Independent Boys Boarding School
Boarding at Berkhamsted offers the experience of being part of a friendly, close-knit school community at a traditional English independent day school, as well as access to outstanding facilities and resources.
As a boarder at Berkhamsted, you will experience life at a traditional English independent day school as a member of a small, diverse boarding community of around 100 students.
Our boarding community is a mixture of full boarders (termly), weekly boarders (Sunday – Thursday nights) and local pupils who enjoy flexi-boarding, on one or two nights a week.
Entry is at aged 11+ for flexi-boarding (Year 7 upwards), flexi, weekly and full boarding from ages 13+, 14+ and 16+ (from Year 9, Year 10 and Year 12 – into Sixth Form).
Academic Excellence
We provide inspirational teaching, outstanding support with university applications and effective careers advice so that a Berkhamsted education serves as a stepping stone between school and university or the professional world.
54.5% of Berkhamsted pupils achieved an A*- A at A Level in 2024, with 82.4% achieving grades A*- B.
Read moreHome from Home
Our Boarding Houses provide a warm, friendly and secure atmosphere in which students are valued, supported, encouraged and challenged so that they can be themselves and realise their potential.
Each of our Boarding Houses is managed by a Head of House who acts ‘in loco parentis’. The Heads of House are supported by matrons and two residential tutors in providing a caring environment in which pupils can work and develop both as individuals and as part of a community.
To find out more about joining Berkhamsted as a boarder, please click on the button below.
Boarding AdmissionsBoarding Houses
The School has two boarding houses: St John’s for girls and Incents for boys. Both are located in Chesham Road within a few minutes’ walk of both Senior and Sixth Form campuses and the town centre. All bedrooms are furnished and decorated to a high standard and many are en-suite. Each House has a common room and kitchen facilities. There are large gardens shared by both Houses.
Dining facilities allow boys and girls to meet together and joint house outings are arranged on a regular basis. Boarders can also use their free private membership at the Knox-Johnston Sports Centre, which offers a fitness suite, sports hall and 25m swimming pool. Here, boarders can take part in any of the classes run in the evenings or at weekends ranging from aqua aerobics to pilates.
Boarding Options
Full boarding
This enables students to focus on academic studies while participating fully in all that the School has to offer. Boarding also offers an ideal preparation for university. At Berkhamsted, we offer a number of full-time boarding places to overseas students.
Weekly or Flexi boarding
These options offer families the added benefit of being able to fulfil work commitments during term-time knowing that their children are being cared for. It can also offer last minute accommodation for pupils who may need support during unexpected family difficulties or to help pupils who have a long daily journey to school to spend a few nights at the boarding house to minimise the amount of time involved travelling to and from school each day.
Why Berkhamsted?
Boarding – a pupil perspective
Read why our pupils enjoy boarding at Berkhamsted
Ambitious go-getters who are always looking for ways to make themselves stand out from the crowd, and want to get the absolute utmost from the education and opportunities available to them.
Pupils show pronounced and highly effective study skills, appropriate to their age. Strong research skills are evident in many examples of project work, and older pupils, in particular, show excellent ability to assimilate and analyse a wide range of sources.
🏀 A great boarders’ trip out watching Hemel Storm secure the win in a thrilling, closely fought match! 🙌
Fantastic atmosphere and a brilliant evening enjoyed by everyone! 🏀⛹️♂️
#BerkhamstedBoarding #BoardingLife #HemelStorm #Basketball #BoardersTrip BerkhamstedSchool
Our Director of International Admissions, Chris Sutton will return to Hong Kong and Shanghai in three weeks!
He`s delighted to invite Old Berkhamstedians, current parents and former parents to join him for one of two informal Berkhamsted School drinks receptions during his visit to Asia.
📍 Hong Kong
📅 Friday 16 October
🕖 19:00
🍸 Lobster Bar, Island Shangri-La Hotel
📍 Shanghai
📅 Monday 19 October
🕖 19:00
🍸 InterContinental Hotel
These gatherings are a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with the Berkhamsted community, catch up on life at the School, and meet fellow alumni and families living in the region.
If you are in Hong Kong or Shanghai and would like to attend, please do get in touch for further details.
Wishing one of our boarders a very special 18th birthday 🎂. We hope you have a great day! #iloveboarding #berkoboarding
A fantastic boarders’ trip to London! 🇬🇧✨
A great day exploring some of the capital’s most iconic attractions, including an unforgettable experience on the London Eye 🎡🏙️
A brilliant opportunity for our boarders to spend time together, explore London and make some great memories! 😊
#BerkoBoarding #BoardingLife #London #iloveboarding
A fantastic start to the new academic year, as we welcomed our new boarding students to Berkhamsted School!
Mr Ottaway and some of the St John’s boarders taking in the view from Arthur’s Seat during our Edinburgh Fringe drama trip.
Last night we came together for a pizza party to say a huge thank you to Miss Jarvis for four fantastic years as a Residential Tutor at St John’s. 🍕
Miss Jarvis has brought so much fun, personality, laughter, and unforgettable karaoke nights to the house, helping make it a place so many of us have loved calling home. It was only fitting that we celebrated everything she’s brought to our community over the past four years.
Thank you, Miss Jarvis… we will miss you and wish you all the very best for your next chapter! 🏡
🎉 Last week we celebrated #BerkoBoardingWeek in style as part of #NationalBoardingWeek! 🏡✨
Our boarders enjoyed an incredible week packed with fun, friendship and unforgettable experiences, including:
🌲 High Ropes with @berkooutdoored
🍣 Sushi Making Masterclass
🔥 BBQs in the St John’s and Incents gardens
🖌️Brush & Bubbles in the sunshine
🎮 Mario Kart gaming sessions
❓ House Quiz hosted by our new House Officers
🍕 Trips to Papa Johns and the cinema to see @toystory 5🎬
A huge thank you to all the staff who helped organise such a fantastic programme of activities and made the week so special for our boarders. 💙
#BerkoBoarding #NationalBoardingWeek #ILoveBoarding @bsaboarding @berkhamstedschools
Day 7 of National Boarding Week at Berkhamsted… a quiz! Fantastically run by the new House Officers covering a range of topics. Best Boarding Week ever! #iloveboarding #nationalboardingweek
National Boarding Week, Day 6: Mario Kart fun 📍St John’s Boarding House 👾🎮🕹️ The staff and the students were having a great time. 🎉#nationalboardingweek #iloveboarding
🎵 You’ve got a friend in me 🎵
A wonderful night enjoying Papa John’s and a trip to the cinema. Toy Story 5, you did not disappoint! 🧸🦖🤠🐴 #berkoboarding #bsaboarding #nationalboardingweek
