Hear from one of our pupils discussing Leadership at Berkhamsted and how we develop remarkable people
Introducing Berkhamsted Schools Group
Thank you for choosing to find out more about Berkhamsted. We hope you enjoy discovering all we have to offer on this web page.
We are a family of leading independent schools based in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire (easy reach of Heatherton and London), offering high quality education and care for pupils aged 5 months to 18 years. We offer boarding for international families from 13+ for Boys and 16+ for Girls.
Berkhamsted Schools Group
Easy access to London and Heathrow
Berkhamsted is a historic and prosperous English market town with a family-friendly atmosphere, surrounded by beautiful Chiltern countryside. Its traditional High Street features both well-known brands and independent shops. This convenient location provides easy links to central London (direct trains 30 minutes from Euston Station), Heathrow Airport (40 minutes by car) and Luton Airport (32 minutes by car) making it easily accessible for international families seeking a prestigious day or boarding school.
English independent school experience
Leading academic school
As a leading academic school in the UK, Berkhamsted is highly selective and admits a limited number of boarders each year, including students applying from overseas. The majority of these students enter at Sixth Form level, although applications may be considered from boarders who wish to study at GCSE level.
Our boarding students are able to participate fully in the life of a traditional English independent school providing an experience which allows our students to mature and start a journey of educational study more akin to university than school.
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Boarding life
Home from Home
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 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.
Our boarding community is a mixture of full boarders (termly) and weekly boarders (Sunday – Thursday) from Year 9 in the Boys House, and full and weekly boarders from Year 12 in the Girls House. In addition, both houses offer the opportunity for local pupils to flexi-board on occasion, from Year 7. Berkhamsted has two boarding houses, St John’s for girls and Incents for boys. Both are located a few minutes’ walk of both the Senior School campuses and the town centre.
Boarding Life
Podcast with our Head of Girls boarding
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 episode below.
Discover more about boarding at Berkhamsted
Please watch some of our videos to find out more about boarding life at Berkhamsted School
Purpose built Sixth Form centre for the future
New Sixth Form Opening
Pupils have been educated at Berkhamsted School for over 475 years and we are honoured to have shared this beautiful and historic location with you. Founded in 1541, the School is proud of its roots and partnership with the town and, over the years, we have overseen the careful and considered evolution of our estate.
Looking to the future it is important for the School to address the shortcomings of our existing facilities. This is particularly true with regard to our Sixth Form provision, which needs to be enhanced to provide the best possible environment for our students to not only learn, thrive and excel but one that will equip them for their future.
We are delighted to be surrounded by a thriving community of neighbours, amenity groups and partner schools. Following our consultations with the community regarding our plans and subsequently receiving planning approval, we look forward to sharing with our continued vision for the new Sixth Form centre on Castle Campus.
We are determined to ensure our vision responds to Berkhamsted’s historical context. As a significant landowner in Berkhamsted we understand the importance of our plans and ensuring we are making a positive contribution to the area.
Richard Backhouse – Principal
Academic
At Berkhamsted, we aim to create an environment in which all pupils are supported and encouraged to reach their full potential. Our approach draws on the best of modern teaching methods, yet we retain traditional values and standards.
Berkhamsted Boys and Berkhamsted Girls – GCSE’s
At GCSE our girls and boys are taught separately in single-sex classroom at Castle Campus (Boys School) and Kings Campus (Girls School) although they do have extra curricular activities together.
At GCSE Level (Key Stage Four) most pupils will undertake up to 11 courses. The Senior School curriculum includes core subjects – English Language, English Literature and Maths. In additional pupils must study at least one Science GCSE as one of their six options. For the most academically able they can also take AdMaths and complete their three Science GCSEs.
For more details please see our GCSE guide below
Berkhamsted Sixth – A Level
The main aim of the Sixth Form at Berkhamsted is to produce confident, well-qualified and interesting young adults who will rise to the challenges of the modern world. As the great majority of our students go on to higher education, the Sixth Form has a strong academic focus. Students receive all the encouragement and support they need to help them achieve their potential in their A levels. The Sixth Form also aims to develop wider interest and skills – academic, emotional, cultural, etc. It is a time when the individual can explore ideas and learn to think independently in preparation for university.
At Berkhamsted we pride ourselves on a consistently high academic performance by our students. In the Sixth Form, A Level courses are offered in 27 subjects and are examined at the end of Year 13. Typically students study three subjects but some may opt to study a fourth on a semi-independent A Level programme. Detailed advice is provided to students and great care taken over UCAS applications resulting in a strong record of success in gaining offers and progression to chosen universities. On average, 98% of Sixth Form leavers go on to a degree course to Oxford, Cambridge, Russell Group universities and other highly ranked institutions for their chosen subject.
For our overseas students, weekly EAL lessons are provided in preparation for the IELTS examination. If required, additional tuition in English as a second language is available.
The A Level guide provides more information about the subjects on offer.
Berkhamsted Results 2024
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.
52.7% of Berkhamsted pupils achieved an A*- A at A Level in 2024, with 81.7% achieving grades A*- B.
A Level
2025 A-Level Results Table
| Grade | A* | A | B | C | D | E | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 155.5 | 251.5 | 184 | 95.5 | 25 | ||
| Raw % | 21.9 | 35.3 | 25.9 | 13.4 | 3.5 | ||
| Cumulative % | 21.9 | 57.2 | 83.1 | 96.5 | 100 |
GCSE
2025 GCSE Results Table
| Grade | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 489 | 492 | 422 | 262 | 123 | 67 | |||
| Raw % | 26.4 | 26.5 | 22.7 | 14.1 | 6.6 | 3.6 | |||
| Cumulative % | 26.4 | 52.9 | 75.6 | 89.8 | 96.4 | 100.0 |
Leavers Destinations 2023
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Please watch some of our videos to find out more about life at Berkhamsted School and how we develop remarkable people and experiences for life beyond school
Meet our International Admissions Team
Berkhamsted is pleased to help families to assist students who would benefit from an education in our School. Our Head of Boarding and Director of International Admissions, Chris Sutton, is also a teacher in the Senior School and a Tutor at Sixth Form which enables him to get to know our students on an individual basis.
Jennie Peachey, our International Admissions Officer will be working you to guide your family through your child’s application process and will be available to answer any queries you may have regarding the application process at Berkhamsted.
Entry Requirements for International Admissions
Admissions for Berkhamsted Sixth
We welcome applications from international students who would like to join Berkhamsted Sixth as a full boarder on our 2 Year A Level programme. To apply, please email internationaladmissions@berkhamsted.com and provide a copy of the student’s latest school report and passport.
Once registered, applicants will be invited to take our entrance assessments. We have partnered with UKiset and all international applicants are required to complete a UKiset test which forms part of our assessment along with an interview.
UKiset is an adaptive cognitive online entry test designed to assess the student’s academic ability and level of English. The test is taken at a UKiset-approved UK or International Test Centre, or it can be taken remotely with online invigilation, arranged by UKiset. For information please visit the UKiset website.
The test fee is payable directly to UKiset and for applicants who are taking the test as part of their entrance assessments for Berkhamsted, the school registration fee is not required.
For all students in Berkhamsted Sixth, progression to Year 13 depends on satisfactory attainment, as determined by the student’s term grades and results across the course of Year 12 (Lower Sixth Year), in addition to the end of year examinations. Work ethic, discipline record and contribution to the wider life of the school will also be taken into consideration.
Admissions for Berkhamsted Boys Senior School
We welcome applications from international students who would like to join Berkhamsted Boys as a full boarder in Year 9, or Year 10 for our 2 year GCSE programme. To apply for Year 9, please refer to the Year 9 Admissions Timeline and ensure registration is completed before the deadline for the relevant year of entry.
To apply for Year 10 please email internationaladmissions@berkhamsted.com and provide a copy of the student’s latest school report and passport.
Once registered, applicants will be invited to take our entrance assessments. We have partnered with UKiset and all international applicants are required to complete a UKiset test which forms part of our assessment along with an interview.
UKiset is an adaptive cognitive online entry test designed to assess the student’s academic ability and level of English. The test is taken at a UKiset-approved UK or International Test Centre, or it can be taken remotely with online invigilation, arranged by UKiset. For information please visit the UKiset website.
The test fee is payable directly to UKiset and for applicants who are taking the test as part of their entrance assessments for Berkhamsted, the school registration fee is not required.
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