More than Boarding

Felsted’s boarding culture is at the heart of the holistic education we offer all our pupils.

Modern family life is busy, and childhood shouldn’t feel rushed.

Boarding gives pupils the time and space to focus on academics, interests and passions that help them grow into confident, well‑rounded young people. It also means that time at home becomes less pressured and more meaningful, allowing families to enjoy calmer, more connected moments together.

Felsted boarders sat in garden chatting.

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Why board at Felsted?

There is no substitute for an extended day in affording your child time and space to explore their unique combination of passions and interests both in the classroom and beyond.

Many staff members live on site, generously investing as much time as your child requires and getting to know them as a whole person. This builds a trust and mutual respect that defines the Felsted boarding culture. By living and learning together on one beautiful campus, pupils and staff form bonds that inspire adults to go the extra mile and pupils to be their best for their teachers, friends and school.

Prep Boarding

Children may start boarding from Year 5 in our homely Prep Boarding House, called Hamilton House.

Learn More

Pupils talking on a couch at a prep boarding school near London.

Senior Boarding

There are seven senior boarding houses, including two dedicated Upper Sixth houses.

Learn More

Pupils working on a laptop at a senior boarding school in Essex.

Short-Term Stays

We are now welcoming 10- to 14-year-olds from all around the world to immerse themselves in British boarding school life and culture during a three month Short-Term Stay with us – a life-changing experience!

Learn more about Short-Term Stays at Felsted

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Day Pupils

All pupils joining Felsted in Reception - Year 4 will start as Day Pupils. Irrespective of whether your child boards - and many choose to as they progress through the school - they will benefit tremendously from the boarding culture.

Prep School

Prep School

The school day runs from 8.00am - 3.00pm for Pre-Reception, 8.45- 3.30pm for Reception - Year 2, 8.20am - 4.30pm for Years 3-6, and 8.20am - 5.30pm for Year 7 - 8.

We offer an early drop off for Reception - Year 2 (8.10am) and for Years 3-8 (8.00am) as well as breakfast club starting at 7.30am as an optional extra.

'Woodlanders' and 'Junior Woodlanders' After School activities are available for those that need care until 5.30pm, though this does need to be booked in advance. We also have a number of specialist co-curricular activities at an extra cost. More information on this is available on our Prep Breakfast and After School Clubs page.

Day pupils in Year 7 onwards may stay for tea and evening activities/homework at an extra charge, but must be collected by 7.45pm.

Transport Routes

Breakfast and After School Clubs

Senior School

Senior School

Felsted’s two Senior Day Houses, Manor for girls and Montgomery’s for boys, offer unique positions in the centre of the School with pupils forming an essential part of the school community. Supported by a Housemaster or Housemistress, an Assistant HM, Matron and a Tutor Team, in parallel with the boarding option, day pupils are supported to achieve independence, develop academic focus and acquire leadership skills. HMs and Tutors keep parents informed of progress, in addition to the online access parents have to their child’s grades, reports, rewards and homework diary.

All pupils have their own dedicated study space with bookshelves, pin boards and WIFI. Spacious changing rooms are equipped with modern showers, individual lockers and hair dryers, and two well equipped kitchens provide pupils with juice, milk, toast, a well stocked fridge and a microwave. Snacks are provided at break times.

Manor House

Manor is located on the ground floor of School House, home during the school day to around 60 girls. It was originally founded in 1970 to accomodate the first intake of girls, in a large and commodious property on the Station Road. As the population of girls at Felsted increased, further accomodation was necessary. In 2007 the house was revived as a specific day house for girls in Years 9 - 12.

Mont's House

Montgomery's House or 'Mont's' as it is universally known at Felsted is the Day House for around 60 boys in Years 9 - 12. It is one of the four original Houses at Felsted and takes its name from J.E. Montgomery who was Housemaster between 1909 and 1934 and is to this day the longest serving Housemaster at Felsted. Mont's is located on the ground floor of the school house.

Garnetts and Windsor's

In their final year, pupils transfer into one of our dedicated Upper Sixth Houses; Garnetts for girls and Windsor's for boys. Many of our day pupils move to boarding in their final year to take full advantage of all opportunities on offer before they leave Felsted, but a place in the Upper Sixth House is not dependent on this and day pupils will still be an important part of their house community.

The School Day

Registration at 8.15am is followed at 8.30am by School Assembly (Monday), House Assembly (Tuesday), Chapel (Wednesday and Friday) and Tutor Time (Thursday).
Lessons are punctuated by breaks mid-morning, lunchtime and mid-afternoon, where pupils return to Manor or Monts to socialise with a drink and snacks and to get ready for their next classes. Our onsite coffee shop also proves popular with the pupils.
Pupils may leave school at 6.00pm Monday to Friday and by 4.00pm on Saturdays.
Day pupils often stay later to attend drama productions, music rehearsals, society meetings, dinners etc. Dinner is available to them on these occasions, at an extra charge.
A fleet of minibuses serve a number of different routes to Felsted. They arrive at school by 8.10am, leave at 6.10pm and also run on Saturday mornings.

Transport Routes

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Weekend Activity Programme

Felsted offers a comprehensive weekend activity programme for our traditional full boarders. This exciting programme includes a number of indoor, outdoor, physical, recreational and cultural activities.

Shopping and cinema trips to Braintree, Chelmsford and Cambridge are a regular Felsted favourite along with evening meals out to local restaurants and outings to Theme Parks and tourist attractions.

All houses have games consoles and subscriptions to film libraries and sports channels so there is a lot to do in the comfort of the boarding houses too. Each Sunday there is brunch followed by coffee club, plus a choice of an outing or an indoor activity such as dodgeball, baking, chess, water polo and craft making… the list goes on!

As well as these planned Sunday outings, the Activities Team offer a range of alternatives for Felsted students to enjoy on a Sunday.

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Pupil Wellbeing

Felsted’s holistic approach to wellbeing is to support and promote the good physical and mental health of all those in our community.

A massive support network underpins our care for each child, which includes a house parent, tutor, teachers, matron, chaplain, peer counsellors, house and school prefects.

Accredited Sleep Champions

As a school we recognise the important role sleep plays in a child's health, wellbeing and learning. After an audit from the Boarding School's Association (BSA) of the school's facilities and bedtime routines, Felsted has been awards 'Sleep Champion' status.

All Aboard - Cambridge Edition Feature

Felsted's Senior Deputy Head, George Masters, was interviewed as part of the Cambridge Edition feature on the ‘magic of boarding’ in independent schools.

read The full article Here

My son wanted to board within a week of starting Felsted and there are as many local boarders as there are from further afield.

Group of Felsted boarders having just made gingerbread houses.