Charterhouse School

A School Born of Philanthropy

Charterhouse School was founded in 1611 by Thomas Sutton, reputedly one of the wealthiest commoners in Elizabethan England. Sutton purchased the site of a former Carthusian monastery in London — Charterhouse takes its name from the Carthusian order — and endowed it to serve a dual purpose: educating scholars and providing almshouses for elderly gentlemen. This founding act of philanthropy set the tone for an institution built on the twin pillars of academic excellence and community service.

The Move to Surrey

As Victorian London expanded rapidly, the school's original London site became increasingly constrained. In 1872, Charterhouse made the momentous decision to relocate to Godalming in Surrey, where it occupies a sweeping 250-acre campus of rolling English countryside. The new campus provided the space and environment necessary for a full English public school experience, with extensive playing fields, boarding houses, and purpose-built academic facilities. The London site, meanwhile, evolved into the Charterhouse complex that survives as a historic landmark to this day.

From Boys' School to Full Co-education

For most of its history, Charterhouse was an exclusively male institution. The school took its first tentative step toward co-education in 1971, admitting girls into the Sixth Form (Years 12–13). This was a common pattern among major English public schools of the era. However, Charterhouse went further: in September 2021, it welcomed girls across all year groups, becoming a fully co-educational school. This transformation placed the school at the forefront of a continuing evolution in British independent education.

Key Milestones at a Glance

• 1611 — Founded by Thomas Sutton in London on the site of a Carthusian monastery
• 1872 — Relocated to the current 250-acre campus in Godalming, Surrey
• 1971 — Girls admitted to the Sixth Form for the first time
• 2010 — Authorised as an IB Diploma World School
• 2021 — Became fully co-educational across all year groups

Continuity and Change

Despite more than four centuries of change, Charterhouse has maintained a continuous institutional identity. The school's Old Carthusian alumni network stretches across every era, connecting former pupils who went on to distinguish themselves in politics, literature, science, the military and the arts. Today, the school holds membership in the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC), placing it among the most prestigious independent schools in the United Kingdom. Its governance as a charitable foundation underscores the enduring philanthropic spirit of its founder.

A Multi-Pathway Academic Offer

Charterhouse is distinctive among leading English independent schools for offering pupils a genuine choice of two rigorous academic pathways in the Sixth Form:

• A-Level — the traditional English route, taken by the majority of pupils
• IB Diploma — an internationally recognised qualification, available since Charterhouse was authorised as an IB World School in November 2010

Below the Sixth Form, pupils follow the IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) curriculum, which provides strong preparation for either Sixth Form route.

The Academic Philosophy

Charterhouse's approach is summarised in its own words as providing a "high-challenge, high-encouragement learning environment". The school's academic philosophy is built around three pillars:

1. Intellectual ambition — teaching that pushes pupils beyond their comfort zone
2. Determination — cultivating resilience and persistence in the face of difficulty
3. Curiosity — celebrating the instinct to question, explore and discover

The stated vision is explicitly dual-horizon: "For today – to instil a love of learning that leads to examination success and progression to elite universities around the world. For tomorrow – to prepare pupils with the skills, values and mindset needed for the future."

Examination Results

Charterhouse consistently achieves strong public examination results. The school celebrated outstanding GCSE results in 2025, with over 75% of grades at the top levels, reflecting the effectiveness of its teaching and support structures. The school's average class size of approximately 20 in the Senior School and 12 in the Sixth Form allows for close teacher-pupil interaction and personalised academic support.

Subject Breadth

The curriculum is notably broad. At IGCSE and A-Level, pupils can choose from subjects including:

• Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics
• Humanities: History, Geography, Economics, Psychology, Religious Studies (Theology & Ethics)
• Languages: French, German, Spanish, Mandarin, Latin, Classical Civilisation
• Arts: Art & Design, Drama & Theatre Studies, Music
• Technology: Information Computer Science

At IB Diploma level, a similarly wide range is offered, including Global Politics, Philosophy, and Mandarin ab Initio.

University Destinations

The school's academic programme consistently produces graduates who progress to leading universities worldwide, including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London, and international institutions such as ETH Zurich. The school's selective admissions policy (confirmed by the UK Government schools register) and small Sixth Form class sizes contribute to this strong record of university placement.

A Boarding School at Heart

Charterhouse is fundamentally a boarding school. Approximately 88% of its roughly 996 pupils are boarders, living in one of 18 boarding houses set across the 250-acre Godalming campus. This creates an unusually close-knit community where school is not merely a place of study but a home — a feature that distinguishes Charterhouse from day schools and many part-boarding schools.

Day pupils are fully integrated into school life, participating in the same activities, meals and events as boarders, though they return home each evening. The school explicitly frames both boarding and day as equally rich experiences.

The House System

The house system is at the core of Charterhouse's identity. Each pupil belongs to a house for the duration of their time at the school, creating bonds of loyalty, competition and camaraderie that often last a lifetime. The houses have their own traditions, housemaster or housemistress, and pastoral teams. Contact details and dedicated email addresses for each house are published on the school's official staff contact list, underscoring the importance placed on house-level pastoral care.

Wellbeing and Support

The school's approach to wellbeing is comprehensive:

• Hunt Health Centre — a fully staffed on-campus health centre with resident nursing staff, providing medical support 24 hours a day for boarders
• Counselling services — pastoral support embedded at house level and through dedicated school counsellors
• "We Belong" programme — Charterhouse's EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) initiative, which aims to ensure every member of the community feels safe, valued and happy
• Anti-bullying policy — actively maintained as part of the We Belong framework

Food and Community

The school places deliberate emphasis on shared mealtimes as a community ritual. The on-campus dining hall serves nutritionally balanced, seasonally varied meals that are, in the school's own words, "always enjoyed together" — a reflection of the belief that communal eating reinforces the bonds of school life.

Boarding Age and Entry

Boarding is available from age 13 (Year 9) through to age 18 (Year 13), covering the full senior school journey. The majority of pupils enter at Year 9 through the standard 13+ admissions process. A Sixth Form entry point at 16+ also exists, welcoming new boarders and day pupils into the school community for the final two years.

A Highly Selective School

Charterhouse is classified by the UK Government's schools register as operating a selective admissions policy — meaning it actively chooses pupils based on academic ability, potential and character fit rather than simply enrolling on a first-come, first-served basis. The school educates approximately 996 pupils aged 13–18, and competition for places is significant.

Main Entry Points

The school has two principal entry points:

• 13+ (Year 9) — the main entry, typically for pupils aged 12–13 at the time of registration
• 16+ (Sixth Form) — for pupils joining from other schools for A-Level or IB Diploma study

There are also occasional places at other year groups for pupils who become available mid-cycle.

The 13+ Process

For the main 13+ entry, the process typically unfolds as follows:

1. Registration — Families register their child, usually in Year 6 (age 10–11), well ahead of the entry year
2. ISEB Common Pre-Test — Candidates sit the Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB) computerised Pre-Test, assessing English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning
3. Interview and Activity Day — Shortlisted candidates are invited to Charterhouse for an interview and a day of activities, allowing the school to assess character, curiosity and fit
4. Conditional Offers — Offers are made in December of the entrance year, typically conditional on GCSE or CE performance
5. Acceptance — Successful families sign an acceptance form and pay a non-refundable deposit to secure the place

Sixth Form (16+) Admissions

Sixth Form applicants are assessed separately, typically through an interview and review of their current academic performance and predicted grades. The school publishes a dedicated Sixth Form admissions page outlining the process.

International Applicants

International applicants follow the same admissions framework but are assessed as overseas candidates. They may be required to demonstrate English language proficiency, and the school has experience handling applications from families based outside the United Kingdom. The i-GTM (International Guide to Schools) notes that Charterhouse offers shuttle arrangements to and from major London airports (Heathrow and Gatwick) for international boarders at the start and end of terms.

Scholarships and Bursaries

Charterhouse offers both merit-based scholarships (recognising academic, artistic, musical or sporting excellence) and means-tested bursaries (financial need-based support). The combination allows the school to attract talented pupils regardless of family background, consistent with its founding philanthropic tradition.

Beyond the Classroom

Charterhouse prides itself on offering a co-curricular programme bursting with opportunities. The school's philosophy holds that education is not complete without development beyond the academic: in sport, the arts, service, leadership and personal character. With over 900 boarders living on a 250-acre campus, the school has both the space and the community to sustain an exceptional breadth of activity.

Sport

Sport is central to life at Charterhouse. The school fields competitive teams in a wide range of disciplines:

• Rugby — one of the school's flagship sports, played on extensive grass pitches
• Football (Soccer) — Charterhouse is historically credited with contributing to the codification of association football
• Cricket — played on dedicated pitches with coaching facilities
• Athletics — full track and field facilities on site
• Tennis — multiple courts available year-round

Opportunities exist at all levels, from recreational participation to elite competitive representation.

Music and Performing Arts

Charterhouse has a distinguished tradition in music and the arts. The school maintains:

• A choral programme with multiple choirs at different levels
• A full orchestra and chamber ensembles
• Drama and Theatre Studies as both a taught subject and an extracurricular pursuit, with dedicated theatre facilities
• Visual Arts including painting, sculpture and design

Academic and Enrichment Societies

For intellectually ambitious pupils, the school supports a range of academic enrichment activities:

• Model United Nations (MUN) — debating global issues in a diplomatic forum
• Debating societies — honing rhetoric and critical thinking
• Mathematics Olympiad preparation — support for pupils competing in national and international competitions
• Science clubs and STEM enrichment

Service and Leadership

Charterhouse embeds service and leadership into its co-curricular offer:

• Duke of Edinburgh's Award — one of the UK's most respected frameworks for youth achievement
• Volunteering and community outreach — connecting pupils with the broader Godalming community
• Entrepreneurship programmes — developing business thinking and innovation skills

The House Community

All co-curricular activity is filtered through the house system, which organises inter-house competitions in sport, music, drama and academic subjects. This structure means that even the broadest school activities are experienced within a close-knit sub-community of approximately 50–60 pupils, ensuring no pupil is lost in the size of the wider school.