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.
A Welcome from Helen Lowe, 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
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 £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
Latest News
Follow West Buckland School on social media for our latest news and pupil achievements.
✨ Throwback Thursday!✨
Today we are looking back at Term 2 and what a term it’s been! 💛
Full of growth, energy, kindness, laughter, hard work, and friendship, you truly made it unforgettable.
From trips 🚍, Easter egg hunts 🐣 and netball competitions 🏐
to rugby tournaments 🏉, tennis awards 🎾 and art exhibitions 🎨 it has been ACTION PACKED!
Term 3… we are ready for you! 💪🔥
#ThrowbackThursday #Term2Highlights #SoProud #ReadyForTerm3
🎷✨ Swing at the Sands 2026
Get ready for one of the highlights of our musical calendar! West Buckland Jazz return to the stunning ballroom at Saunton Sands Hotel for an evening packed with live jazz, swing and serious good vibes.
The night unfolds across three sets - including a special middle set featuring some of our talented senior singers taking the spotlight with the band. And when the final set kicks in, we’re expecting the dancefloor to come alive. Consider this your invitation to boogie the night away.
With ten tables of ten, you can sit back, relax and enjoy a delicious finger buffet included in your ticket. Great music, great company, great food - all in one iconic venue.
It’s always a standout event… and 2026 is set to be the best yet.
Secure your tickets now with the link in our bio ☝
Happy Easter to our whole school community 🐣
We hope you take this time to rest, recharge, and enjoy some sweet treats! 🍫
Hockey Tour to The Netherlands!
After a superb season across the board - including the U14 Girls reaching the West Finals - our U14 and U15 Hockey teams are heading off on a well deserved tour to The Netherlands.
They`ll be travelling to Utrecht, playing fixtures, watching live matches and enjoying a day at the epic Eftling Theme Park to top it all off.
Have an amazing time, everyone. You’ve earned it.
✨ Celebrating Achievement, Teamwork and WBS Pride
Last night we wrapped up Exmoor Day in the best possible way - celebrating our Senior Sports Awards at the Pier House. Senior students and staff came together to recognise everything achieved so far this year: colours, team honours, captain acknowledgements, and heartfelt thanks to our sports pillars and staff.
The evening captured exactly what sport at West Buckland is all about - lifting each other up, playing for the love of the game, rising to every challenge, and celebrating every success.
Congratulations to all our winners, and to everyone who makes WBS sport such a special community. And a big thank you to Mrs Friend for the photos and The Pier House for hosting such a fantastic evening!
Head over to our blog for more details and photos from the event - follow the link in our bio! ☝
@pierhousewestwardho
🐣 Our Easter Holiday Camp is back! 🌸
Just a few spaces left for a jam‑packed programme of Easter fun 🐰
🥚 Easter egg hunts
🚜 Farm visits
🏖️ Beach trips
…and so much more!
📍 Open to West Buckland students and external students
👶 Nursery – Year 4
📅 2 April – 17 April
👉 Scan the QR code or book on the link:
tickettailor.com/events/wbs/2089444
The Exmoor - it’s tomorrow!
The wait is almost over… tomorrow we come together for Exmoor Day at West Buckland School! A day full of pride, tradition and community spirit as we take part in a legacy dating back to 1859.
We’re looking forward to a rousing Exmoor Assembly, runners gathering in the Quad, and welcoming 60 OWBA runners back to school. Then comes the epic walk out to the starting points before the challenge begins: the Mini, the Junior, the Heasley Challenge, and the legendary Kinsford Long.
And of course, we can’t wait to see everyone cross the finish line - with that unforgettable mix of relief, pride and pure Exmoor spirit.
Get ready for one of the very best days in the school calendar! 🏃♂️🏃♀️✨
@wbs_owba
🎭 150 Theatre Performing Arts Festival 2026 🎭
We’re delighted to announce this year’s award winners:
🏆 Junior John Vick Headmaster’s Award – Lottie N.
🏆 Senior John Vick Headmaster’s Award – Reuben N.
🎤 Highest Mark for Public Speaking – Neve M. & Rupert F.
🎭 Highest Mark for Musical Theatre – Lottie N.
🌟 Triple Honours Award – Charlotte C.
😂 Festival Comedy Award – Seb W.
✨ Festival Novice Award – Scarlett N.
Join us for the Senior School Gala Concert of Festival Highlights on 30th April from 6.30pm, celebrating our highest‑scoring performers.
💙 Belonging: A Culture Club Showcase
Our Culture Club celebrated the theme of Belonging this week, showcasing the winners and shortlisted entries from this term’s House Art photography competition.
Students and staff enjoyed exploring the exhibition and sharing what belonging means to them. A wonderful celebration of creativity, community and connection.
⛳ Devon Girls Golf Success!
Huge congratulations to Emily and Freya, who were selected as part of a team of nine to represent Devon Girls in their match against Gloucestershire Girls on Sunday 22 March at Bristol & Clifton Golf Club.
It was a beautiful sunny day on a challenging course the girls hadn’t played before - and with a maximum playing handicap of 18, both Emily and Freya had shots deducted (Emily lost 5, Freya lost 3). Even so, they rose to the challenge superbly.
Both won their Foursomes matches - Emily and her partner won 3/2 and Freya and her partner won 2/1.
Their performances helped secure an overall 4–3 victory for the Devon Girls team.
A fantastic achievement - well done to Emily, Freya and the whole squad! 🙌
🍕🌿 Pizzas & Paradise – Boarding Highlights!
Midweek got even tastier in Parkers as our boarders rolled up their sleeves for a make‑your‑own pizza night! With the wood‑fired ovens blazing, some pupils stuck to the classics while others went all‑in and crafted their creations the traditional way. The evening was packed with chatter, laughter and a brilliant sense of community - all topped off with some seriously delicious pizza.
Last weekend, our boarders swapped pizza for plants as they headed to The Eden Project, exploring global climate and environmental issues and discovering how we can protect our planet. It was a fantastic opportunity for our international students to learn about the environment right on our doorstep while enjoying a memorable day out.
What a packed and exciting term of boarding activities we’ve had!
@boardingschoolsnetwork @edenprojectcornwall
♟️ House Chess has a new champion: Team Fortescue! ♟️
On Thursday 26th March, 60 players represented the four school houses and faced off in the school`s House Chess Competition!
Well done to all who took part, including some standout individual performances, such as Kacper F, Amelia H, Neda K, Eason Z, Bode B, Dylan P, Vincent G, Dylan and Rufus B.
🎾 We’re proud to see West Buckland students featuring prominently on the Devon Tennis teams at the LTA County Cup - and congratulations to Devon Tennis on their fantastic achievements across all age groups.
🥎 Brayan N delivered an outstanding performance for Devon at the LTA 9U County Cup, earning a singles win against Cornwall, battling hard in doubles against Avon, and finishing with a strong 4–2 doubles victory. A great display of determination, teamwork and skill – well done, Brayan!
🥎 Lilly B was part of the impressive U18 girls squad competing at the LTA County Cup last weekend. The team’s 8–1 record-time win against Lincolnshire secured them through to face the higher-rated Northamptonshire, pushing them all the way before a narrow defeat. Huge congrats to Lilly on her performance.
🥎 As part of the U12 Devon Tennis team at the LTA County Cup back in September, Iseo G delivered a fantastic performance, winning 3 of his 4 matches. He claimed impressive singles and doubles victories, pushing his final singles match to a nail-biting match tie-break - showing incredible fight right to the very end.
Our unrivalled tennis programme is designed to nurture every student with a passion for the sport, helping them grow in confidence, skill and ambition. Brayan, Lilly and Iseo are shining examples of what dedication, opportunity and expert coaching can achieve.
@devontennis
🌟 If you love Creativity, Independence, Technology, Opportunity, Belonging, and Sport… you will LOVE West Buckland School! 🌟
See it all for yourself at our Open Day on 4 May 9.30am.
🥐 Join us for the Head’s Breakfast
💛 Meet our Heads of School and enjoy a guided campus tour led by the people who know it best - our students!
📍 Registration link in bio
We can’t wait to welcome you to our school and show you what makes West Buckland truly special. 💛💙
📚 English at West Buckland School
When students develop a genuine love of language and learning, exceptional results naturally follow.
At West Buckland School, our GCSE and A Level English results consistently outperform national trends, driven by:
✏️ Outstanding teaching
✏️ Vibrant, discussion‑rich classrooms
✏️ A broad, inspiring curriculum
✏️ A culture that sparks curiosity and confidence
From analysing great literature to crafting original writing, our students discover the power of words - and the joy of expressing themselves with clarity and creativity.
Read the full blog to explore what makes English at West Buckland School so special: https://westbuckland.com/teacher-blog-focus-on-english/
Our WEBS team have been busy this lunchtime on a mission to #BringTheBeesBack! 🐝🌼
Thanks to an incredibly generous donation of @beebombsdorset, our students have been planting them along our rewilding corridor - building on the tree‑planting work completed earlier this year, with more to come in the months ahead.
BeeBombs contain 18 species of wildflowers native to Britain, all perfect for pollinators. These include Yellow Rattle, Oxeye Daisy, Yarrow and Self Heal, to name just a few. 🌿🌸
A huge thank you to our wonderful donor, and to BeeBombs for championing the campaign to #BringBeesBack. 💛🐝
#WBSCommunity #EcoSchools #Sustainability #Rewilding #BeeFriendly #WestBucklandSchool
The Guy Hopson Cup Speaking Competition showcased exceptional Sixth Form oracy and critical thinking. Students delivered a 3–4 minute talk on an unseen philosophical or ethical title and responded to questions from the adjudicating panel, with marks awarded for content, delivery and handling questions.
The top three results were Rafe, Ethan and Jess but only a few marks between the top scoring students.
A very high standard was evident across all contributions, with students tackling challenging and contemporary issues with confidence, balance and intellectual maturity.
The overall winner of the Guy Hopson Cup will be announced on Speech Day, once the essay element of the competition has been marked.
The Guy Hopson Cup is held in memory of Guy Hopson, who taught at West Buckland School for nearly 20 years. The prize was established to reflect the breadth of his skills and interests, and his widow, Jackie Hopson, continues to judge the competition each year.
We are extremely grateful to our judges for their time and expertise: Jackie Hopson, Colin Byfleet (former teachers of the school), Ms Gower, Ms Episkopos, and Dr McKerrow.
The competition was organised by Mrs Hamilton, with invaluable support from Vincent, one of our Academic Prefects, who helped ensure the event ran smoothly.
🎓 Year 13 Psychology Trip to Bristol! 🧠
On Friday, our Year 13 Psychology students headed to Bristol for a Tutor2U revision conference. The day was packed with fast‑paced, interactive workshops delivered on a cinema screen, as well as activities and prizes! 🎁
Students picked up loads of helpful exam tips, and everyone came away with a revision booklet full of high‑quality resources to support their A-level prep.
🏉 UR7s National Sevens Academy Success for Percy!
Over half term, Percy F (Y8) took part in the UR7s National Sevens Academy trials in Bristol - and we’re thrilled to share that he was successful and has been invited to join the academy for next season.
A fantastic achievement and a testament to his hard work, talent and determination. Well done, Percy - we can’t wait to see where this opportunity takes you next!
👟 The Exmoor – One Week to Go!
This time next week, the entire West Buckland community will come together for The Exmoor - the longest and oldest independent school cross‑country run in the UK. A true highlight of the school calendar, it’s a day where everyone plays their part.
Whether you’re taking on the Kinsford Full, the Heasley Challenge, the Stowford Junior or Mini, marshalling along the course, or cheering from the sidelines, it’s always a brilliant celebration of determination, tradition and school spirit.
And this year, we’re thrilled to welcome a record 54 OWBA runners back to join the challenge.
To get you in the spirit, take a look at this footage from last year’s event - the perfect warm‑up for what’s to come.
West Buckland School - are you ready for The Exmoor?
@wbs_owba
Break a leg to our amazing Year 11 Drama students who are performing their GCSE scripted exam plays today. There will be a showcase of their work tonight, 6-8pm in the 150 Theatre.
✨ Boyer Highlights - Boarding at Its Best!
There’s always so much on offer for our boarders at West Buckland School. From weekend adventures and cultural celebrations to trips, activities and shared moments, life in our boarding community is full of variety and connection.
Discover more in our latest blog, A Weekend in Boyer House - a snapshot of the friendship, independence and sense of community that make boarding here such a special experience. Read the blog now - use the link in our bio ☝
🎾 Another Ace for WBS Tennis!
Following on from being named Devon Tennis School of the Year, we’re thrilled to share that West Buckland School has been awarded a Highly Commended LTA Excellence Award in the School of the Year category. This recognition reflects the dedication, hard work and passion that our tennis programme demonstrates day in, day out.
This achievement highlights our long‑standing commitment to tennis excellence - from our top‑class facilities and Tennis Academy to our two full‑time, highly qualified LTA coaches who deliver year‑round training.
With the new season just around the corner, it’s the perfect way to build momentum. While tennis thrives here all year, the summer term always brings a fresh energy as coaching and match play shift into a new gear.
A fantastic milestone for WBS Tennis as we head into another exciting season. As always, thank you to all the players, coaches and supporters who make our tennis programme such as success. 🎉
🏉 Special Visit from Bristol Bears Rugby Prop, Lovejoy Chawatama!
Earlier this week, we were delighted to welcome Lovejoy Chawatama to West Buckland School as he spent the day shadowing Josh Lord, our Head of Rugby. As part of his professional development, Lovejoy chose WBS specifically for its outstanding rugby programme and the exciting future plans currently underway. Lovejoy had the opportunity to learn how to build, enhance and sustain a thriving school rugby environment.
Throughout the visit, Lovejoy also shared his insights on development, resilience and passion for the game. His journey in professional rugby offered real inspiration to our students.
🙌 A huge thank you to Lovejoy for spending the day with us, and to The Rugby Players Association for arranging this fantastic opportunity.
West Buckland Sport @westbucklandsport
🎓 Y12 Begin Their Next‑Steps Journey
On Monday, our Year 12 students attended the annual UCAS Discovery Event at the Westpoint Centre in Exeter - an exciting milestone that marks the beginning of their careers and next‑steps programme.
Throughout the day, students explored a wide range of universities, discovered courses on offer, and gathered valuable insight to help them prepare for future applications.
A big thank you to Mrs Hamilton and Mr Beacham for organising the trip, and to Mrs Episkopis for supporting on the day. And of course, well done to our Y12s for their excellent conduct - a pleasure to take!
@ucas_online
🌟 A Showcase of Gymnastics Development and Leadership
We were delighted to have students take part in the North Devon Gymnastics Competition last week - and what made the event particularly special was the leadership behind the scenes.
Our two Prep teams were coached and organised by Naomi C and Layla V, who have been running a weekly gymnastics club as part of their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. Their commitment, encouragement and enthusiasm have helped our younger pupils develop impressive skills and confidence in a remarkably short space of time - something they showcased brilliantly in competition.
After supporting the Prep performers, Layla and Naomi switched into competition mode themselves, joining Grace to form our U15 team. All three girls delivered excellent routines, demonstrating strength, control and composure. A special congratulations goes to Layla, who secured individual gold, achieved the highest floor score, and was recognised for her grace, poise and elegance.
A huge well done to all our competitors - both Prep and Senior - for their hard work, sportsmanship and outstanding performances. We are incredibly proud of you all.
Introducing this year`s Senior Socrates Society President - George S 👏
George will lead the seniors in lively discussions and thoughtful debate, inspiring others to speak with confidence and think boldly. A fantastic moment for the society as it continues to grow and thrive.
Read more about West Buckland School`s Socrates Society - follow the link in our bio ☝️
#WBSCommunity #SocratesClub #wbsmiddle #wbssixth #CriticalThinking #StudentVoice #WBSBrillian
🎨 WBS at The Burton: Showcasing Emerging Talent
We are incredibly proud of the 14 West Buckland School students who showcased their work in this year’s Burton Gallery Annual Schools Exhibition. Featuring a diverse range of artworks from across the North Devon area, the exhibition celebrates the talent, imagination and creativity of young people aged 4–18 - as well as the teachers who inspire and support them.
Huge congratulations to our prize winners:
🌟 Isla R, Y8, received an award for her beautiful concertina book
🌟 Rosie M, Y12, was recognised for her striking painting of an urban station
A fantastic achievement and a wonderful reflection of the creativity within our WBS community.
Our award‑shortlisted Mini Meets sessions are back!
This time we’re hopping into spring with a fun-filled Easter Extravaganza for our little learners! 🐣🌼
📅 Tuesday 24 March
⏰ Starts at 10:30am
✨ Free to attend — booking essential
Join us for crafts, play, discovery and plenty of Easter magic.
👉 Register here: https://westbuckland.com/mini-minds-meet/
We can’t wait to welcome you! 💛
👟The Exmoor – Two Week Warning!
The countdown is officially on. With just two weeks to go until Exmoor Day, it’s time to lace up, get focused, and mentally prepare for some of the course’s most infamous highlights.
Run the route with us, visualise the challenge ahead, and get ready to take on one of the toughest - and most iconic - days in the WBS calendar.
More to come as we build up to the big day…
🎶 Spring Concert This Thursday!
Join us on Thursday 19 March at 7pm in the Memorial Hall for our Spring Concert.
Come and enjoy performances from our large ensembles and choirs as they present a fun, varied, and uplifting programme to celebrate the season.
✨ Admission is free - everyone is welcome to come along and support our talented musicians.
🎓 Year 9 Masterclass Series
This year’s Year 9 Masterclass Series, run in partnership with the Royal Institution, brought together talented young mathematicians from local schools for a set of inspiring sessions. Coordinated by Mr Grose, the programme explored topics including Arithmetic in Different Bases, Fractals and Complex Numbers, Graphs and Networks, Matrices, and Mathematical Problem Solving.
The final session concluded with a celebration event led by Mrs Hamilton, Head of Sixth Form, who shared her passion for mathematics and encouraged students to continue exploring the subject beyond the classroom.
@ri_science
💼 Taking Careers Learning Further
Following a brilliant Careers Week, last Friday it was the turn of our Year 11 students to take part in their mock interviews.
A huge thank you to the experienced members of the WBS community - from doctors and entrepreneurs to finance professionals and sales & marketing experts - who generously took time out of their busy schedules to offer our students a valuable, real‑world interview experience. Your support is truly appreciated.
👏 Well done to our Year 11s for stepping up with confidence and professionalism. A fantastic continuation of their Careers learning journey.
#careersweek2026 #CareersEducation #FutureReady #SkillsForLife #CareerDevelopment
✨ Parkers Boarding Highlights
Our boarders enjoy a packed calendar of activities all year round. Last weekend brought the annual OWBA Spring Sports fixtures, with squash, hockey, netball, and basketball creating an evening full of energy and community spirit.
Back in the house, some of our boarders were busy perfecting menus and practising their culinary skills for the upcoming International Dinner. We rounded things off with an adrenaline‑fuelled trip to Grand Prix–style go‑karting - competitive, fast, and great fun.
This weekend promises even more: fabulous feasting at the International Dinner, a city shopping trip, and high‑ropes and zip‑wire adventures. Plenty to look forward to as the term continues! 💙
#ParkersBoarding #BoardingLife #TeamSpirit #SchoolCommunity #InternationalDinner #GoKarting #LifeAtParkers @wbs_owba @boardingschoolsnetwork
🎭 Theatrical Masterclass for Our A-level English Literature Students
On Thursday, our Sixth Formers headed to the Barnfield Theatre in Exeter to watch A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. Before the performance, they took part in an exclusive workshop led by the show’s director - and former West Buckland pupil - Tim Isaac.
Tim arrived proudly holding his original A Level copy of the play and talked students through his creative choices, from set design to prop selection. He also answered a wide range of questions, including insights into his favourite scenes and how he brought the production to life.
A fantastic opportunity for our students to deepen their understanding of the text and see it performed on stage.
@wbs_owba @barnfield_theatre
🌿 Year 8 Outdoor Learning 🌿
To kick off this year’s Outdoor Learning programme, our Year 8s had the fantastic opportunity to learn from Darren Sherwood of Exmoor Game School. Darren introduced the students to the rich variety of wildlife found in our local area and helped them explore where our food really comes from.
Students also got a unique hands‑on experience preparing food themselves. These sessions have been a huge hit, with Year 8 thoroughly enjoying the chance to learn outdoors and connect with nature.
#wbsmiddle #ExmoorGameSchool @theexmoorgameschool24
🎭 The 150 Theatre Performing Arts Festival 2026 🎤
Huge congratulations to everyone involved in this year’s festival! It was fantastic to see so much talent on display across Public Speaking (Year 8), Musical Solos (Years 3-12), Modern and Devised Drama (Year 11), Classical Solo Drama (Year 11), plus a brilliant range of Classical Duologues, Devised Drama, and Poetry Speaking.
A big thank you to Gail Ratcliffe, returning by popular demand to adjudicate the festival. 🌟
🌟 The Importance of Mindset
A huge thank you to OWB Emma Lee, Mindset Coach, who delivered an inspiring session to our Sixth Formers this week on why mindset matters - especially at this crucial point in the year.
In this interactive and thought‑provoking workshop, Emma explored the power of a growth mindset, the ways our beliefs can build or limit us, and shared her practical Mindset Micro Practices - brilliant tools to help students mentally prepare for challenging situations such as exams, interviews, and big decisions.
Thank you, Emma, for empowering our Sixth Form with such valuable insight!
@emmalee_mindsetcoach @wbs_owba
🏃♂️🏃♀️Senior House Run
Well done to everyone who took part in yesterday’s Senior House Run! 👏
There were some excellent performances, giving a strong warm-up ahead of the Exmoor, which is just a few weeks away.
#SeniorHouseRun #WBSsport #ExmoorChallenge #SchoolSport #ExmoorRun
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.
