The Top 10 Independent Basketball Schools in the UK
Basketball is rapidly growing in popularity in the UK. While not a traditional, mainstream sport in British independent schools, top-quality co-curricular basketball programmes are increasingly common, offering students opportunities to take part in this team sport at school, regional, national and international levels.
This is our list of the top 10 independent basketball schools in the UK. At SLT we know it is impossible to definitively list a top ten that is right for every child – so the list below is rather a collection of schools that have consistently stood out to us over the years. There are of course many other equally good schools and we would be delighted to help you find exactly the right one for your child.
Millfield
Millfield’s reputation for sport is renowned, so it’s no surprise that this leading co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged 2-18 is fantastic for basketball. Located in rural south-west England, Millfield has acres of space with strong all-round sporting facilities and offers a high-quality basketball programme available to boys in years 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, and as a MAP (Millfield Activity programme) for girls.
The programme is run by Cameron Seely, a former international senior men’s captain and performance director for Basketball Wales. He has worked in multiple residential basketball camps, working alongside the likes of the NBA and Nike.
Listen to Millfield’s podcast with their coach here.
Millfield regularly participate in the South-West Winter League, alongside local and national competitions. Some of their students also compete for Taunton Tigers in the England national leagues.
One of their students who joined Millfield Prep in Year 7, Ayomide Bamisile, has gone on to play basketball professionally in America.
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is a prestigious boarding and day school for boys aged 2-18 in south London. The school’s under-15 team basketball team, coached by Emir Imen, won the London Independent Schools Basketball Association (LISBA) in March 2026, with their teams qualifying for three out of the four tournaments.
Basketball is very popular at Dulwich, with more than 100 boys training and playing it competitively. Staff work alongside basketball professionals to coach the boys with the sport available as an option from Year 10 to 13, with fixtures played at all age levels from the middle school upwards.
Fixtures involve annual friendly matches against other schools, leagues, national cups and the LISBA tournaments.
Sidcot School
Based in Somerset, Sidcot School is a co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged 3-18. Basketball is a popular choice of sport for both boarders and day pupils in years 3 to 13 who train weekly, coached by a former international professional player – Dzianis Smilevich.
In both the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 season, the basketball team achieved an impressive record of 25 games played and 25 games won. Sidcot play fixtures against schools such as Clifton College, Taunton School, St Katherine’s School and more.
From September 2026, they will offer a specialist basketball programme in partnership with Bristol Flyers (a leading pro-basketball team who compete in the European North Basketball League and British Basketball League). This will involve strength and conditioning training and professional coaching led by top international players.
Wycliffe College
Wycliffe College, based in Gloucestershire, is a co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged 3-18. The school started their world-class basketball programme about three years ago, led by Director of Basketball, Tony Wilburn.
From North Carolina, Tony Wilburn played collegiate basketball in the US and professionally in Europe, and has a strong reputation for building basketball programmes throughout the south-west of England.
From learning the fundamentals of skill development and team game play in the prep school, senior school students receive weekly training sessions in small groups and individual sessions to improve and develop specific skills. Experienced players have the chance to compete in competitive fixtures on Tuesdays and Thursdays, including regional and national competitions.
Wycliffe’s structured basketball training programme includes competitive fixtures and direct access to the England NBL, via their partnership with Bath Basketball Club.
The Royal Hospital School
The Royal Hospital School, set in a 200-acre campus in Suffolk, is a co-educational boarding and day school for students aged 11 to 18. Basketball is a growing sport at the school, running over all three terms. Pupils can practise in three training sessions a week, with two teams; seniors (mixed U18s) and juniors (mixed U16s).
Students have the opportunity to play in local tournaments, national team clubs and against other top independent schools such as Harrow and Eton.
St Paul’s School
St Paul’s is an academic all-boys day school for students aged 7-18 in Barnes, west London which offers basketball as a strong sport option.
The senior school operates teams at the following levels; U14, U15 and U19. At St Paul’s Prep there are junior basketball clubs that run at lunch time, an offer provided for interested basketballers. Led by national level coaches, the school offers basketball as both senior and junior games options in the autumn and spring terms.
One of London’s top national league clubs – Westside Basketball Club, is based at the school and offers an extensive community programme, developing young talent. Recent successes have shown two of the club juniors to represent both England and Great Britain at U15,16,18 and 20 level, before receiving scholarships to the US.
St Paul’s players have the option to compete at school, borough, regional, national and international level. The school is part of the south conference LIBSA, playing against rivals such as Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and Whitgift. These fixtures are played in the autumn and spring terms.
St Paul’s have also introduced a popular leavers vs teachers’ game, alongside an alumni game, (an annual fixture at the end of the school year, wherein basketball alumni take part.)
ACS Cobham
Based in Surrey, ACS Cobham is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 2-18 that follows an international curriculum. It has extensive sports facilities including a showcase basketball arena with tiered seating. Basketball is offered as a main competitive sport played in both the fall (autumn term) and winter seasons (spring term), by middle and upper school girls and boys. Fixtures involve local state, independent and international schools.
ACS Cobham are members of multiple organisations, allowing them to participate in a variety of national and international fixtures. The World School Games offer excellent sporting experiences and the U16s and U19s at ACS Cobham enter a basketball competition in Valencia, Spain. The school is also a member of the LSSA (London School Sports Association), a group of London-based international schools which compete on a seasonal basis across all their sports.
ACS Hillingdon
ACS Hillingdon is a co-educational day school based in west London for pupils aged 4-18. Like its sister school – ACS Cobham, ACS Hillingdon follows an international curriculum and offers basketball as a main competitive sport for middle and upper school boys and girls who play in a new, state-of-the-art sports hall. The school also offers basketball as a co-curricular programme for grades 1-4, enabling lower school pupils to foster some basic basketball skills.
Known as the Hawks, ACS Hillingdon teams compete against local independent, state and international schools. Like ACS Cobham, they are part of multiple international sports organisations, with students taking part in LSSA games. Both schools are members of the ISAA (International Schools Athletics Association), an organisation that strives to bring schools together through various sport competitions.
ACS Hillingdon also provides an Elite Performance Pathway Programme, designed to further support and develop talented individuals; past and present pupils have competed in National League Basketball and play-off finals at Youth Basketball England.
The American School in London
The American School in London (ASL), based in St John’s Wood, north-west London, is a co-educational day school for pupils aged 4-18 which follows the US curriculum. Basketball is offered as a main competitive sport for grades 7-12, played in the spring term in their own gym. Basketball is also available for grades 5-6 in the summer term.
Founded in 1951, basketball is a core component of ASL’s co-curricular offering. 1972 was the first year the girls won the International Schools Sport Tournament (ISST). Girls basketball has continued to grow for four decades. Similarly, the boys’ team has won the ISST nine times from 1976 to 1993.
Basketball at ASL allows students to play in local and international games and tournaments. The ASL teams, known as The Eagles, compete with other schools throughout the season as well as against one another.
Beyond the winter months, ASL offers basketball from March to July in their Young Hoopers programme designed for pupils aged 5 to 16.
Read more about The American School in London in SLT’s article here
TASIS
Like The American School in London, TASIS, a co-educational boarding and day school, follows an American curriculum and caters for ages 4-18.
Situated on a 46-acre campus in Surrey, the school has fantastic sport facilities and offers basketball in the spring term for both middle and upper school girls and boys, whilst also offering it as a recreational sport throughout the autumn and summer term.
One of their coaches, Ta’Yani Clark, was inducted into the British Basketball League of Fame two years ago. This accolade recognises individuals from all eras of the women’s and men’s leagues who have made significant contributions to basketball in the UK.
In March 2026, the middle school boys’ and girls’ teams competed in their end of season LSSA (London Schools Sports Association) festivals and tournaments, with the boys’ A team remaining undefeated and claiming first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is basketball growing in popularity in schools?
Basketball is an inclusive game – a strong way to stay active and bring communities together. In 2025 the NBA and UK government announced a large investment plan to continue to grow basketball in the UK.
What skills does basketball foster for students?
Basketball encourages teamwork and fosters skills such as resilience, leadership and perseverance, alongside helping students develop fundamental movement skills.
What level of basketball coaching is available in independent schools?
Most independent schools offer basketball programmes to a very high level, employing specialist coaches to assist alongside general members of staff.
What is the London Independent Schools Basketball Association (LISBA)?
The London Independent Schools Basketball Association is a basketball competition for private schools in London and the surrounding counties. Due to an influx of new schools, a north and south conference was created.
What other schools offer great basketball programmes?
There are many other fantastic basketball opportunities at schools across the UK. These include Harrow, Cheltenham College, King’s School Canterbury, West Buckland and Whitgift school. Myerscough College also offers an exceptional basketball academy, with prominent player Amari Williams being an alumnus.
How Simply Learning Tuition and Consultancy Can Help
Our school placement service is personal and comprehensive. If your child has a particular passion – whether in basketball or another extra-curricular pursuit, our educational consultants can help you navigate this process and give you expert advice based on your child’s ambitions, interests and personality.
Our services include:
- An educational pathway planning meeting
- Schools shortlisting to ensure you find the best fit school for your children.
- Support through the entire application process including preparation for school admissions tests
- Mock interviews and interview coaching
- Private tuition