Independent Senior Schools

Situated in the Sussex countryside in Upper Dicker, near Hailsham, Bede’s Senior School is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 13 to 18. The school claims to offer a holistic education that prioritises individual interests, combining academic study with traditions in the performing arts and sport. Notable facilities include an on-site zoo housing over 70 species and the Legat School of Dance. Its ethos focuses on cultivating curiosity and ambition within an inclusive community that values personal growth and both creative and academic achievement.

Notting Hill and Ealing High School GDST is an independent day school for girls aged 4 to 18, situated in Ealing. Established in 1873 as a founding member of the Girls' Day School Trust, the school relocated to its current premises in 1931. The curriculum combines academic study with a strong emphasis on creativity and physical activity. Notable facilities include a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, a four-court sports hall, and a rooftop dance and fitness studio. Its ethos focuses on nurturing independent, confident individuals within a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

St Edmund's School Canterbury is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 2 to 18. Set within 62 acres on St Thomas' Hill, the school overlooks the historic city and its cathedral. Founded in 1749, it occupies a Grade II listed main building designed by Philip Charles Hardwick. The school is notably the place of education for the Choristers of Canterbury Cathedral. Its ethos emphasises individuality and creativity, supported by facilities including a dedicated performing arts centre, music school, and a 25-metre heated outdoor swimming pool.

The Royal Masonic School for Girls is an independent day and boarding school for pupils aged 2 to 18, set within 315 acres of parkland in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. Founded in 1788 to provide for the daughters of Freemasons, the school relocated to its present site in 1934. The campus features a blend of historic architecture and modern facilities, including a planetarium, a dedicated performing arts centre, and extensive sports grounds. The school focuses on nurturing individual talent and potential, offering a broad curriculum alongside a diverse range of extracurricular activities.

Reed's School is an independent day and boarding school for boys aged 11 to 18, with a co-educational Sixth Form, located on a 40-acre site in Cobham, Surrey. Founded in 1813 by the Reverend Andrew Reed as the London Orphan Asylum, the school moved to its current premises in 1946. It offers a variety of academic and extracurricular programmes, with dedicated facilities including an indoor cricket centre and a regional tennis academy. The school maintains an emphasis on character development and pastoral care, rooted in its historical foundation as a charitable institution.

Kent College Pembury is an independent day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 18, situated in 75 acres of parkland near Tunbridge Wells. Established in 1886 and part of the Methodist Independent Schools Trust, the school moved to its current site in 1939 and is centred around a Victorian manor house. Its facilities include an indoor swimming pool, a purpose-built theatre, and extensive sports pitches. The school fosters a nurturing and inclusive environment, encouraging pupils to achieve their potential through a balanced curriculum and a wide variety of academic and creative pursuits.

Sutton High School GDST is an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 18, situated in the heart of Sutton, Surrey. Established in 1884, the school is a member of the Girls' Day School Trust and provides a continuous education from nursery through to sixth form. The campus features a blend of Victorian buildings and modern facilities, including a dedicated sixth form centre and specialist spaces for performing arts and sport. The school's ethos focuses on fostering a supportive community that encourages academic curiosity and personal growth in every pupil.

Maida Vale School is a co-educational independent day school for pupils aged 11 to 18, situated in West London. Established in 2020 as part of the Gardener Schools Group, it is housed in a substantial, restored Victorian building. The school promotes a holistic approach to education with a particular emphasis on the creative and performing arts. Facilities include a double-height theatre, specialist art and design studios, and high-specification science laboratories. Pupils also benefit from an extended school day and access to nearby sporting venues, including Paddington Recreation Ground.

King’s School Rochester is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 18. Founded in 604 AD, it is the world’s second oldest school and is situated within the historic Cathedral precinct, overlooking the River Medway. The school maintains a close relationship with Rochester Cathedral, which serves as its chapel. Housed in buildings ranging from the 16th-century Satis House to modern facilities, it emphasises well-rounded development through academic rigour and a diverse co-curricular programme, including a notable rowing tradition and an established choral heritage.

Farringtons School is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 18, situated in Chislehurst, Kent. Set within 25 acres of parkland, the school was founded as a Methodist girls' school and transitioned to co-education in 2010. It maintains a strong Christian ethos, guided by the motto "Posside Sapientiam" (Growing in Wisdom). Facilities include an indoor heated swimming pool, a large sports hall with a dance studio, and a dedicated chapel. The curriculum emphasises a holistic education, supported by a diverse co-curricular programme that encourages personal development and curiosity.

Kent College Canterbury is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 18, situated on an 80-acre site overlooking the historic city of Canterbury. Founded in 1885 as a Methodist school, it comprises a junior school, senior school, and sixth form. The school is notable for its working farm, which allows students to engage in agricultural activities. Facilities include the Great Hall for performing arts and extensive sports grounds. The curriculum offers both A-levels and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, alongside a broad range of extracurricular activities.

The King's School Canterbury is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 13 to 18, situated within the Precincts of Canterbury Cathedral. Founded in 597 AD, it is widely considered the oldest school in the world. The school occupies a UNESCO World Heritage site, incorporating historic medieval buildings alongside modern facilities such as the Malthouse Theatre and the Birley Centre for music. Its ethos focuses on holistic development, offering a traditional academic curriculum complemented by extensive programmes in sport and the arts, all set within a unique scholarly environment.

Rochester Independent College is a co-educational day and boarding school in Kent for pupils aged 11 to 19. Established in 1984, the college occupies an urban campus within a conservation area, featuring fourteen listed buildings connected by wildlife gardens. The school operates with an informal ethos where students do not wear uniforms and staff are addressed by their first names. Facilities include an underground theatre, garden classrooms, and sculptural musical gates. While maintaining its founding focus on mathematics and science, the curriculum also emphasises creative arts such as fine art, digital media, and film.

Halliford School is an independent day school for boys aged 11 to 18 and girls aged 16 to 18, situated on a riverside site in Shepperton, Surrey. Founded in 1921, the school is centred around an 18th-century Georgian house and maintains a small, family-oriented atmosphere. It provides a broad curriculum with a focus on individual development, supported by facilities including a purpose-built theatre and the Colin Squire Sixth Form Centre. The school offers a range of competitive sports, creative arts, and co-curricular activities, aiming to foster well-rounded individuals within its six-acre grounds.

Haileybury is a co-educational independent day and boarding school for pupils aged 11 to 18, set within a 500-acre campus in Hertford Heath. Established in 1862 on the site of the former East India College, the school is home to historic architecture, including a chapel by Arthur Blomfield and one of the largest academic quadrangles in the UK. Academically, the school offers both A-levels and the International Baccalaureate Diploma. Facilities include a recently developed Science and Technology Centre, which supports an ethos focused on intellectual curiosity and global citizenship.