Private Schools in Leatherhead

The Surrey market town of Leatherhead holds a distinguished position in South East England's independent education landscape, serving as a long-standing hub for premier day and boarding institutions. Leatherhead’s fee-paying heritage is anchored by St John’s School, established in 1851 by the Reverend Ashby Haslewood to educate the sons of poor clergymen before relocating from London to its historic 50-acre Leatherhead campus in 1872—a site later developed with the support of Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, who served as Chairman of Governors from 1951 to 1966.

The area also boasts a rich preparatory tradition exemplified by Downsend School, which originated in Hampstead in 1898 before establishing its main site on Leatherhead Road post-First World War under three generations of the Linford family. Independent provision across Leatherhead displays impressive breadth, ranging from prestigious academic day and boarding environments such as St John's School to boutique preparatory and all-through foundations like Downsend School, alongside neighbouring settings across Ashtead and the Mole Valley. This directory enables prospective families to evaluate key benchmark data, including fee structures, facilities, and Independent Schools Inspectorate reports, alongside a dedicated platform to read and submit authentic parent reviews to inform your choice.