What it’s like
Founded in 1853, by a committee of textile workers to provide free education for the sons and daughters of ‘necessitous’ employees in the trade. Almost from the outset it was under the patronage of the royal family. In 1924 the school moved to its present site two miles south-east of Croydon where it stands in beautiful gardens in a delightful 100-acre rural, wooded estate. Its elegant and well-appointed buildings include a fine chapel and excellent modern facilities. The school is affiliated to the Church of England, and the approach to daily life is founded on Christian principles, but pupils of all persuasions are welcome. A good all-round education is provided to pupils of a wide range of ability and examination results are good. Music, drama and art are strong. There are very good facilities for sports and games, including a large sports hall, gymnasium, indoor swimming pool, library and sixth form study centre. A plentiful range of clubs and societies and the CCF has Army and RAF units. Full use is made of the estate and a good deal of enterprise is shown in cultural visits, expeditions abroad etc. The school is greatly involved in the Model United Nations programmes: there is an annual four-day conference at the school and delegations are successfully sent each year to the international conference in The Hague.

School profile

Pupils & entrance
Pupils: Total age range 3–18, 810 pupils: 680 day (426 boys, 254 girls), 130 boarding (66 boys, 64 girls). Senior department 11–18, 530 pupils (342 boys, 188 girls).
Entrance: Main entry age 11. Own entrance exam, report and interview; for sixth-form entry, 6 GCSEs at least grade C (grade B in sixth-form subjects). State school entry, 20% main intake (small numbers to sixth form); many pupils from own prep (enquiries to the Headmaster, The Preparatory School, tel 020 8651 5884).

Scholarships & bursaries 20 pa scholarships, value 10%–40% fees: 16 academic, 2 drama and 2 music (10 at 11, 5 at 13, 5 at 16). Variable number of bursaries.

Head & staff
Headmaster: Dr John Jennings, appointed in 1996. Educated at West Buckland and at London University. Previously Vice Master of Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Blackburn.
Teaching staff: 50 full time in senior school, 11 part time. Annual turnover 9%. Average age 42.

Exam results
GCSE: In 2003, 78 pupils in fifth: 67% gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects; 27% in 5–7 subjects. Average GCSE score 50 (42 over 5 years).
A-levels: 74 in upper sixth: 27% passed in 4+ subjects; 67% in 3; 5% in 2 subjects. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 318.

University & college entrance 95% of 2003 sixth-form leavers went on to a degree course (3% after a gap year). 32% took courses in science & engineering, 29% in humanities & social sciences, 3% in law, 15% in vocational subjects, 15% to art foundation courses and 5% to work related training. Others typically go on to improve their A-level grades.

Curriculum GCSE, AS and A-levels. 22 GCSE subjects, 18 AS/A-level.
Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; general studies is not taken. 34% take science A-levels; 25% arts/humanities; 41% both. Key skills covered in A-level courses.
Vocational: Work experience available.
Special provision: EFL for foreign pupils; help for dyslexics.
Languages: French and Spanish offered to GCSE, AS and A-level. Regular exchanges to France and Spain.
ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject, and across the curriculum, (eg spreadsheets, databases and DTP). 98 computers for pupil use (10 hours a day), majority networked and with email and internet access. Most pupils take GCSE IT; AS and A-level also offered

The arts
Music: Over 50% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken, also GCSE and A-level. Musical groups include orchestra, chapel choir, chamber choir, various other occasional ensembles.
Drama: Drama offered; GCSE, A-level and LAMDA exams may be taken. Frequent school productions. Current and former pupils regularly appear on television.
Art & design: On average, 30 take GCSE, 3 AS-level, 8 A-level. Design, pottery, graphics, IT and 3-D design offered. Extra-curricular art & design always available. Several students accepted on foundation courses each year.

Sport & activities
Sport: Football, hockey, cricket for boys; netball and rounders for girls; also swimming, basketball, badminton, athletics, tennis, softball, trampolining, cross-country, gymnastics. Optional: squash, volleyball, aerobics, judo, fencing, dry-slope skiing, orienteering, table tennis. Fifth and sixth form only: weight training. Many pupils in county teams.
Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. CCF and community service optional. Up to 15 clubs, eg art, chess, drama, Model United Nations, computing, young engineers, Young Enterprise.

School life
Uniform: School uniform worn except in the sixth form.
Houses & prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, head boy/girl, appointed by the Headmaster. Heads of houses and house prefects appointed by house staff.
Religion: Attendance at religious worship compulsory.
Social: Annual ski trips, French trip and German exchanges. Sixth form allowed to bring own car to school, subject to strict controls. Meals self-service. School uniform shop. No tobacco or alcohol allowed.

Discipline Pupils failing to produce homework once might expect a reprimand and extra time to complete it. Those caught smoking pursue a smokers’ reform programme and pay a fine which goes to cancer research. For serious offences, detentions, suspension and expulsion would be considered.