Boarding Travel & Term Dates

This page provides essential information regarding Plymouth College’s academic term dates and associated travel arrangements for our boarding pupils, helping families plan effectively for arrivals, departures and half-term breaks.

Boarding travel dates

The flights you book should arrive and depart on the dates given below and between the times shown to allow enough time for the onward journey to and from Plymouth. Direct flights are preferable where possible to avoid potential complications with connecting flights.

Summer Term 2025	Flight Times	Boarding House Open / Close
Tuesday 22nd April	Airport Transfer service to Heathrow: Arrivals should be before 13:00 Departures should be after 14:30	Boarding house will open at 14:00 and close at 17:00 for all term dates.
Friday 23rd May
Sunday 1st June
Friday 4th July
At the end of the summer term Year 11 and Year 13 boarders only may depart from the boarding house after Speech Day unless they are required to continue with swim training or other school commitments.
At the beginning of each term and half term Boarders are expected to return to school the evening before school starts, as listed above. The boarding houses will be open from 3pm and will be locked at 10pm. We will not accept arrivals and/or departures between 10pm and 6.30am.

Autumn Term 2025	Flight Times	Boarding Houses Open / Close
Tuesday 2nd September for new boarders	Airport Transfer service to Heathrow: Arrivals should be before 14:00 Departures should be after 14:30	Boarding house will open at 14:00 and close at 17:00 for all term dates.
Wednesday 3rd September for existing boarders
Friday 17th October
Sunday 2nd November
Friday 12th December
Spring Term 2026	Flight Times	Boarding Houses Open / Close
Monday 5th January	Airport Transfer service to Heathrow: Arrivals should be before 13:00 Departures should be after 14:30	Boarding house will open at 14:00 and close at 17:00 for all term dates.
Friday 13th February
Sunday 22nd February
Thursday 2nd April
Summer Term 2026	Flight Times	Boarding Houses Open / Close
Tuesday 22nd April	Airport Transfer service to Heathrow: Arrivals should be before 13:00 Departures should be after 14:30	Boarding house will open at 14:00 and close at 17:00 for all term dates.
Friday 23rd May
Sunday 1st June
Friday 3rd July
At the end of the summer term Year 11 and Year 13 boarders only may depart from the boarding house after Speech Day unless they are required to continue with swim training or other school commitments.
At the beginning of each term and half term Boarders are expected to return to school the evening before school starts, as listed above. The boarding houses will be open from 3pm and will be locked at 10pm. We will not accept arrivals and/or departures between 10pm and 6.30am.

Travel Support & Guidance

School transport will be provided from Heathrow Airport on all the dates listed in the table above.

To secure your child’s place on the school transport, which may be a bus or taxis depending on numbers, complete the appropriate term’s booking form and return it at least one month before the date of travel. The cost of £80 per person per transfer for Heathrow will be added to the next term’s school fees account. Please note that the transfer fee may change when the fees structure has been reviewed.

Swimming scholars should check training/competition dates with the Director of Swimming before booking holiday flights.

Boarders over 16 years old may make their own way to/from Plymouth by coach or train with their parents’ written permission.

Boarders aged 15 years and under must be escorted either by parents, by guardians, by private taxi, or by the College’s Heathrow Airport transfer chaperone service.

Parents of overseas pupils travelling with visas must provide all travel details to the boarding administrator each time the student enters or exits the UK and ALL details if remaining in the UK to include: travel arrangements, address, name and contact of where staying.