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Boarding at Leweston has changed. From September 2026, there are five clearly structured ways to board, a ladder that lets your family access what works for you now, with the freedom to move up as your needs change.
If you have ever thought that boarding might be useful but felt it was too expensive, too rigid, or too much of a commitment, this is a different conversation.
Why we rebuilt the boarding offer
The old model, full boarding, weekly boarding, flexi boarding, was a reasonable description of what most boarding schools offer. But it left too many families in the gaps. The parent who needed two guaranteed nights a week but not five. The Sixth Form student who wanted a base during exams but not a weekly obligation. The day family who simply needed to know there was a bed available at short notice when life got complicated.
We rebuilt the offer around one principle: your family should be able to start at the level that works for you right now.
The result is five named packages, each with a published termly fee and nothing hidden.
The five packages at a glance
☀ Leweston Plus — A safety net for every Senior School family
Every Senior School pupil now has three complimentary overnight stays included in their day place, plus access to an occsional bed . It isn't a boarding commitment. It's a safety net and it's already yours if you have a child in Years 7 to 13.
From £7,909 per term | Years 7–13
🌙 Leweston Flex — Your own bed, two nights a week
An allocated bed and personal storage space in the boarding house, with two guaranteed nights per week in the termly fee. Additional nights at £40 per night. A genuine structure for families who need regularity without full-week commitment.
Ideal for working parents, children with mid-week commitments, or families who want to try boarding as a way of life before going further.
🏡 Leweston Full — Seven nights available. Weekends still your choice.
Full boarding means seven nights available per week. Whether your child comes home at the weekend is your decision, made week by week. Full boarding at Leweston starts from £11,793 per term. That is at least £4,000 per year below our nearest comparable competitor in the South West. It is not a compromise, it is a school that has decided to be accessible.
🌍 Leweston World — International boarding with no surprises
One all-inclusive annual fee: full boarding, airport transfers at every half term and full term, on-site Exeat accommodation, EAL exam fees, CAS documentation guidance, weekend activities, and a taster visit before enrolment.
📚 Leweston Sixth — Independence for Sixth Form
A guaranteed private study bedroom in your name. Stay when you need it at £40 per night, no minimum, no weekly obligation. Particularly valuable in exam season and on long school days.
What if I just need a bed occasionally?
Not every family needs a package. Any Leweston family can book an overnight stay at any time, on three published rates:
| Rate | Per night | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Standby | £60 | Emergency booking within 24–48 hours |
| Sleepover | £48 | Standard ad hoc overnight stay |
| Frequent Sleeper | £40 | Pre-booked blocks or additional nights for Flex boarders |
No booking fees. No minimum commitment. No Leweston family is left without a bed at short notice.
What boarding life actually looks like
Ask any parent who was sceptical about boarding what changed their mind, and the answer is almost always the same: we came to see it.
Evenings in the Leweston boarding house are active, varied, and genuinely social. There is cooking and crafts, outdoor time in the school grounds, film nights, board games, and the kind of unhurried conversation between children of different ages that is almost impossible to engineer and that happens naturally when young people share a space over time.
Screens are managed thoughtfully. Supper is communal and noisy and warm. Older pupils look out for younger ones without being asked. Children who arrive uncertain about boarding leave talking about when they can come back.
This is the thing that is hardest to convey on a page and easiest to see in person.
About Leweston
Leweston is an independent co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged 3 to 18, set in 46 acres of Dorset countryside just outside Sherborne. We are one of only a handful of schools in the country designated as a GB Modern Pentathlon Talent Hub, and home to the Leweston Chedington Riding Academy, BHS Approved and nationally recognised.
Small enough that everyone knows each other. Different enough to allow children to thrive here.
Ready to find out more?
Call 01963 211015 or visit leweston.co.uk to book a visit or speak to the team.
