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 the Head

“The highest reward for your toil is not what you get for it but what you become by it.” John Ruskin

Welcome to West Buckland School!
Growing up is inevitable, but how you do it is a choice. At West Buckland, we believe in nurturing our students’ growth through exploration and generosity, helping them become the leaders of tomorrow.
Learning at the Heart of Our Education
At West Buckland, learning is at the core of everything we do. Our curriculum is designed to help students discover more about their subjects, their environment, and themselves. We value who your children become during their time here, not just what they achieve. Our students are encouraged to challenge their knowledge and dreams through a variety of ambitious cultural, intellectual, sporting, outdoor, and service programmes. This holistic approach allows them to develop into balanced, accomplished individuals who can make a difference in the world.

 

Unlocking True Potential through core values
By embracing resilience, honesty, kindness, respect, and curiosity, we aim to unlock each student’s true potential. Our inclusive and ever-exploring community provides the perfect environment for them to flourish.  We emphasize the importance of having a sense of duty, an awareness of right and wrong. We encourage our students to be ambitious, with a clear sense of purpose and a balanced view of life. They resist the temptation to play it safe or follow the crowd. Instead, they dare to blaze new trails and, through reflective appraisal, change expectations. Our students are not just preparing for jobs that have yet to be invented; they are poised to create and lead those jobs.

 

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.

Phillip Stapleton, Head

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 £14 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

♟️ Dylan A (Yr11) has won the U18 competition at the Devon Junior Chess Association (DJCA) Torquay Boys’ Junior Open on Sunday, 9th February. Facing five of the strongest U18 players in Devon, Dylan finished with 4 wins and a draw, securing 1st place! 🏆 This marks his fourth consecutive win in #DJCA events over the past 18 months. Well done, Dylan!

West Buckland School will host the DJCA Spring Championship on Saturday, 1st March. This tournament is open to players of all abilities, with categories for U18, U16, U14, U12, and U10. Participants will compete in six matches within their age group, with plenty of time to socialise between rounds. We look forward to seeing many familiar faces! For those interested in taking part, please contact Mr. Grose or visit the DJCA website:
https://devonjuniorchess.co.uk/content/djca-open-spring-tournament-2025

#wbsmiddle #DJCASpringChampionship #DevonJuniorChessAssociation
This term in RPE, Mr. Rowles’ Year 8 classes explored the fascinating religion of Sikhism! 

They had the unique opportunity to participate in Q&A sessions with two inspiring Sikhs living in the UK: Kuljinder, born into the Sikh faith and now teaching RPE in Huddersfield, and Penny, a yoga teacher and chiropractor who embraced Sikhism later in life at the Golden Temple.

The students were highly engaged, asked deep and thoughtful questions, and represented the school exceptionally well.

#CulturalAwareness #globalperspective #bettertogether
Is your child turning 4? Join us for an exclusive Reception drop-in evening at West Buckland Prep School. 

Meet our dedicated teachers, see our outstanding early years facilities, and discover why we offer the best start for your child’s education. 

📅 Tuesday 4th March, 4pm-6.30pm 
📍Symonds Building, West Buckland School, EX33 OSX

Spaces are limited, so please register your interest early. Link in bio.

We look forward to welcoming you and your little one to West Buckland School!
🌟 JOIN OUR TEAM: 🌟

West Buckland School are looking for a Personalised Learning Assistant to join this well-established independent school set in the foothills of Exmoor and the North Devon coastline.
They will be supporting pupils in classroom lessons and providing 1:1 literacy, numeracy and/or emotional literacy interventions.

💼 Further information and application process in the following link:
https://westbuckland.com/personalised-learning-assistant/
🎭 Ready to showcase your talent? 

We are launching our 150 Drama Festival which is open to all our students in Year 4-13!

For more information and to submit your entry, go to the link below:
🔗 https://westbuckland.com/DramaFestival2025
🏏 Good Luck, Devon Cricket! 🏏

West Buckland School wishes Issie (Yr11) and everyone in the Devon Cricket - U15 Girls Sri Lanka Tour the best of luck!

From February 9th to 21st, they’ll be flying to Sri Lanka to compete in some thrilling matches at six separate grounds:
- Navy Ground, Welisara
- LRDC Grounds, Nawala
- Foundation Of Goodness Ground, Ambalangoda
- Aaron’s Country Club Ground
- Tyrone Fernando International Cricket Stadium, Moratuwa
- Panadura Sports Club Ground

Congratulations to Issie on this outstanding achievement of selection. We would also like to recognise the huge commitment from both Issie and her whole family for the commitment and work involved in supporting a young sportsperson at this level. 

Well done to all and we look forward to updates from the tour! 🏆 
 #DevonCricketFoundation #U15GirlsCricket #devonsrilankatour #wbssport
🎨 Join us for the OWBA Careers Dinner - Creative Industry!

Join us for an evening of networking, inspiring speeches, and dinner with industry leaders in the creative field. We have some fantastic speakers (from Artists to Film Producers) lined up to guide students on this exciting and varied industry!

To find out more and book tickets, please visit this link:
https://owba.westbuckland.com/event/owba-careers-dinner-creative-industry

📅 Date: Friday, 28th February 2025
🕖 Time: 7:00 PM - 10:30 PM
📍 Venue: Karslake Hall, West Buckland School

#OWBACareersDinner #CreativeIndustry #Networking #wbssixthform
🏅 Great racing from Nyla (Year 10) in her first year in Inters! She had a fabulous race, finishing 10th in the South West at Newquay. What an amazing achievement! 

Well done to Nyla, and everyone who took part in the South West Cross Country Championships! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Were you also part of the South West Cross Country Championships?
Let us know! We’d love to hear about your experience.

#wbssport #southwestcrosscountry #Resilience
🌅 As the sun rises over West Buckland School, the calm and serenity might lead you to think it is all quiet at this time of day.

🏋️‍♂️ Our Sports Development students are in their Strength and Conditioning session with Mr. Carr.
🍽️ Boarders are heading to breakfast.
👩‍🏫 Teachers and staff are arriving, gearing up for another exciting day.
🚌 Students are on their way, whether by our extensive bus network or with parents by car.
🎾 Our tennis coach is prepping for early morning sessions with our Tennis Academy students.

It’s always a hive of activity at West Buckland School, with enrichment happening throughout the day. But for now, let’s enjoy the beautiful sunrise and the calm of the early morning.

Photo by Sarah, our early morning photographer! 📸

#wbsmiddle #westbucklandschool #morningroutine
🌍 With the help of the International Society team, Ben W (Year 12) has organized a 24-hour squash marathon to raise money for West Buckland’s partner school, Agoro Oyombe, in Kenya

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