Birmingham gains mainstream boarding school
Kimichi School, an independent music-led institute in Birmingham, has launched a new boarding house—welcoming boarders aged 11 to 16 from across the region, the Forces community and overseas.
With the opening of the Elmdon Lodge facility, Kimichi becomes the only mainstream independent boarding school in the city, alongside the specialist Elmhurst Ballet School.
The Elmdon Lodge boarding house will see youngsters live in a small, nurturing, music-led community where every child is known by name, sharing meals together with music, the arts and the city on their doorstep.
Full boarding starts from £33,600 a year inclusive of VAT —below the national average, where senior boarding fees now typically exceed £40,000 exclusive of VAT. The school is keen to open boarding up to families for whom it has long been unaffordable.
Sally Alexander MBE, Kimichi’s executive headteacher, said: “Birmingham is a world city, but for too long boarding has meant sending your child away or paying fees most families simply can't.
“We wanted to offer something different — a small, music-led school where every child is known, now with a genuine home from home at Elmdon Lodge, at a price ordinary working families, Forces families and international families alike can realistically consider. This is boarding with heart.”
The school says its boarding will suit a range of families: local and regional parents who want the benefits of boarding close to home; Armed Forces families, who are welcome to explore the Ministry of Defence's Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA); international families seeking a friendly, music-rich UK education; and working parents looking for weekly or flexible boarding.
Kimichi believes the new provision is good news for the wider business community — helping the region attract and keep families and talent, supporting Forces personnel posted in and beyond the Midlands, and strengthening Birmingham's international links.
The school's sister site, Kimichi School Worcester, opens in September 2026.
