The campus at Stonyhurst College is so breathtakingly beautiful that it even attracts tourists. For Harry Potter fans, their eyes light up as soon as they arrive.
Stonyhurst College is a selective boarding school — not every applicant secures a place. That makes it all the more gratifying that every pupil who applied with our guidance and preparation in recent years was successfully admitted.
Like a postcard from the Middle Ages, Stonyhurst Castle is reflected in its own lake. We could hardly stop marvelling ourselves. Inside, Stonyhurst breathes history at every turn. Despite its long heritage, this boarding school — set in the attractive county of Lancashire — is innovative and forward-thinking today. Stonyhurst is regarded as one of Britain’s leading IB schools, with impressive artistic credentials and a commitment to nurturing each pupil’s unique talents and abilities.
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: 460
Boarding pupils: 300
Pupils in the Sixth Form: 220
Average class size in the Sixth Form: 1:10
Boarding fees for the Sixth Form per term: £17,745
Main sports on offer in addition to traditional team sports: tennis, fencing, diving, water polo, swimming, shooting, martial arts, archery, rugby, horse riding
Nearest airports: Manchester (75 km); 2 hours to London by train
https://www.stonyhurst.ac.uk
Key Strengths at a Glance
Very high academic standards
Beautiful, idyllic campus
Art department recognised by Arts Council England
IB Diploma
Stonyhurst College – Photo Highlights
Stonyhurst College in Detail
Academic Life
The expectations are high, and the academic offering is challenging — but pupils are never left to fend for themselves. A mentor looks after each group of 6–8 students, meeting them individually or as a group to guide them through school life. This ensures any difficulties are quickly spotted and addressed. With an average IB score of 37.8 points (equivalent to a German grade of 1.7), Stonyhurst is among Britain’s top IB boarding schools. An independent inspection (ISI) praised the school for the excellent personal development of its pupils. We were also impressed by the wide range of languages on offer — you can even study subjects like Mandarin and Latin.
Sport
Stonyhurst is a very sporty school and excels in rugby, hockey, swimming, badminton, and tennis. Beyond traditional sports, pupils can also try water polo, diving, and even sailing — which we think is fantastic. Every year, the school organises two ski trips, often to places like Canada. Other sporting opportunities include cricket, netball, fitness, fencing, swimming, horse riding, shooting, and basketball. At weekends, students’ adventurous spirit is encouraged with day trips exploring the historic surroundings of Lancashire.
Creative Arts and Activities
From debating and chess to a host of workshops, there is a huge array of clubs. Art and music also flourish here. The depth, scope, and quality of the creative and performing arts at Stonyhurst have been recognised by the Arts Council England. A particularly exciting feature is the school’s artist in residence who supports and mentors pupils on their projects. We think this is a brilliant idea! Whether it’s street dance, ballet, photography, design, or textiles, creative minds can fully express themselves here.
Community
At Stonyhurst College, personal growth and learning that goes beyond the classroom are truly valued. It’s no wonder pupils thrive in this warm and welcoming community. Over 60% of the boys and girls are boarders, living in the magnificent Stonyhurst Castle and feeling almost like they’re in Hogwarts. Few schools have so many full-time boarders. The bedrooms enjoy fantastic views over the spectacular grounds, and the houseparents’ doors are always open so no young person ever feels left on their own. Very much a family atmosphere, in our opinion.
Message from the Headmaster
John Browne
This is Stonyhurst
Stonyhurst College Fees
Fees at Stonyhurst College are £17,745 per term, or £53,235 per academic year.
Our Visit
A holy relic from Jesus’ Crown of Thorns in the school’s own museum? At Stonyhurst, that’s just part of the extraordinary experience. We were truly speechless at times during our visit. Calling it “huge” feels like an understatement — the mighty Stonyhurst College ranks very high on our personal list of England’s most beautiful schools – step out of the awe-inspiring building and you find yourself on an endless green lawn framed by two romantic streams.
A big thank you to Louisa for the fantastic tour — we’re still enchanted!
Photos From Our Visit
What our clients say about us
Get a free consultation and find out more about Stonyhurst College
Conclusion: Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College is a beautiful and demanding IB boarding school in England.
However, it is by no means the only school in Britain with outstanding academic and personal development opportunities. We encourage you to explore other English boarding schools too. Feel free to get in touch for a consultation — thanks to our long-standing relationships with these schools, we can offer authentic insights and guidance to help you make the right choice.
We’re confident that together we’ll find the perfect school for your child.
On our Boarding Schools in England page you’ll find an overview of options.
Take advantage of:
- authentic, first-hand insights
- our excellent relationships with Admissions Offices
- years of placement experience
- support with any 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.
