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What it's like

Founded in 1553 by King Edward VI and, unusually for the period, admitting both genders. It was formerly at the Bridewell Palace and in 1867 moved to its present splendid site of 100 wooded acres near the Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire borders. Strong links with the City and the Lord Mayor of London are retained and through the Bridewell Foundation, there has been considerable investment and development of facilities in the last 20 years; it is now extremely well equipped, most recently gaining an all-weather pitch. It is in the Anglican tradition and there is an emphasis on religious instruction, and ecumenical worship in its fine Victorian Gothic chapel. Pupils come from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds. The International Baccalaureate is now offered in the sixth form; academic standards are high and examination results good. The school is a digital campus and provides laptops for all pupils aged 13-16; it has pioneered teaching and learning using laptops and has a joint intranet with a local state beacon school to enhance the curriculum. The music and art departments are very strong. There is a good range of sport, games and activities (Sportsmark and FA Charter Standard awarded recently). The school has an excellent record in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, the Royal Life Saving Society Awards and sub-aqua.

Pupils & entrance

Pupils: Age range 11-18; 410 pupils, 146 day (108 boys, 38 girls), 264 boarding (140 boys, 124 girls). Senior department 13-18, 380 pupils (225 boys, 155 girls). Entrance: Main entry ages 11, 13 and 16. Own entrance exam, interview and Head's report used. For sixth form entry, 5 GCSEs at least grade C (grade B in sixth-form subjects) plus entrance exam. No special skills required. State school entry, 60% main intake.

Scholarships & bursaries

Variety of scholarships awarded at 11, 13 and 16, value up to 30% of fees; including art ,music, sport and all-rounder. Bursaries, according to need and circumstances, for children who would particularly benefit from a boarding education; currently over 25% of pupils receive a bursary. Parents not expected to buy textbooks or uniform; music (£235 per term) extra for one instrument.

Head & staff

Headmaster: John Attwater in post from 2010. Educated at Rugby and at universities of Oxford (PPE) and York (history). Previously Deputy Head Co-Curriculum at Sevenoaks and Head of Religious Studies and boarding housemaster at Wells Cathedral School. Teaching staff: 57 full time, 22 part time (plus peripatetic teachers). Annual turnover 5%. Average age 40.

Exam results

GCSE: On average, 80 pupils in upper fifth, 73% gaining at least grade C in 8+ subjects, 16% in 5-7 subjects (average of 8.9 subjects). IB: 78 in upper sixth, all those taking the IB passed the Diploma, with an average of 35 IB points.

Pupils' destinations

96% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (20% after a gap year), 3% to Oxbridge. 5% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 14% in science and engineering, 5% in law, 30% in humanities and social sciences, 12% in art and design, 3% in vocational subjects eg land management, 27% in other subjects eg IT, drama or combined subjects.

Curriculum

GCSE, Pre-IB and IB Diploma (exclusively for sixth form from 2010). Vocational: Work experience for all fifth form. Languages: French (compulsory), German and Latin offered to GCSE and IB; Spanish ab initio at IB. Regular exchanges (France and Germany). ICT: Taught across all subjects. 60 computers for pupil use (8 hours a day), all of campus networked digitally with email and and internet access. Over 70% of pupils have their own laptops; school provides laptops for those aged 13-16.

The arts

Music: Over 25% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 16 musical groups including orchestra, jazz band, choir, flute, clarinet, string ensembles etc. Drama and dance: Majority of pupils are involved in school productions and all in house/other productions. Dance lessons (modern and tap) available. Art and design: On average, 30 take GCSE, 12 IB. Design, ceramics, textiles and photography are offered.

Sports & activities

Sport: Athletics, hockey, soccer, cricket, netball, rounders, swimming, tennis compulsory. Optional: Dingy sailing, shooting, cross-country running, rock-climbing, swimming, squash, basketball. Pupils in county athletics, netball, hockey teams, Independent Schools soccer teams. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Up to 40 clubs, eg shooting, sailing, golf, computing, sub-aqua, lifesaving, cooking, outdoor pursuits, stage crew, riding, art, design, canoeing.

School life

Uniform: School uniform worn throughout. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, head boy and girl, head of house and house prefects (elected by school, approved by Headmaster). School Council. Religion: Church of England. Religious worship compulsory. Social: Debates, contests, etc with other local schools. Organised trips to France, Germany, Thailand and Malawi. Pupils allowed to bring own bike to school. Meals self-service. School shop.

Discipline

A variety of sanctions for poor application (re-writing, detention, supervised private study). Firm but realistic policy on illegal drugs: those caught using, possessing or dealing on the school premises would normally be expelled. Second chance, with counselling, for admission of use in absence of any other compromising evidence.

Boarding

Fifth and sixth formers in single or doubles; juniors in dormitories of 2-6. Single-sex houses of about 55 (houses paired, one boys' and one girls', with shared communal facilities on ground floor). Resident qualified nurse. Central dining room. Exeat (2 nights) every 3 weeks, plus 1 flexible exeat a term. Visits to local town allowed at weekends.

Association of former pupils

is run by Mr G M Phillips, Community Relations Office, c/o the school.

Former pupils

Ivor Caplin (Labour MP); Du'aine Ladejo, Jordan Huggins (athletes); Harriet Humble (sailing).