Founded in 1829, Shebbear is among the oldest continuously operating independent schools in south-west England.
Co-educational boarding school in Devon, founded 1829
Why this school
Founded in 1829, Shebbear is among the oldest continuously operating independent schools in south-west England.
Sixth form classes average just 5 pupils, one of the smallest teaching groups in UK independent education.
The 85-acre campus borders Exmoor and Dartmoor, putting curriculum-linked outdoor education on the doorstep.
Shebbear College is an independent co-educational school in Devon, taking pupils from age 4 through to 18. It sits on an 85-acre rural campus in north Devon — one of the more spacious settings for a small independent school in the south-west. Around 250 pupils attend across all year groups, which makes for a close-knit, personal atmosphere. The college is a through-school: pupils can move from Reception all the way to sixth form without changing institution. ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) inspectors assessed the school in November 2024 and confirmed all standards met.
Shebbear follows the national curriculum through to GCSE, then offers A-Levels in the sixth form. Senior school classes average 14 pupils. Teachers know individual pupils well; timetabling can accommodate subject combinations that larger schools would find difficult to schedule. The school’s published value-added figure indicates pupils gain, on average, one grade above their starting predictions across public examinations. At GCSE in 2025, 87% of grades were 9-4, with eleven subjects posting 100% 9-4.
The sixth form covers Years 12 and 13. A-Levels are the principal qualification — sixth-form groups average around 5 pupils, allowing seminar-style discussion and one-to-one attention in the run-up to public examinations. Day fees for sixth formers are £6,759 per term (2026/27, VAT-inclusive); full boarding is £14,543 per term. In 2025, top achievers each posted four A*s, and around half of the year group progressed to Russell Group universities including St Andrews, Exeter, Durham, Leeds and Bath. Specialist destinations included RADA, LAMDA, BIMM Music Institute and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.
A-Level results
38% A*-A (5-year average)
Shebbear offers full boarding, weekly boarding, and day places from Year 5 upward. The rural Devon setting shapes boarding life in practical ways: the campus sits close to Exmoor, Dartmoor, and the North Cornwall surf beaches, so weekend activities lean toward the outdoors. Because numbers are manageable, houseparents and tutors work through personal contact rather than relying on formal systems alone. Boarders and day pupils mix throughout the school day, which keeps the community cohesive.
The 85-acre campus provides space for outdoor sports and activities that urban schools simply cannot offer. Proximity to Exmoor and Dartmoor makes adventurous outdoor education — hiking, navigation, and field-based work — a practical option rather than an occasional trip. The North Cornwall coast brings surfing within reach for weekends. At a school of 250 pupils, the co-curricular programme is built around individual involvement rather than competitive selection. Most pupils who want to represent the school in sport, or take a lead role in a production, are able to do so.
The campus covers 85 acres in rural north Devon, with Exmoor to the east and Dartmoor National Park to the south. It is a genuinely countryside setting. The scale of the site allows for playing fields, outdoor facilities, and open space in proportion to the school’s character. The November 2024 ISI inspection confirmed the school meets all required standards across its provision.
Annual tuition
£43,629 per year · full boarding · Senior/Sixth Form · Year 8 to Year 13
Other tier breakdowns shown below.
| Stage | Year groups | Type | Audience | Fee / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reception | Reception | Day | — | £8,133 |
| Pre-Prep | Year 1 to Year 2 | Day | — | £8,568 |
| Prep | Year 3 to Year 4 | Day | — | £13,440 |
| Prep | Year 5 to Year 6 | Day | — | £14,871 |
| Prep | Year 5 to Year 6 | Weekly boarding | — | £23,256 |
| Prep | Year 5 to Year 6 | Full boarding | — | £37,665 |
| Senior | Year 7 | Day | — | £19,794 |
| Senior | Year 7 | Weekly boarding | — | £28,179 |
| Senior | Year 7 | Full boarding | — | £42,588 |
| Senior/Sixth Form | Year 8 to Year 13 | Day | — | £20,277 |
| Senior/Sixth Form | Year 8 to Year 13 | Weekly boarding | — | £28,749 |
| Senior/Sixth Form | Year 8 to Year 13 | Full boarding | — | £43,629 |
Additional fees
Deposit
£2,000
Registration
£200
North Devon; Exeter Airport is the nearest international gateway, approximately 40 miles south-east of the campus. Bristol Airport provides an additional option for European and transatlantic connections.
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Shebbear College accepts pupils from age 4 (Reception) through to age 18 (Year 13). It is a through-school on a single Devon campus, so pupils can progress from the early years to sixth form without moving institution.
Shebbear offers full boarding, weekly boarding, and day places. Boarding is available from Year 5 upwards. Full boarding fees for Year 8 to Year 13 are £14,543 per term (2026/27, VAT inclusive), made up of a day fee of £6,759 plus a full boarding supplement of £7,784.
Day fees for 2026/27 (VAT inclusive, including catering) range from £2,711 per term in Reception to £6,759 per term for Year 8 through Year 13. Year 7 day fees are £6,598 per term.
The school offers GCSEs in the senior years and A-Levels in the sixth form. Pupils follow a broad curriculum through to GCSE before specialising at sixth form level.
Senior school classes average 14 pupils. In the sixth form this drops to around 5 per class, which allows for highly personalised teaching and flexible subject combinations.
Yes. ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) carried out an inspection in November 2024. The school met all required standards across its provision.
Shebbear College sits on an 85-acre rural campus in north Devon, close to Exmoor and Dartmoor National Park. The North Cornwall coast is accessible for weekend activities. Exeter Airport is the nearest international gateway.
A registration fee of £200 is required to apply. A deposit of £2,000 is payable on acceptance of a place.
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