Founded in 1611, Charterhouse is one of the UK’s leading co-educational independent schools and has a prestigious global reputation.
Surrounded by a world of opportunity and connected by a feeling of belonging, each pupil is educated to embrace life’s full potential, and empowered to carry this into their future.
A Charterhouse education prepares for both academic success as well as laying the foundations for future professional, social and personal fulfilment. Shared values are central to school life, enabling each pupil to be themselves. Everything at Charterhouse begins with kindness.
This intangible sense of community and togetherness are often the starting point when describing the Charterhouse experience. All pupils experience a true sense of collective belonging, independence and identity.
‘When you come to Charterhouse, you come because of the magnificent grounds, the academics, sport and arts are fantastic, but what you stay for is the true sense of belonging, being a part of something beyond yourself and the continuous personal growth you gain during your time here.’ – Year 12 Pupil, Theo
Future-ready. Charterhouse pupils are amongst the most future-ready young people in the UK. The School’s FutureU activities are a central element of the Carthusian experience, aimed at ensuring pupils can proactively develop the transferable skills, professional knowledge, experiences and mindset required to thrive throughout their later lives. Every pupil accesses FutureU content throughout their time at School via a dedicated programme led by the Futures Team as well as elements being delivered within the academic curriculum, co-curricular and PSHE programmes. The new Business, Leadership and Entrepreneurship Hub is the centre of the Futures programme, providing spaces to facilitate collaboration and help pupils to develop the presentation and communications skills required in the world of work.
A wonderful campus. Charterhouse is set in a beautiful and fully enclosed 250-acre campus located on the edge of the attractive market town of Godalming, in the south of England. Conveniently close to London (45 minutes) and within 50 minutes of both Heathrow and Gatwick airports, the campus provides an environment that is safe, rich in heritage and an inspiring setting for the whole community to live and work together.
With 17 grass sports pitches, 3 full-sized Astroturf pitches, an athletics stadium, a sports centre, 24 tennis courts and a 9-hole golf course, not to mention beautiful lawns and gardens, the campus is one of the best, if not the best, in the UK. Combined with a 235-seat theatre and separate music performance and art display spaces, the School’s setting encourages pupils to contribute and provides a feeling of space in which pupils can discover new opportunities and explore their potential.
Pupil numbers. Charterhouse has 1,005 pupils – 565 in the Under School (Years 9–11) and 440 in the Sixth Form.
Learning with purpose. The School is academically ambitious for all pupils, with each strand of a Charterhouse education combining to ensure that they are ‘future-ready’. The curriculum is all about choice for the individual and is firmly rooted in academic rigour, intellectual curiosity and independent learning. Everyone has the opportunity to play to their strengths and interests, as well as having the flexibility and choices to discover new passions. This philosophy starts when a pupil joins Charterhouse and continues into our GCSE programmes. Having completed their GCSEs, pupils benefit from the dual offer available in the Sixth Form: A levels with an Extended Project Qualification or the breadth of the IB Diploma Programme. A wonderful range of additional academic electives are also on offer, including the ground-breaking Charterhouse Entrepreneurship Diploma (accredited by the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs) and the Ivy House Leadership Award.
Breadth of opportunity. From an outstanding and varied academic education to the raft of co-curricular options – opportunities abound at Charterhouse. Co-curricular activities are an essential strand of a Charterhouse education, combining opportunities for leadership development, creativity, exercise and team work. They are also great fun.
The timetable enables all pupils to regularly enjoy a wide range of activities, making use of the School’s impressive facilities. More than 80 different sports and activities are on offer, including outdoor pursuits, music, drama and other creative opportunities. All pupils are encouraged to develop existing interests to exciting levels and to take up new ones.
A great many clubs and societies are pupil-led and, alongside our sport and outdoor education programmes, offer real leadership opportunities and there are few limits to what can be pursued.
No two Charterhouse educations are the same: every pupil will have the chance to find their passions, often in the most unexpected of places, which many will carry with them into later life.
Home from home. The House is the centre of every pupil’s time at Charterhouse. Their House is a welcoming home from home, with the resident Head of House becoming their day-to-day mentor, with responsibility for looking after them throughout their time at the School.
The Heads of Houses are supported by a team of pastoral staff and tutors. Every pupil is matched with a tutor who takes a particular interest in their academic progress, co-curricular commitments and also guides them through the PSHE programme. Tutors meet with their tutees formally three times a week as well as meeting informally on the tutor’s weekly duty evening in House.
The House Teams are supported by a 24-hour Health Centre and pupils also have access to support through the Wellbeing team, counsellors and chaplaincy.
Join us. Inclusivity sits at the heart of life at Charterhouse and the School welcomes children from all educational and cultural backgrounds. Families are warmly invited to visit Charterhouse to meet the Head, Dr Alex Peterken, and his staff, and to experience a glimpse into School life.
The School welcomes boarders and day pupils at 13+ entry and 16+ entry. The Admissions process is academically selective by competitive assessment, interview and subject to a reference from a child’s current school.
13+ entry. Children need to be registered by 1 October, when they are in their Year 6, prior to taking the ISEB pre-test. The School reserves 35% of places for assessment in Year 7. This is for children who have just missed out on places in Year 6 and also for those who registered too late to be assessed in Year 6.
Sixth Form. Charterhouse welcomes around 60 new pupils into the Sixth Form each year. Registrations open in the spring term of the year prior to entry.
Full details on the Admissions processes are available on the School website: www.charterhouse.org.uk/admissions.
Fees per term (2024-2025). Boarders: £15,672, Day: £12,505.
Scholarships and bursaries. Charterhouse offers a range of scholarship awards to pupils joining the School across academic study, music, sport, art & textiles, dance, drama and design engineering. These awards are earned through open competition and are based on merit. They can be supported by bursaries, where there is a need.
Over the course of four centuries, the School’s scholarship programme has flourished. Today, scholars continue to make significant contributions to the vibrant School community. Scholarships retain their immense worth, not only in enriching School life but also in showcasing an individual’s talents when applying for universities and when stepping into the professional world.
All bursaries are means tested and are subject to funds being available. The award is reviewed annually for changes in parents’ financial circumstances and may be adjusted as a result. Awards may cover up to 100% of the school fees.
Charitable status. Charterhouse School is a Registered Charity, number 312054.
Governors & Staff:
Governing Body:
Mr Mark Bishop, BA, MA, PGCE, MBA (Chair)
Mr Kwaku Awuku-Asabre, BSc, DipLaw
Mr Durell Barnes, BA
Mrs Caroline Brown, MA, PgoL, LPC
Mr Stephen Browne, MA, MBA, PGCE, MCSI
Mrs Clare Ferguson, MEng
Mrs Helen Goatley, BA LLB
Mr James Goldsmith, BSc, MRICS
The Very Revd Dianna Gwilliams, BA, MA
Dr Nihara Krause, BSc, MSc, PsychD, CPsychol, CSci
Mr David Macey, FCA
Mr Jeremy McIlroy, FCA, ATII
Mr John Olsen, BA
Mr Andrew Reid, MA, MBA, FCA
Mr David Royds, BSc
Mr Michael Walton, MA, MBA, FRICS
Clerk to the Governing Body: Mrs Alex Warburton, BA
Senior Leadership Team:
Head: Dr Alex Peterken, BA, MA, EdD
Director of Finance and Operations: Mr Phil Grainge, MA, ACMA, CGMA
Senior Deputy Head: Mr Andrew Turner, BA, LLM
Deputy Head (Academic): Mr Duncan Byrne, MA, MEd, MBA
Deputy Head (Pastoral): Mr Edward Poynter, BA, MEd
Deputy Head (Safeguarding, Learning Support & SEND): Mrs Alex Colclough, BA
Assistant Head Academic (Sixth Form & Futures): Mr Simon Allen, MA, MEd
Assistant Head (Pastoral): Miss Leanne Rowlands, BSc, PCET
Assistant Head (Under School): Mr Sam Cooke, MA
Assistant Head (Co-Curricular): Mrs Jani Lambeth, BSc
Assistant Head (Teaching & Learning): Mrs Rebecca Markham-Jones, MA
Assistant Head (Senior Tutor): Mrs Louisa Wilkins, MA
Senior Head of House (Girls): Mrs Rebecca Pugh, BA
Senior Head of House (Boys): Mr Sam James, MA
Director of Admissions: Mrs Iona Hutchinson, BA
Director of External Relations: Mr Chris Hibbs, BA, MCIOF, FRSA
Director of Wellbeing & Inclusion: Mrs M Jolly, BA, MA
Director of International & Online Education: Ms Karen Davies, MA, MBA
Heads of Houses:
Bodeites: Mr David McCombes, MA
Chetwynd: Mrs Jodi Crosby
Daviesites: Mr Sam James, MA
Fletcherites: Mr Adam Hooper, BEng & Mrs Charlotte Hooper, BA
Girdlestoneites: Mr Charlie Sparrow, MA
Gownboys: Mr Andrew Marshall-Taylor, MA
Hodgsonites: Mr Ian Richards, MA
Lockites: Mr Andrew Hunt, MA
Northbrook: Mrs Rebecca Pugh, BA
Pageites: Mr John Eastham, BA
Robinites: Mr Jason Ellis-Woodley, MSc
Saunderites: Mrs Suzanne Allen, MA
Sutton: Mrs Alice Evans, BA, MA
Verites: Mr Edward Reid, MMath
Weekites: Miss Georgia Gordon-Martin, BA