools to life from every angle. From the Horse’s Mouth gives you fresh, unfiltered insights from pupils themselves, while Tea with the Head offers a 360° school profile through conversations with heads, teachers, and students. Happy listening!

A red-brick school building with a clock tower and neatly trimmed lawn, featuring the text “Tea with the Head” and a white teacup graphic overlay.

Tea with the Head

'Tea with the Head' is our 360 Degree audio introduction to different boarding schools.  In addition to conversations with  headmasters,  we  speak with teachers, students, and the school’s department heads. A true audio profile of the school!

To Podcast
Aerial view of a school campus with red-brick buildings, a sports court, and the text “From the Horse’s Mouth” with a white horse graphic overlay.

From the Horse's Mouth

In our podcast series 'From the Horse's Mouth', we talk to pupils who are currently enrolled at British boarding schools about their experiences there – the good as well as the bad. Fresh, honest, and unfiltered. Straight from the horse’s mouth!

To Podcast

Our Glossary

From A-Level to Weather Talk

What's an exeat? Is a Sunday roast something to be considered? And should I be a prefect? The world of British boarding schools comes with its very own language.

We've put together the most commonly used words and terms for you.  We hope that they'll come in useful for both preparation and stay.

 

A redbrick building saying 'Richmond' on the front

Questions? Talk to our consultants.

Do reach out any time. One of our consultants are looking forward to talking to you.