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 Helen Lowe, Head

β€œThe 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

Tradition and Innovation Combined

Founded in 1858 for the children of local farmers, West Buckland School is an exciting and special place. It is rich in tradition, its links to its past so well guarded and celebrated through its Foundation and President, Lady Arran, yet it also boasts a future-driven agenda to ensure it remains wholly relevant and forward-thinking in the education and opportunities it provides. West Buckland is a school with a buoyant future.

The school is one of an increasingly small number of truly independent schools. We do not have to bow to private investors’ agendas and so can focus fully on what is best for our pupils without any external pressures. Though funding is, of course, key to schools, the idea that a school’s provision of scholarships and bursaries is in place just to increase numbers, rather than add value to the pupils involved, is not something which West Buckland, or I, could ever support. A school is not just getting the children through the doors – it must deliver for those pupils once they are there. Sitting at Speech Day in July, it was clear that the traditions of the school and the depth of feeling it engenders in all those who are part of it are evident for all to see. If you want a school where there is a heart and soul, West Buckland is the place.

We are no longer living in a world where the imparting of knowledge is what a school does; knowledge for our young people is everywhere at the click of a button. With continued technological innovation and the growth in AI, I believe that adaptive teaching, kindness, intellectual discussion and debating skills are more important than ever. We blend the underpinning motto of Read and Reap with our character values, innovation, sustainability, playing a meaningful part in the local community and of course excellent teaching and pastoral care.

This school has a staff body, governors, parents, a foundation, trustees and fantastic pupils who want to ensure that this happens.

I am proud to be leading West Buckland School, and I look forward to welcoming you to our wonderful campus, whether you are a current or a prospective parent, to find out more about us.

Please keep an eye out for upcoming events and opportunities to visit the school. Or contact the school to make an appointment to come in to meet me; I can promise that you will be made most welcome.

 

Helen Lowe, 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 Β£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

Latest News

Follow West Buckland School on social media for our latest news and pupil achievements.

πŸŽ„ Merry Christmas from all of us at West Buckland School Sport! πŸŽ„

We wish you joy and plenty of sporting fun this holiday season. Here’s to an exciting year ahead!

#MerryChristmas #wbssport #HappyHolidays #wbsprep #wbsmiddle
Christmas carols in the Quad πŸŽΆπŸŽ„πŸŽ΅
πŸ† Devon County Cross Country Championships

A huge congratulations to Matilda, who stormed to victory and became the U13 Devon County Cross Country Champion! πŸ₯‡

Well done to all of our incredible WBS runners who competed and did us proud πŸ‘πŸ»

🌟 U13 – Isabela πŸ…
🌟 U15 – Ellie πŸ…
🌟 U17 – Nyla πŸ₯‰

Amazing achievements from everyone! 

#DevonCountyChampionships #CrossCountry #WBSAthletics #ProudMoment #YouthSports #TeamWBS #Champions #AthleticsSuccess #WBSSport
Our Year 7 students took on an exciting climbing adventure! πŸ§—β€β™€οΈ

Climbing in the Rock and Rapid Adventures, Year 7 took part in an incredible journey of discovering new skills, building confidence, and sparking fresh interests, all while working towards their John Muir Award.

#OutdoorLearning #JohnMuirAward #wbsmiddle @rockandrapid
🎁 VIP Theatre Package – The Perfect Christmas Gift!

Looking for something special for the theatre-lover in your life? Treat them to our WBS Chitty Chitty Bang Bang VIP package! Here is what's included:

⭐ A ticket to the show on the night of your choice
⭐ A glass of bubbly (or non-alcoholic alternative) on arrival
⭐ A souvenir programme
⭐ Our limited edition Toot Sweet pin badge

All this for just Β£29.50 – a fantasmagorical festive deal!

West Buckland School’s highly anticipated production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang takes flight at The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe from 11–13 February 2026.

🎟️ Early Bird discount tickets and VIP packages are on sale now – grab yours today and tick a present off your list! Follow the link in our bio πŸ‘†

#ChittyChittyBangBang  #WBSdrama #LandmarkTheatre #MusicalTheatre #StageMagic #LivePerformance #FamilyMusical #TheatreCommunity #OnStage #SupportTheArts #TicketsOnSale
🌍 Year 9 Geographers got creative!
Their challenge: show how the Earth is structured into layers.

The results were brilliant! They used everything from cake, foam, old globes, resin, and even footballs to bring the planet to life. πŸ‘ 

#wbsmiddle #Year9Geography
🎢 Advent Service at St Michael’s, East Buckland 

Yesterday, the West Buckland School Chapel Choir sang beautifully at our Advent Service, officiated by Rev. Cathy Scoffield, to welcome in the season of Advent.

The choir performed β€œA Tender Shoot” (Otto Goldschmidt), β€œComes the Light” (Dominic Carter), and a selection of traditional Advent hymns - a truly uplifting start to the festive season. 🌟

#WestBucklandSchool #AdventService #ChapelChoir #Community #SeasonOfAdvent
πŸ₯Έ Well done to our Sixth Form for raising money for #Movember and supporting men’s health initiatives. 

Thank you to everyone who took part, donated, and spread the word! 🌟

#wbssixthform #MensHealthMatters
πŸŽ„βœ¨ The 2025 West Buckland School Christmas Fairβœ¨πŸŽ„

Get ready for a day full of festive fun! Join us on Wednesday 10 December from 08:45–14:00 for our magical Christmas Fair!

🎨 Face Painting
🎯 Games & Activities
🎁 Gifts & Goodies
πŸŽ… Meet Santa!

Kick off the Christmas season with joy, laughter, and a touch of Christmas magic. βœ¨πŸŽ„β€οΈ

#ChristmasFair #HolidayFun #FestiveSeason #MeetSanta #FamilyEvent #ChristmasMagic #HolidayJoy #WinterWonderland #FacePainting #GamesAndGifts #Christmas2025 #CommunityEvent πŸŽ„βœ¨
🎨 West Buckland School's Collaborative Drawing - The Big Draw Festival

Creativity was in full flow as students and staff came together for West Buckland School’s collaborative drawing project, inspired by the works of Diana Sudyka.

With a sheet of card and a stamp, each participant added their own unique touch to this collective masterpiece.

Ms Argyle and Mrs Morrison prepared a long strip of paper with a continuous line stretching from left to right (representing the thread that links the WBS community together), before positioning drawings along the line.

✨ A big thank you to everyone who got involved! It's so humbling to see a community work together to present such a great piece of art.

#TheBigDraw #WBSCommunity #wbsprep #wbsmiddle #wbssixthform The Big Draw
πŸ“… WBS Charity Calendar 2026 – On Sale Now! 

This year’s calendar showcases beautiful artwork created by our talented students. All proceeds will go towards supporting a variety of local charities - a perfect way to celebrate creativity while supporting the community.

A huge thank you to our generous sponsors for making this project possible: Home Instead North Devon & Exmoor @brayleino  Integrity Plumbing & Heating @putsboroughsands Independent Fire and Security @advanced_scaffolding Lycette Care @wollenslaw  Nova Surveyors @smurfitwestrockatlas  Devon Osteopath @wbs_owba WBS Foundation

Buy yours today and be part of something special - use the link in our bio πŸ‘†

#WBSCharityCalendar #StudentArt #CommunitySupport #CreativityForACause #WestBuckland
🌎 New Blog Alert: Geography at West Buckland!

Fieldwork? βœ”οΈ
Global debates? βœ”οΈ
Critical thinking and curiosity? Absolutely!

Explore the highlights, projects, and insights from our Geography department on our website: westbuckland.com/teacher-blog-focus-on-geography

#Geography #LearningJourney #GeographyEducation #ExploreTheWorld #CuriousMinds #GlobalLearning #FutureGeographers
πŸ‰ Yesterday, we had the privilege of welcoming Paul Westgate, Head of Performance Rugby at  University of Nottingham Sport, to our school.

Paul shared his coaching inspirations, explored the mindset that turns good players into great ones, and highlighted the exciting opportunities awaiting our scholars at university and beyond.

It was a pleasure to host Paul - thank you for visiting us!

#PaulWestgate #universityofnottingham #ExeterChiefsCommunity #rugbydevelopment @uonsport
🎼 The Season of Advent at West Buckland School

Our Music Department has two wonderfully festive offerings this week:

🌟 Advent Concert Tomorrow (Thursday) at 7pm in the Memorial Hall - Featuring our larger ensembles and choirs

🌟 Advent Service This Sunday at 6pm, East Buckland Church - With beautiful music from our Chapel Choir 

All are warmly invited to join us in celebrating Advent through music and community.

#Advent #WestBuckland #MusicDepartment #ChapelChoir #AdventConcert #CommunityThroughMusic
πŸ‰βœ¨ Tomorrow we welcome Paul Westgate, Head of Performance Rugby at the University of Nottingham, to West Buckland School!

He will be sharing insights on managing a dual‑athlete career at university, balancing academic study with the demands of performance sport, as well as joining a training session in the afternoon to share his expertise on the pitch.

Paul's experience and insights will be a real inspiration for our students - we can’t wait! 

#WestBucklandSchool #RugbyExcellence #PaulWestgate #UniversityOfNottingham #ExeterChiefs #BUCSSuperRugby #RugbyDevelopment #StudentOpportunity @uonsport
Following the outstanding success of our musical Les MisΓ©rables, we are thrilled to announce our next spectacular production: CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, flying into the @landmarkdevon this 11–13 February!

Hop aboard our β€œtruly scrumptious” adventure and let your imagination take flight as our magical motorcar zooms onto the stage. πŸš—βœ¨

Grab your tickets and exclusive merchandise now, before they disappear in a puff of Potts–perfect sparkles!

Scan the QR or follow the link in bio!

#ChittyChittyBangBang #LesMiserables #LandmarTheatre #MusicalTheatre #TheatreLife #StageMagic #LivePerformance #FamilyMusical #TheatreCommunity #OnStage #SupportTheArts #TicketsOnSale #TheatreLovers
πŸ’ͺ Top Tips from the Chiefs

We’re wrapping up a fantastic week of rugby with our two Exeter Chiefs coaches! Huge thanks to Hope and Kayleigh for sharing insights on line outs, memorable matches, and top tips for our players. 

#RugbyWeek #ExeterChiefs #WestBuckland #sheinspires  @exeter_chiefs_community  @ihope38  @kayleighmpriest
πŸ… Congratulations to Emily M (and Kevin!)

Emily represented West Buckland School brilliantly at the NSEA Eventers Challenge at Bicton, riding a speedy double clear round and finishing 7th overall in a highly competitive field!

#wbsmiddle #nationalschoolsequestrianassociation
🍏🍏 Double Silver at the Green Apple Awards!

We are proud to share that West Buckland School has won two International Green Apple Environment Awards for our environmental achievements - one recognising our energy reduction programme and the other celebrating our whole-school approach to sustainability.

From over 1,600 global applications, there were just 200 recipients and we were the only school in attendance at the prestigious ceremony held yesterday at the House of Lords. We are the first UK boarding school to receive a Green Apple Award since its inception more than 30 years ago - a truly historic achievement for our community.

From biomass boilers and solar energy to planting 4,000+ trees and cultivating wildflower meadows, our commitment to sustainability is stronger than ever. Initiatives like Green Futures Day, food waste reduction, and our first Sustainability Festival highlight how eco-conscious education is at the heart of our community.

For our students, this recognition reinforces the importance of living and learning sustainably, inspiring them to carry forward eco-conscious values into their future studies and lives. 🌱

#GreenAppleAwards #Sustainability #EcoEducation #WestBucklandSchool #EnvironmentalLeadership #GreenWorldAmbassador #EnvironmentalExcellence #GreenFuture @thegreenorg

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