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A child who feels safe, settled and happy makes friends, grows in confidence and goes on to achieve
That order matters to us, and it shapes every part of boarding life.
From the first night, every boarder is part of the Kingsley Family, cared for by a house team who know each young person by name and notice how their week is going. There is always someone to talk to, whether a child needs a quiet word after a hard day or someone to share good news with, and the high standard of pastoral care helps boarders understand how their actions affect others.
Hear directly from our boarders
How the first weeks are made to feel familiar
When a child feels held in this way, the academic side follows. Our aim is for every boarder to achieve success and happiness through positive mental health and wellbeing.
New boarders are paired with someone who shows them how things work and makes the first weeks feel familiar.
Each boarder’s character development is recorded in the Boarding Passport, which is unique to Kingsley, as they settle in and take on new responsibilities.
They know each young person by name and notice how their week is going.
Prospective boarders can try a night in the houses, on its own or with a taster day, with activities like basketball and surfing.
Longfield for the boys, Belvoir for the girls
Kingsley has two single-sex boarding houses for Years 7 to 13. Longfield House is home to the boys and Belvoir House is home to the girls. Both have been recently refurbished to a high standard, with study-bedrooms, bathrooms, recreational lounges, kitchen-cafes, a laundry and outdoor recreational space.
Belvoir is led by Mrs Jess Willoughby, Director of Boarding and Belvoir Houseparent, who lives in the house with her family. Longfield’s Houseparent is Mr Craig Knowles.
Choose the pattern that suits your child
Kingsley offers flexi, weekly and full boarding for UK and international families. Prospective boarders are welcome to try a taster night before deciding, so a child can experience house life for themselves.
Your child lives at Kingsley through the term, with a weekend activities programme. This suits families based overseas or further afield in the UK.
Your child boards during the week and comes home at weekends, a good fit for families within reach who want the structure of the week on site.
Your child boards on chosen nights, whether for a busy fixture week, late clubs or simply to be part of house life now and then.
Lessons, meals, activity and rest
A boarder’s day balances all four. The full rhythm, weekday and weekend, is on the A Day in the Life page.
Up at 7:00am
Weekdays begin at 7:00am, with breakfast at 8:00am, hot or cold, before the school day.
Lessons until 5:00pm
Lunch is a hot meal with vegetarian choices, homemade soup, fruit salad and a salad bar.
Supper and free time
Supper is at 6:00pm, followed by leisure time and the recreational facilities in the houses.
Houses kept stocked
The houses are well stocked with essentials and locally sourced treats, and boarders receive free snacks.
Full and sociable
Weekends are laid-back, with a 10:00am morning bell, brunch at 10:45am and activities from midday. Boarders explore the Devon coast, local beaches, national parks and tourist spots, and the school theatre hosts Bideford Cinema, showing the latest films to boarders at no extra charge.
This is where friendships form and confidence grows, week after week.
Boarders come from across the UK and around the world
Families overseas are supported from the first enquiry, including guardianship support and visa guidance. Free scheduled airport transfers run to and from Heathrow, Bristol and Exeter at the start and end of each term, English as an Additional Language (EAL) support is available, and fees can be paid securely through Flywire.
You can find the detail for overseas families on the International Admissions page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does boarding cost?
Boarding fees depend on whether your child boards flexi, weekly or full time, and for international boarders on whether a visa is needed. The Fees & Optional Extras page sets out the current figures and what is included, such as laundry, snacks and health care, and our team is glad to help you plan alongside the generous scholarships awarded case by case.
What is boarding at Kingsley actually like?
Warm, busy and sociable. Boarders live in Longfield or Belvoir, eat together, and fill weekends with trips, activities and film nights. The house teams know every boarder by name, and each new boarder is paired with a buddy and given a Boarding Passport.
Which child is not suited to boarding?
Boarding asks a child to share a routine and live alongside others, and not every young person wants that straight away. The best way to find out is a taster night: prospective boarders are welcome to try one before deciding, and the boarding team will talk it through with you afterwards.
Northdown Road, Bideford