- Location
- Somerset
- Recorded age range
- 12–19
- Education
- British
About Millfield School
Founded 1935. Rich history, impressive academic reputation. State-of-the-art facilities.
School background from the saved source · 2026-05-30
Millfield School is the largest co-educational boarding school in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1935 by R. J. O. "Jack" Meyer, an Oxford-educated former Indian Civil Service officer who arrived back in England determined to establish a school that would educate "the whole child" with sport, the arts and academics given equal weight. The school grew rapidly through the post-war period and is today located on a 240-acre rural campus in Street, Somerset, with an associated Preparatory School at Edgarley Hall and the Pre-Prep at Millfield Lower School. It educates around 1,240 pupils aged 2-18, of whom over 990 are full boarders representing approximately 75 nationalities.
Millfield is a member of the HMC, the BSA and ISI. It offers both A-Levels and the International Baccalaureate Diploma in the sixth form. The Headmaster since 2018 is Gavin Horgan, previously of King's Bruton.
The school's defining characteristic is its sporting programme — one of the most extensive at any school in the world. Millfield maintains professional-standard facilities for athletics, swimming (50-metre Olympic pool), cricket (nineteen first-team pitches), rugby, hockey, equestrianism (full cross-country course and dressage arenas), tennis, golf and water sports. The school's coaching staff includes international-level coaches in most major sports. Sir Gareth Edwards, the Welsh international widely considered one of the greatest rugby players in the sport's history, attended Millfield, as did the double Olympic gold-medal rower Helen Glover MBE; the French Open and Australian Open tennis champion Mary Pierce; the England women's cricket captain Anya Shrubsole; and the paralympic equestrian gold medallist Sophie Christiansen.
In the arts, the composer Lord Lloyd-Webber — creator of The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar — attended Millfield briefly before transferring to Westminster, and several recent Olivier and Tony Award-winning theatre alumni have come through the school. Millfield Development and the Millfield Foundation operate a substantial scholarship and bursary programme; the school is unusually committed to sport scholarships at the international competitive level, and a meaningful proportion of leavers each year proceed to NCAA US universities on athletic scholarships.
School life and areas of focus
- English
- Football
- Tennis
- Sports
- Founded 1935 by Jack Meyer — among the youngest of major British boarding schools
- Largest co-educational boarding school in the UK
- ≈1,240 pupils (over 990 full boarders from 75 countries)
- Co-educational ages 2-18 across Pre-Prep, Prep and Upper School
- 19 boarding houses and 5 day houses
- Built around sport: produced Olympic gold medallists in rowing, equestrianism and rugby internationals
- Both A-Levels and International Baccalaureate offered
- Substantial sport-scholarship pipeline to US NCAA universities
- 1,283-pupil community
- Day and boarding places available
Education and school life
Explore the curriculum and subjects below. Our team can help you find out about subject choices, year groups and programme availability.
- Programme type
- Boarding school
- Curriculum
- British
- Teaching language
- English
- Campus setting
- rural
Subject areas
- English Learning
- Football
- Tennis
- Sports
- Sport — "Athletics, swimming, cricket, rugby, equestrian" (school is built around sport)
- Music & drama
- Art & design
- Modern languages (75 nationalities represented)
- International Baccalaureate + A-Levels
- Performing arts
- Sport
Listed memberships and accreditations
- HMC (Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference)
- BSA (Boarding Schools Association)
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
Study and progression pathways
- Sport
- Languages
- Oxbridge
- Russell Group
- NCAA US universities (sports scholarships)
- Premier League / county sport pathways
Academic profile in the catalogue
No review date is recorded for these catalogue figures.
The legacy catalogue contains estimated academic figures without a measurement source. Ask our team about current class sizes and progression results.
Campus, boarding and student community
Catalogue profile
- Founded
- 1935
- Campus setting
- rural
- Boarding
- Listed in the catalogue
- Co-education
- Listed as co-educational
School-wide directory record
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-18
- School stages
- Senior, Sixth Form
- Directory age range
- 12-19
- Student intake
- Co-educational
- Attendance
- Day and boarding
- Religious ethos
- No religious ethos listed
- Headteacher in source record
- Mr Gavin Horgan
- Inspectorate
- ISI
- Total pupils
- 1283
- Boys · number / share
- 750 · 58.46%
- Girls · number / share
- 533 · 41.54%
- Pupils receiving SEN support · number / share
- 386 · 30.09%
- Pupils with an EHC plan · number / share
- 0 · 0%
Directory and catalogue figures are shown separately because their age groups or record dates may differ.
Recorded examination results
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-18
- Qualification
- A-level
- Results year
- 2025
- Average grade
- B-
- Progress score
- 0.15 (Above Average)
- AAB or higher
- 16.20%
Results are for the year shown, separately from the estimated catalogue indicators.
Tuition and costs
Recorded GBP school fees
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-18
| Attendance | Recorded range |
|---|---|
| Day fees | £12,770.40 |
| Boarding fees | £19,615.20 |
These historical directory amounts are not a confirmed school quotation. The billing period, VAT, academic year and included costs need confirmation from the school.
Catalogue USD figures
Estimated catalogue fees · USD
Catalogue figures are shown in US dollars (USD). The fee period and academic year are not specified in this record. UK institutions generally publish their own fees in pounds sterling (GBP); check the current fee schedule rather than treating this range as a GBP price.
Ask the UniCampus team about the fee period, entry year, boarding and additional costs.
Ask about current feesPlanning your application
Entry requirements depend on the school, age group and programme. Talk to the UniCampus team about school reports, language requirements, assessments and your application timeline.
- Catalogue application window
- Rolling
- Listed intake
- September 2026
These catalogue notes do not confirm an available place or a current deadline. MEC guidance can help you organise a shortlist and prepare questions for the school.
Support recorded in the catalogue
- Scholarships or bursaries
- Not specified in this record; ask the institution
- Visa application support
- Listed; confirm what assistance is provided
Source notes and alternative records
Dated background research is retained below; source descriptions may differ and have not been newly verified by UniCampus.
School background research · 2026-05-30
School background notes
Source record dated 2026-05-30 · Source text retained in English
Read this source's description in the school overview.
- Founded · source note
- 1935
- Campus setting · source note
- rural
- Religious ethos · source note
- Nondenominational
- School leadership · source note
- Gavin Horgan
- Scholarships · source note
- Mentioned in saved research; confirm current terms
Additional subject and programme notes
- Sport — "Athletics, swimming, cricket, rugby, equestrian" (school is built around sport)
- Music & drama
- Art & design
- Modern languages (75 nationalities represented)
- International Baccalaureate + A-Levels
- Performing arts
Listed education pathways
- Oxbridge
- Russell Group
- NCAA US universities (sports scholarships)
- Premier League / county sport pathways
Memberships and accreditations in the source
- HMC (Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference)
- BSA (Boarding Schools Association)
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
School-life notes
- Founded 1935 by Jack Meyer — among the youngest of major British boarding schools
- Largest co-educational boarding school in the UK
- ≈1,240 pupils (over 990 full boarders from 75 countries)
- Co-educational ages 2-18 across Pre-Prep, Prep and Upper School
- 19 boarding houses and 5 day houses
- Built around sport: produced Olympic gold medallists in rowing, equestrianism and rugby internationals
- Both A-Levels and International Baccalaureate offered
- Substantial sport-scholarship pipeline to US NCAA universities
Notable alumni listed in the source
- Sir Gareth Edwards (Welsh rugby international; considered one of the greatest rugby players of all time)
- Mary Pierce (French Open and Australian Open tennis champion)
- Lord Lloyd-Webber (Andrew Lloyd Webber — composer of The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar — attended briefly)
- Helen Glover MBE (double Olympic gold medallist rower)
- Anya Shrubsole (England women's cricket captain; ICC Women's World Cup-winning 2017)
- Sophie Christiansen (paralympic equestrian gold medallist)
- Numerous England rugby, cricket and Olympic athletes
- George Skelton (Olympic equestrian)
- Multiple Premier League footballers and county cricketers
Additional school record · 2026-05-30
Additional saved school information
Source record dated 2026-05-30 · Source text retained in English
- Campus setting · source note
- rural
- Scholarships · source note
- Not identified in this source
Additional subject and programme notes
- Sport
School-life notes
- 1,283-pupil community
- Day and boarding places available
Schoolscout introduction
Millfield School stands out as a beacon of educational excellence, renowned for its commitment to nurturing academic achievement alongside personal develop...
School location
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-18
- Recorded address
- Butleigh Road, Street, Somerset, South West, BA16 0YD
- Postcode
- BA16 0YD
Questions in the source record
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-18 · Original English answers
What type of school is Millfield School?
Millfield School is a co-educational independent mainstream school for pupils aged 12 to 19, located near Street in Somerset. The school offers education from Senior through to Sixth Form, with pathways leading to GCSEs and A Levels.
How do I apply to Millfield School?
Applications typically begin 1–2 years in advance and may include registration, assessments and interviews. Families can explore the UK private school admissions timeline to understand key dates and entry points.
What are the fees at Millfield School?
The cost of attending Millfield School typically ranges around £12,770 per term, with variations based on age and boarding.
Is Millfield School a day or boarding school?
Millfield School offers day and boarding options. Where boarding is available, this may include full, weekly or flexi arrangements.
Is Millfield School selective?
Admissions to Millfield School are selective, with entry based on overall fit and, where relevant, academic assessment.
Contact our team for current dates, entry criteria and fees.
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