Nestled in one of England’s most beautiful landscapes, Mount Kelly is a small, hidden gem for lovers of the great outdoors — and the first choice for ambitious swimmers, with an outstanding Olympic swimming programme!
The wild, rugged, and strikingly beautiful Dartmoor has been immortalised in countless stories. But the charming Mount Kelly private school, with its turrets and gables, remains a well-kept secret. Established on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in 2014 from a merger of two historic schools, it sits on a 150-hectare campus with its own lake, just outside the idyllic market town of Tavistock.
For such a manageable size, Mount Kelly offers an astonishing variety of academic subjects and exciting extracurricular activities. Its adventure centre invites outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers to throw themselves into new challenges. In our opinion, Mount Kelly is the perfect springboard for both swimmers and musicians — anyone aspiring to a career in either field might feel right at home here.
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: 8–18
Number of pupils: 340
Boarders: 50%
International pupils: 30%
Sixth Form boarding fees per term: £16,500
Main sports offered in addition to traditional team sports: swimming, tennis, athletics, climbing, horse riding, canoeing, golf, sailing
Nearest airports: Exeter (40 min), Bristol (1.5 h)
https://www.mountkelly.com/
Key Strengths at a Glance
competitive swimming
successful college chamber choir
strong links to the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter
outdoor adventure centre
Mount Kelly School – Photo Highlights
Mount Kelly School in Detail
Sport
Swimmers in particular will be thrilled to discover the school’s own Olympic-sized 50-metre pool. Mount Kelly boasts a high-performance swimming centre and provides a launchpad for those aiming to compete at national and international level — the school has already produced seven Olympic swimming champions! Perhaps your child could be next? Of course, other sports are very much part of life at Mount Kelly too. Top-class facilities include immaculate pitches for rugby, football, and cricket, a 700 m² indoor sports hall, a golf course, and even a heated outdoor pool.
Creative Opportunities
When Mount Kelly stages a theatre production, everyone gets involved — some design costumes, others rehearse Act Two. Talented singers can join the chamber choir, which won the Barnardo’s School Choir of the Year competition in London in 2020. Creativity is nurtured in spacious studios and through regular exhibitions. Art and Design students work with a wide range of media — textiles, clay, 3D materials — and develop their skills in traditional drawing, experimental painting, and craft techniques. In the afternoons, students can choose from an impressive list of activities including dance, debating, advanced maths, statistics, and even yoga.
Nature
Its glorious location between Dartmoor and the sea offers adventures no pupil is likely to forget — all while learning teamwork and building self-confidence. The school’s outdoor adventure centre even has a high ropes course and a shooting range. Depending on their year group, pupils take part in different team-building activities such as raft-building. The survival programme incorporates biology and teaches students how to thrive in the natural environment. Meanwhile, the coastal programme in Cornwall combines snorkelling, and climbing with an open-air theatre workshop at the iconic Minack Theatre — an inspired blend of art and biology.
Academic
In 2018, Mount Kelly was nominated for Boarding School of the Year, and the Daily Telegraph lists it among the UK’s top ten boarding schools. In very small classes — around seven students per teacher — every child is noticed and supported. The school is known for its sensitive and thoughtful approach to the young people in its care. Mentors provide each child with individual encouragement, helping even the more reserved pupils quickly feel at home in the wonderfully close-knit community. The academic curriculum is enriched by a lecture series, trips, and links with Plymouth and Exeter universities. Impressively, 54% of students achieve A or A* grades.
Mount Kelly School Fees
Fees at Mount Kelly are £16,500 per term, or £49,500 per school year.
This is Mount Kelly School
Our Visit
Despite the stunning campus and magnificent buildings — which would give anyone reason to boast — Mount Kelly struck us as refreshingly down-to-earth. Headmaster Mr Guy Ayling, along with all the pupils we met, came across as exceptionally warm and welcoming. Naturally, we also inspected the sports facilities of this renowned swimming school. Our verdict? In this paradise for swimmers, we couldn’t find a single fault. State-of-the-art facilities meet an extraordinarily friendly, unpretentious atmosphere.
Photos From Our Visit
What our clients say about us
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Conclusion Mount Kelly School
Mount Kelly is a very sporty school deeply connected to nature. However, it is by no means the only British school with outstanding swimming. We strongly recommend a personal consultation to discuss your particular wishes and requirements. Do get in touch with us — our many years of direct contact with schools mean we understand their individual character and can give you authentic advice. We’re confident we can help you find the perfect school for your child.
We’re also happy to advise you on other schools in England. You’ll find an overview on our Boarding Schools in England page.
Take advantage of:
- authentic first-hand insights
- our strong relationships with admissions offices
- years of placement experience
- help with 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.
