Westonbirt enjoys a rich boarding heritage and vibrant boarding community that benefits day students and boarders alike. The School was recently voted ‘Co-educational Independent School of the Year’ at the 2023 Independent School of the Year awards and is also included in the Fortune ‘World’s Leading Boarding Schools’ 2023 report with a five star review.
Full, weekly and flexi boarding is available (a minimum of three consecutive nights). Boarders enjoy a full programme of evening/weekend activities and access to a fitness suite, swimming pool and 9-hole golf course.
Each house is run by a House Parent, with assistant staff to support them. Pupils’ health, wellbeing and safety is of paramount importance and pastoral care is embedded throughout all aspects of the School. We have a Health and Wellbeing Centre to provide medical care, with access to doctors, counsellors and a physiotherapist.
Boarding Community Handbook
Boarding Activities 2025 Autumn Term
Find out how friends can become family when boarding at Westonbirt in the video below.
“It is the sense of community, extended family and the beauty of the house we occupy, that makes boarding at Westonbirt such a magical experience. Routines are established in the boarding environment that enable teenagers to form successful habits and learn to manage their time, and ultimately their studies, more effectively.”
Our new Junior Boarding House opened at Easter 2024, located next to the Sports Centre. This is the first time that the School has offered boarding to pupils in our Prep School; an exciting development for younger pupils who will be able to gain greater independence ahead of the move to senior school, immerse themselves in activities and enjoy the warmth and inclusivity of the boarding community. Full boarding is available to Year 6 – 8 pupils, with ad-hoc and flexi-boarding options available to Year 5 pupils. Sedgwick has space for 22 boarders with one floor designated for girls and one for boys. Incoming Sedgwick House Parent is Miss Sarah-Jane Rhead.
Beaufort is a standalone, contemporary boarding house enjoying university-style study bedrooms, near the courtyard at Westonbirt. It also enjoys its own kitchen facilities and communal inside and outdoor spaces. Beaufort boys are in the care of incoming House Parent, Andrew Hamilton.
With many years of experience in pastoral care at Westonbirt, Sally Gould creates a ‘home from home’ environment running Dorchester House with her spaniel, Strumble. Dorms are bright and cosy and students can decorate their spaces with pictures and personal effects. There is also a spacious and comfortable common room where students can enjoy movie nights and social time once prep is complete.
Our Sixth Form Co-Ed Boarding House is set within 9 acres of orchards and gardens, on the outskirts of Tetbury and just a mile from Westonbirt. Holford House offers over 30 ensuite bedrooms, a large common room, dining room and the opportunity for students to prepare for university living or professional life in their final year at school.
Mrs Sara Nash is the House Parent and Mrs Debbie Sestaret the Assistant House Parent. There is a regular shuttle bus running between Holford and Westonbirt.
The Immersion Boarding House at Westonbirt is a dedicated space designed to welcome groups of international pupils taking part in our Boarding Immersion Programme. Located in our Victorian mansion, Badminton provides a warm, inclusive, and supportive environment where pupils can settle quickly and feel at home.
Available for one, two, or three weeks during the Autumn, Spring, or Summer terms, the Immersion Boarding House is the perfect gateway to life as a boarder at Westonbirt. House Parent, Miss Lisa Allen.
