A ‘village community ‘Boarding School near Oxford
Nestled in the idyllic Cotswolds countryside, just 40 minutes from historic Oxford, Kingham Hill School is a small, warm, and close-knit boarding school where everyone knows everyone. It reminds us of a village community. Founded in 1886 by the Christian philanthropist Charles Edward Baring Young, the school sits on a beautiful 40-hectare campus and offers genuinely personal care and attention.
With pupils from around 40 different countries, the atmosphere is international yet exceptionally welcoming. Alongside excellent academic support, including an American curriculum pathway, the school provides a wealth of extracurricular opportunities — from sports and creative pursuits to its small farm, home to horses, goats, alpacas, sheep, and rabbits. Here, everyone truly feels part of the family!
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 students: 331
Age of students: 11–18
Boarding students: 132
International students: 42
Students in Sixth Form: 98
Boarding fees per term (Upper School): £16,350 (Years 9–11) – £17,131 (Years 12–13)
Key sports offered in addition to traditional team sports: Rugby, Hockey, Cricket, Swimming, Football, Golf, Tennis
Nearest airports: Birmingham (65 min), Heathrow (90 min)
https://www.kinghamhill.org.uk/welcome-to-kingham-hill-school
Key Strengths at a Glance
Family-like atmosphere
American Diploma
Wide range of subjects
45% of students live in the boarding school
Kingham Hill School – Photo Highlights
Kingham Hill School in Detail
Academics
With outstanding facilities and a broad choice of subjects, Kingham Hill offers an inspiring learning environment tailored to each individual. In addition to the traditional curriculum, there are exciting options such as Animal Management — particularly appealing to aspiring veterinary students. Sixth formers can choose between British A-Levels and the American Diploma, allowing them to shape their academic path to suit their ambitions.
Dedicated teachers motivate and support every pupil, complemented by a personal tutor system. Both gifted students and those needing additional support benefit from bespoke teaching that helps them realise their full potential.
Leisure & Sport
For a school of its size, Kingham Hill offers a remarkable variety of leisure activities. On campus, pupils can enjoy an indoor climbing wall, swimming pool, and gym. With over 60 clubs and activities to choose from — from debating, photography, and filmmaking to skiing, diving, climbing, pilates, golf, and computer coding — students are free to explore their interests.
Sport plays a central role in school life, with popular team games like rugby, hockey, cricket, football, and netball fostering team spirit and healthy competition. Activities are seamlessly integrated into daily life, and weekends are always lively and full of options.
Pastoral Care
Pastoral care at Kingham Hill is exceptional — both attentive and heartfelt. New pupils quickly feel at home, and the seven boarding houses provide a loving, supportive environment. Each house accommodates no more than 40 pupils, cared for by house parents who are on hand 24/7. The diverse community welcomes children from the UK, the USA, and many other countries. Rooted in Christian values, the school provides a nurturing and thoughtful environment that equips each pupil with a strong moral compass for life beyond school.
Creative Arts
Whether it’s music, drama, or visual arts, pupils have plenty of opportunities to develop their creative talents through a variety of projects, performances, and workshops. A particular highlight is the Performing Arts Academy, held on Mondays after lessons, where students gain insights into scriptwriting, stagecraft, and acting, preparing for the school’s major annual musical productions. Musically inclined pupils can learn an instrument and join the orchestra, choir, or even the school rock band. The chapel choir performs regularly at events such as Founders’ Day and Remembrance Day.
Our Visit
Kingham Hill School is like something out of a quintessential English picture book. From the moment we arrived, the sense of community was palpable. Pupils greeted us warmly, and we felt instantly welcome. We were particularly impressed by the boarding experience — every child here is seen, valued, and included. A real standout is the American Programme, which is ideal for those considering studying in the USA. And the charming little school farm? A delight for any child who loves animals — goats, rabbits, chickens, and ponies! Our thanks to Headmaster Pete Last for the kind welcome — Kingham Hill School left a lasting impression on us. A small school with a big heart.
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In Summary
Kingham Hill School is a versatile and caring school in Britain. Our students thrive academically here, and sports enthusiasts, artists, musicians, and theatre lovers all find plenty to inspire them.
That said, Kingham Hill is by no means the only boarding school in Britain that could be an excellent match for your child. We encourage you to seek personalised advice tailored to your specific wishes and expectations. Please feel free to contact us — with our many years of experience and close connections to the schools, we can offer authentic insights and help you make an informed choice.
We are confident we can find the right boarding school for your child. We’re also happy to advise you on other schools in England — an overview is available on our Boarding Schools in England page.
Benefit from:
- Easy and straightforward communication
- Assistance with visa questions
- First-hand, authentic insights
- Increased chances of acceptance thanks to our strong relationship with the school
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.
