Joining from a Forces Family
Founded in 1564 and named the Times Educational Supplement’s Boarding School of the Year in 2023, Felsted is a school that fully understands the unique needs of boarding pupils whose parents are deployed in the British Army, Navy, Marines and RAF.
The school’s established and successful culture of boarding means that parents who are in the Forces can be confident that their child will benefit from a consistent, world-class education at Felsted, and will be looked after and supported with sensitivity and kindness.
An education for the future
Felsted offers a very successful academic programme, with teaching methods based on the latest research, leading to GCSEs, A Levels and the demanding and prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma, which open the door to universities, apprenticeships and careers around the world.
Indeed, Felsted has a truly global outlook, with around a fifth of Senior School pupils from non-UK-based families and an emphasis on international understanding through participation in the Round Square network of the world’s top schools.
An Ideal Location
Felsted School is set on a beautiful 90-acre campus in an attractive north Essex village, close to the A120 between Colchester and Bishop’s Stortford. School buildings range from the historic School House and Chapel to the contemporary and eco-friendly Marshall Centre for Learning. The school has its own extensive facilities for sport (including astro pitches and hard courts, an indoor sports hall, indoor swimming pool and fitness centre) as well as a state of the art theatre and performing arts studio and professional standard music school
- Colchester: 23 miles
- Chelmsford: 10 miles
- Brentwood (junction 28 of the M25): 25 miles
- London Stansted Airport: 12 miles
- London City Airport: 43 miles
- Southend Airport: 30 miles
Leadership and Service
Opportunities for adventure, challenge and service are built into the weekly timetable, including the chance to be involved in Felsted’s thriving Combined Cadet Force (one of the oldest in the country), the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and to volunteer for charities at home and overseas.
This is key to Felsted’s aim of developing young people who will go on to make a difference in the world.
Full boarding at Felsted
Boarding is central to life at Felsted. Houses are led by house parents and supported by a caring team. Staff are fully experienced in supporting pupils who may have particular anxieties while their parents are serving or deployed overseas.
There is a full programme of activities during the evenings and weekends including outings to the cinema and bowling plus shopping trips to Chelmsford and Ikea.
Our Boarding Stories
“The best thing about boarding is having all of your friends around you - it provides an amazing foundation with so many people - you get to experience so many wonderful things”
“I started boarding when I was in Year 6 as a flexi boarder - it was the best thing having fun with friends. Boarding at Felsted Prep prepared me very well for boarding in the Senior School. I would definitely recommend boarding at Felsted Prep”
I started boarding in Year 5 as a full time boarder . The best part of boarding is the independence you are given and the opportunity to spend time with friends. To sum it up in one word - FUN!
"I just wanted to say that our connections with Felsted have been outstanding since the first time we contacted you which has made us more confident it is the right school for our child. Having worked in the service industry for many years, building a unique culture and core purpose and executing this across all parent pupil touch-points takes effort as well as belief in what you are doing. This is what helped finalise our decision over another leading school."
Fees for Forces Families
Forces families eligible for the Ministry of Defence’s Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) - which enables the children of service personnel to benefit from a stable education while their parents are deployed around the world - pay only a tenth of the fees due at Felsted for boarding pupils.
To learn more please contact our Admissions Office:
Email: admissions@felsted.org
Telephone: 01371 822705
"The pastoral care is outstanding. The school has done everything they possibly can to help my son adjust. He is now so happy at Felsted"
