Girls choose between A-Level and IB Diploma at sixth form, with both pathways running concurrently.
RU Leading British boarding school for girls in Gloucestershire
Why this school
Girls choose between A-Level and IB Diploma at sixth form, with both pathways running concurrently.
Eleven boarding houses on the Cheltenham campus serve around 850 pupils aged 11 to 18.
ISI awarded the college a Significant Strength accolade following its April 2026 inspection.
Cheltenham Ladies’ College has shaped British girls’ education since 1853. Set in the Regency town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, it operates as both a boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18, with around 850 pupils on roll. The college holds accreditation from ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate), GSA (Girls’ Schools Association), HMC (Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference), BSA, and AEGIS — a breadth of oversight uncommon even among established independents. In April 2026, ISI awarded the college a Significant Strength accolade, confirming the quality of its provision across academic and pastoral dimensions. For international families considering British boarding schools, CLC carries a long-established identity and a measurable record.
The college runs GCSE and A-Level alongside the IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma, giving families a genuine choice of qualification pathway rather than a single prescribed route. That dual-track structure at sixth form level is relatively uncommon among single-sex independent schools. It allows pupils to select the framework that best suits their university destinations, whether UK Russell Group institutions or international universities that weight the IB. Teaching across both tracks covers a full subject range. Girls entering sixth form for the first time pay £66,870 per year for full boarding (2025/26), while those already in the school at Lower or Upper College level pay £60,300 per year for full boarding (2025/26). Day places are also available: £37,980 per year for senior pupils and £43,020 for new sixth form entrants (2025/26). All fees are inclusive of VAT.
Sixth form at CLC is a distinct phase. Girls joining directly into sixth form — a common route for international pupils — are admitted under a separate fee structure and integrate into a cohort that already carries strong academic habits from earlier years in the college. Both A-Level and IB Diploma pathways run concurrently, with subject choices made individually rather than by cohort.
The college operates eleven boarding houses across its Cheltenham campus, providing a structured residential community for the majority of its 850 pupils. Each house functions as a distinct unit with its own pastoral team, giving pupils a consistent point of support throughout their time at the school. Weekends form part of organised house life rather than unstructured time, which matters practically for international families whose daughters will be resident for extended periods. Pastoral monitoring is embedded in daily routines rather than bolted on as a separate function.
The college offers more than 80 extracurricular activities. Music, drama, and the performing arts run across all year groups, with productions and ensemble work forming a regular part of the school calendar. Sport is well represented: rowing, hockey, netball, and badminton are among the disciplines available on site. The co-curricular programme covers debating, community outreach, and creative arts alongside sport, so timetables outside formal lessons are active rather than incidental. For international pupils arriving mid-school career, the volume and variety of activities provides multiple entry points for building connections within the school community.
The college occupies a substantial site in central Cheltenham, with architecture that reflects its Victorian origins alongside more recent facility investment. STEAM laboratories, computing suites, and art studios sit within the campus alongside the eleven boarding houses. Cheltenham is a well-connected Gloucestershire market town approximately 100 miles from London, with direct rail links to London Paddington taking under two hours.
Birmingham Airport is approximately 45 miles from Cheltenham and serves a range of international routes. Bristol Airport is around 40 miles away. London Heathrow, the principal hub for long-haul international arrivals, is roughly 100 miles by road, approximately two hours by car or taxi transfer. Direct trains from London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa run regularly and take under two hours.
Annual tuition
£66,870 per year · full boarding · Sixth Form · Sixth Form (new to CLC)
Other tier breakdowns shown below.
| Stage | Year groups | Type | Audience | Fee / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior | Lower College, Upper College, Sixth Form (transitioning from UC) | Full boarding | — | £60,300 |
| Senior | Lower College, Upper College, Sixth Form (transitioning from UC) | Day | — | £37,980 |
| Sixth Form | Sixth Form (new to CLC) | Full boarding | — | £66,870 |
| Sixth Form | Sixth Form (new to CLC) | Day | — | £43,020 |
Bristol Airport (~40 miles); Birmingham Airport (~45 miles); London Heathrow (~100 miles, ~2 hrs)
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Full boarding fees for 2025/26 are £60,300 per year for senior pupils (Lower and Upper College) and £66,870 per year for girls joining sixth form new to CLC. Day fees are £37,980 per year for senior pupils and £43,020 for new sixth form day pupils. All figures include VAT.
Yes. The college offers both A-Level and the IB Diploma at sixth form level. Pupils choose between the two pathways individually, making CLC one of the relatively few single-sex independent schools to run both programmes concurrently.
Cheltenham Ladies’ College admits girls from age 11 to 18, covering Lower College, Upper College, and sixth form. International pupils frequently join directly into the sixth form as new-to-CLC entrants.
The college offers both full boarding and day places. Boarding is available across all year groups, with eleven houses on campus. Day places are also available for senior and sixth form pupils.
Cheltenham is approximately 100 miles from London. Direct trains from London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa take under two hours. London Heathrow is roughly two hours by road, making it the most practical arrival point for long-haul international families.
The college offers GCSEs in the senior years, followed by A-Levels or the IB Diploma in sixth form. There is no BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) or foundation programme; the academic offering is focused on these two established qualification routes.
The college is accredited by ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate), GSA (Girls’ Schools Association), HMC (Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference), BSA, and AEGIS. In April 2026, ISI recognised the college with a Significant Strength accolade following its inspection.
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