One of the smallest and most colourful school communities in Britain is to be found at Abbey College. Thanks to its specialised educational pathways, the College ranks first out of 4,470 English schools in terms of student progress, according to the UK Department for Education.
The approximately 30 students at Abbey College Malvern, aged 14 to 19, live almost entirely on campus and form a tightly-knit, family-like community. It’s a vibrant family of diverse nationalities, where everyone knows everyone — from students to teachers, boarding staff, and of course the headmaster.
Nestled safely in the picturesque Malvern Hills between Bristol and Birmingham, the small school — with a distinct Harry Potter flair — offers an enchanting setting. On one side, wooded hills rise behind the campus; on the other, fields stretch out into the distance. The historic school building, dating from 1863, has housed the school since it moved from its founding city of Brighton. Today, Abbey College sees itself as a safe haven where young people from all walks of life can flourish and become the leaders of tomorrow.
Akademis makes history – A Triple Award-Winning Consultancy (2023, 2024 & 2025) 🏆
Akademis has been recognised three years in a row by StudyTravel for excellence in the education sector:
2025 & 2024: Winners of the StudyTravel Secondary School Award (Best Western European Agency)
2023: Winner of the StudyTravel Star Award
(Best Western European Agency)
The StudyTravel Awards are among the most prestigious honours in international education, recognising outstanding quality, client focus and trusted partnerships. Being the first consultancy ever to win for three consecutive years is something we are deeply proud of. For us, these awards highlight our commitment to offering the very best guidance, personal service and long-term support for families embarking on this exciting journey.
Quick Overview
Age range: 14-19
Number of students: 32
Boarders: 96%
Students in Sixth Form: 16
Average class size: 7
Boarding fees per term: 10.900-16.600£
The most important sports on offer, in addition to the traditional team sports: tennis, badminton, fencing, basketball, football, volleyball, table tennis, aerobics, archery
Nearest airports: Birmingham (1 hour), Bristol (1.5 hours)
https://www.abbeycollege.co.uk
Key strengths at a glance
small, family-like school community
short stays, such as 1-term high school experiences, possible
wide range of extracurricular activities (especially for such a small school)
university foundation courses in a variety of subjects
Abbey College Malvern – Photo Highlights
Abbey College Malvern in detail
Academics
Alongside IGCSE and A-Level qualifications, the school offers University Foundation courses that prepare students for university with subject-specific programmes. Abbey College was one of the first schools in the UK to introduce such courses back in 1981, and it has decades of experience in delivering them. These programmes are particularly beneficial for international students aiming to study in the UK.
Another attractive option for international students is the One Term High School Experience. Flexible in duration, it allows students to immerse themselves in British school life for anywhere from two weeks to a full term while improving their English.
Arts and Extracurricular Activities
A colourful art studio, a welcoming piano in the common room, and the school’s own theatre stage await creatively minded students. Here, pupils can dance, act, and learn to compile a portfolio. There’s even a small but charming cinema. Beyond that, students enjoy game and billiard rooms — and a school bouncy castle! In all our experience of British schools, this is a first.
Activities include hiking, knitting, cooking, and first aid, as well as fun community events such as talent shows, discos, karaoke, campfires, and bowling. Excursions take place every three weeks to destinations such as Oxford, Bath, or Cardiff.
Sport
With an outdoor swimming pool, sports hall, gym, four tennis courts, a basketball court, and football pitches, the range of sports on offer far exceeds what one would expect from a small school. And there’s more! Students can also try volleyball, archery, fencing, Uni-hoc, softball, yoga, table tennis, and weightlifting.
For those still looking for more, off-campus opportunities include horse riding, canoeing, squash, or climbing — and students are welcome to join local sports clubs. Whatever your sporting interest, you’re sure to find it here.
Boarding und Gemeinschaft
Most students at Abbey College live as boarders in single or twin rooms, with en-suite bathrooms available for an additional fee. Warm-hearted house parents contribute to the family atmosphere, even waking the younger children personally in the mornings. Older students often choose to live with a host family or in their own accommodation off-campus. We particularly appreciate the regular welfare meetings, which keep the boarding staff informed about students’ concerns and wishes — placing their wellbeing firmly at the centre of school life. Interestingly, Abbey College has no set school uniform: instead, students wear black and white.
This is Abbey College Malvern
Fees at Abbey College Malvern
- £16,600 per term
- £32,500 per year if paid in full upfront (discounted)
- One-term High School Experience: £10,900
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Conclusion
Abbey College Malvern is an especially small and family-oriented school, renowned for the excellent progress its students achieve. However, there are plenty of other family-like boarding schools offering high-quality education as well.
We warmly recommend seeking advice tailored to your specific wishes and expectations. Please don’t hesitate to contact us — thanks to our many years of close contact with the schools, we understand their unique characteristics and can provide authentic insights.
We’re also happy to advise you on other boarding schools in England. You can find an overview on our Boarding Schools in England page.
Take advantage of:
- our strong relationships with admissions offices
- interview preparation
- years of experience in placements
- authentic, first-hand insights
What Makes Akademis Stand Out?
- We remain your trusted contact throughout your child’s stay, well beyond the placement process.
- We provide support with guardianship, visa applications and recognition of qualifications within the German school system.
- We offer fully tailored advice. Our school recommendations are unique to each child and can run to 40 pages in length.
- Families receive our 30+ page boarding school guide, packed with practical tips and insights.
- We prepare your child thoroughly for entrance exams and interviews to maximise their chances of success.
- We arrange school visits, ensuring you have the opportunity to experience each school first-hand.
Every boarding school has its own character and ethos. Having personally visited more than 100 schools, we understand these nuances. We also work with schools that do not pay commission, ensuring that our advice remains independent and always in the best interest of your child.
Our roots lie in the UK. For years, we have placed 200–300 families annually into British boarding schools. While our portfolio now includes schools beyond Britain, the UK remains at the heart of what we do.
Our tailored approach results in exceptional acceptance rates. For example, in 2022/23, all seven students we placed at the highly selective Malvern College received offers – a 100% success rate.
We arrange for prospective families to speak with our current students to hear first-hand accounts of life at a UK boarding school.
