Boarding
from age 7 upwards
Home The Prep Prep (7-13) Boarding at The Prep

Join the Cade House Family

Cade House offers a warm, nurturing boarding environment at Cheltenham Prep for children aged 7 to 13. Home to around 40 full boarders, with a further 20 flexi and occasional boarders joining throughout the week, Cade House sits at the very heart of the Prep School within the main school building, placing boarding at the centre of daily school life.

Boarding at The Prep feels like being part of an extended family. Children are known as individuals, feel safe and supported, and build friendships that often last well beyond their time at the school. Almost half of our full boarders come from military families, and we provide stability, care and continuity for children whose parents may be serving away from home.

Meet the Houseparents

The Bell Family

Mr and Mrs Bell are the Houseparents of Cade House. As joint Houseparents, they bring a shared commitment to caring for and supporting young people, and are fully immersed in life within the Cheltenham Prep boarding community.

Mrs Bell has experience as a teacher, including previously working at Cheltenham Prep, and is delighted to be back at the school. Mr Bell brings experience from both education, as a boarding school tutor, and from professional sport. As a family, the Bells enjoy walks with their dog and movie nights at home.

A Home for Every Age

Cade House is a co-educational boarding house, with boys and girls aged 7 to 13 living and mixing together naturally. Each floor accommodates the full age range, meaning siblings can always spend time together, say goodnight each evening and remain close as a family.

This structure brings wonderful benefits: younger boarders gain confidence and reassurance from older role models, while older pupils develop leadership, empathy and a strong sense of responsibility. It is a happy, inclusive environment where every child feels supported.

Life After the School Day

From 5.00pm each evening, Cade House becomes a space to relax and unwind. Younger boarders complete their prep with the support of boarding staff, focusing on reading, spellings and times tables before tea.

Evenings are busy and varied, with three to five different activities offered each night. With a large and experienced staff team on hand, including Houseparents, matrons, gap students, graduates, sports professionals and a member of the Senior Leadership Team, children enjoy exceptional pastoral care and a rich programme of activities.

Weekends to Look Forward To

Weekends in Cade House are designed to strike the perfect balance between relaxation, social time and exciting experiences.

  • Saturdays often include a trip to Bath Road before returning to the house to watch sport, enjoy games, or relax with friends.
  • Sundays begin with a lie-in and late breakfast, followed by a planned off-site activity each afternoon. Trips may include bowling, cinema visits, laser tag, Ninja Warrior, escape rooms, water activities and much more.

The Boarding Experience

Click on the profiles below to read our Prep pupils’ boarding experiences and what life is like in Cade House:

Meet Alvis

“I joined Cheltenham Prep as a full boarder in Year 7. I moved from Hong Kong, but thanks to the amazing Houseparents and Gappies, I settled very quickly and got used to life in a new country. When I first joined, everyone in the house was very supportive. At times I felt sad being far away from home, but the caring staff helped me to settle in to boarding life. Now, I am thriving in subjects such as English and Maths. I also take part in a lot of music groups, the highlights being orchestra and concert band. I get some quality time to practise each evening in Cade House. Overall, I know that when I move on to College, I will miss my time at The Prep after making so many memories here.”

Meet Isabelle

“I am the third member of my family to join The Prep as a full boarder. When my sisters were boarding, before I joined, and I spoke to them on the phone, I used to feel really jealous because they were always having a great time enjoying fun activities. I couldn’t wait to be a part of the Cade House family.

The best part of Cade House is that we are never bored, there is always something new to do like baking, badminton, DT and a whole range of trips at weekends.

No matter where my family are posted, I know that I have an excellent and consistent education here with great friends and staff surrounding me. This stability has put my mind at ease and given me the confidence to fully embrace all aspects of school life.”

Meet Archie

“I joined Cheltenham Prep and Cade House in Year 6. From the moment I joined the school, the family feel of Cade House was overwhelming. I have built many close friends in a short space of time. Having these friends around at weekends adds to the feeling of Cade House being a home. The Houseparents and boarding staff comfort me when I need it, help me organise myself and prepare for each day. Every evening, there are fun activities on offer, but we also have the chance to relax in comfortable common rooms. The sport was appealing to me. The coaches make it fun, but also push us to our full potential, no mater which team you are playing for. Overall, I love it here at The Prep and feel like I am thriving.”