Millfield School: Street, Somerset, UK

Millfield was founded by Jack Meyer (‘Boss’) in 1935, following his return from India with seven Indian boys, six of whom were princes. The school was originally based in what is now boarding accommodation, Millfield House, but then was rented from the Clarks family who owned most of Street. This independent boarding school grew steadily and in 1939 became one of the first independent schools to be co-educational. In 1942, Martin Attlee, son of the then Deputy Prime Minister, Clem, joined the school in the hope of overcoming ‘word-blindness’. The Millfield method was so successful that Martin went on to university, the school gaining fame as the first in the country to deal successfully with dyslexic pupils. Although Millfield may be well-known for its sport, pupils have gone on to excel in a wide range of areas. Successful old Millfieldians include former British Lions and Wales rugby captain Gareth Edwards, current captain of the English national rugby union team Chris Robshaw, BBC chief political correspondent John Sergeant, Olympic Gold medallists Duncan Goodhew, Peter Wilson and Helen Glover, former Radio 1 Disc Jockey Tony Blackburn and drummer of legendary rock group the Police, Stewart Copeland. Today Millfield, along with its Preparatory School, has some 1700 pupils and over 600 employees, but the school’s philosophy remains the same. Millfield still aims to help every individual child to achieve their full potential. Today one of top boarding schools in UK.

The boarding environment at Millfield encourages pupils to live their lives to the full in as many spheres as possible, allowing individuality to flourish. The houses of this top UK boarding school are the focal point of pupils’ lives at school; boarders are highly supportive of each other’s achievements and enjoy going to sports matches, concerts and plays where friends are performing. There are 19 boarding houses situated on or within easy reach of the campus, with separate houses allocated for boys and girls. The standard of accommodation is high in all houses, and houses benefit from their own play space grounds or gardens. All houses are run by a team of resident houseparents, assistant houseparents, and beyond the residential team matrons and non-resident tutors work in the houses, providing boarders with a warm and supportive atmosphere. Boarders have access to a well-staffed Medical Centre, counselling service and the school chaplain. The houses have excellent facilities including kitchen, common rooms and ample spaces for prep work. Houses are equipped with state of the art Wi-Fi networks, with access to Skype and some social networks. Rooms are inviting and personalised in all areas and the boarders are justifiably proud of their houses.