Cheltenham College

Cheltenham College stands on spacious grounds in the heart of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Founded in 1841 by local residents G. S. Harcourt and J. S. Iredell, it began in three town houses before moving to its present site. The school opened with Boyne House as its first boarding house and soon became known simply as Cheltenham College. It once had Classical and Military sides, and in 1893 it was listed among England’s ten greatest public schools. Girls joined in 1969, and by 1998 the school became fully co-educational. The college has strong traditions in academics and sport. About 720 pupils aged 13 to 18 attend, with many going on to Russell Group universities and a small number to Oxford and Cambridge. Its Combined Cadet Force dates back to 1862 and is attached to the Rifles Regiment. Rugby began in 1844, and the school’s XV went undefeated in 1957, 2008 and 2017. The Boat Club, founded the same year as the school, trains on the River Severn below Tewkesbury Abbey. Visitors see the main college buildings, Boyne House and the Junior Department. The cricket ground has hosted Gloucestershire County Cricket Club since 1872. The Boat House stands by the river, and the CCF keeps its military colours on display. The school’s playing fields and tree-lined avenues give a sense of its spacious setting.