Boarding Overview

Boarding is an integral part of life at Shiplake. Full, weekly and flexi-boarding is available from Year 9 and above (and available to Year 7 and 8 pupils from September 2027). Boarding allows pupils to fully benefit from all the academic and co-curricular opportunities that we offer. With no 'daily commute', boarders can dedicate more time to academic and leisure pursuits. Our boarders join from many parts of Britain, with about 5% coming from overseas. Together they make up a busy and vibrant community, who are proud to call Shiplake College 'home'. 

The College provides a secure and supportive environment in which pupils learn to live together happily, grow in confidence and achieve success and enjoyment in all aspects of school life. We see the boarding environment as a key way to foster the complementary values of social tolerance and inclusiveness. Boarders quickly come to regard their House as a home away from home and boarding enables them to develop key skills, including independence, self-reliance and getting on with others, which will stand them in good stead later in life.

Contact with Family

Mobile phones, email and other online applications make regular communication with home easy and the Parent Portal keeps parents fully informed of their child’s educational progress. Friends and family are welcome to visit, and are actively encouraged to take a full and active part of the boarder’s life. Many parents, particularly those who live about an hour from the College, are able to attend concerts, performances or sports fixtures, or may occasionally choose to take their child out for dinner during the week.

Full, Weekly, Part, Flexi or Overnight Stays?

Boarding is a popular choice for families and is no longer seen as a momentous decision as it provides the flexibility to satisfy individual family needs. Our fee structure allows pupils to benefit from boarding in a way that best suits their and their families' needs.

Families choose full (7 nights), weekly (6 nights) or part (4 nights) boarding at Shiplake for a variety of reasons but all options offer pupils the chance to experience all aspects of Shiplake’s provision. Staying during the week can relieve an arduous daily commute, give pupils more time for studying and relaxing with friends. Boarding is often particularly attractive for pupils who are heavily committed to sport or co-curricular activities. Many parents find that weekly boarding allows them to fulfil their work commitments and chores during the working week, allowing for 'quality' family time at the weekends.

Flexi-boarding (2 nights) and overnight stays are available to help accommodate the busy lifestyle of many families, particularly those whose parents need to travel extensively for work, and is also ideal for pupils who wish to fully emerge themselves in the co-curricular activities offered at the College, some of which take place in evenings. More information on flexi-boarding and overnight stays can be found here. 

The Houses

Our boarding houses are homely and friendly places, where pupils are supported by an extensive pastoral system of Tutors, Resident Tutors, Housemasters, Pastoral Leaders, Chaplain, a Medical Wing and independent listeners. Boy boarders in Years 9-11 (and Years 7 and 8 from September 2027) are allocated to Burr, Sixth Form boy boarders are in College, with girl boarders in Gilson and Everett. All the Houses have excellent bedroom accommodation, bathroom facilities, communal social areas, games rooms, kitchens, private gardens and access to IT equipment.