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What it's like

Founded in 1552 by King Edward VI for children in need of a boarding education. In 1985 the boys' school at Horsham and the girls' at Hertford joined to form one co-educational boarding school. It has splendid buildings, in an estate of 1200 acres, built in 1902 when the boys' school moved from London. It is very well equipped; recent developments include refurbishment of all boarding accommodation. The school admits some 35 new pupils into the sixth form each year. The sports and social centre not only offers very fine facilities for the school, but also a chance to integrate with the wider community which shares the facilities. The school is a well-run establishment with high standards of teaching and very good examination results. The staff:pupil ratio is about 1:9. There is great strength in the creative arts and the school is famous for its music. Numerous dramatic entertainments are staged each year in the school's Shakespearean theatre. The school is also very strong in games and sport. A wide variety of activities is available. There is a strong community service, with links with Romania. The scout group (for boys and girls) is very active; the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and the CCF both flourish.

Pupils & entrance

Pupils: Age range 11-18; 840 boarding pupils (420 boys, 420 girls). Entrance: Main entry at 11; approx 35 pupils at 16 (of whom many will pay full fees). Own entrance exam used; all should expect to achieve high level in maths and English at key stage 2. For sixth-form entry, at least 6 GCSEs (with grade A in sixth-form subjects), though most exceed this level. Music, art, drama and sporting skills taken into consideration; no special religious requirements. Some 86% of pupils from state schools.

Scholarships & bursaries

Financial support is available to all pupils. All parents are means-tested and their contribution reviewed each year and altered as gross income varies, either up or down. Currently 16% of pupils are totally supported and 80% of parents earn under £26,000 per annum. The original charitable intention is still very strongly maintained. Children are assessed on grounds of need as well as ability. Parents not expected to buy textbooks or uniform (except sportswear); extras are means-tested if not free. 85% of all costs are currently funded from the Hospital's endowments.

Parents

30% live within 30 miles; 30% from London; a few live overseas.

Head & staff

Head Master: John Franklin, appointed in 2007. Educated at universities of Southern Queensland and New England. Previously Headmaster of Ardingly, Deputy Headmaster of St Peter's College, Adelaide, and held posts at Marlborough, Sedbergh, Toowoomba Grammar School and other state schools in Queensland. Teaching staff: 90 full time, 40 part time. Annual turnover 6%. Average age 41.

Exam results

GCSE: 120 in upper fifth: 99% gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects. A-levels: 130 in upper sixth: 5% pass in 4 subjects; 93% in 3 subjects. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 336.

Pupils' destinations

Over 97% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (35% after a gap year), 10% to Oxbridge. 11% took courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 27% in science and engineering, 6% in law, 38% in humanities and social sciences, 11% in art and design, 7% in vocational subjects eg physiotherapy, architecture. Others typically go on to retake A-levels.

Curriculum

GCSE, AS and A-levels. 24 subjects offered at AS-level, 22 at A-level. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; general studies is not taken. 16% take science/maths A-levels; 38% arts and humanities; 46% a combination. Weekly lectures for upper sixth plus talks on philosophy, history and English. Vocational: Work experience available in England, France and Germany. Special provision: for mild dyslexia etc. Languages: French, German and Spanish offered to GCSE and A-level (French or German compulsory to GCSE); also Italian and Spanish and non-examined continuation languages offered in sixth form. Regular exchanges (France and Germany). ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. Network throughout the school, including boarding houses, giving filtered access to email and the internet; all upper sixth provided with a laptop. GCSE IT offered.

The arts

Music: Over 50% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 25 musical groups including 3 orchestras, 6 choirs, choral society, marching, concert, symphonic, wind, show, jazz and other bands. Recently, piano quintet finalists in National Chamber Music for Schools; pupils involved in National Youth Music Theatre and National Wind orchestra; marching band plays at Twickenham internationals and Lords test matches; regular Oxbridge choral scholarships; several CDs and national and European tours (choir and band). Drama and dance: Both offered. GCSE drama and A-level theatre studies may be taken. Majority of pupils are involved in school and house/other productions. Former pupil actor in lead role in TV series; school theatre combines professional and student work in full programme accessible to general public. Art and design: On average, 25+ take GCSE, 13+ A-level. Pottery, textiles, printmaking, history of art (12 per year) also offered. 100% successful entry for art college.

Sports & activities

Sport: Rugby, soccer, cricket compulsory for boys to age 16; netball, hockey, tennis, rounders for girls. Optional: tennis, swimming, squash, fencing, badminton, fives, basketball, boys hockey, aerobics, volleyball. RLSS exams may be taken. International and county rugby players; county hockey (boys and girls), netball and cricket representatives at several age groups. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. CCF and community service both optional for 4 years at age 14+; 50-100 actively involved: disabled sports club and day centre; Romanian community-service project; work at primary and special schools locally and old people's home centre. Large mixed Scout and Venture Scout units; several Queen's Scout Awards. Up to 15 clubs, eg chess, ecology, golf, debating, natural history, photography, astronomy, creative writing, human rights.

School life

Uniform: Distinctive school uniform worn throughout, provided by the school. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Monitors, head boy/girl, head of house and house monitors, appointed by Headmaster and/or housemaster/mistress. Religion: Chapel compulsory twice weekly (Protestant tradition). Social: Strong community service element. Organised trips abroad and exchange systems, heavily subsidised; many European visits (drama, history, archaeology, classics, music, sport); sports tours (eg South Africa, Australia and Barbados). Senior pupils allowed to bring own bike to school. Formal lunch (march in with school band), cafeteria system. School shop. Pupils over 17 may join sixth-form club.

Discipline

Pupils failing to produce prep once might expect a warning. Card monitoring system for more serious misdemeanours. System of disciplinary or academic detentions and gatings for less serious matters.

Boarding

All upper sixth pupils have own study bedroom in new university-style co-ed houses; Year 11 have own rooms, youngest pupils in rooms of 4; all have individual study units.  Resident qualified nurses; visiting doctors (male and female) and counsellor. Central dining room. Pupils can provide and cook own snacks. Regular leave weekends. Visits to local town allowed for over 14s.

Association of former pupils

CH Club, c/o Hospital (President R C Poulton).

Former pupils

John Snow (cricketer); Stuart Holland (Labour MP and academic); Lord Stewart (ex-Foreign Secretary); Keith Douglas (poet); Air Cmdr E M Donaldson; Bryan Magee (broadcaster and writer); Bernard Levin (journalist); Sir Colin Davis (conductor); Barnes Wallis (inventor of the bouncing bomb); Edmund Blunden (poet); Michael Marland (radical headteacher and educationalist); Ruth Deech (ex-Chair of Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority); Catherine Ennis (organist), Charles Hazelwood (conductor).