Military Families

Cheltenham College has a long and distinguished connection with the military dating back to 1862. It’s a connection and understanding that remains just as strong today.

We understand the unique challenges that military families face when choosing how and where to educate their children. At College and The Prep we aim to provide flexibility and support to ensure that your children receive the very best education and care, wherever you are posted.

If you haven’t already, please do read our Good Schools Guide review for both The Prep and College.

Click the links below to jump to the section of this page that matters most to you:

• Pastoral care
• College’s military history
• Travel to Cheltenham
• Fees and discounts for military families
• Boarding Life at The Prep (7-13)
• Boarding Life at College (13-18)

Pastoral Care

Our staff includes many ex-military personnel, who add a greater depth of understanding to how best support and nurture the children of military families. Their experience is combined with a House system at College and the Boarding House at The Prep which are run as extended-families or communities. This combination of experience and structure ensures that there is both a formal and informal pastoral support system in place for every child. Within both schools they are always surrounded by a large number of friends and kept engaged with a range of academic and co-curricular activities both during the week and at weekends. At all times resident staff are always on hand to listen, guide and mentor each child to ensure their wellbeing and happiness.

With a large number of military families already at College and The Prep, many pupils (and their parents) also appreciate the opportunity to mix with peers who also have family in the forces. Parents at The Prep also enjoy the flexibility of midweek visits, time away together at weekends, and phased pick up for Exeat weekends. Travel arrangements at the beginning and end of terms can be arranged through staff at the school with flexibility where possible to suit your needs.

Find out more about the pastoral care and support at College and The Prep.

Pastoral Care at Prep

Pastoral Care at The College

College’s military history

College is one of only three schools in England to have its own military colours and all pupils have the opportunity to be a part of the CCF.

Over 6,000 Old Cheltonians have served in HM Armed Forces in times of war and of those, 702 gave the ultimate sacrifice during the First World War. Fourteen Old Cheltonians have been awarded the Victoria Cross.

Discover more about our military heritage in the College Archives here.

Travel to Cheltenham

Cheltenham College is a few minutes walk from the centre of Cheltenham, a town known as the gateway to the Cotswolds, designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Cheltenham is well known for its culture, including its regency architecture and world-renowned Cheltenham Festivals Series, featuring the annual literature, music, jazz and science festivals. Pupils at College have access to all of this, plus the wider countryside that surrounds the town.

For parents, Cheltenham’s greatest strength is its accessibility by rail, road and air. Cheltenham is less than an hour from Bristol, Birmingham, and Oxford by car or train. London Paddington is two hours by rail. Heathrow Airport has a regular coach service to Cheltenham approximately every two hours or is less than a two-hour drive away.

Discover Cheltenham and the Cotswolds

Watch the video below to discover our town and the surrounding area:

Fees and discounts for military families

The links we have and the support we provide mean that today over 40 HM Forces families currently entrust Cheltenham College with the education and care of their children.

In recognition of the distinguished relationship between Cheltenham College and the military, we are proud to offer the discounts below to both Day and Boarding families in both The Prep and College. In addition to the CEA allowance, these discounts can be combined with a means-tested bursary.