At West Buckland School, we proudly stand among the leading independent schools in the UK, for boys and girls aged 3 to 18. Our ethos distinguishes us, as we prioritise shaping the school experience around each child. With a commitment to exceptional teaching, we place the child at the heart of all we do. Our ultimate goal is to empower every individual to discover their unique excellence.

Start Your West Buckland Journey Today

A Welcome from Kate Corbin, Acting Head

โ€œThe highest reward for your toil is not what you get for it but what you become by it.โ€ John Ruskin

Welcome from Kate Corbin, Acting Head of School

Celebrating our rich history while embracing the future is at the heart of my vision for our school.

Our school is a place where innovation and enterprise thrive, empowering our pupils to make their mark in whatever field they choose to excel in.ย  As a proud former pupil, I reflect on the years I spent at West Buckland, making lifelong friends, building essential skills for my future, and exploring a wide range of academic, sporting, and co-curricular opportunities.

We are leaders in school sustainability and work diligently to minimize our impact on our beautiful campus and the wider North Devon area. Our location offers safety, abundant opportunities, and endless inspiration, all of which are crucial in shaping the young people we are privileged to work with.

Words and pictures can only convey so much, so I warmly invite you to visit us and experience first hand our kind, innovative, and vibrant community.

Visit Us
You are warmly invited to visit West Buckland School and meet the inspiring individuals who are shaping the future. We look forward to welcoming you to our community.

Kate Corbin, Acting Head of School

Our remarkable campus

Described as “a gem of a school in an outstanding location” by the Good Schools Guide, West Buckland School, founded in 1858, is set on 100 acres of stunning countryside near the Atlantic coast. Recent investments of over ยฃ14 million have transformed our campus, blending traditional charm with modern facilities. This environment inspires students to excel academically, culturally, and athletically, revealing their unique excellence

Our facilities

๐ŸŒŸ Parent Rep: Head Lunch Sparks Positive Connections

On Tuesday, our Parent Reps enjoyed a wonderful lunch meeting with our new Head of School, Helen Lowe, alongside Kate Corbin and Sarah Phillips. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect, share ideas, and foster a strong sense of community.

#SchoolCommunity #ParentReps #NewBeginnings
๐Ÿงธ Join Our Teddy Bears' Picnic This June ๐Ÿงธ 

Open to all families: come join us in our beautiful outdoor setting! Enjoy a picnic, games, and lots of fun activities. 

๐Ÿ“… Saturday, 7th June
๐Ÿ•™ 10 AM - 1 PM

Meet our Prep teachers, as well as parents and children already at the school. You can also get to know some of our older pupils who will be hosting games and activities. It's a fantastic opportunity to connect with the WBS community!

For more information and a chance to sign up, click on the link below. We can't wait to see you there!

๐Ÿ”— www.westbuckland.com/teddy-bears-picnic/

#wbsprep #teddybearspicnic
๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ๐ŸŒ Debating Global Issues at West Buckland

In last Fridayโ€™s GCSE Global Perspectives lesson, our Year 10 students got a taste of sixth-form life as they explored the format of the Phoenix Debating Society while preparing for their coursework.

The topic? Global food suppliesโ€”and whether we should be doing more to reduce the environmental impact of food production and transportation. Students delivered thoughtful, passionate arguments, with particularly impressive contributions from our short-term overseas students, debating confidently in their second language. ๐Ÿ‘

It was a fantastic introduction to structured debate and global citizenship in action!

#wbsmiddle #GlobalPerspectives #StudentVoice #DebateSkills #EcoAwareness #PhoenixDebatingSociety
โค๏ธ Boarding at West Buckland School โ€“ A Home from Home ๐Ÿกโœจ

Whether you're with us full-time, weekly, or just occasionally, boarding at WBS is all about care, connection, and growth.

In our warm and welcoming community, students thrive as they:

๐ŸŒŸ Build independence and confidence
๐Ÿค Form lifelong friendships
๐Ÿ“š Enjoy teacher-supported prep time
โšฝ Access top sports facilities after hours
๐ŸŽ‰ Take part in exciting weekend adventures

We follow the highest standards set by the Boarding Schools' Association, ensuring every child feels safe, supported, and inspired.

๐Ÿ’ฌ โ€œItโ€™s not just where we live โ€” itโ€™s where we grow.โ€

๐Ÿ‘‰ Discover more about life in our boarding family with the link in our bio.

#wbsprep #wbsmiddle #wbssixth #GoWayBeyond @bsaboarding #iloveboarding #WBSCommunity
๐Ÿฐ Year 8 Take on Dunster! ๐Ÿน

History came alive this week as our Year 8 students stepped back in time at Dunster Castle! From Civil War tactics to castle life, they explored it all โ€” with hands-on learning, fascinating stories, and plenty of fun along the way.

A huge thank you to Dunster Castle and Watermill  and Watermill for such an inspiring and immersive day! ๐Ÿ™Œ

#wbsmiddle #WBSHistory #GoWayBeyond #historylovers #learninginaction #dunstercastle #DunsterCastle #LearningOutsideTheClassroom #HistoryInAction #Year8Adventures
๐ŸŒ The South Westโ€™s FIRST School Sustainability Festival! ๐ŸŒฟโœจ

Weโ€™re thrilled to announce that West Buckland School, in partnership with Plan-It Eco and 361 Energy, is hosting the WBS Sustainability Festival 2025 โ€” a groundbreaking two-day event on 26th & 27th June thatโ€™s all about inspiring change and empowering young minds! The event includes:

๐Ÿ”น Inspiring talks from eco-leaders
๐Ÿ”น Workshops on climate action, conservation and biodiversity
๐Ÿ”น A vibrant community coming together for a greener future

๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿ’š This is more than a festival โ€” itโ€™s a movement. Discover more about the event and our sustainability journey here: https://westbuckland.com/sustainability/

Thank you to our sponsors for supporting this event: @easybathrooms @withypooltearoom @holidaycottages.co.uk  @yeotown @amp_clean_energy

#wbssustainability #wbsprep #wbsmiddle #wbssixth #GoWayBeyond #EcoEducation #GreenFuture #ClimateAction #WestBucklandSchool #PlanItEco #361Energy #wbsOneAction
๐Ÿ•ต๏ธโ€โ™‚๏ธ Mystery & Mayhem for a Good Cause!

Think youโ€™ve got what it takes to crack the case? ๐Ÿ”

Join us for a thrilling evening of suspense at "Who Shot The Sheriff?" โ€” our murder mystery night in support of North Devon Hospice.

๐Ÿ“… Friday 13th June
๐Ÿ•– 7:00 PM
๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ Tickets available now on the Parent Portal!

Get your detective hats on โ€” we canโ€™t wait to see you there! ๐Ÿ•ต๏ธโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ—๏ธ
๐ŸŽน Spotlight on River!

Weโ€™re incredibly proud of River P. in Year 6, who dazzled the BBC Spotlight TV crew with a stunning performance on Monday.

๐Ÿ“บ Watch out for the feature on BBC Spotlight, it could air any evening from 6:30pm, starting today โ€” and will be available on BBC iPlayer for 24 hours after broadcast. 

#wbsprep #wbsmusic  #RiverOnBBC #bbcspolight #SupportYoungTalent #PianistInTheMaking @bbcdevon

A thriving coeducational independent day and boarding school in Devon for boys and girls aged 3-18, located on a beautiful rural campus between Barnstaple and Exmoor.

HOW TO FIND US:

West Buckland School,
Barnstaple, Devon,
EX32 0SX.

ADJACENT TO:

Atlantic coastline and
Exmoor National Park

NEAREST TOWN:

Barnstaple: 15 minutes