This large boys’ school was ranked among the world’s top 11 IB schools in 2021. Sports enthusiasts — especially hockey players — will feel right at home here. International students at this particularly British school immerse themselves fully in English culture.
At this academically and athletically ambitious school, the British way of life is evident. As a boys-only school, it fosters close friendships and a healthy sense of competition — something we especially value. In 1936, the school was gifted its now-famous peacocks, which have since become a cherished symbol, strutting not only across the campus but also throughout the school’s history.
Today, Whitgift ranks among the country’s most successful schools: in 2021, 84% of its students secured places at Russell Group universities.
The school also impresses with its wide-ranging sports and extracurricular programme. In hockey alone, Whitgift has been crowned National Outdoor Champions 15 times and National Indoor Champions 11 times — an extraordinary achievement.
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: 10–18
Number of students: 1,550
Boarding students: 10%
International students: 5%
Average class size in Sixth Form: 15:1
Boarding fees per term (Sixth Form): £19,197
Key sports offered in addition to traditional team sports: Athletics, Basketball, Rowing, Judo, Rackets, Archery, Swimming
Nearest airports: London Gatwick (30 min), London City (1h), London Heathrow (1.5h)
https://www.whitgift.co.uk/
Key Strengths at a Glance
Wide range of extracurricular activities
Successful in many sports, especially Hockey
Very British school, with few international students
Close to London
Whitgift School – Photo Highlights
Whitgift School in Detail
Outdoor and Sport
Cricket, football, hockey and rugby are the main sports at Whitgift. Hockey is especially strong: when we visited, twelve students represented England at U16, U18 and U21 level. The cricket facilities are so good that Cricket Australia uses them whenever the team is in London. Football enjoys close ties to professional academies, including Chelsea, and sports tours have reached as far afield as the USA and the United Arab Emirates. Other sports on offer include golf, fencing and judo — where, in the past five years, students have won an impressive 13 national titles. Among the outdoor pursuits, you’ll find scuba diving, mountain biking, wakeboarding, sailing, windsurfing and surfing.
Academic Life
With its water gardens and peacocks, Whitgift offers an inspiring backdrop for learning as well as a host of clubs — from beekeeping and knitting to gardening. In the £100 Club, students are challenged to build a business with a hypothetical £100 budget. Gamers have their place too, with an e-sports club playing Rocket League and League of Legends. The Who? Society explores life’s big questions through the lens of Doctor Who. Every three years, students broaden their horizons on a major trip — most recently to Morocco and Costa Rica — where they encounter new cultures.
Creative Arts
At the heart of the curriculum is Global Citizenship, preparing boys for life in a connected world. It forms part of the cross-disciplinary learning that we particularly admire, alongside Sport & Games and Life Skills, which nurture critical thinking, creativity and collaboration. Other subject options include psychology, computer science and fine art. Alongside classical languages (Latin and Ancient Greek), boys can study French, Spanish, Mandarin and Japanese. Exchange programmes in these modern languages means the school has partner schools in places like Tokyo and Toulouse. This slightly unconventional curriculum achieves excellent outcomes: in 2021, 81% of A-level students achieved A* or A grades.
Arts and Leisure
In various clubs, students draw, sculpt, and print both digitally and by hand. Musical opportunities abound in choirs, chamber groups, orchestras and an a cappella group. Boys perform in renowned cathedrals and concert halls around the country, including the Royal Festival Hall. The school’s own concert hall seats 280 people. The drama department embraces comedy, tragedy and musical theatre, supported by a dedicated dance course that teaches showmanship, commercial musical theatre as well as freer, expressive styles. Some drama students already work professionally, appearing in films like Rocket Man and West End shows such as Matilda and The Lion King.
This is Whitgift School
Fees
The annual fees at Whitgift are £57,591, or £19,197 per term.
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Conclusion Whitgift School
Whitgift is a top IB boarding school in Britain that combines academic excellence with outstanding sporting achievements.
That said, there are many other excellent IB boarding schools in England with strong sports programmes. We recommend exploring your options further — and are happy to guide you. Thanks to years of direct contact with schools, we understand their unique qualities and can offer authentic insights.
We are confident we can help you find the right school for your child. For an overview, visit our Boarding Schools in England page.
Take advantage of:
• authentic, first-hand insights
• our strong relationships with admissions offices
• years of experience placing students
• 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.
