Top 10 Co-Ed Boarding Schools In The UK (Updated 2023)
You might be wondering— What is a Co-ed Boarding School? A co-educational boarding school in the UK is a school that offers a study programme with co-curricular activities and boarding homes for students to live in. A co-ed school offers a study environment where boys and girls are able to study together in mixed classes, enabling students to socialise together in and outside of the class environment.
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What are the differences of a co-ed boarding school compared to an all-boys or all-girls school?
A co-educational boarding school allows for students to freely mix and socialise. This is a huge benefit to students in preparing them for the real world working environment which allows them to learn and work together with members of the opposite sex.
Co-educational Boarding Schools Accommodation
One of the biggest difference in UK co-ed boarding schools are the accommodation offered. Accommodation at boarding schools usually come equipped with a comfortable study environment and is usually separated by Houses. Houses are almost always single-sex, so in the evening pupils are with those of their own gender. However, even when boys and girls are housed in the same House, the girls and boys will usually be placed on different floors, usually with all the girls being on a separate floor and the boys on a different floor. Accommodation may come with as singles, doubles or en-suite. Some schools offer a shared bathroom on the same floor. Co-ed schools come equipped with a common room, where students will spend most of their free time socialising and studying, as well as a dining room where students are also able to meet and have meals together.
Co-ed UK Boarding School Studying Environment
Co-ed UK boarding schools also better foster a healthy learning environment by allowing students to work together in situations where boys and girls are able to work together on school work as well as cocurricular activities. Students will be able to work on school projects together and learn the subtleties and benefits of working in mixed groups, be it homework or sports.
Co-curricular Activities
One of the benefits of co-ed boarding schools in the UK is that co-ed schools allow students to socialise and engage with each other in a shared setting. In a co-ed school, students will be able to learn from each other in such activities such as competitive sports, photography, and debating. Here, students will be able to learn skills and methods that can be applied in the real world, as well as flourish from the co-educational environment.
The Socialising Aspect
Students will be able to better learn and benefit from their peers in a co-educational environment which will teach them ways to work together with the opposite sex. This will help students learn and build respect for the opposite sex as well as understand the benefits of different approaches to problem solving by working together.
List Of Best Co-Ed Boarding Schools in the UK
When sending your child to the UK, it is imperative to consider which schools are on the top of the league tables. With the many options of co-educational schools for parents to choose from, a good gauge for a co-ed boarding school would be how they place annually in the UK league tables.
Our list below identifies the top 10 schools with the highest number of A* and A grades achieved by students attending these co-ed boarding schools in a descending order.
The UK School League Tables are a good indication on how good a boarding school is; however, the league tables should not be the only indicator when it comes to deciding what is best for your child.
There are many factors that also play a role in deciding what school you should send your child to. At Britannia StudyLink, we specialise in catering to this need by helping parents identify a school that will be best suited for your child as each school is unique and may be able to fit your child in the most perfect manner, whether it be Top Girls Boarding Schools in the UK or Top Boys Boarding School in the UK.
The A Levels A* and A Grades indicated below are the academic achievements for the year 2022, sourced from the UK A-Levels league table or officially reported results from schools.
1) Cardiff Sixth Form College - A*/A Grade: 94.7%
Cardiff Sixth Form College (CSFC) is both a day and boarding school that is situated in Cardiff, Wales. CSFC has a high reputation of being one of the best schools in the UK league tables every year, complete with exceptional academics, state of the art facilities and extracurricular activities. CSFC also offers Study Camps and Summer Schools as extra facilities your child can explore.
2) Oxford International College - A*/A Grade: 91.84%
Oxford International College is a private co-ed boarding school that is based in Oxford, UK. This college offers a range of courses including a 1 or 2-year A-level and GCSE course, with many tutors being former Oxford University students themselves. This will help prepare students who wish to apply to any of the Oxbridge Universities.
3) Westminster School - A*/A Grade: 90.7%
Westminster School is an independent day and boarding school in London, England, located within the precincts of Westminster Abbey. Westminster School is one of the most prestigious academic school in the UK, having achieved the highest percentage of students accepted by Oxbridge colleges in recent years.
4) Brighton College - A*/A Grade: 89.6%
Brighton College is renowned as one of the UK’s best co-educational schools, which take in day and boarding students. In 2011, it was named as England’s Independent School Of The Year by The Sunday Times and it was awarded UK Independent School of the Year for 2014. The school also offers a speciality humanities course named Story of Our Land which teaches pupils on life skills course, which also includes a compulsory Mandarin class for all junior pupils.
5) Highgate School - A*/A Grade: 84%
Highgate Sixth Form offers A level and Pre-U options to around 350 sixth formers. Small class sizes and opportunities to go beyond the syllabus allow students to build their knowledge and study skills. The school provides extensive support for future academic endeavours and careers. The school has a good blend of charming Victorian styled buildings as well as modern, state of the art facilities such as a 200-seat auditorium, science labs and ICT suites.
6) The Perse School - A*/A Grade: 82.4%
The Perse School has small class sizes and boasts first-class teaching methods to promote high academic standards. The results are evident in their year on year A levels results, which often lead to many ambitious students winning places at Oxford, Cambridge, as well as highly competitive medical schools. Students also develop a range of skills and personal qualities through our excellent extra-curricular and enrichment programme. Some study subjects that are beyond the curriculum, others extend cultural or musical interests.
7) Concord College - A*/A Grade: 81.2%
Concord College is an international and boarding school situated in the English countryside, just south of Shrewsbury, United Kingdom. 85% of students who attend Concord College are international students. The school’s academic results almost always make the top 10 of co-ed boarding schools in the UK.
8) Queen Ethelburga’s College - A*/A Grade: 80.9%
Queen Ethelburga’s College is an independent boarding and day school located in York. Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate has been awarded the Healthy School of the Year in the 2016 TES Awards, as well as the Independent Schools Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sport 2015 and the Outstanding Progress Award at an Independent School at the Education Business Awards. Over 98% of Year 13 students left to go to the best universities.
9) Stephen Perse Foundation, Cambridge - A*/A Grade: 79%
Stephen Perse Sixth Form offers a vibrant and diverse student community. The school has students from over 30 nationalities, many of whom live in the Cambridge boarding houses. Their students tend to excel academically in an environment that fosters individual development and personal wellbeing.
The result? A dynamic co-educational learning environment where students are encouraged towards success at university and in future careers with social responsibility and a global outlook.
10) University College School, Hampstead - A*/A Grade: 78%
UCS offers a high standard of pastoral care for students. Sixth Formers are encouraged to take responsibility for their academic and personal progress. They will be allocated to smaller tutor groups and encouraged to mix as a single unit. They have their own Common Room and study facilities. Each student works closely with a form tutor and House Warden, meeting them daily and regularly reviewing his or her academic progress and future plans. The tutors and wardens are the first point of contact for parents too; and are always available for advice and reporting.
Summary
There is a lot to think about when sending your child to a co-ed boarding school, and although grades are very important, a school’s overall offerings should always be in consideration. Parents deciding to send their children to these schools should ask questions such as the schools’ history of dealing with Malaysian students, if there a sizable Malaysian community in a specific school or city, what facilities the school offers, its academic offerings and extracurricular activities.
Here at Britannia Study Link, we have an impeccable history of advising Malaysian students with their choice of the best co-ed boarding schools that is perfect for them. Contact us today to speak to one of our specialist advisors, free of charge.