Boarding Life
Boarding at Berkhamsted offers both the experience of being part of a friendly, close-knit school community and access to outstanding facilities and resources.
As a boarder at Berkhamsted, you will experience life at a traditional English independent school as a member of a small, diverse boarding community of around 80 or so students.
Our boarding community is a mixture of full boarders (termly), weekly boarders from Year 9 (Sunday – Thursday nights) and local pupils who flexi-board from Year 7, on one or two nights a week due to school commitments.
Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2021 Finalist
We are delighted to be a finalist for the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2021 in the category of International Student Experience.
boarding
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.
56.2% of Berkhamsted international boarders achieved an A*-A in 2019.
Read moreboarding
Home from Home
Both 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 House 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.
“Weekly boarding works well for us. I know he’s happy and we enjoy our weekends together knowing that the homework is done.”
–Parent of a Year 10 Incents Weekly Boarder
Boarding 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 transporting them to and from school each day.
Clearly an academically driven department, it’s refreshing to meet the Head of Sixth, Martin Walker, and hear that the students get the support and encouragement to find and follow their own path whatever that may be – from setting up their own business or doing an apprenticeship.
Some fantastic shots by Ada from the badminton matches on Thursday 🏸
#badminton #iloveboarding #bsa
Some fantastic shots by Ada from the badminton matches on Thursday 🏸
#badminton #iloveboarding #bsa
A huge thank you to Dasha, Isaac, Meghan and Josh for organising a fantastic badminton tournament on Thursday night! 🏸 #badminton #iloveboarding #bsa
A huge thank you to Dasha, Isaac, Meghan and Josh for organising a fantastic badminton tournament on Thursday night! 🏸 #badminton #iloveboarding #bsa
Mr Ottaway and Miss Thackray were delighted to welcome Ian, Kelly (and Kelly’s mum!), Erin and Selina back to Berkhamsted yesterday. A lovely afternoon of reminiscing! ☀️
Mr Ottaway and Miss Thackray were delighted to welcome Ian, Kelly (and Kelly’s mum!), Erin and Selina back to Berkhamsted yesterday. A lovely afternoon of reminiscing! ☀️
We had a fantastic day today exploring our capital city… Some of our highlights included the London Dungeons 👻, shopping 🛍️ and Chinatown! 🍱
We had a fantastic day today exploring our capital city… Some of our highlights included the London Dungeons 👻, shopping 🛍️ and Chinatown! 🍱
A hot air balloon came to say hello to the boarding houses this morning! #iloveboarding #bsaboarding #newschoolyear 🎈💭
A hot air balloon came to say hello to the boarding houses this morning! #iloveboarding #bsaboarding #newschoolyear 🎈💭
It’s been fantastic to welcome a record number of new boarding students to the school yesterday.
It’s been fantastic to welcome a record number of new boarding students to the school yesterday.
We said a big goodbye to Mrs Stanforth yesterday, who has been an incredible Residential Tutor (for 11 years!) in St John’s. We celebrated with homemade pizzas in our new pizza oven, a quiz, lots of dancing (from Miss Jarvis) and countless smiles. A special evening for a special person! 💕😊 #iloveboarding #bsaboarding
We said a big goodbye to Mrs Stanforth yesterday, who has been an incredible Residential Tutor (for 11 years!) in St John’s. We celebrated with homemade pizzas in our new pizza oven, a quiz, lots of dancing (from Miss Jarvis) and countless smiles. A special evening for a special person! 💕😊 #iloveboarding #bsaboarding
Fantastic to see an Incents Year 12 student playing the piano at Berkhamsted Prize Day 2023. #berkoboarding #iloveboarding #aimhigh #beadventurous
Fantastic to see an Incents Year 12 student playing the piano at Berkhamsted Prize Day 2023. #berkoboarding #iloveboarding #aimhigh #beadventurous
Boarding house fun!
Our Young Enterprise scheme provides an excellent opportunity for our Sixth form students to develop business skills and entrepreneurial talents alongside their A Level studies.
The students work in teams to consider product development, marketing and their target market. They are also exposed to a commercial environment where they ultimately have to make a profit. They also need to be resilient when sales are not good and learn what products and marketing ideas will boost their sales.
The final of this year’s cohort took place at the KPMG offices in Watford, where the teams showcased their trade stand and finished with a 4 minute presentation to the KPMG team.
It’s a brilliant learning experience that develops the soft skills that can’t be found in the classroom, such as perseverance, collaboration and effective communication.
Applications are now open for Berkhamsted Sixth.
Find out more at our Sixth Virtual Open Event on Thursday 29 June at 7.30pm.
Book via the link in our bio.
Our Young Enterprise scheme provides an excellent opportunity for our Sixth form students to develop business skills and entrepreneurial talents alongside their A Level studies.
The students work in teams to consider product development, marketing and their target market. They are also exposed to a commercial environment where they ultimately have to make a profit. They also need to be resilient when sales are not good and learn what products and marketing ideas will boost their sales.
The final of this year’s cohort took place at the KPMG offices in Watford, where the teams showcased their trade stand and finished with a 4 minute presentation to the KPMG team.
It’s a brilliant learning experience that develops the soft skills that can’t be found in the classroom, such as perseverance, collaboration and effective communication.
Applications are now open for Berkhamsted Sixth.
Find out more at our Sixth Virtual Open Event on Thursday 29 June at 7.30pm.
Book via the link in our bio.
Great way to end #nationalboardingweek with a campfire and s’mores! #iloveboarding #berkoboarding
Great way to end #nationalboardingweek with a campfire and s’mores! #iloveboarding #berkoboarding
Movie Night 🎬
#nationalboardingweek #iloveboarding #bsaboarding @bsaboarding
