The Elms School
The Elms School is a co-ed boarding and day school in Malvern, Worcestershire, educating pupils aged 3 - 13 and founded in 1614. Boarding fees are £10,840 - £13,055 per term. Our advice on this school is independent and free.
- Type
- Co-ed boarding & day
- Boarders from
- 7 - 13
- Ethos
- Guardian required
- Yes
About The Elms
The story, ethos and character of The Elms.
- Setting
- Rural
- Head
- Mr Ed Lyddon
The Elms School is a co-educational independent preparatory school for children aged 3 to 13, situated in 40 acres of countryside at the foot of the Malvern Hills in Colwall, Herefordshire. Established in 1614, and the oldest prep school in the UK still on its original site, The Elms School has evolved into a modern educational institution while maintaining its historical roots and values.
Our greenhouse approach to education and our commitment to academic excellence and pastoral care has made us one of the most respected prep schools in the UK The school offers day, flexible boarding and full boarding, with boarding available from Year 3 upwards.
Small class sizes and a strong pastoral system ensure every child is known, supported and encouraged to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
Childhood is actively protected and celebrated, with an emphasis on curiosity, resilience, kindness and independence. Learning is hands-on, outdoor-focused and academically ambitious without being pressured. Academic Curriculum Alongside core academic subjects, The Elms offers a notably broad and enriched curriculum: Core Subjects English Mathematics Science History Geography French Latin Greek (offered to some pupils in the senior years)Rural Studies Art and Design Design Technology Music Drama Computing Rural Studies and School Farm One of the defining aspects of The Elms is its working school farm, making it one of a very small number of UK schools with this provision.
In their weekly lesson, pupils are actively involved in: Caring for cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and chickens Growing fruit and vegetables in class gardens Understanding food production, sustainability and animal welf
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Academics at The Elms
What pupils study at The Elms — and where it takes them.
such as English, Maths, and Science, and Humanities, alongside a wide range of creative lessons such as Music Drama, Art and Design Tech, balanced with a healthy programme of daily sport, and plenty of time to learn outdoors either on the farm during Rural Studies, or in Outdoor Education lessons.
+6 photos Performing and creative arts Music and Performing Arts We believe every child should experience the joy of music-through singing, playing, composing, or listening. Weekly music lessons for all ages build strong foundations for lifelong enjoyment.
Programmes offered
Where our leavers go
As a truly stand-alone prep school we have a fantastic reputation and superb relations with top senior schools across the country. We work closely with parents to guide them through the senior school entry process and to help them identify the best senior school option for their child.
In recent years pupils have gone on to the following schools: Ampleforth Bedales Blundell's Cheltenham College Cheltenham Ladies' College Clifton College Dean Close Downe House Eton Gordonstoun Harrow Hereford Cathedral School King's Taunton Malvern College Malvern St James Marlborough Millfield Monmouth Moreton Hall Oakham Oundle Pangbourne Radley Repton Rugby St Edwards St Mary's Ascot St Mary's Calne Sedbergh Sherborne Sherborne School for Girls Shrewsbury Stowe Tudor Hall Uppingham Wellington Westminster Westonbirt Winchester
Figures are indicative — contact us for the latest results.
Boarding at The Elms
Day-to-day boarding life and pastoral care at The Elms.
- Boarding houses
- Girls 1, Boys 1, Mixed 0
- Exeat weekends
- Yes
- Guardian required
- Yes
- Saturday lessons
- Yes
At the heart of The Elms community lies our warm, welcoming boarding house, where children can feel truly at home, form lasting friendships, and take full advantage of the school's exceptional setting. In addition to our full boarders, many pupils opt for flexi-boarding, meaning it's not uncommon to have upwards of 50 boarders on any given evening.
Our dedicated boarding team play a vital role in ensuring each child's physical and emotional well-being, while also infusing a sense of fun and togetherness into evenings and weekends. Whether it's participating in boarders-only clubs after supper or enjoying the beautiful school grounds, wading through the stream and building dams, children are encouraged to explore, relax, and connect with others.
A genuine home away from home
The boarding accommodation is upstairs in the main building of the school, with a boys' side and a girls side, separated by the matrons' office, the boarding office, and the laundry room. Dormitories range from 8-10 beds per dorm for the younger years to 3-8 beds per dorm for the older children.
Bathrooms: Most dorms have an en suite bathroom, but a few of the boys dorms have a bathroom next to the dorm Social areas The boarders enjoy use of the boarders' common rooms (there are three different rooms), and can also relax in the library, where they can read, play board games or group games, knit (surprisingly popular with some year !) and laugh together.
We can arrange trusted UK guardianship for international families.
The Elms admissions
How children join The Elms, 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
Pupils can join in any year group, and at any point in a term Special notes to agents about entry to the school We offer all our agents 10% of the net fees as commission, for the first three terms when a pupil is with us, payable once the parents have paid the relevant fees.
If you are not already in partnership with us, please contact us to request an agency agreement. Application procedure and entrance tests 1. Enquire 2. Prospectus and Fee information sent 3. Register interest (registration form plus £240 registration fee) Either: 4a.
As your advisors we manage the application end-to-end at no cost.
The Elms fees & funding
What The Elms 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 The Elms.
Fees change year to year and by entry point. As your independent advisors we hold up-to-date figures and can compare The Elms against similar schools so you know exactly what to budget.
Figures shown are the latest we hold — we'll confirm current fees on enquiry.
The Elms location & travel
Where The Elms is, and how to get there.
Travel details Address Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6EF Airport transfer Guardians are required to organise and coordinate transport to and from the airport. The school does not provide and airport transfer service. Information about travel arrangements is requested by the boarding team prior to each holiday/return period.
Travel time to London by train Less than 3 hours Telephone +44 (0)1684 540 344 Website https://elmsschool. co. uk/ Most convenient airports Airport Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1. Birmingham 46 60 2. Bristol 79 95 3. London Heathrow 132 142 4.
Inside The Elms
The Elms — frequently asked questions
Where is The Elms?
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What ages does The Elms take?
Is The Elms co-educational?
When was The Elms founded?
Does The Elms require a UK guardian?
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What qualifications does The Elms offer?
Does The Elms support SEN or EAL students?
How many boarding houses does The Elms have?
Are there compulsory exeat weekends at The Elms?
Does The Elms have Saturday lessons?
How do I apply to The Elms?
Does The Elms accept international students?
How much does The Elms cost?
What's included in The Elms's fees?
Are scholarships or bursaries available?
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