We are a family of Schools with a long history of proud traditions and a firm eye on current best educational practices and technologies. Berkhamsted Schools have all the advantages of large-school resources with a small-school sense of community and individual care. To make life easier for time-pressured families, we offer: a day nursery that operates 50 weeks a year from 7.30 am to 6.00 pm, wraparound care and extended hours, the choice of flexible, weekly or full boarding, coach routes and a multi-activity camp during the main school holidays through Camp Beaumont: Berkhamsted.
There are 462 pupils in the flourishing co-educational Sixth, 544 boys at the Boys’ School (Castle) and 429 girls at the Girls’ School (Kings). Between the ages of 11 and 16, boys and girls are taught in single-sex classes.
Aims. At Berkhamsted we believe that excellent academic results do not have to be won at the expense of the wider attributes of a good education. All pupils are supported and encouraged to reach their full potential, with appropriate teaching environments for each age group and a structure that offers the best of both co-educational and single-sex tuition. In addition to intellectual development, social, sporting and cultural activities play an important part of our disciplined and creative community based on Christian values. It is important that pupils come to value both the individual and the Community through school life. The School seeks to encourage spiritual and moral values and a sense of responsibility as essential to the pursuit of excellence.
Location. The School stands in the heart of Berkhamsted, a historic and thriving town only 30 miles from London. It enjoys excellent connections to London, the airports, the Midlands and the communities of Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.
Facilities. The original site has at its heart a magnificent Tudor Hall used as a schoolroom for over 300 years. With separate Pre-Prep and Prep sites, and two Senior School campuses, the School is well equipped with a range of modern facilities. Recreational sports facilities include extensive playing fields, Eton fives courts, squash courts, tennis courts, a gymnasium, Drama studio, Music school and Art studios. Additionally, there is a sports hall and 25-metre indoor swimming pool, a state-of-the-art Design Centre and a modern 500-seat theatre. Recent upgrades include a new sports pavilion and changing rooms at the School’s Chesham Road Playing Fields, a high ropes course at the Haresfoot site and a floodlit 4G Astroturf sports pitch at Kings.
Curriculum. The Senior School curriculum includes English, English Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography, Religious Studies, French/Spanish, Latin, Music, Art, Physical Education and Design and Technology. Up to 11 subjects may be taken for GCSE. In the Sixth Form, courses are offered in 28 subjects, and all students benefit from an Enrichment Programme with the option to complete an Extended Project Qualification. Pupils are prepared for university entrance, including Oxbridge, with Careers guidance and personal tutoring offered throughout.
Day and boarding. Pupils may be full boarders, weekly boarders, flexible boarders or day pupils. Boarders are a mixture of overseas and British students. The two boarding houses, accommodating boys and girls separately, are well equipped and within a few minutes’ walk of the main campus. There are up to 94 boarding places. Day pupils come from both Berkhamsted and the surrounding areas of Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire.
Pastoral care and discipline. The School Houses are the main social and pastoral unit, composed of the Head of House and House Tutors. They provide a continuity of support and advice, and monitor each pupil’s individual progress. The aim is to encourage self-discipline so that pupils work with a sense of responsibility and trust.
Pupil wellbeing is vital at Berkhamsted. The Deputy Heads, alongside the Pupil Wellbeing and Personal Development team, support teaching staff across the whole school in implementing a proactive strategy that focuses on keeping pupils well and looking for early signs of potential issues. There is a Medical Centre with qualified staff, and the School Medical Officer has a special responsibility for boarders. Qualified Counsellors are available to all pupils for confidential counselling. The School also has a full-time Chaplain.
Sport and leisure activities. Major sports for girls are lacrosse, netball and cricket and for boys, rugby, football and cricket. A number of other sports are also pursued including athletics, cross-country, equestrian, Eton fives, golf, rowing, shooting, squash and swimming. Team games are encouraged, and pupils are selected for regional and national squads.
There is a flourishing Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at all levels. The CCF, community service, work experience and Young Enterprise are also offered. The format of the school day allows pupils in the Senior School to choose from a wide range of clubs, societies or courses, which are attended during school hours. Regular school theatre productions, orchestral and choral concerts achieve high standards of performance.
Enrichment. At Berkhamsted, we recognise that intelligence takes many forms, and we encourage all our pupils to pursue their talents and interests through the many enrichment opportunities on offer for each age group. These opportunities are available for academic subjects and co-curricular topics. For the more academically adventurous, there are a number of avenues through which to fulfil their potential at each school.
Careers. A team of advisors, internal and external, is directed by the Head of Careers who also arranges Careers Lunches, Applying to Higher Education training sessions, Medicine and Law Careers Taster Days and an annual Higher Education, Careers, Apprenticeships and Gap Year Fair. Heads of House oversee pupils’ applications for higher education, together with parents and Careers advisors. The majority of leavers proceed to university and higher education.
Entry. Entry to the Pre-Prep School is from the age of 3, entry to the Prep School from 7, and entry to the Senior Boys & Girls from 11. Children are assessed for entry to the Nursery year group during a meeting with the Headteacher and attend an informal assessment day for Year 2 entry. Entrance Assessments and an interview are required for entry to the Prep and Senior Boys and Girls.
In order to gain admission to Berkhamsted Sixth, external students require 43 points across their best eight GCSE subjects with a minimum requirement of a grade 6 in the subjects they wish to study. For external students joining Berkhamsted Sixth, there are also specific admission requirements relating to certain courses, although competition amongst external candidates means that top grades are required.
Fees per term (2025-2026). Day Pupils (Reception–Sixth Form): £4,334-£10,380; Boarding Pupils: £17,156 (full), £14,346 (weekly). Please refer to our website for the full fee breakdown, including information on VAT.
Old Berkhamstedians. There is a vibrant and growing community of Old Berkhamstedians: www.theoldberkhamstedians.org. President: Peter Willson.
Charitable status. Berkhamsted Schools Group is a Registered Charity, number 310630.