MixedIndependentBoarding

Caterham School

Caterham, Surrey, South East · CR3 6YA

Founded in 1811, Caterham School is a large co-educational independent school in Surrey offering both day and boarding places to pupils aged 11 to 18. With just over a thousand pupils, including more than 300 in the sixth form, it carries a Christian character and was rated 'excellent' by the ISI for both education quality and personal development. The breadth of scholarships - academic, music, sport, drama and critical thinking - signals a school that values talent across many fields, and a notably wide bursary programme reaches out to families well beyond the usual fee-paying bracket.

1,012

Pupils

excellent

ISI

£28,950

Day fees / yr

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Overview & data

Gender: Mixed
Type: independent (fee-paying) school
Age range: 11-18
Pupils: 1,012
Location: Caterham, Surrey, South East
Website: www.caterhamschool.co.uk
Telephone: 01883 343028

Entrance & admissions

Entry age: 11

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Headteacher

Headmaster Mr Ceri Jones MA Oxon

Latest results

Attainment 8

17.6

National average 46.9

GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)

National average 47%

GCSE grade 9-7

92%

A-level A*-A

66%

A-level A*-B

92%

Teaching & academics

Academic results sit at the stronger end of the independent sector, with 92% of GCSEs awarded grades 9-7 and two-thirds of A-levels at A*-A, rising to 92% at A*-B. The sixth-form curriculum leans markedly towards sciences and mathematics, with Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Economics among the most popular choices, alongside humanities such as History and English Literature. Pupils can take an EPQ, and around a quarter of the roll receives some form of SEN support, suggesting the school is geared to stretch high achievers while also accommodating a range of learning needs.

Sixth form

Sixth-form pupils: 313

Popular A-level subjects

MathematicsFurther MathematicsPhysicsChemistryBiologyEconomicsPsychologyEnglish LiteratureHistory

Qualifications offered

GCSEA-levelEPQ

Learning support & SEN

SEN support: 25.69%
EHC plans: 0%

Arts & extracurricular

Scholarships

AcademicMusicSportDramaCritical Thinking

Languages

FrenchSpanishChinese

Popular GCSE subjects

SpanishReligious StudiesPhysical EducationMusicLatinFrenchDesign & TechnologyComputer StudiesArt & Design

Sport

Main sports

rugbyhockey

Beyond the classroom

Sport is prominent, with rugby and hockey as the main games. Languages are taken seriously too, with French, Spanish and Chinese taught alongside Latin at GCSE level, pointing to a school with international as well as academic ambition.

Ethos & heritage

Founded: 1811
Religious character: Christian
Boarding: Yes

Money matters

Day fees (per year): £27,630 - £28,950
Boarding fees (per year): £37,425 - £60,435
Bursaries up to: 110% of fees

Transformational bursaries (up to 110%) are means tested. School works closely with Royal National Children's SpringBoard Foundation charity.

Inspection reports

ISI rating: excellent
ISI personal development: excellent
Last inspected: 12 May 2025

Read the full inspection report ↗

The last word

A large, well-rounded co-ed with serious academic firepower and an unusually generous bursary reach. Families drawn to a science-strong, scholarship-rich school - whether as day pupils or boarders - will find much to consider here.

The Passmate verdict