A child who feels capable in the water settles more quickly into everything else
Kingsley was the first school in Europe to fully integrate surfing into education. Every pupil from Year 7 to Year 10 surfs as part of the timetable, and younger pupils learn in the water too.
We start from wellbeing, and that steadiness carries through to lasting achievement. With the coast five minutes from school, time in the sea gives the Kingsley Family confidence, focus and a lifelong relationship with the ocean. In 2026 Kingsley was named UK Surf School of the Year at the Wavelength UK Surfer Awards.
Sessions tailored to each pupil's ability
Every pupil in Years 7 to 10 surfs as part of their timetable. Our coaches tailor each session to the pupil, so complete beginners and experienced surfers learn side by side.
Ocean safety and wave management
Paddling technique and core surfing skills
The science of waves, tides and swell
Environmental stewardship of the coast and sea
The health benefits of regular ocean activity
Water confidence, and the calm that comes with it
The outcomes reach well past the water. Pupils build water confidence, ocean safety and life skills. Our "Blue Mind" approach draws on research into the mental and physical benefits of time in or near the sea, helping pupils reduce stress, improve focus and feel better overall.
Environmental stewardship connects directly to the work of the Earth Centre, where pupils study the coast and biosphere around them.
The NCFE Level 2 Diploma in Sport Outdoors (Surfing)
An academically rigorous but practical course for pupils with a strong interest in surfing and outdoor learning. It is taught through surfing, skateboarding and coast-based activities, and assessed through coursework: written tasks, practical application and reflective evaluation.
Participating in sport
Outdoor and adventurous activities
Leading an outdoor activity session
Planning, delivering and evaluating an activity session
Real pathways into coaching and beach work
Alongside the diploma, pupils can work towards optional industry awards, subject to suitability and readiness. We aim to deliver them in-house where possible.
RLSS Beach Lifeguard
Surfing England Level 1 Instructor
Skateboarding GB Level 1
From Year 1 to the Development Squad
Coastal Adventures is the Outdoor Education strand for Years 7 to 13, and surfing runs right through it.
Integrated into the curriculum
Surfing begins early, taught as part of the school week rather than as an extra.
Junior Surf Academy
A weekly session to build technique and ocean awareness for pupils who want more water time.
Curriculum surfing
Timetabled sessions for every pupil, an average of 10 a year and included in fees, covering safety, technique and the science of the sea.
The Surf option in Coastal Adventures
Pupils who want more ocean time meet the same learning outcomes through a surfing lens: reading marine forecasts and beach bathymetry, assessing coastal risk, and planning sessions around tides, wind and swell.
Academy and Development Squad
The Surf Academy (Advanced) raises water time to up to 30 sessions a year, and the Surf Development Squad offers up to 60 sessions a year across 28 places.
Frequently asked questions
Is surfing part of the school curriculum?
Yes. At Kingsley School Devon surfing is timetabled for every pupil. Pupils in Years 7 to 10 have an average of 10 sessions a year, included in school fees, and surfing is integrated into the curriculum for Years 1 to 6 as well. Sessions cover ocean safety, paddling technique, the science of waves and environmental stewardship, and pupils can work towards the NCFE Level 2 Diploma in Sport Outdoors (Surfing).
Which UK schools have a surfing programme?
Kingsley School Devon in Bideford was the first school in Europe to fully integrate surfing into education, and it was named UK Surf School of the Year 2026 at the Wavelength UK Surfer Awards. Its surf programme is timetabled for every pupil from Year 1, with progression into the Surf Academy (Advanced) and the Surf Development Squad. The school sits in the UNESCO North Devon Biosphere, beside a World Surf Reserve.
Northdown Road, Bideford