Founded in 1865 as a boys' boarding school. Girls have been included in the sixth form since 1971 and throughout the school from 1999. It has a splendid site in over 200 acres of Surrey farmland near the small town of Cranleigh. The prep school adjoins the main campus. The buildings are striking and well-appointed. There has been considerable expansion and the school is now extremely well equipped, with a music school, studio theatre, floodlit astroturf, and a sports complex. The main boarding houses have recently been refurbished and a new girls' house built. The chapel was built as the central point of the school and the policy is to maintain Christian values as a way of life. It is a well-run, energetic and purposeful school which displays considerable enterprise in many fields. A large staff allows a very favourable staff/pupil ratio. Academic standards are high and examination results very good. It has a good reputation for art, music and drama; there are three theatres and some 12 productions each year. There are good facilities for art (including ceramics, sculpture, textiles and printmaking). It has a long-standing reputation for games and sports, of which there is a wide range available, including golf (there is a 9-hole course on the estate). Numerous clubs and societies cater for most needs. There is an active CCF (including a fire brigade section, with its own engine); frequent and varied field trips and expeditions overseas; a substantial commitment to local community service and considerable success in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.

Pupils: Age range 13-18, 610 pupils, 176 day (133 boys, 43 girls), 434 boarding (274 boys, 160 girls). Entrance: Main entry age 13 and 16. Common Entrance exam used. 35% intake from own prep (enquiries to the Master's PA, Cranleigh Preparatory School, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8QQ, tel 01483 273666, email fmjb@cranprep.org).

Scholarships: academic, music, art and Eric Abbott Awards available.

Headmaster: Guy Waller, appointed 1997. Educated at Hurstpierpoint and Oxford (chemistry). Previously Headmaster at Lord Wandsworth College, Housemaster and Head of Chemistry at Radley. Also FRSA; cricket and hockey blue. Teaching staff: 71 full time, 14 part time. Annual turnover 6%. Average age 39.

GCSE: 118 pupils in upper fifth: 97% gained at least grade C in 6+ subjects. Average GCSE score 77 (72 over 5 years). A-levels: 114 in upper sixth. 9% passed in 4+ subjects; 90% in 3 subjects. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 376.

99% of sixth-form leavers go on to a degree course (45% after a gap year), 6% to Oxbridge. 6% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 25% in science and engineering, 5% in law, 55% in humanities and social sciences, 5% in art and design, 5% in vocational subjects eg physiotherapy, surveying.

GCSE, AS and AS-levels. 22 AS/A-level subjects. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 5 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; general studies not taught but almost all take AS-level in critical thinking. 10% take science in the sixth form; 48% arts/humanities; 42% both. Vocational: Work experience is compulsory part of the careers programme. Special provision: Arranged by special educational needs co-ordinator. Languages: French, German, Spanish and Latin offered at GCSE, AS and A-level. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. 350 computers for pupil use (up to 15 hours a day in boarding houses), all networked and with email and internet access; many pupils have own laptops.

Music: Up to 40% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 10 musical groups including symphony orchestra, wind band, chapel choir, big band, strings, trios, quartets, choir. About 30 concerts a year, some with professionals. Drama: GCSE, A-level theatre studies may be taken. Majority of pupils are involved in school productions and house/other productions. 10+ productions a year. Art and design: On average, 60 take GCSE, 20 A-level. All art teachers are practising artists.

Sport: Compulsory participation in a choice of sport or physical activity; 16 team sports and many individual sports - rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis, athletics, swimming, golf; also canoeing, cross-country, fencing, fives, karate, riding (stables on estate), shooting, soccer, squash, water polo, netball, lacrosse. Pupils have represented county at athletics, hockey, netball, cricket and rugby. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. CCF and community service optional; sponsorship for education of Third World children. 50+ clubs and activities, eg bridge, chess, debating, science, Schools Challenge, circus skills, photography, karate, astronomy, angling.

Uniform: School uniform worn throughout (working day), dress code for sixth form girls. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Senior prefect and deputy (appointed by Head); all upper sixth involved in prefecting; house captains and deputies (appointed by housemasters/mistresses). Religion: Church of England school. Attendance at religious worship compulsory three times a week. Social: Annual choral concert and social service jointly with other schools. Regular field trips and expeditions to eg Italy, France, Spain, Eastern Europe. Pupils allowed to bring own horse to school; no cars. Meals self-service. School, book and tuck shops. No tobacco allowed. Alcohol permitted in upper-sixth buttery at restricted times under supervision.

Close relationship between staff and pupils (drawn from boarding structure) where discipline is maintained through mutual respect. Pupils caught with drugs on the premises will be expelled.

Dr Derek Bourgeois (composer); Andrew Roberts (historian, broadcaster); David Westcott (GB hockey captain); Julia Ormond (actor); E W Swanton (cricket and rugby correspondent, commentator and author); Alan Rusbridger (Guardian Editor); Patrick Marber (playwright).