Hear from some of our pupils at Berkhamsted about life in our schools and how we develop remarkable people
Introducing Berkhamsted Schools Group
Thank you for visiting us at the St Alphe Fair. We hope you enjoy finding out more about Berkhamsted 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+.
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.
Discover more
Boarding life
Home from Home
Our boarding community is a mixture of full boarders (termly) and weekly boarders (Sunday – Thursday) from Year 9, and local pupils who flexi-board, 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.
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. Above all we hope all pupils will be happy during their time with us and that they will enjoy the opportunities and challenge a busy boarding community will afford them.
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 2024
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 29 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 at no extra charge in preparation for the IELTS examination. If required, additional tuition in English as a second language is available at an extra cost.
The A Level guide below provides more information about the subjects on offer:
Berkhamsted Results 2022
A Level
2024 A-Level Results Table
| Grade | A* | A | B | C | D | E | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 116 | 213 | 181 | 79 | 31 | 4 | 0 |
| Raw % | 18.6 | 34.1 | 29.0 | 12.7 | 5.0 | 0.6 | 0 |
| Cumulative % | 16.6 | 52.7 | 81.7 | 94.4 | 99.4 | 100 | 100 |
GCSE
2024 GCSE Results Table
| Grade | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 405 | 473 | 461 | 310 | 160 | 60 | 24 | 4 | 0 |
| Raw % | 21.3 | 24.9 | 24.3 | 16.3 | 8.4 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Cumulative % | 21.3 | 46.3 | 70.6 | 86.9 | 95.4 | 98.5 | 99.8 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
Leavers Destinations
Discover more
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 agents to assist students who would benefit from an education in our School. Our Head of International Admissions, Chris Sutton, is also the Head of the Boys’ boarding house and is able to know our students on an individual basis. Jennie Peachey, our International Admissions Officer will be working you to guide your client through their child’s application process and will be available to answer any queries you may have regarding the application process at Berkhamsted.
International Admissions Process
Although the majority of pupils attending Berkhamsted are day pupils, we offer the opportunity to join a small boarding community at the school.
Berkhamsted Boys may consider applications from international students aged 13 (entering at Year 9) and aged 14 (entering at Year 10) to study at GCSE level. To apply for a place to study at our Senior Schools, applications must follow the current day application timelines as per our website (Berkhamsted Boys). Berkhamsted Sixth may consider applications from international boys and girls aged 16 (entering at Year 12) to study for two years and completing A-Levels outside of our day application timeline.
Prospective pupils should contact their agent if they wish to register at any time.
Overseas students, once registered, are required to sit a CAT4 test and complete an online form with questions on the subjects they wish to study at GCSE and A Level under exam conditions through a recognised partner agent, at the nearest British Council office, or at their current school.
In addition, candidates will be invited to interview with the Headteacher or the Head of International Admissions.
When joining Berkhamsted Sixth, progression to Year 13 depends on satisfactory attainment, as determined by the student’s term grades and results across the course of the Lower Sixth year (Year 12), in addition to the end of year examinations. Work ethic, discipline record and contribution to the wider life of the school are also taken into account.
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on LinkedIn
Follow our podcast channel
