Progressive and open-minded – that’s Frensham Heights School. A school with a close-knit atmosphere and a diverse curriculum.
Sports halls, dance studios, theatre and drama spaces, IT suites, a music school, a ballroom, green spaces, playing fields, and surrounding woodland – all of this is part of the Frensham Heights experience. Founded with the aim of offering an alternative educational style that places the child at the centre, the school has been fostering self-fulfilment and individuality since 1925.
As a member of the international Progressive Education Network, Frensham Heights lives its vision of progressive education with passionate commitment – it’s far more than just theory. The warm, family-like atmosphere and small class sizes, both in the Senior School and Sixth Form, create a community where pupils and teachers truly know one another – and even address each other by first names. There is no uniform or hierarchy here – everyone is equal.
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
Number of pupils: 540
International pupils: 25% of boarders
Pupils in the Sixth Form: 145
Boarding fees for the Sixth Form per term: £14,994 – £15,768
Main sports on offer in addition to traditional team sports: dance, tennis, athletics, cricket, volleyball
Nearest airport: London Heathrow (45 minutes)
Key Strengths at a Glance
Excellent art department
Liberal pastoral approach giving pupils plenty of freedom
Welcoming Sixth Form Centre
E-sports as a BTEC course
Frensham Heights School – Photo Highlights
Frensham Heights School in Detail
Academic Life
Frensham Heights combines the independence of a college with the facilities and rich extracurricular life of a larger school community. At the heart of the Sixth Form is Roberts House: a vibrant social hub that offers study spaces, common rooms, and boarding accommodation. Pupils can choose from 25 different A-Level subjects, including Creative Industries, Sociology, Graphic Communication, and Film. The school has also established The Edge, a programme that allows students to hone practical skills through courses such as cookery, entrepreneurship, construction, or stage lighting.
Boarding
The common rooms of the boarding houses are alive with film and games nights, cooking, yoga, and more. At weekends, boarders can enjoy trips to theme parks, shopping in London, cinema visits, and bowling. Students from all over the world attend Frensham Heights, creating a lively student body where fresh ideas and experiences are always shared. The two boarding houses, Hamilton House and Roberts House, feel like two big families. Boarders here enjoy an ideal balance of comfort and structure. Compared to many other English boarding schools, students are given considerable freedom – though this comes hand in hand with greater personal responsibility.
The Arts
Creativity is at the heart of life at Frensham Heights. Whether it’s fine art, photography, textiles, graphic communication, or design technology – everyone is encouraged to follow their passion. Pupils have open access to the art studios during the week and at weekends, and can take courses in areas such as ceramics or life drawing. They also have opportunities to organise their own exhibitions or showcase their work externally through the school’s connections with local creative centres. Trips to London’s West End and art exhibitions are regular features, along with workshops led by professional artists.
Extracurricular Activities
Sport plays an essential role at Frensham Heights. Beyond the usual sports like tennis, athletics, cricket, and volleyball, students can also try scuba diving, unicycling, juggling, boxing, or parkour. Music, drama, and dance are hugely popular too, with opportunities to take ballet, street dance, or join the choir. There are also numerous extracurricular clubs – for instance, at the Eco Farm, students learn to grow their own vegetables. Those aiming for Oxford or Cambridge can benefit from the Pre-Oxbridge Support programme for additional preparation.
This is Frensham Heights School
What our clients say about us
Get a free consultation and find out more about Frensham Heights School
Conclusion: Frensham Heights School
Frensham Heights School stands out for its commitment to progressive academic education and its warm, familiar atmosphere.
Of course, it is by no means the only boarding school in the UK to offer a close-knit community and forward-thinking academic opportunities. That’s why we strongly recommend personalised advice tailored to your specific wishes and needs. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. With years of experience and close contact with the schools, we understand their unique qualities and can offer authentic guidance.
We are confident that together we will find the right school for your child.
Visit our Boarding Schools in England page for an overview.
Benefit from:
- our excellent relationships with admissions offices
- help with visa questions
- years of experience in school placements
- our support throughout the application process
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.
