A strong sense of community by the coast, paired with an outstanding IB programme, makes Scarborough College one of our absolute favourites.
In the north of England, in a small town right by the water, Scarborough College has been nurturing successful, well-rounded young people for 120 years. This charming, red-brick school achieves this with a combination of dedication, warmth, and an impressive staff-to-student ratio.
Few boarding schools in England foster such a strong sense of togetherness! The friendly and respectful atmosphere between pupils and teachers is often highlighted, with particularly small class sizes making this possible.
The sports and arts offerings are equally impressive, with a nearby golf club and an on-campus theatre that seats a remarkable 400 people.
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 of students: 13–18 years
Total number of students: 420
Number of boarding students: 77
Students in the Sixth Form: 66
Average class size in Sixth Form: 1:9
Boarding fees for senior school per term: £14,948 (GCSE), £16,031 (Sixth Form)
The most important sports on offer in addition to traditional team sports: golf, horse riding, Zumba, athletics, tennis, windsurfing
Nearest airports: Manchester, Leeds Bradford (115 km)
Scarborough College – Photo Highlights
Scarborough College in Detail
Academic Focus
Scarborough College delivers high-quality, in-depth teaching, with one teacher for every nine students. Offering the IB Diploma, it is regarded as one of the strongest IB schools in northern England. The academic programme is diverse: from natural and social sciences, business, psychology and geography, to art, environmental studies and drama. Many graduates go on to study at Oxford or Cambridge. The results speak for themselves — especially for a non-selective school: in 2024, students achieved an average of 34 points in the IB, with around 50% of grades at A–A*.
Sport
We’re very impressed by the incredible choice of 65 sports at Scarborough College. The school’s fantastic coastal setting invites pupils to enjoy water sports, and the beach is just a five-minute walk away. Outdoor enthusiasts have the North York Moors National Park right on the doorstep for amazing hiking and expeditions. Golf lovers benefit from the school’s close partnership with the South Cliff Golf Club, enjoying excellent facilities and opportunities to represent the College at competitions or take part in other golf events. Naturally, all the classic sports are also offered; football, hockey, rugby, and netball among them.
Creative Arts
The creative arts are at the heart of life at Scarborough College. Every pupil has the chance to take part in the annual school production and delight the audience of up to 400 in the school’s own theatre. Music and art are equally encouraged: students can join opera workshops, perform in classical concerts, and take part in the highly-regarded LAMDA programme for private music and drama lessons. Artistic talent is nurtured too, with strong programmes in painting, drawing, and other visual arts.
Community and Boarding
What we especially love is that boarders do something together every Sunday such as day trips to York or cinema outings. The school community is divided into four houses, and every pupil wears their house badge with pride, strengthening that sense of belonging. Whether it’s outdoor activities for Duke of Edinburgh training, Zumba, e-sports, or debating — pupils never have time to be bored. Scarborough is also deeply engaged in charity, with events such as Yellow Day and Harvest Day celebrated on campus.
From the Headmaster
Guy Emmett
“Working with Akademis Internatsberatung has always been an absolute joy and pleasure for me. When they visited our school, I immediately knew I was dealing with a professional and above all, a caring agency. Mr Martin Cyrankowski has extensive knowledge of the boarding school landscape, and he and his team show tremendous care in matching the right pupils to the right schools. The students who have come to Scarborough College have integrated beautifully and have been a real enrichment to our college and boarding community. I look forward to many more years of collaboration.”
From a Student
Laura
“I’ve now been at Scarborough for three weeks, and it already feels like home. The first few days were, of course, a bit hard because I was homesick. But everyone welcomed me so warmly, and our houseparents, Mr and Mrs Weder, are incredibly kind. Since I wasn’t the only new girl, I had a few others to settle in with. We now do everything together and have something planned every day. For the first time, it’s actually ‘fun’ to go to school because everything is so well thought out for us. We’ve all fallen in love with the beach — after prep each day, we go for a walk and explore the area. Scarborough really is a beautiful town, with lovely houses and stunning nature — the sunsets on the beach are the best! The only thing that makes me a little sad is knowing that some of the girls I’ve grown close to will leave after this term. But we’re already making plans to see each other again, and I’m looking forward to meeting even more wonderful people here.”
This is Scarborough
Our Visit
After visiting Scarborough College, we were certain: these are truly some of the most beautiful boarding houses we’ve ever seen! Add to that the superb location on a gorgeous hillside by the sea, and it really does feel like pupils here live where others go on holiday. But it wasn’t just the scenery that convinced us. This cosmopolitan school impressed us with its exceptionally mature pupils and wonderfully kind staff. Our thanks to Remco in the Admissions Office and Headmaster Guy Emmett for their warm welcome and the insightful conversations.
Scarborough College Fees
The fees at Scarborough College are £16,031 per term, which totals £48,095 per academic year. The one-time registration fee is £75.
Photos From Our Visit
What our clients say about us
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Conclusion Scarborough College
Scarborough College is a welcoming and beautiful IB boarding school on the English coast.
Of course, it is far from the only boarding school in Britain with a coastal location. We warmly recommend exploring other English boarding schools as well. Feel free to contact us for advice — with our years of experience and close connections to the schools, we can offer authentic insights and help you find the right fit.
Take advantage of:
- Authentic, first-hand insights
- Our excellent relationships with admissions offices
- Years of experience in school placements
- 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.
