International
Scroll
More about life as a boarder.
We welcome boarders from across the world to join our boarding community. As a state boarding school, all pupils including boarders must hold a UK passport or have permanent leave to remain in the UK, to be eligible for a UK state school education. The only fees payable are those associated with boarding and can be viewed on our boarding fees page. We currently have pupils from around the world as part of our boarding community and welcome a small number in each year
group, ensuring pupils integrate and make the most of the opportunity to live alongside pupils from different backgrounds and cultures. If space allows we can normally offer boarding places in Year 7, 8, 9 or 10. A popular option for international boarders is to join us for two years in the Sixth Form as this is a great introduction to the UK education system ahead of the university application process.
My Boarding Life
“Life as a boarder is a unique blend of camaraderie, routine, and independence. Each day starts early, with the sounds of alarms echoing through the dorms, signalling the start of a well-structured schedule. Mornings are filled with bustling activity as students prepare for classes, sharing quick conversations and laughter over breakfast in the dining hall.
The school day is intense, filled with lessons, sports, and extra-curricular activities, fostering both academic and personal growth.
Evenings bring a quieter rhythm; study sessions and communal dinners create a sense of unity among boarders. Weekends offer a respite, with opportunities for relaxation, recreational activities and outings. Throughout all this, boarders develop close-knit friendships, learning the values of cooperation, resilience, and self-motivation, making the boarding experience a formative chapter in their lives.”
Ify Chinwuko, Boarding Captain
Entrance Criteria
International pupils are required to provide a copy of their UK passport or right of residency in the UK.
Those entering Year 7 are required to sit our 11+ entrance test (please see our Year 7 Entrance Page for more information) while those joining Year 8-10 will sit papers in English, Maths, Physics, Biology and Chemistry.
Pupils wishing to join the Sixth Form will be provided with papers based on their specific A Level choices or will be made an offer of a place based on predicted GCSE grades.
Entrance Criteria
Guardianship
Every pupil whose home is overseas or whose parents currently live or are posted abroad must have a nominated guardian for the duration of their stay at Haberdashers’ Adams. This guardian must be resident in the UK and, ideally, within a reasonable journey of the school. In the event of an emergency, the guardian will be the first point of contact. Parents will, of course, also be contacted, but the guardian will act in their absence ‘in loco parentis’ which will include attending school meetings and parents’ evenings. Guardianship agencies in the UK provide a variety of plans and fees to suit individual needs. For this reason we do not recommend or arrange guardians. The Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA), of which we are a member school, has a list of BSA Certified Guardians which can be found by clicking on the link.
EU Applications
Following the UK’s departure from the EU, we can no longer consider EU passport holders as applicants as we are a state boarding school. We will however still be able to consider applicants if they have a UK passport or are domiciled in the UK.
British National (Overseas) Applications
Families with British National (Overseas) status can apply for the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa. If the visa application is successful and the family move to the UK, they will then be able to apply for their BN(O) dependant(s) to attend a UK state boarding school. Please note, applications can only be accepted from families that have already got the visa. If a boarding place is available, all applications will be subject to meeting our entry requirements which are detailed in our Admissions policy.
Get In Touch
Selecting a UK boarding school is a really important decision and we recognise that families have lots of questions. Please contact us using the form below to register your interest in boarding or email us with any questions you may have and we will be very happy to help.
For those visiting the UK we can arrange a tour of the school and, if appropriate, a taster night in boarding for your son so that he can gain a better understanding of what boarding at Adams is like.
Frequently Asked Questions
We live abroad can I apply for a boarding place for my son?
+
We welcome overseas boarders as they contribute significantly to the life of the school and the boarding houses. As a state funded school we can only offer places to pupils who have a UK passport or with right of abode in the UK.
Overseas boarding pupils require a legal guardian in the UK, normally this is a relative or family friend but there are specific companies who can provide this service and we can put you in touch with these if required.
What year groups can boarders apply for?
+
We have a small number of boarding places available in most year groups and these are offered on a first come basis, subject to passing our entrance test.
Do boarders have to take an entrance test?
+
All candidates, day and boarder, must sit the school’s entrance test for years 7-10. If families live overseas, the test can be administered with the support of the candidate’s current school or via a reputable agent. Sixth Form candidates require GCSE mock results to be considered, or an entrance test will be set if mock results are not available.
Why do boarders require an interview?
+
We strongly believe every prospective boarder must see the boarding house in person and meet with boarding staff. It is to be their home during term time so it is crucial that they get a feel for the school and for the boarding house in which they will live. Boarders should be suitable for boarding and be able to benefit from the boarding environment. Interviews can also be arranged via zoom where a physical meeting is not possible.
What does “suitable for boarding” mean?
+
The boarding community is an integral part of Haberdashers’ Adams. Boarders must be capable of living independently within the boarding community. Their behaviour must meet certain standards and individuals with certain needs cannot be catered for.
Are boarders allowed to stay during exeat weekends, half term and holidays?
+
No, the school is completely closed to students during exeat weekends, half term and holidays. Students return to their families, guardians or other nominated persons.
What do boarders do in the evenings?
+
Many extra-curricular activities take place after school. Once back at the boarding house, after free time and dinner, prep takes place, with staff tutors supporting and mentoring prep. Once prep is completed many house activities take place before bedtime. This varies day by day and can include simple food treat nights, playing games, watching TV, or playing sports to more ‘organised’ activities.
What do boarders do at the weekend?
+
Weekends are for playing team sport, relaxing, socialising and catching up on prep. There are a wide variety of activities and trips organised by boarding staff throughout each term, such as trips to the cinema, trampoline park, paintballing and cultural activities.
Who looks after the boarders in their house?
+
Each house is led by a qualified and experienced Housemaster who is a member of the teaching staff and who lives alongside the pupils with their own family. The Housemaster has overall responsibility for the pupils’ welfare, development and academic work. They manage a team of staff that act in loco parentis to ensure every pupil feels safe, happy and properly cared for.
What happens if my son is ill?
+
All students are cared for at the Boarding House by our matrons with a designated sick/isolation room if required. Students are also registered at the local doctor’s surgery on arrival.
What are the benefits of boarding?
+
There are many reasons why boarding might be a suitable option for your family and we believe there are many benefits to boarding, such as learning to live in a close community and becoming independent. Boarders do not have to spend time travelling to and from school so have more time to enjoy the extra-curricular life of Adams, they make firm friends with others in the community and they support each other socially and academically. There are high academic expectations and generous time is allocated for study, but we place an emphasis on building social confidence among boarders with plenty of time for fun activities and to develop those all-important friendships and life skills.
