This historic and famous all-round boarding school offers a strong sense of community, a wide choice of subjects, and outstanding pastoral care. Hockey, cricket, and rowing enthusiasts in particular will find themselves at home here.
Nestled in the gently rolling Cotswolds, this historic school blends seamlessly into the beautiful landscape, its Hogwarts-like atmosphere adding to the charm. What truly impresses, though, are its academic achievements: in 2022, no fewer than 83% of students secured places at a Russell Group universities – the upper echelons of tertiary education in the UK.
Hockey, rowing, and cricket have a long tradition here, dating back to the school’s founding in 1841. Cheltenham College was even one of the first four schools to play Raquets, hosting England’s very first inter-school Rackets match in 1868 (against Charterhouse). What we particularly love about Cheltenham, however, is its dedication to community. Within the school, students benefit from attentive and varied pastoral care, with the majority living on campus. Beyond the gates, pupils actively contribute to the wider community through voluntary programmes.
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: 13-18
Number of students: 720
Boarders: 80%
International students: 18%
Average class size: 1:11
Boarding fees per term: £ 18,913
Main sports offered in addition to traditional team sports: badminton, horse riding, golf, polo, rowing, shooting, squash, swimming
Nearest airports: Birmingham (1.2 hours), Bristol (1.5 hours), London Heathrow (1.5 hours)
https://www.cheltenhamcollege.org/
Key Strengths at a Glance
Strong in rackets, hockey, rowing, and cricket
Specialized career support
Weekly volunteering (Community Action Programme)
Programmes for mental health & life skills
Cheltenham College – Photo Highlights
Cheltenham College in Detail
Academics
Most Sixth Form students take three A-levels of their choice, plus the Extended Project Qualification on a topic they’re passionate about. The extensive curriculum includes, for example, Theology, Philosophy and Ethics, where students explore not just Plato but also modern themes such as feminism. For more practically-minded pupils, BTEC and CTEC options are available in subjects like Sport, Business, IT, and Applied Psychology. The success of these individually tailored pathways is evident in the results: in 2021, three-quarters of A-level students achieved A*/A grades. Students benefit from careers advice, networking events, and workshops to prepare them for university. Those applying to Oxford or Cambridge receive additional mock exams and interview practice.
Sport
At Cheltenham College, sport is central to school life: an impressive 95% of students take part in some form of sport. Over 20 disciplines are taught by experts, including former Olympians and professional athletes. Rugby is particularly strong among the boys, and the school even contributed some of the early rules adopted by the Rugby Football Union after participating in one of the first ever school matches. While many sports have a long tradition here, the facilities are thoroughly modern — from the recently refurbished boathouse to new floodlit Astroturf pitches. Talented athletes are supported through a dedicated programme offering personal mentors, video analysis, monitoring, and both physical and mental preparation to help them reach their potential.
Community and Pastoral Care
Community lies at the heart of Cheltenham College both inwardly and outwardly. We particularly value the induction programme for international students, which helps them settle smoothly into school life. Through the ‘Floreat’ programme, pupils develop socially and emotionally by learning to reflect on themselves and their environment with the support of tutors. Every week, around 150 students volunteer in the local community, helping out in schools, care homes, and local groups. Each boarding house also adopts a charity each year. In 2021, Cheltenham students raised over £58,000 for charitable causes, much of it donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Arts and Co-Curricular Life
Students stage at least six productions a year, with three designated slots in the timetable each week to ensure neither their acting nor their studies suffer. Performances take place in the historic school theatre, one of the original buildings. Music at Cheltenham is equally vibrant. Pupils can take individual lessons in singing, instruments — including bagpipes — and even DJ skills. They sing and play together in numerous choirs, ensembles, and orchestras. The school proudly holds All-Steinway School status, boasting two of the world-famous Model D concert grand pianos. Beyond the creative arts, pupils can also join a wide range of clubs and societies, from cookery, books, and film to academic and debating clubs, broadening their horizons beyond the classroom.
Photos From Our Visit
Fees Cheltenham College
Fees at Cheltenham College are currently £18,913 per term, which equates to around £56,739 per year.
This is Cheltenham College
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Our Conclusion Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College is a true all-rounder: a school where academic excellence, mental well-being, and a strong sense of community all take centre stage. Furthermore, the new Head, Chris Townsend, is personally known to us.
That said, there are many other top British boarding schools that deliver equally impressive results and caring pastoral support. We encourage you to explore your options further. Please feel free to contact us for a complimentary consultation. With our long-standing relationships with the schools, we can offer authentic insights and help you make the right choice.
We’re confident that together, we can find the perfect school for your child.
For an overview, visit our Boarding Schools in England page.
Benefit from:
• authentic, first-hand insights
• our excellent relationships with admissions offices
• years of placement experience
• guidance on visa questions
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.
