Welcome to
Boutique Boarding


Our exceptional boutique boarding offers a stylish and homely experience in a picturesque and safe countryside setting.
We consider our award-winning boarding as ‘boutique’ as our boarding houses are small with exceptional, high-quality facilities from the stunning setting to the beautifully designed interiors. Home for our boarders is The Dairy House and The Barns, our award-winning boarding houses, located within the school’s stunning campus. Just a short walk from the main school, our boarding houses sit in a safe and idyllic setting, looking out over the beautiful Suffolk countryside and private woodland.

“We foster a nurturing environment where students create lifelong bonds. Our dedicated boarding staff ensures a holistic development, balancing academic excellence with time to explore their passions. Ipswich High School Boarding is not just a place to stay; it is a home-away-from-home experience.”
Mr Tom Collishaw – Director of Boarding & Pastoral
Our Boutique Boarding Community
Director of Boarding, Housemaster, Housemistress, Houseparent and Resident Graduates all reside as staff in the boarding houses to give around-the-clock care. Our boarding tutors complete the boarding staff team who join the community during the day and evenings.
Boarding staff and pupil leaders will plan, organise, and facilitate an exciting evening and weekend activities programme (Boarding Enrichment). The Boarding Enrichment keeps our boarders happy and fulfilled as well as nurturing lifelong friendships and a strong family feel.
Our small boarding population is made up of UK and International boarders who can board fully, weekly, flexi or occasionally. Our boarding pupils enjoy the security of the Woolverstone Hall estate and being part of our boarding family. The boarding experience offers time for pupils to complete their prep and boarding enrichment with the boarding staff team and older pupils who are always on hand to offer support.
In the Heart of Suffolk
The school’s numerous facilities, including a 25m indoor heated swimming pool, sport fitness suite, tennis courts, and cinema room, are available for boarding students to use in their free time. Boarders at Ipswich High School live in an idyllic and safe setting, well connected to social opportunities in the nearby historic town of Ipswich, just five miles away. Additionally, there is a direct train link to London, Cambridge and Norwich from Ipswich train station, making it convenient for students to explore these cities.
Boutique Boarding Accommodation
The Barns is our brand-new boarding house, offering high-end, hotel-standard interiors. Boarding here means you will be guaranteed a single ensuite or twin ensuite room. This section of our boarding offer also includes a large open plan social space with a contemporary kitchen, a stylish cinema room and a cosy quiet room. The Dairy House is our picturesque Grade II listed boarding house, which has been sympathetically renovated to provide comfortable and homely accommodation comprising twin and single rooms, as well as a kitchen and living spaces.
In 2021, we won the Boarding Schools’ Association Award for ‘Best Boarding House Extension or Refurbishment’ which recognises how much hard work has been put into creating an extraordinary accommodation and experience for our boarding pupils.
Boarding Options:
Full-time Boarding
We offer full-time boarding in The Dairy from Year 7 and upwards. Each boarding pupil has their own bed space and personal storage, which is theirs for the whole academic year. The fee includes all meals, accommodation, laundry and 24-hour care by residential house staff.
Weekly Boarding
Weekly boarders will stay at The Dairy for five nights each week during term time, arriving on a Sunday evening and leaving after school on a Friday to go home at weekends. On request and with approval, weekly boarders may stay overnight at weekends on occasion.
Flexible Boarding
Flexible boarding is offered for those pupils who would like to board on a more casual basis.
International Admissions & EAL
Our EAL Department and International Admissions is run by Mr Dan Thompson. Ipswich High School is proud to welcome international students and currently hosts students from around the world. International students will need the appropriate visa to enter the UK for their studies. Overseas students who are joining Ipswich High School without a UK passport (and who plan to stay with us for longer than 3 months) will receive specialist international student visa support.
Weekend Activities
With no Saturday school, we seize the day to explore our vibrant surroundings. Each Saturday, students can partake in local afternoon activities or embark on full-day trips, from movie outings to beach excursions. We visit iconic destinations like Harry Potter Studios, Cambridge or London.
In the evenings, social events foster bonds among pupils, providing valuable opportunities for shared experiences and lasting memories. Sundays offer a chance to unwind and recharge, whether through enjoying our exceptional sports facilities and grounds or simply spending quiet moments catching up with friends and completing homework. In our Boutique Boarding our weekends are cherished moments for both exploration and relaxation.
Discover More
Our weekend trip programme allows boarders to easily explore the rest of the UK, as the school is just one hour from central London and an hour from the cities of Cambridge and Norwich. Boarders can conveniently visit the historic town of Cambridge, known for its prestigious university and picturesque college architecture. A short trip south will take them to London, the bustling capital of the UK, where they can explore iconic landmarks such as the British Museum, the Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace. Additionally, the charming seaside town of Southwold is within reach, offering beautiful beaches, a traditional pier, and a taste of classic British seaside culture.
Testimonial
‘The décor and the modern furniture complement the buildings’ original quirky features and makes use of all available space. This boarding house would not look out of place in Architectural Digest!’
BSA Award Panel
The Boarding Experience
We care deeply about the welfare and happiness of our boarding pupils and put them at the very heart of everything we do.
The school’s embedded culture of pastoral care extends even further for our boarding pupils; our full-time, live-in staff are on hand for every individual who lives there. We foster a supportive and nurturing community in our boarding house, where pupils encourage one another and build solid friendships.
Gallery
Foundations to Flourish
Our 87-acre campus provides a stunning backdrop for our pupils’ education.