Independent Girls 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.
Join our community
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.
We welcome applications from international and UK-based students who would like to join Berkhamsted Girls as a full boarder in Year 9 (age 13+), or Year 10 (age 14+) for our 2 year GCSE programme. Places for weekly or full boarding in Year 9 and Year 10 are subject to availability.
We also welcome applications from international and UK-based students who would like to join Berkhamsted Girls as full, weekly or flexi-boarders from 16+ (Year 12 – into Sixth Form).
Flexi-boarding is also available subject to availability for UK-based boarders from ages 11+ (Year 7 upwards).
The Berkhamsted Podcast
The Berkhamsted Spotlight is Berkhamsted School’s podcast channel. Our episodes feature guests from inside the classroom to behind-the-scenes of our day-to-day activities through to life beyond Berkhamsted.
Discover more about boarding life at Berkhamsted by clicking on the episodes below.
St John’s girls share their experience of boarding
Boarding at Berkhamsted with Miss Jessica Thackray and Marianne Ponsonby-White
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 82.7% 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 more about why our pupils enjoy boarding at Berkhamsted
I definitely recommend Berkhamsted to everybody. I personally really loved the school and hope that my children can come back as well.
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.
Cold weather❄️but warm friends👭A great evening supporting the girls’ football match⚽️ GO JULIA & RISSA! 🧡
Cold weather❄️but warm friends👭A great evening supporting the girls’ football match⚽️ GO JULIA & RISSA! 🧡
Another great weekend of netball for St John’s Boarding House! Our 1st Team came 2nd at the U19 National Netball Finals🥈Well done to Amazing-Amelia, Super-Sophie and our Fantastic-Flexi’s: (Sienna, Bea, Ella, Niamh and Eleanor!) We are all so proud of you 💫💫
Another great weekend of netball for St John’s Boarding House! Our 1st Team came 2nd at the U19 National Netball Finals🥈Well done to Amazing-Amelia, Super-Sophie and our Fantastic-Flexi’s: (Sienna, Bea, Ella, Niamh and Eleanor!) We are all so proud of you 💫💫
Huge WELL DONE to Super-Sophie for representing Ireland at the U17 Euros last week as well as being named Captain of the squad⭐️🇮🇪 What an accomplishment! We are all so proud of you 👏
Huge WELL DONE to Super-Sophie for representing Ireland at the U17 Euros last week as well as being named Captain of the squad⭐️🇮🇪 What an accomplishment! We are all so proud of you 👏
What an amazing few days for our Incents and St John’s sporting stars. On Sunday, Ollie, Charlie and Logan were selected to attend the England U17 Rugby camp 🏴🏉. Then yesterday, Orissa and Julia were part of @berko_sport first ever girls 1XI football team who defeated St Edward’s, Oxford in the IFSA trophy semi-final!⚽️🏆
What an amazing few days for our Incents and St John’s sporting stars. On Sunday, Ollie, Charlie and Logan were selected to attend the England U17 Rugby camp 🏴🏉. Then yesterday, Orissa and Julia were part of @berko_sport first ever girls 1XI football team who defeated St Edward’s, Oxford in the IFSA trophy semi-final!⚽️🏆
A victorious 1st team Basketball match against Mill Hill today. A great team performance! Many thanks Mill Hill for the game.
A victorious 1st team Basketball match against Mill Hill today. A great team performance! Many thanks Mill Hill for the game.
Happy International Women’s Day 🌸✨
We are so lucky to be surrounded by so many exceptional women here at St John’s. We celebrated the occasion yesterday with roses and ice cream sundaes.
Here is to the incredible young women who inspire us every day ✨ Thank you for showing kindness, resilience and brilliance in St John’s.
Happy International Women’s Day 🌸✨
We are so lucky to be surrounded by so many exceptional women here at St John’s. We celebrated the occasion yesterday with roses and ice cream sundaes.
Here is to the incredible young women who inspire us every day ✨ Thank you for showing kindness, resilience and brilliance in St John’s.
Avengers, Assemble! ⚡️ Last week, we powered up with a trip to Prezzo & the cinema for the latest Captain America film. Tomorrow, it’s Daredevil Wednesdays in the lounge – who’s ready? 🦸♂️🎬 #StJohnsSuperheroes
Avengers, Assemble! ⚡️ Last week, we powered up with a trip to Prezzo & the cinema for the latest Captain America film. Tomorrow, it’s Daredevil Wednesdays in the lounge – who’s ready? 🦸♂️🎬 #StJohnsSuperheroes
A very busy weekend in Incents! We had Miss Talbot on Saturday leading a wonderful cake and biscuits decoration activity. 🧁🍰 Some looked amazing, some tasted amazing, and one or two managed to be both! Then Mr Gardiner on Sunday led a competition to build the tallest tower of balloons to varied success but lots of fun. 🎈🎈We had boys playing football for the school on Saturday in victorious fixtures against Brentwood. ⚽️ Finally, we were very proud to see some of our boys playing for Saracens as well! 🏉 A wonderful final weekend of the Half Term.
A very busy weekend in Incents! We had Miss Talbot on Saturday leading a wonderful cake and biscuits decoration activity. 🧁🍰 Some looked amazing, some tasted amazing, and one or two managed to be both! Then Mr Gardiner on Sunday led a competition to build the tallest tower of balloons to varied success but lots of fun. 🎈🎈We had boys playing football for the school on Saturday in victorious fixtures against Brentwood. ⚽️ Finally, we were very proud to see some of our boys playing for Saracens as well! 🏉 A wonderful final weekend of the Half Term.
We are so proud of our REGIONAL CHAMPIONS! Next stop ➡️ NATIONALS! 🥇
Happy Chinese New Year from the @berkoboarders family! We had a wonderful evening tonight – with delicious food and brilliant entertainment! May the Year of the Snake bring you good fortune!🧧🐍
Happy Chinese New Year from the @berkoboarders family! We had a wonderful evening tonight – with delicious food and brilliant entertainment! May the Year of the Snake bring you good fortune!🧧🐍
Orissa did a fantastic Crawford society today – all about ‘the sociology of our personalities!’
It was also really lovely to see so many boarding students in the room to support Orissa! ⭐️🎉👏
Orissa did a fantastic Crawford society today – all about ‘the sociology of our personalities!’
It was also really lovely to see so many boarding students in the room to support Orissa! ⭐️🎉👏
Well done to Orissa and Julia for their 6-0 win today for the 1st XI Girls’ Football team over Bristol Grammar! With Julia making her incredible debut 🎯 ⚽️ #thisgirlcan #girlsfootball
Well done to Orissa and Julia for their 6-0 win today for the 1st XI Girls’ Football team over Bristol Grammar! With Julia making her incredible debut 🎯 ⚽️ #thisgirlcan #girlsfootball
