The warm and welcoming Stonar School in the South-West of England is best known as an outstanding equestrian boarding school. Riders of all levels find their place here, but the school also impresses with strong academics and a varied extracurricular offering.
Set in landscaped parkland, the listed main building of Stonar rises gracefully from its lush gardens, near the famous spa town of Bath. This small independent school aims to develop strong, confident personalities, with tiny class sizes ensuring that no child is ever overlooked. The school’s motto is: “I can do it!”
As a member of Globeducate, Stonar’s mission is to prepare its students to become global citizens, ready and eager to make a positive impact on the world. Pupils enjoy numerous opportunities to take part in international events, broaden their horizons, and find their own voice.
Not every pupil takes advantage of the exceptional riding facilities, as there are also plenty of opportunities to shine in rugby, swimming, rock bands, or theatre. A memory that particularly stayed with us from our visit was hearing some girls recount how they lay in the grass at night watching the stars. This is a place where memories are made.
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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: 405
International pupils: 65
Boarding pupils: 93
Sixth Form pupils: 60
Average class size: 1:9
Boarding fees Sixth Form per term: £18,320
Main sports besides the traditional team sports: riding, athletics, tennis, swimming
Nearest airports: London Heathrow 1.5 hrs, Gatwick 2.5 hrs, Bristol 45 mins
https://www.stonarschool.com
Key Strengths at a Glance
62 stables and outstanding equestrian facilities
Member of Globeducate: international connections
Close, individualised pastoral care
20 hectares of school grounds for riding and outdoor adventures
Stonar School – Photo Highlights
Stonar School in Detail
Riding
Stonar is a paradise for horse lovers! The school trains both beginners and advanced riders. The equestrian centre, recognised by the British Horse Society and home to 62 horses, is led by seven highly qualified coaches. The facilities are second to none, including an indoor arena, an Olympic-sized outdoor arena, stables, tack rooms, riding trails, a show-jumping arena, and a cross-country course designed by an Olympic course designer. Around half of all pupils ride, and one has even gone on to become an Olympic dressage rider! Students can borrow one of the school’s 30+ horses or bring their own. Alongside riding skills, students also learn valuable stable management techniques.
Activities
Sporting options include cricket, football, hockey, rugby, swimming in the school’s own pool, and athletics. Pupils can also take part in badminton, basketball, netball, cross-country, archery, trampolining, and table tennis. As a member of Globeducate, Stonar also offers international sports and music events. The arts are equally well-supported: there is an art studio with kiln, a photography studio with darkroom, and a design technology suite — with many impressive student artworks displayed around the school. Drama ranges from speech training, to musicals and Shakespeare productions. There are numerous music groups including choirs and ensembles, as well as clubs for Latin, coding, environmental issues, and outdoor education, offering even more opportunities for students to grow in their free time.
Academics
Subjects range from English literature to physics, art, history, languages, music, and nutrition. Stonar students consistently achieve exam results well above average. According to the Value Added Model, the school regularly ranks in the top 10% of participating schools, meaning pupils typically perform a grade higher at GCSE than predicted. Moreover, most outperform peers nationally who started at the same academic level. Impressively, 100% of Stonar students go on to their chosen university. Achieving this requires effort and ambition, but the school provides plenty of support along the way.
Pastoral Care and Community
With around just 90 boarders, your child will quickly feel like part of a new family. The entire Sixth Form lives in a single, staffed boarding house, and activities such as drama productions, show-jumping contests, and gingerbread-house competitions foster a strong sense of community — as do talent shows, film nights, and board games. The school truly cares for every child’s wellbeing. Once a girls’ school, Stonar is now almost evenly split between boys and girls. That caring, family atmosphere, which has long defined the school, remains at its heart.
Photos From Our Visit
Our Visit
Our day at Stonar was full of warmth and friendliness. On an excellent campus tour led by Sarah Burns, Director of Admissions and Marketing, we admired the tranquil grounds nestled between woods and fields and caught up with one of our students currently at the school. It is always inspiring to hear how happy our students are at Stonar — you can truly feel that this is a very special place.
Stonar School Fees
Fees at Stonar School are currently £18,320 per term, or £54,960 per academic year. The registration fee is currently £100.
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Conclusion: Stonar School
This is a strong academic school with fantastic equestrian opportunities — but it is by no means the only boarding school in Britain offering excellent riding facilities.
We strongly encourage you to explore further. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for advice. With years of close connections to the schools, we understand their unique characteristics and can offer authentic insights.
We’re confident that, together, we’ll find the right school for your child.
Benefit from:
- exclusive, insightful photos and videos
- first-hand impressions
- interview preparation
- our close relationships with admissions offices
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.
