Number of pupils: 480
Percentage of boarders: 25%
Percentage of international pupils: 15%
Av. class-sizes: senior school: 13 // 6th form: 10
Closest international airport: Bristol Airport 90mins by car
Fees per term in 2023/24: £14,770
The school offers GCSEs and A-Levels.
Given that West Buckland School is a non-selective school, the school's exam results are very good indeed. In 2021, 64.9% of GCSE grades were 9-7 and 61.9% of A-Level grades were As. Respect!
West Buckland School has a very good learning support department, in which over 100 pupils receive excellent support in anything from dyslexia to mild dyscalculia.
Spanish and French are on offer.
25% of pupils board. Not a great number in absolut terms, however West Buckland School manages like few other schools to bring boarders and day pupils together into one tight-knit school community.
The school has three boarding houses – one for year 7 to 11 girls, one for year 7 to 11 boys and a brand new sixth form boarding house, with separate wings for girls and boys. The Sixth form house has all single rooms with en-suite bathrooms - some of the best boarding accomodation we know!
Exeat weekends exist but are not compulsory.
We love West Buckland School's phenomenal arts department. The so-called 150 Building was built in collaboration with artist Damien Hirst, whose son went to West Buckland School. 6th Formers get their own space within this light, bright atelier and are supervised under the tutelage of a passionate head of art. The art we saw was stupendously good!
The outdoors activities are very strong here. The school is uniquely located on the boarders of beautiful Exmoor and not far from the Atlantic Ocean. Hiking, climbing, bouldering, kayaking, canoeing, sailing and surfing are all possible and highly popular pursuits here.
The sports is very good with rugby, hockey and cricket particularly strong for boys and netball and tennis for girls. The school has specialist programmes for tennis and dance.
The number of boarders could be bigger. The school is working on increasing its numbers. In the meantime West Buckland School excels at integrating boarders and day pupils.