Hurstpierpoint College Named Best for Boarding by The Week

Hurstpierpoint College wins Best Boarding in The Week Independent Schools Guide

We are delighted to announce that Hurstpierpoint College has won the Best Boarding category in the Best of the Best Senior Schools feature in the Autumn/Winter 2026 issue of The Week Independent Schools Guide. The award is a wonderful recognition of the pupils and staff who make our boarding Houses such welcoming and supportive environments, ensuring every pupil feels that they truly belong. We offer flexi and weekly boarding from Year 9 at our College in West Sussex, England.

What makes boarding at Hurst different?

Our House model pairs each boys’ House with a separate girls’ House, bringing pupils together for shared activities and events while each House retains its own accommodation. These partnerships allow girls and boys to mix naturally and form friendships across year groups. Younger pupils benefit from the support of older peers, while Lower Sixth prefects develop leadership skills through mentoring. Limits on personal screen use create more time for pupils to enjoy one another’s company through board games, pizza evenings, and film nights. At the heart of each House is a resident Houseparent who knows every pupil, creates space for honest conversations, and helps ensure that no one goes unnoticed. House Tutors and a Matron work alongside the Houseparent to support pupils in their daily lives.

From Shell (Year 9) to Lower Sixth, boarders live in single-sex Houses. In Upper Sixth, all students join St John’s, where boarders are accommodated in separate girls’ and boys’ wings.

Boarding at Hurstpierpoint College at a glance

Question	Boarding at Hurst
When can pupils start boarding?	Year 9, known at Hurst as Shell.
What options do we offer?	Flexi boarding for any three nights each week. Weekly boarding is priced for five nights in our current fee schedule. We do not offer seven-night full boarding.
Does a flexi boarder have a permanent space?	Yes. Each pupil keeps the same bed and study desk, even when their chosen nights change.
How is accommodation organised?	Six single-sex boarding Houses serve Shell to Lower Sixth. Upper Sixth pupils are based in St John’s; boarders sleep in separate girls’ and boys’ wings.
Who is responsible in each House?	A resident Houseparent, assisted by House Tutors and a Matron.
What are the 2026/27 fees?	£15,365 per term for flexi boarding. Weekly boarding is £16,365 per term. Both figures include VAT.

Our 2026/27 Parents’ Handbook and 2026/27 Pupils’ Guide contain the current practical information for families.

Boarding options

Which year groups can board at Hurst?

Boarding begins in Year 9 and continues through Upper Sixth. Around half of our Senior School pupils board.

What does flexi boarding mean?

Flexi boarders stay for any three nights each week. Families can change those nights from one week to the next by notifying the Houseparent. Their allocated bed and desk do not change when the selected nights change.

How does weekly boarding work?

Our 2026/27 fee schedule prices weekly boarding for five nights. Families should confirm the available pattern with Admissions. We do not offer seven-night full boarding.

Can my child stay for a weekend night?

Pupils can board on any night except Saturday.

Boarding accommodation and co-education

How does the paired House model work?

Our paired Houses meet for tutorials and boarding activities. Girls and boys have regular shared time while retaining their own separate House spaces.

From Shell to Lower Sixth, pupils live in six single-sex boarding Houses:

Girls’ Houses	Boys’ Houses
Martlet Pelican Shield	Star Red Cross Eagle

Do younger pupils share accommodation?

Accommodation varies, but pupils from Shell to Fifth Form generally live in shared accommodation. Lower Sixth boarders have an individual study bedroom where space permits. Flexi boarders have a permanent bed and desk rather than receiving a different space on each boarding night.

How does boarding work in Upper Sixth?

All Upper Sixth students are based in St John’s, including day students. Boarders sleep in separate wings for girls and boys. Every student has an individual study bedroom with a bed and desk, as well as a washbasin.

Care in the boarding House

Who looks after each boarder?

Our resident Houseparents are responsible for pupils’ academic and pastoral welfare within the House. House Tutors assist them, while the Matron oversees domestic arrangements. Each House also has Wellbeing Champions, who provide peer support to pupils. The system is run by the Chaplain, with input from Deputy Head (Pastoral); the Head of College has ultimate responsibility.

Who can a pupil speak to if they are homesick or finding boarding difficult?

A pupil can speak directly to their Houseparent. A House Tutor or Matron provides another adult contact. Parents can also contact the Houseparent about any aspect of House life. For a serious concern, families can contact the Deputy Head (Pastoral). The Head of Safeguarding and Head of Mental Health provide further routes.

How can a pupil report bullying or another concern?

Pupils can approach any member of staff, and a parent can raise a concern for their child. There is an anonymous reporting service for all Senior School pupils. Pupils may also request an appointment with the College counsellors. Our Pupils’ Guide includes details of the School Listener Service and Childline.

Our latest Independent Schools Inspectorate report found that the relevant standards were met. Inspectors reported that pupils felt safe. They found that bullying was infrequent and incidents were addressed promptly. The report also found that leaders monitored boarders’ physical and emotional needs.

How do boarders stay in contact with home?

Middle School boarders, from Shell to Fifth Form, hand their phones to the Houseparent when they arrive. They have access during scheduled evening periods and do not keep phones overnight. If a pupil needs to contact home at another time, they can use the House phone through the Houseparent.

Sixth Form students can carry their phones, subject to restrictions on where and when they are used. Lower Sixth boarders store them outside their bedrooms before 10.15pm. College laptops remain available for prep.

Daily life as a boarder

What does a weekday evening look like?

For a Shell pupil, prep runs from 7pm to 8.15pm on Monday and Tuesday, with the same timetable on Thursday. An evening activity follows until 8.55pm. Wednesday prep takes place earlier, from 5pm to 6pm, leaving more of the evening for House activities. Lights-out for Shell is at 9.45pm. Timings become later as pupils move through the school.

What food is available?

Boarding fees at Hurst include all meals. We operate a three-week menu cycle and provide a vegetarian choice. Fruit and salad are available at meals. In the Houses, pupils can have toast and hot drinks. Fresh fruit is also provided.

Our catering team can provide for medical or religious dietary requirements. Families must report these at least three weeks before a pupil starts. Details of an allergy or dietary requirement must be accompanied by a letter from a doctor or dietitian. Our food information explains how we manage catering and allergens.

What happens if a boarder becomes ill?

Our Medical Centre is staffed by nurses and a paramedic. From Monday to Thursday, it opens from 7.30am to 6.30pm. On Friday, it opens from 7.30am to 5.30pm. Overnight care is available if needed. Outside those hours, the Houseparent can provide over-the-counter medicines for minor ailments and obtain emergency medical help.

Weekly boarders can register with the school doctor at The Brow Partnership in Burgess Hill. Flexi boarders normally remain registered with their family GP. We can arrange transport to medical appointments and routinely inform parents about illness or accidents.

Practical arrangements for boarding

How much does boarding at Hurst cost?

For the 2026/27 academic year, flexi boarding costs £15,365 per term, including VAT. Weekly boarding costs £16,365 per term, including VAT.

Our fees cover tuition and most books and materials. Compulsory subject trips are included. Boarders’ meals and regular boarding charges are also covered, together with a College laptop. Transport and optional trips may be charged separately. External examination fees may also be charged. The same applies to individual tuition and certain subject materials. Families should consult our full fees booklet when comparing costs.

The deposit is £1,000 for a UK-resident pupil or £12,000 for a non-UK-resident pupil. A £2,000 commitment fee is refunded when the pupil joins the College.

How do pupils travel between Hurst and home?

Our minibus network covers Sussex and extends into Surrey and Kent. We also offer a five-day service to and from Haywards Heath station, which has direct trains to Clapham Junction and London Victoria. Families should check route times and charges for their intended year of entry.

How does a family apply for a boarding place?

For Year 9 entry, we advise families to register at least three years before the intended start date. Registered applicants take the ISEB Common Pre-Test in Year 6. An assessment and experience day follows early in the Lent term of Year 6.

Standard applications for Year 9 entry in 2029 are open. Families considering another entry year should contact Admissions about availability or a late application. Our Senior School admissions page contains the current position.

Sixth Form applicants follow a separate Sixth Form admissions process. Admissions can confirm whether flexi or weekly boarding is available for the intended year of entry.

Visit Hurstpierpoint College

At an Open Morning, families can tour the College and hear from our Head of College and current pupils. They can also meet key members of staff. Families considering boarding should ask Admissions whether they can see the accommodation for the relevant year group and confirm which boarding pattern is available.

For families considering boarding, our next Open Mornings are: