Bootham School
Bootham School is a co-ed boarding and day school in North, Yorkshire, educating pupils aged 2 - 18 and founded in 1823. Boarding fees are £9,435 - £16,035 per term. Our advice on this school is independent and free.
- Type
- Co-ed boarding & day
- Boarders from
- 11 - 18
- Ethos
- Quaker
- Guardian required
- Yes
About Bootham
The story, ethos and character of Bootham.
- Setting
- City
- Ethos
- Quaker
- Head
- Mr Deneal Smith

"A calm, purposeful and well-resourced school with a strong heart and a family feel" - The Good Schools Guide. Bootham is home to 600 students aged 2-18, each one benefiting from the school's values-led approach to education. Success at Bootham is not just academic - it's personal, purposeful and lifelong.
Founded by York's leading Quaker families, Bootham encourages students to be creative thinkers, peacemakers and confident humanitarians. Students benefit from the small class sizes, inspirational teaching and the wide-ranging activity programme you would expect from a leading independent school, however, its Quaker heritage and ethos bring something extra; a solid foundation of moral principles, public duty and a positive view of the world and its people.
Bootham Senior School is set in a beautiful campus just minutes away from York Minster.

Boarders are housed in beautifully refurbished Georgian buildings and a recently renovated College area provides sixth form students with impressive study areas. Bootham Junior School on Rawcliffe Lane is a vibrant and welcoming space for the school's youngest students and, although separated slightly by location, the whole school is very much one community.
Bootham offers Day places for students aged 2-18, and Full, Weekly and Flexi Boarding places for students aged 11-18. Bootham's location in the city centre and to York's bus and train station make it easily accessible for students across the UK and the world.







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Academics at Bootham
What pupils study at Bootham — and where it takes them.

This section provides information on: The curriculum, performing and creative arts, English as an additional , and special educational needs (SEN). About the curriculum Our aim is to provide challenging, rewarding and useful courses which will prepare our pupils for A Levels and Higher Education, as well as the demands of the working world in the twenty-first century.
Our underlying principle is that a Bootham pupil at the age of sixteen should be confidently literate and numerate, should have a knowledge of the principles of scientific and humanitarian studies and of at least one modern foreign , and should be aware of his or her skills in the creative disciplines.
Programmes offered
Subjects offered
Figures are indicative — contact us for the latest results.
Boarding at Bootham
Day-to-day boarding life and pastoral care at Bootham.
- Boarding houses
- Girls 1, Boys 1, Mixed 0
- Exeat weekends
- Yes
- Guardian required
- Yes
- Saturday lessons
- Yes
Boarding at Bootham is about community and friendship. The school has two boarding houses, one for girls and one for boys, both provide welcoming and comfortable accommodation in beautiful surroundings. Each boarding house has its own common rooms, kitchen facilities and laundry.
Students in Schoolrooms and Seniors share in of up to four, and College (sixth form) students generally share twin rooms or have singles. We encourage our boarders to personalise their own space with photographs, posters and personal items from home.
Boarding is all about fun and companionship. Routines such as bedtimes and leave are all worked out on sensible lines with normal family disciplines applied. The school has two boarding houses, both of which provide homely and comfortable accommodation in elegant Georgian buildings.
Each boarding house has its own common rooms, kitchen facilities for making snacks, a student laundry and wireless internet provision. The girls are all together in Rowntree, which in fact covers three Georgian houses with the sixth form girls in their own town house style flats.
We can arrange trusted UK guardianship for international families.
Bootham admissions
How children join Bootham, and how we make it simple.
Tell us about your child
Share their age, interests and what you're looking for. Our advice is completely free.
We shortlist & introduce
We match you to the right schools and make the introductions to their admissions teams.
Assessment, offer & enrolment
We guide you through entrance assessments and interviews, and handle visas and guardianship if needed.
What you'll typically need
- Recent school reports or transcript
- Passport copy
- English-language evidence (if applicable)
- Completed registration form
- A reference from the current school
Short term courses area available on request. Late applicants will be accommodated when possible. Special notes to agents about entry to the school All students whose parents live abroad are required to have a UK Guardian for the duration of their time at Bootham School.
An approved Guardian will be over the age of 25 and will be either a family member, a family friend or approved by a recognised agency and DBS checked. University students living in University halls of residence will not be accepted as legitimate Guardians.
As your advisors we manage the application end-to-end at no cost.
Bootham fees & funding
What Bootham costs, what's included, and how we help with funding.
What termly boarding fees include
- Tuition
- Boarding accommodation
- All meals
- Pastoral & house care
- Most academic materials
Funding & scholarships
Registration deposits, EAL tuition, uniform and trips are usually charged separately. Many schools offer academic, sport, music and art scholarships plus means-tested bursaries — ask us and we'll send a full, current breakdown for Bootham.
Fees change year to year and by entry point. As your independent advisors we hold up-to-date figures and can compare Bootham against similar schools so you know exactly what to budget.
Figures shown are the latest we hold — we'll confirm current fees on enquiry.
Bootham location & travel
Where Bootham is, and how to get there.
Travel details Address Bootham School, Bootham, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 7BU, England Travel time to London by train Less than 2 hours Telephone +44 (0)1904 623261 Website https://www. boothamschool. com/ Most convenient airports Airport Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1.
Leeds Bradford 30 52 2. Manchester 85 98 3. Newcastle Airport 92 117 4. London Heathrow 214 219 Most convenient train stations Station Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1. York 1 5 2. Manchester 73 96 3. London Kings Cross 200 240 Local accommodation There are more than 100 hotels, guest houses and self-catering properties in York, many of which are only a short walk from Bootham School.
Bootham — frequently asked questions
Where is Bootham?
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What ages does Bootham take?
Is Bootham co-educational?
When was Bootham founded?
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How many pupils study A-levels at Bootham?
What qualifications does Bootham offer?
Does Bootham support SEN or EAL students?
How many boarding houses does Bootham have?
Are there compulsory exeat weekends at Bootham?
Does Bootham have Saturday lessons?
How do I apply to Bootham?
Does Bootham accept international students?
How much does Bootham cost?
What's included in Bootham's fees?
Are scholarships or bursaries available?
Where exactly is Bootham?
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