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We provide a boutique boarding experience within an outstanding British co-educational independent school. Westwood Boys’ Boarding House is a Victorian mansion set in wooded grounds, just a 5 minute walk from the main school site. Anglesea Heights Girls’ Boarding House is a modern attractive space, with ensuite facilities providing an experience similar to a university hall of residence. All of our boarders benefit from a friendly, home-from-home experience.
We offer boarding for boys and girls in Year 9 – Year 13.
We offer full, and weekly boarding. Weekly boarding is an excellent option for pupils living some distance away and a particularly popular option for sixth formers, providing an opportunity for pupils to experience living away from home before moving on to university. Our boarding provision also provides a safety net should family circumstances change.
We are located near the stunning Suffolk coast within 2 hours of London Heathrow Airport, and an hour of London Stansted Airport.
For entry to Year 9, Year 10 or Year 12 , we require students to sit entrance tests in Maths, English and Non-verbal reasoning. If they perform well in the tests, they are invited to attend an interview, this can be undertaken online if required. We also welcome visits to the School and we would be delighted to welcome you if you plan to visit the UK.
To apply for a place please email Mrs Laura Trainer, Admissions Manager on ljt@ipswich.school.
Our fees can be found here.
For pupils joining us whose first language is not English, we offer EAL lessons, both during the week, and for our international boarders, on a Saturday morning. We provide an exceptional level of support which is tailored for each pupil and assessed when a child joins the school. Our EAL provision is included within the boarding fees.
If you live in the UK and would like to apply for a boarding place, please indicate this on the application form here. Those living abroad should email admissions@ipswich.school giving details of the pupil, date of birth and a copy of their passport. It would also be helpful if a copy of the child’s latest school report (preferably translated into English) could be included.
Overseas pupils who do not hold a British passport or do not have settled or pre-settled status in the UK need to apply for a visa. We hold a UKVI Student Sponsorship licence to support pupils applying for the Child Student Entry Routes. We can advise you on the documents you need to provide to support your application and how the process works.
Boarding pupils spoke about the opportunities offered within the boarding house to work alongside and support each other, which enable them to live successfully within a close-knit residential community. They greatly valued the international dimension of the boarding houses, which allows them to develop strong friendships and a greater understanding and appreciation of their fellow boarders from different parts of the world.
We offer a broad curriculum that allows pupils to study a range of subjects at both GCSE and A Level, as well as BTEC and Sport Exercise Science in the Sixth Form.
Whilst academically highly successful, we also provide extensive co-curricular activities that will widen pupils’ experience, aid their learning and give them a great time too. We have top quality sport, music and drama and we run a multitude of other activities – both timetabled and during breaks or after school – throughout each week. The facilities we offer are extensive and of the highest quality. Read more about the co-curriculum here.
Ipswich School is consistently the top independent school in Suffolk. Our students achieve excellent examination results and progress to top Russell Group universities. In 2023 over 80% of A Level exams were graded A*-B, over one in six exams at A*, and over one in six exams at A*, and 100% pass rate in all 26 subjects. For GCSE, over one in five of our pupils achieved all of their GCSE exams at grade 7 or above – a total of 29 pupils – and three of these achieved straight grade 9s. Average exam results, across all subjects over the past three years can be found here.
Popular university destinations include Cambridge, Exeter, Durham, York and Nottingham.
Further information about our school curriculum, exam results and university destinations can be found here.
Our students are happy – reaching their potential, supported by outstanding pastoral care and part of our friendly community. There is a team of friendly staff, who are experienced in looking after our boarders. Tutors keep a close eye on each individual student to ensure that they balance their activities and are happy and fulfilled. As well as tutors, there is also a member of staff on duty from 07:00 – 22:30, with houseparents on call overnight. They are there for our boarders to have a chat with, discuss the school day and be a support if there is anything that they might be worried about.
In the Boarding Houses weekend activity sessions may include: sport on the astro, gym, basketball or badminton, baking, crafts, visits to the beach and dry ski slope. If there is an activity that a boarder would particularly like to do, our Boarding Staff are always happy to help.
Our Head of Boarding creates a trips and activities document which is shared with boarders each term so that they can choose which they might like to attend.
About Ipswich School
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