MixedIndependentBoarding

Hurtwood House School

Holmbury St Mary, Dorking, Surrey, Surrey, South East · RH5 6NU

Few independent schools are built so deliberately around the sixth form as Hurtwood House. Founded in 1970 and set in Holmbury St Mary near Dorking, Surrey, it teaches roughly 330 pupils aged 15 to 19, almost all of them in the sixth form. Boarding is part of the fabric here, and the Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school excellent for both education and personal development at its most recent inspection, with compliance requirements met. The atmosphere leans towards the creative and the performance-minded, reflected in scholarships for performing arts alongside maths and the sciences.

330

Pupils

excellent

ISI

£44,813

Day fees / yr

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Overview & data

Gender
Mixed
Type
independent (fee-paying) school
Age range
15-19
Pupils
330
Location
Holmbury St Mary, Dorking, Surrey, Surrey, South East
Website
https://www.hurtwoodhouse.com/
Telephone
01483 279000

Headteacher

Head master Mr Cosmo Jackson

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Latest results

A-level A*-A

54%

A-level A*-B

84%

Teaching & academics

A-level results are strong, with 54 per cent of entries graded A*-A and 84 per cent reaching A*-B. The subject mix is telling: Drama and Theatre Studies, Dance, Music Technology and Art and Design sit comfortably beside English Literature, Mathematics, Economics and Psychology. GCSE and the EPQ are also offered, and a notably high proportion of pupils receive SEN support, suggesting individual needs are taken seriously rather than overlooked.

Sixth form

Sixth-form pupils
325

Popular A-level subjects

Drama and Theatre StudiesEnglish LiteratureMathematicsPsychologyHistoryEconomicsBusiness StudiesArt and DesignMusic TechnologyDance

Qualifications offered

A-levelGCSEEPQ

Learning support & SEN

SEN support
36.68%
EHC plans
0%

Arts & extracurricular

Scholarships

Performing artsMathsSciences

Languages

Chinese

Sport

Main sports

FootballBasketballNetballHockey

Beyond the classroom

Performance and the arts are clearly a defining strength, supported by dedicated scholarships and a creative-leaning curriculum. On the sporting side, football, basketball, netball and hockey are the main team games.

Ethos & heritage

Founded
1970
Boarding
Yes

Money matters

Day fees (per year)
£44,813
Boarding fees (per year)
£67,216

Inspection reports

ISI rating
excellent
ISI personal development
excellent
Last inspected
21 October 2025
Read the full inspection report ↗

The last word

A small, boarding-focused school made for ambitious teenagers who want their sixth form to be a launchpad, especially those drawn to the creative and performing arts.

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Hurtwood House School 11+: frequently asked questions

Where is Hurtwood House School located?

Hurtwood House School is located at Dorking, Holmbury St Mary, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6NU.

What type of school is Hurtwood House School?

Hurtwood House School is an independent (fee-paying) school in South East.

How many pupils attend Hurtwood House School?

Hurtwood House School has approximately 330 pupils on roll.

What is Hurtwood House School's inspection rating?

Hurtwood House School is inspected by the ISI and was judged "excellent" at its inspection on 21 October 2025.

Compiled from public data. Last checked June 2026.