Founded in 1432, Sevenoaks School is a co-educational day and boarding school for students aged 11–18. Just half an hour from central London and London Gatwick airport, its superb 100-acre campus is set in the Kent countryside.
Sevenoaks is one of the world’s leading IB schools, having taught the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for over 45 years.
Sevenoaks is among the top schools in the UK. It is the Sunday Times Co-educational Independent School of the Year 2023. The school was also chosen as the Independent School of the Year for Student Wellbeing in 2023. The UK Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) awarded Sevenoaks the rare accolade of ‘Exceptional’ for its pupils’ achievements.
In 2023, its average IB Diploma score was 39.6 points, about nine points above the world average, and consistent with previous years. The Higher Education department supported successful applications to universities in the UK, USA, Canada, Europe and Hong Kong. An outstanding 93.5 per cent (230 students) progressed to their first-choice university.
Sevenoaks proudly publishes the university destinations of leavers every year. Given its global perspective, it supports about 20 per cent of students to universities in another country, with increasing numbers going to North America, specifically Ivy league and top universities in the United States.
The majority go to Oxbridge, London universities or other top universities in the UK, such as Bristol or Durham.
Sevenoaks students have access to world-class facilities for co-curricular pursuits, including sport, music, drama and art, at least 70 clubs and societies, a wide range of study trips and exchanges, and a well-established community service programme.
There is a strong emphasis on the co-curriculum, from sport to music, drama and art. Pupils are regularly selected for regional and national orchestras and choirs, the NYT, and compete at county, national and international level in a number of sports.
Sevenoaks was one of the first UK schools to incorporate voluntary service as a compulsory element of the co-curriculum, pioneering a local Voluntary Service Unit in the 1960s and continuing with a strong service programme today. There is also a CCF and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme; with Gold expeditions abroad as well as in the UK.
In 2017, the school launched its Middle School Diploma for Year 9, which records pupils’ academic and co-curricular achievements in creativity, action and service as well as in the enriching Sevenoaks core courses, Ten Ideas That Changed the World and Critical Perspectives.
There are lessons and sport for all pupils on Saturdays and a full programme of activities for boarders on Sundays.
The facilities are first class. In 2018, a state-of-the-art science and technology centre opened, uniting the four core fields of science, with an innovative new Sixth Form Global Study Centre alongside, providing the school’s first dedicated space for the IB and Higher Education. Other recent developments include a sports centre providing outstanding facilities and an award-winning, world-class performing arts centre.
With eight distinctive and comfortable boarding houses, its boarding community is fun, friendly and busy.
The school’s international outlook promotes the principles of tolerance and open-mindedness. Ambitious but principled, confident and compassionate, Sevenoaks pupils are prepared for leadership in an ever more complex world.
Admission. The main points of entry to the school are at 11, 13 and 16 years. A small number are admitted at other levels. At 11+, pupils are admitted on the basis of a competitive examination held in January, an interview and school report. At 13+, candidates will take the ISEB and will then take part in an assessment process in either January of their Year 7 or April of their Year 8. A reference from their current school is also required. Academic and co-curricular scholarship examinations are held in the May of Year 8. At 16+ students are admitted into the Sixth Form based on their performance in interview and academic entrance tests, and on the strength of their current school reports. All applications for entry should be addressed to the Director of Admissions (regist@sevenoaksschool.org). Fees per term (2024-2025). Boarders: £16,453; Day Pupils: £10,243. Fees for pupils entering directly into the Sixth Form are £17,850 (boarding) and £11,632 (day). Fees include lunch on every school day (including Saturdays), plus textbooks and exercise books for all timetabled subjects. Fees indicated are for Michaelmas Term 2024 and will be updated for Lent Term in due course, in light of VAT changes.
Scholarships and bursaries. Sevenoaks offers scholarships to students joining at 11+, 13+ and 16+. These scholarships honour and celebrate exceptional talent in academia, music, sports, drama and art.
We no longer offer a financial element to our scholarships, as we embrace a principle of awarding financial assistance according to need. Music scholars still receive free tuition in one instrument.
This enables us to offer means-tested financial assistance to prospective Sevenoaks students whose families otherwise could not afford to finance their child’s place. We feel this is the right and equitable thing to do. Over the years, many families of scholars have taken the same view and donated their fee reduction to the financial assistance fund; we are most grateful to them.
Financial Assistance. Currently 80 students are in receipt of Financial Assistance with fees, with some receiving additional support to cover the cost of uniform, trips and other extras. It is a key priority to significantly increase the number of students receiving Financial Assistance over the coming years.
All awards of Financial Assistance are means tested, which requires parents to answer detailed questions and provide evidence of their financial circumstances.
Further details can be obtained from Lorna Dolan, Director of Admissions, Sevenoaks School, High Street, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1HU. Tel: 01732 467703; Email:regist@sevenoaksschool.org. Charitable status. Sevenoaks School is a Registered Charity, No.1101358. Its aims and objectives are the education of schoolchildren.
Governors & Staff:
Governing Body:
Chair: A Beckett
Vice-Chair: C Gill
Governors:
K Allen
C Barda
R Best
J Davies
E Ecclestone
C Houghteling
G Innes
P Luxmore
M McInerney
M Merson
A Timms
A Yuravlivker
Bursar and Clerk to the Governors and Trustees: B McAhron
Senior Leadership Team:
Headmaster: J R Elzinga
Senior Deputy Head: C Ives
Deputy Head (Pastoral): J Lidiard
Deputy Head (Academic): C Taylor
Deputy Head (Co-curriculum): S Walmsley
Deputy Head (Staff): H Tebay
Deputy Head (Boarding):N Haworth
Director of Admissions: L Dolan
Director of Advancement: J Walker
Director of Institute for Teaching & Learning: M Beverley
Director of Institute for Higher Education and Professional Insight: W Heydorn
Director of International Baccalaureate: N Haworth
Head of Sixth Form Admissions: S Coquelin
Head of Sixth Form: M Edwards
Head of Middle School: R McQuillin
Head of Lower School: M Atkinson