15 Fictional Boarding Schools We Wish Were Real!

We have trawled through films, literature and even video games to put together this list of 15 awesome boarding schools we wish were real. How many do you know?

Posted on Tue, May 04, 2010 @ 07:00 AM by admin
Tagged with: boarding schools, fictional boarding schools, harry potter, hogwarts, x-mansion, x-men

1. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling

Hogwarts is located somewhere in Scotland, on a lake shore sometimes called Black Lake where a non-threatening giant squid sometimes acts a lifeguard. Students ages 11 through 17 attend the  somewhat scary-looking castle made up of a jumble of rooms which seem to move. The first two years, students are not allowed their own broomsticks, however the older students are free to roam the skies. Who wouldn't want to attend Hogwart's?

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2. Regis High School - Toy Soldiers – film

Regis High is the preparatory school home of many teenage boys of wealthy, powerful families, who have rebelled in one way or another, providing the nickname "Rejects High". When the school is taken over by terrorists, the students must step up and save themselves and the helpless, bumbling authorities from the threat. You'd love going to school and participating in antics with these resourceful students who save their school and teachers from harm.

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3. Welton Academy  - Dead Poets Society

In the 1989 Academy Award-winning film by Peter Weir, Dead Poet's Society, Welton Academy is an autocratic boy's prep school where the young men meet an off-beat but inspiring English professor who encourages individuality. The fictional boarding school is located in beautiful Vermont and is based on the actual experiences of the author. You'd love meeting the interesting, often humorous and heart-touching students, and especially the English prof that encourages non-conformity and life-changing enlightenment through poetry and literature.

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4. Miss Minchin's Boarding School - A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Captain Crewe, a doting father, sends his seven year old daughter, Sara, to live at Miss Minchin's, requesting that she receive special attention, quarters, a personal maid and anything she wants. Sara befriends the outcast students and loves the school's maid, Becky, but on her 11th birthday her father dies in India after losing all his fortune when a friend invested it unwisely and Sara is forced to join Becky in the housekeeping staff. In the end, an Indian nobleman chances upon Sara, explains he had lost her father's fortune but after her dad's death recovered the money and Sara is again wealthy; she then rescues Becky to become her own personal, well-treated maid and gives Miss Minchin the humiliation she richly deserves.  Another classic boarding school which captures our imagination.

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5. Hailsham School - Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Hailsham, situated in Britain, and attended by Kathy H. (we never learn her surname) is an idyllic school with lovely grounds and a strong focus on artistic creations and taking care of one's health. The best art works of the students are collected by a lady called only Madame who takes them to her gallery. Kathy finds close friendships and often acts as a peacemaker if anyone around her becomes argumentative, creating a happy life for herself at Hailshams and you'd have just as much fun creating art and making friends. There is a sci-fi style twist at the end of this book – but I don’t want to ruin it for you (however it might make you less inclined to enroll at this idyllic school).

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7. Lowood Institution - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre is sent to Lowood Institution which is a charity school, when she is accused of being a liar and deceitful. There Jane finds a caring and loving teacher, Miss Temple and a close friend in another student, Helen Burns and later Jane is cleared of all the wrongful accusations. Initially the school conditions are less than perfect, but several benefactors erect a new building and all the conditions at the school become pleasant and healthy. We would still love to experience the schools high’s and lows of living as well as the opportunity to meet our hero Jane Eyre.

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8. The Twins at St Clare's - by Enid Blyton

Twin girls, Pat and Isabel O'Sullivan, attend this boarding school initially against their will.  The girls love the field hockey, lacrosse, and tennis at St. Clare's. They easily make friends and participate in pranks, most directly at Miss Kennedy, the history instructor who is insecure and timid. The twins take pity on Miss Kennedy when they overhear that she might give up her job because of their awful pranks even though she needs the money to help her ill mother. A real classic British boarding school that we would have loved to have enrolled!

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9. Ault School - Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

Lee Fiora is an intent, observant fourteen-year-old who attends Ault when she is attracted to the school based on a brochure. At the cloistered school, evenings are spent on Nantucket where the teens speak in their own quite clever shorthand. Lee is fascinated by the great friends she is making, and you'd love attending this intelligent old school where rituals abound.

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10. The Steering School - John Irving's novels The World According to Garp

The World according to Garp's Steering School is where the mother of T.S. Garp is employed and he grows up to attend. After deciding he wants to become a writer, Garp falls in love with Helen Holm, the wresting coach's daughter, who demands he succeed as a writer before their marriage. Any budding writer -- or anyone at all -- would love to attend Steering School and meet interesting characters like Garp and Helen.

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11. Spencer Academy - The Covenant – Film

Spencer Academy is a school for elite students  and the students at this school have some awesome magical powers. Their powers can range from shape shifting, super human strength and even the ability to defy gravity. If you try and ignore the fact that this power causes premature ageing, i could not think of a better place to spend my formative years!

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12. St Trinians – Film and Book

St. Trinian's, created by Ronald Searle, is the boarding school for girls in numerous popular comedy films. Life at St. Trinian's is filled with mayhem and disreputable female teachers, called mistresses, drunk girls, gambling, smoking, skimpy clothing and students who appear to be daughters of gangsters and all types of shady low-lives. Who wouldn't want to meet and interact with such a wide variety of interesting ladies, although at times the "lady" part may be a bit questionable.

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13. Bullworth academy – Video Game

Bully, also known as Canis Canem Edit, which means "Dog Eat Dog" is available for the PlayStation 2 and allows the player to control teen rebel James Hopkins, better known as "Jimmy". You earn money, improve Jimmy's skills and abilities, complete missions, explore the school and much more. Fictionally located in New England, you'd love attending Bullworth Academy and exploring Jimmy's world.

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14. X-Mansion - X Men

Professor Xavier's mansion, known as the X-Mansion, is the base of operations for the X-Men and a school for mutant teenagers, Xavier Institute for Higher Learner, formerly called Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Not only is Professor Xavier the best headmaster you could imagine but the skills and mission preparations learned while attending are second-to-none; after all, the X-Men's younger future replacements must be ready to save the world when their time comes. You could attend and become a future world-saving expert trained by Professor Xavier, too.

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15. Hugglestones – Terry Pratchet : The Truth, Discworld

Hugglestone's is a boarding school which is designed to turn boys into capable men ready to survive on the sports field or anywhere else they are challenged. While the reputation of "sporty" goes with attending this institution, there is a certain wastage tolerated -- mostly of the fat, weedy, and generally unfit. You have to love the student's character flaws such as being able to read without lip movement or following along word-for-word with the index finger, making this Discworld boarding school among the best.

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