Founded in 1557, as a boys' school. There has been a mixed sixth since 1974 and girls have been admitted at 11 since 1987. Boys and girls are educated separately to GCSE; the sixth form is co-educational. The school occupies a single site in a relatively urban area with extensive gardens and 70+ acres of playing fields. It is architecturally pleasing (parts of the Old Big School built in 1568 are still in use). There have been many modern developments including an art, design and technology centre, performing arts centre, all-weather floodlit pitch, indoor swimming pool and science study centre. Examination results are very good. The school introduced the International Baccalauareate Diploma, alongside A-levels in 2007. Extra curricular strengths lie in sport, music, drama and art. Notable successes in sports and games, particularly in fencing, football, cricket, tennis, squash and girls' hockey. There is a flourishing CCF. The school enjoys good local support.
Pupils: Age range 11-18; 1112 pupils, 1053 day (615 boys, 438 girls), 59 boarding (37 boys, 22 girls). Entrance: Main entry ages, 11, 13 and 16. Own exam at 11; Common Entrance at 13; for sixth-form entry, 6 GCSEs at grade B (usually grade A in sixth-form subjects). No religious requirements but Anglican tradition. 20% of intake from state schools (at 11 (plus 60% of new entrants to sixth form). 30% of intake from own prep, Brentwood Preparatory School.
Scholarships awarded at 11 and for new pupils at 16: academic (10%-20% of fees) also music, art, drama, sport. Means-tested bursaries also available, up to 100% of fees (including to top up a scholarship). All text books included in fees. Fencing, individual music tuition, CCF etc extra.
Headmaster: Ian Davies, in post from 2004. Educated at universities of Oxford (theology) and Cambridge. Previously Headmaster at St Dunstan's College and Head of Lower School at Latymer Upper. Also Fellow of the RSA.
GCSE: 151 pupils in fifth; 99% gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects. A-levels: 152 in upper sixth, passing an average of 3.3 subjects.
Almost all sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (8% after a gap year), 3% to Oxbridge. 4% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 30% in science and engineering, 7% in law, 30% in humanities and social sciences, 19% in economics, business and finance, 9% in art and related subjects. A few go directly into the City or the armed services.
GCSE, AS and A-level, IB Diploma. 28 AS/A-level subjects (including psychology, ICT and computing). Sixth form: Most sixth formers taking AS/A-levels take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level. 4% take science/engineering courses; 56% take arts and humanities; 42% both. Vocational: Work experience available and encouraged in fifth and lower sixth forms. Special provision: EAL classes at all levels. Languages: French, German and Spanish offered at GCSE and AS and A-level and IB; also GCSE Italian in sixth form. Regular language exchanges and strong links with Spain, France, Germany and Italy. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. 550 computers for pupil use (8 hours a day), all networked and with email and internet access.
Music: Some 25% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 13 musical groups including 3 orchestras, big band, concert band, choirs, brass ensemble etc. Big band has released 7 CDs, frequent foreign tours; choirs make cathedral visits; major musical biennially; members of National Youth Orchestra, National Youth Jazz orchestra, county youth orchestra. Drama: GCSE drama and AS and A-level theatre studies. Pupils are involved in a range of school and house productions. Recent school productions include Les Miserables, West Side Story. Art and design: On average, 40 take GCSE, 15 AS and A-level. Former pupils have gone on to courses in fine art, industrial, graphic and textile design, animation and art history.
Sport: Soccer, cricket, hockey, netball, tennis, badminton, basketball, rugby, cross-country, volleyball, athletics, swimming, fencing, squash, table tennis, trampolining, weight training, circuit training, rounders. AS and A-level PE available. National representatives in fencing (recent Commonwealth and world gold medals), squash, soccer, cricket; county athletes and cross country runners, netball and hockey players; also successful tennis teams. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. CCF or community service compulsory for 3 years from age 13. Over 30 clubs, eg archery, music, Christian Union, golf, science and technology, geography, debating, theatre, computing, bridge and chess.
Uniform: School uniform worn throughout. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects (praepostors), head of school, head of house and house prefects, appointed by the Headmaster. Religion: Regular chapel (C of E) services. Social: Foreign exchange visits; organised trips to Germany, France, Spain, USA, Australia, South Africa, Ecuador, Mongolia; visits to First World War battlefields and classical sites; ESU scholars both ways; close contacts (especially musical) with twin town in Bavaria. Pupils allowed to bring own car or bike to school with permission. Self-service meals. School shop. No alcohol allowed.
The pastoral system is geared towards pre-empting and preventing disciplinary issues. A system of commendations and rewards reinforces good behaviour. Punishment, where necessary, is by admonishment, a range of detentions, and suspension.
70% have own study bedroom, 30% share. 2 single-sex houses. Qualified medical staff. Central dining room. Visits to local town allowed with housemaster/mistress permission.
Sir Hardy Amies (fashion); Sir Robin Day (TV); Douglas Adams (author); Griff Rhys-Jones (comedian); Noel Edmonds (television presenter), Frank Lampard (England footballer), Keith Allen (actor), Sir Nick Scheele (former President of Ford); Jack Straw (politician).
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