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What it's like

Founded in 1853, the school moved to its present site in 1924, 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 but pupils of all persuasions are welcome and the resulting multi-cultural pupil population is celebrated as a strength. A good all-round education is provided 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.

Pupils & entrance

Pupils: Total age range 3-18, 845 pupils: 710 day (406 boys, 304 girls), 135 boarding (70 boys, 65 girls). Senior department 11-18, 560 pupils (314 boys, 246 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: 83 pupils in fifth: 76% gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects; 20% in 5-7 subjects. Average GCSE score 83. A-levels: 71 in upper sixth: 30% passed in 4+ subjects; 63% in 3 subjects. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 336.

University & college entrance

98% of sixth-form leavers go on to a degree course (6% after a gap year). 35% take courses in science and engineering, 19% in humanities and social sciences, 7% in law, 3% in medicine, 27% in business management and vocational subjects, 4% to art foundation courses and 5% to work related training.

Curriculum

GCSE, AS and A-levels. 18 GCSE subjects, 22 AS/A-level. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; general studies is not taken. 14% take science A-levels; 30% arts/humanities; 55% both. 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). 180 computers for pupil use (10 hours a day), majority networked and with email and internet access.

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 Trinity Acting exams may be taken. Frequent school productions. Current and former pupils regularly appear on television. Art and design: On average, 30 take GCSE, 8 AS-level, 8 A-level. Design, pottery, graphics and 3-D design offered. Extra-curricular art and design always available. Several students accepted on foundation courses each year.

Sports & activities

Sport: Football, hockey, cricket for boys; netball, football 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 and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, head boy/girl, appointed by the Headmaster. Heads of houses and house prefects appointed by house staff. Religion: Church of England. Attendance at religious worship compulsory. Social: Annual ski trips, French and Spanish trips. 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.