Founded in 1807 by a group of non-conformist Christian ministers and City merchants. In 1827 it moved to the buildings which form the central part of the main school. Palatial, neo-classical and magnificently designed, they lie in 120 acres of wooded parkland in the green belt 10 miles from the centre of London. There has been much development and facilities and accommodation are very good, including most recently an indoor swimming pool and studio theatre. The prep school (Belmont) is a few hundred metres away and together with the pre-prep school (Grimsdell) allows for continuous education from 3-18. Now completely co-educational; girls were admitted aged 13 in 1997 after 20 years in the sixth form. A well-run school with long-established high standards, it regards hard work, self-criticism, enthusiasm and loyalty as paramount virtues. There is a major initiative which places much of the curriculum in a European context. Examination results are good. It is strong in music, art and drama (a new theatre centre). A very broad range of games and sports is provided, and standards are high (regular England players in hockey, cricket and rugby; close links with Saracens rugby club). There is substantial commitment to local community schemes and a highly regarded CCF contingent.

Pupils: Age range 13-18; 690 pupils, 530 day (375 boys, 155 girls), 160 boarding (108 boys, 52 girls). Entrance:àMain entry ages at 13, 14 and 16. Own entrance exam and interview used (common entrance for setting purposes); for sixth-form entry, 7 GCSEs with at least grade C, 5 of which should be grade B including sixth-form subjects. No special skills or religious requirements (but all are expected to attend chapel services). State school entry, 15% main intake plus 25% to sixth form. 60% of intake from own junior school, Belmont (enquiries to 020 8959 1431, email info@belmontschool.com).

Up to 30 pa scholarships including academic, art, music, drama and sports awards. 10 bursaries. Parents not expected to buy textbooks.

70% live within 30 miles; 15+% live overseas.

Headmaster: Dr Dominic Luckett, appointed 2007. Educated at King Edward VII Grammar School, King's Lynn, and at universities of Leicester (history) and Oxford (DPhil). Previously Deputy Headmaster at Worth and Head of History at Harrow. Publications include historical articles in various scholarly journals. Also ISI inspector. Teaching staff: 60 full time, 15 part time. Annual turnover 4%. Average age 35.

GCSE: 130 pupils in fifth form: 95% gained at least grade C in 7+ subjects (mean of 8 per pupil). Average GCSE score 52. A-levels: 106 in upper sixth. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 327.

99+% of sixth-form leavers go on to a degree course, 2% to Oxbridge. 7% take courses in medicine, dentistry or veterinary science, 28% in maths, science or engineering, 7% in law, 22% in humanities and social sciences, 36% in business and finance. Others typically go on to non-degree courses, art or music colleges or into careers.

GCSE, AS and A-levels. 18 GCSE subjects, 20 AS/A-level. General studies not taken. Vocational: Work experience available in UK and Europe. Special provision: Extra English and EFL for pupils with overseas educational background. Languages: French, Spanish and German offered at GCSE and A-level; also Spanish and German AS-level. Regular exchanges (France, Germany and Spain). ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum, eg most course work on WP, project work, research using internet. 100+ computers for pupil use (10 hours a day), all networked and with email and internet access.

Music: Up to 25% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 10 musical groups including choirs, orchestras, jazz, wind band, chamber ensembles. Facilities have been extended and improved recently (includes hard-disk recording studio). Drama: GCSE drama and A-level theatre studies may be taken. Majority of pupils are involved in school and house/other productions. Art and design: On average, 30 take GCSE, 20 AS and 10 A-level. Range of media used. Regular visits to Paris and New York.

Sport: Rugby, hockey, netball, cricket, athletics, cross-country compulsory. Optional: badminton, basketball, fives, golf, tennis, karate, shooting, scuba, squash, swimming, table tennis, volleyball and many others. England cricket, hockey and rugby players. All major teams tour to eg Barbados, South Africa. County cricket champions in recent years at U15 and U19 level. Activities: Pupils take bronze and silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award. CCF for 2 years at age 14, community service optional for 4. Up to 30 clubs, eg computing, debating, pop/rock groups, video filming.

Uniform: School uniform worn, modified in the sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, head boy/girl, head of house and house prefects - appointed by the Headmaster and housemasters, after upper sixth vote. School Council. Religion: Chapel (non-denominational) compulsory for all about once a week. Social: Exchanges with France, Germany and Spain; involves about 100 pupils a year; sports tours to eg South Africa, Barbados. Pupils allowed to bring own car/bike to school. Meals self-service. School shop. No tobacco allowed; alcohol on occasion for sixth form only.

Pupils failing to produce homework once will receive a warning; twice results in an academic detention. Any pupils involved with alcohol or drugs must expect to be expelled.

is run from the school.

Dennis Thatcher; Francis Crick (Nobel prize - structure of DNA); Simon Jenkins; Richard Dimbleby; Lord Salmon of Sandwich; Sir Michael Bishop; Nigel Wray; Timothy Mo; Catherine Whitehorn; Keith Murray.