On-campus 50-metre, 8-lane Olympic Legacy pool supports an internationally recognised Performance Swimming programme.
Co-educational British boarding school on the edge of Dartmoor
Why this school
On-campus 50-metre, 8-lane Olympic Legacy pool supports an internationally recognised Performance Swimming programme.
Girls' Performance Football Programme delivered in formal association with Chelsea FC.
Head Swimming Coach Robin Brew is a former Olympian; notable alumna Sharon Davies also competed at Olympic level.
Mount Kelly is a co-educational independent day and boarding school in Tavistock, Devon, admitting pupils from age 4 to 18. It sits within a short walk of Tavistock town centre, with Dartmoor National Park as its immediate backdrop. The school was founded in 1877 and is a member of HMC (Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference), IAPS, BSA, AEGIS, and The Society of Heads, and holds ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) accreditation. Around 570 pupils attend across all year groups. That scale allows genuine individual attention without sacrificing the breadth of provision you would expect from a larger British boarding school. Boarding fees start from £49,500 (2025/26) per year.
Mount Kelly offers GCSEs, A-levels, and BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) qualifications, giving families a practical range of pathways depending on a pupil’s strengths and ambitions. The curriculum runs from Reception through to the upper sixth, with subject breadth maintained at every stage. The admissions policy reflects this range: the school welcomes pupils of varied academic profiles, with enthusiasm and the intellectual independence to engage both in and out of the classroom as the stated criteria.
The sixth form operates as a distinct community within the school. Class sizes are smaller, and the atmosphere shifts toward something closer to a seminar model. Teachers expect initiative. Each pupil is assigned a dedicated sixth form tutor alongside their housemaster or housemistress, providing dual academic and pastoral oversight. Every sixth former follows a structured study skills programme during the transition from GCSE. Leadership responsibilities, house competitions, and pupil-organised social events are built into sixth form life. Participation in the Ten Tors Challenge and the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon is characteristic of the level of ambition expected at this stage.
Pupils are assigned to houses, with pastoral support provided through housemasters and housemistresses, the sixth form coordinator, and academic and pastoral deputy heads. Boarders have access to Tavistock town, a five-minute walk from campus, where coffee shops, restaurants, and the Pannier Market provide a genuine town experience. Older boarders can join local gyms, including Meadowlands Leisure Centre, and pupils take part in Tavistock Hockey Club sessions on the Mount Kelly facility. The town’s annual Goosey Fair in October, which dates to 1116, is a fixture in the school calendar, with supervised and unsupervised visits arranged by age group.
Mount Kelly carries an internationally recognised reputation in performance swimming, anchored by a 50-metre, 8-lane Olympic Legacy pool on campus. The school runs a structured Performance Swimming programme with elite coaching staff, including former Olympian Robin Brew as head swimming coach. Notable alumni include Olympic swimmer Sharon Davies. A Girls’ Performance Football Programme operates in association with Chelsea FC. Beyond sport, the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) Scheme are active programmes. Pupils have performed at Open Mic nights at The Wharf arts centre in Tavistock, and the school competes in the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon. Science Week runs from Reception upward, and the school draws on Plymouth’s wider cultural and sporting offer, including sailing in Plymouth marina.
The school’s address is Parkwood Road, Tavistock, Devon PL19 0HZ. The campus includes the 50-metre competition pool, sports facilities used by local clubs, and direct access to Dartmoor for outdoor and expedition activities. Tavistock itself, birthplace of Sir Francis Drake, provides a historically layered environment the school draws on, particularly at prep level. Plymouth city centre, with its cinema, skating rink, and marina, is accessible by bus from Tavistock’s central bus station.
The nearest airports are Plymouth City Airport and Exeter International Airport, both within reasonable driving distance of Tavistock. London Heathrow is accessible via the A38 and M5 corridor, or by rail to Plymouth followed by a short transfer. Families travelling internationally typically route through Heathrow or Bristol Airport.
Annual tuition
£49,500 per year · boarding & day
Plymouth City Airport and Exeter International Airport are the closest to Tavistock, Devon.
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Mount Kelly admits pupils from age 4 through to 18, spanning Lower Prep, Prep, College, and sixth form. The school accommodates both day pupils and boarders across all stages.
The school offers GCSEs, A-levels, and BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) qualifications, giving families a practical choice of academic and vocational pathways at upper secondary level.
Boarding fees start from £49,500 (2025/26) per year. Prospective families should contact the admissions team directly for a full breakdown by year group and boarding type.
Mount Kelly has an on-campus 50-metre, 8-lane Olympic Legacy pool, an unusual facility for a school of its size. The Performance Swimming programme is coached by former Olympian Robin Brew, and notable alumni include Olympic swimmer Sharon Davies.
Yes. Mount Kelly runs a Girls’ Performance Football Programme in formal association with Chelsea FC, providing structured coaching and development within the school.
Sixth formers are assigned a dedicated academic tutor and retain pastoral support from their housemaster or housemistress. Classes are smaller than at GCSE level, and pupils are expected to take greater initiative. Extra-curricular commitments at this stage include the Ten Tors Challenge, the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon, CCF (Combined Cadet Force), and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme.
The closest airports are Plymouth City and Exeter International. Families travelling from further afield typically fly into London Heathrow or Bristol Airport, then travel by rail to Plymouth or by road via the M5 and A38 to Tavistock.
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