As a former writer for the Good Schools Guide and now professional education adviser and partner with PS Education, Suzie Oweiss has visited and critically analysed a large number of independent, grammar and state schools.
UK schools for more than a decade have been ranked by league tables, but many of the very best schools do not enter the leagues.
Further, not one of the leagues measures a school’s ability to love and care for its children, to provide a spiritual, moral, emotional, sporting or artistic education for all its students – let alone build the child’s character.
- Here she identifies the top independent schools in Surrey and South West London – with an eye for more than just the academic record.
- Below are the schools – not ranked – that I feel produce the highest value-added in terms of academic, sporting and artistic achievement, results and all-roundedness.
1. Hampton School
Hanworth Road, Middlesex, TW12 3HD | Telephone | Website
A mainstream independent school for boys aged from 11 to 19.
Hampton School is rated as one of the top private schools in the country. In 2019, 79% of A levels were at A*-A and 91% of the grades at GCSE were at 9-7.
Wide range of subjects on offer with science and maths being taught at GCSE level.
2. St George's College
Weybridge Road, KT15 2QS | Telephone | Website
A Catholic day school for pupils aged from 11-18.
A popular choice for those wanting a co-ed academic powerhouse. In 2019, 53% achieved A*-A at A level, and 80% achieved 9-7 grades at GCSE.
There is a sense of pride and belonging among St George’s students and staff. As well as its high academic standards, sports, drama and arts are strong offerings, too.
3. Kingston Grammar School
70 London Road, Kingston, KT2 6PY | Telephone | Website
A mainstream co-educational private school for pupils aged from 11 to 18.
In 2019, 66% A*-A grades at A level and 90% 9-7 grades at GCSE. Academically robust, especially in Maths, English, sciences and languages – so across the board. The school is situated in the heart of town with access to transport and shopping. A new-ish arts centre makes for a great facility for exhibitions and performances. Outstanding art, drama and music achievements.
4. Claremont Fan Court School
Sponsored | Claremont Drive, Esher, KT10 9HY | Telephone | Website
Co-educational day school for children aged 2½ to 18, set on 100 acres of historic greenbelt grounds.
Claremont is known for focusing on the academic potential of its pupils. But not at the expense of their pastoral well-being, for a culture that nurtures pupils’ limitless potential, not just in exams but equips them with the skills to shape the world around them at university, in their careers and in the wider society beyond. Excellent teaching led to outstanding A-level results in 2022, where 62% of grades achieved were A* or A and 59% of GCSE results were grades 7-9.
5. Notre Dame Senior School
Burnwood House, Surrey, KT11 1HA | Telephone | Website
A Catholic day school for girls aged from 11-18, which welcomes all faiths.
In 2019, 54% of students achieved A*-A at A level and 53% achieved 9-7 grades at GCSE. Notre Dame is a school that encourages and nurtures girls of all abilities. Girls do very well in textiles, drama and art. They can learn modern dance, violin or drums, netball or football. The Montaigne Theatre has been a welcome addition to the school, as has the new all-weather hockey pitch. University choices in 2019 included Southampton, Durham and Nottingham Trent.
6. Surbiton High School
Surbiton Crescent, Kingston, KT1 2JT | Telephone | Website
A mainstream independent school for girls aged from 4 to 18.
It is an amazing school in suburbia’ with sports facilities close to the main buildings. Surbiton High girls excel at the “Super Eight” sports: hockey, cricket, football, netball, gymnastics, rowing, tennis and skiing.
In fact, sport is at the heart of the school, as are art, drama and music.
7. City of London Freemen's School
Ashtead Park, Ashtead, KT21 1ET | Telephone | Website
A day and boarding school for pupils aged from 7-18.
Pupils are mostly day, yet boarding numbers are growing after the launch of newly developed and impressive boarding houses.
Results
In 2019, 65% of students achieved A*-A grades at A level and 83% of students scored 9-7 grades at GCSE.
8. The Lady Elanor Holles School
Hanworth Road, Hampton, TW12 3HE | Telephone | Website
A mainstream private school for girls aged from 7 to 18.
Highly academic, sporty and excelling in drama and the arts the school also has excellent facilities, including a superb boathouse.
Perfect school for confident, dynamic high achievers; everything about the school means business – not forgetting fun and excitement to go with it.
9. Box Hill School
London Road, Mickleham, RH5 6EA | Telephone | Website
A day and boarding school for pupils aged from 11-18.
The private school has 60% day students and 40% boarders, with 25% of students from overseas.
The school has approximately 425 pupils aged 11–18.
Offers A levels as well as the International Baccalaureate (IB).
10. Putney High School
35 Putney Hill, London, SW15 6BH | Telephone | Website
A mainstream independent school for girls aged from 4 to 18.
Excellent girls' school with high academic results situated between rural and urban life.
In 2019, girls achieved 67% A*-A grades at A level and 82% 9-7 grades at GCSE. Lacrosse, rowing, tennis and netball are some of the sports on offer.
11. Caterham School
Harestone Valley Road, Caterham, CR3 6YB | Telephone | Website
A day and boarding school for pupils aged from 11-18.
Excellent teaching in a bucolic setting.
In 2019, 62% of A-level grades were A*-A and 80% of GCSE grades were 9-7.
This is a top school that does not shout out enough about its achievements: modest, hard-working and dynamic – like its students.
12. St Catherine's School
Station Road, Bramley, GU5 0DE | Telephone | Website
Day and boarding school for girls aged 4-18.
Situated in the pretty village of Bramley, St. Catherine’s girls excel on all fronts – academics, sports and the arts.
In 2019, 64% of A-level grades were A*-A and 83% of GCSE grades were 9-7.
The girls tend do well across all subjects as the schools offer specialist care, education and therapy for speech and language.
13. Epsom College
College Road, Epsom, KT17 4JQ | Telephone | Website
A mainstream independent day and boarding school for pupils aged from 11 to 18 in Epsom.
First-class school with first-class achievement and facilities. In 2019, 66% of students achieved A*-A grades at A-level and 77% of students scored 9-7 grades at GCSE.
The school is known to produce well-rounded, confident and dynamic individuals.
14. The Harrodian School
Lonsdale Road, Hammersmith, SW13 9QN | Telephone | Website
A mainstream co-educational private school for pupils aged from 4 to 18.
Founded in 1993, the Harrodian School has grown from a small school of 65 pupils to a current intake of close to 1000 students.
Great results: 52% A*-A grades at A levels and 71% 9-7 grades at GCSE in 2019. Pupils excel in languages as well as business, drama and ICT.
15. Reed's School
Sandy Lane, Cobham, KT11 2ES | Telephone | Website
A day and boarding school for boys aged from 11-18, and
for girls in the sixth form.
Although the majority are day pupils, the school has a boarding school feel.
Expectations are set high but without pressure. Boys do well and become well-rounded individuals while at school.
In 2019, 50% of grades at A level were A*-A and 73% of grades at GCSE were 9-7.
16. Emanuel School
Battersea Rise, City of London, SW11 1HS | Telephone | Website
A mainstream co-educational private day school for pupils aged from 10 to 18.
Emanuel was founded in Elizabethan times (1594) for the education of 10 boys and 10 girls.
Today it has grown to occupy a 12-acre site close to Clapham Junction and is a school of high academic achievement with 48% A*-A grades at A level and 72% 9-7 grades at GCSE in 2019.
17. St John's School
Epsom Road, Leatherhead, KT22 8SP | Telephone | Website
A day and boarding school for pupils aged from 11-18
Academically strong, but with good pastoral care. In 2019, 62% of students achieved grades A*-A at A levels and 76% of students achieved grades 9-7 at GCSE.
Roundedness is a focus. Academic subjects but also art and drama are considered vital. Sport is important too, with weekly matches against other schools and between houses.
18. Frensham Heights
Frensham Heights Road, Farnham, GU10 4EA | Telephone | Website
Mainstream private day and boarding school for pupils aged 13-18.
For good boarding school-type education with a touch of modernism.
No uniform, and teachers and pupils are on first-name terms, yet the mood is highly respectful. 2019 saw 46% A*-A at A level and 23% 9-7 at GCSE. English, Maths, Geography and History are always popular, Art even more so.
19. Ibstock Place School
Clarence Lane, London, SW15 5PY | Telephone | Website
A mainstream co-educational independent day school for pupils aged from 4 to 18.
All students take IGCSE in all main subjects and have to take two languages: French, plus one from German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish or Latin. Results: 58% of grades at A level in 2019 were A*-A and 73% of grades at I/GCSEs were 9-7. The Sixth Form has been around for over ten years and is proving to be a great success.
20. Charterhouse School
Charterhouse Road, Godalming, GU7 2DX | Telephone | Website
A mainstream private school for boys (13-18) and girls (sixth form).
The Godalming school offers IGCSE, the Cambridge Pre-U and the IB diploma, plus GCSE and A levels. In 2019, 61% of A-level grades were A*-A and 70% of GCSE grades came in at 9-7. Students especially excel in History, Maths and Economics. Great facilities have set many Old Carthusian sports stars on their way. Other old boys include the Dimblebys, philosopher Don Cupitt, Jeremy Hunt and members of the rock group Genesis.
21. Guildford High School
London Road, Guildford, GU1 1SJ | Telephone | Website
Mainstream independent day school for girls aged 11-18.
Strongly academic school with results to match: in 2019, 77% of A-level grades were A*-A and 97% of GCSE grades were 9-7. All girls study Latin for three years and take three separate science subjects. Students also excel in music, drama and sport.
22. St Paul's School
Lonsdale Road, Barnes, SW13 9JT | Telephone | Website
A mainstream private school for boys aged from 13 to 18.
The school describes itself as 'a selective independent school in West London for bright, inquisitive boys aged 7–18 years.’
And they certainly are!
In 2019 at A-Level, 80% of grades awarded were A*-A and at GCSE, 96%% of grades awarded were 9-7.
23. Streatham & Clapham High School
42 Abbotswood Road, City of London, SW16 1AW | Telephone | Website
A mainstream independent school for girls aged from 3 to 19.
Founded in 1887, the school is based in the heart of South London and offers a wide range of subjects at all levels - all available at GCSE and IGCSE levels (apart from Classics). In 2019, 38% of grades were A*-A at A level and 72% of grades were 9-7 at GCSE.
24. Royal Grammar School
High Street, Guildford, GU1 3BB | Telephone | Website
Mainstream private day school for boys aged 11-18, located in Guildford.
RGS is an outstanding school with an inevitable highly competitive entry – around 400 pupils apply for 100 available places per year. In 2019, 67% scored A*-A at A level and 89% scored 9-7 at GCSE. Students excel at the sciences, maths and languages, with options including Mandarin, Arabic and Russian, as well as Latin and Greek.
25. Cranleigh School
Horseshoe Lane, Cranleigh, GU6 8QQ | Telephone | Website
Mainstream independent day and boarding school for pupils aged 13-18.
In 2019, 39% of Cranleigh pupils scored A*-A at A level, with over 50% of students scoring 9-7 at GCSE.
The campus and facilities are second to none and the school excels at sports.
Each year sees entrants into top universities.
26. Sir William Perkins School
Guildford Rd, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 9BN | Telephone | Website
A day school for girls aged 11-18
Sir William Perkins School (SWPS) is growing from strength to strength, with 51% of students achieving A*-A at A levels and 72% of students achieving 9-7 at GCSE in 2019.
It is a welcoming, diverse, down-to-earth school.
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Sophie 77 days ago