The School was founded by Archbishop John Whitgift in 1596. The full title of the school is Trinity School of John Whitgift.
One of two governed by the Whitgift Foundation, Trinity School in Croydon, South London is a leading independent day school for boys aged 10–16, with a co-educational Sixth Form. The school will be fully co-educational from September 2027. The School aims to give a wide education to students of academic promise, irrespective of their parents’ income.
Buildings and grounds. Trinity School has been in its present position since 1965, when it moved out from the middle of Croydon (its old site is now the Whitgift Centre) to a completely new complex of buildings and playing fields on the site of the Shirley Park Hotel. The grounds are some 27 acres in extent, and a feeling of openness is increased by the surrounding Shirley Park Golf Club and the extensive views to the south up to the Addington Hills. There are additional playing fields in Sandilands, ten minutes’ walk from the School.
The resources of the Whitgift Foundation enable the School to provide outstanding facilities. All departments have excellent and fully equipped teaching areas.
Admission. The main ages of admission are at 10, 11 and 13. Entry is by competitive examination and interview. A reference from the feeder school will also be required. The School attracts applications from over 150 schools, with approximately 60% entering from state primaries. Entries of boys and girls into the Sixth Form are also welcomed.
Fees per annum (2025-2026). £29,240 covering tuition, books, stationery and games. Fee includes VAT and other applicable taxes.
Bursaries. Whitgift Foundation Bursaries (means-tested) are available providing help with fees.
Scholarships. Academic, Art, Design Technology, Drama, Music and Sport Scholarships are available annually to children applying for entry at 10+, 11+ or 13+. Children must be the relevant age on 1 September of the year of entry. Awards are based on the results of the Entrance Examination, interview and current school reference. They are awarded without regard to parental income and are worth a percentage (up to 50%) of the school fees throughout a student's career.
Academic, Art, Music and Sport Scholarships are also available for entry to the Sixth Form, based on GCSE results.
Scholarships may be supplemented up to the value of full fees if there is financial need.
Music Scholarships of up to 50% fee remission include free tuition in two instruments. Applicants are required to play two pieces on principal instrument and show academic potential in the Entrance Examination. Awards are available for all instruments and singing ability can be taken into consideration. Further details from the Director of Music.
Organisation and counselling. The School is divided into the Lower School (National Curriculum Years 6–9) and the Upper School (Years 10–13). The Pastoral Leader in charge of each section works with the team of Form Tutors to encourage the academic and personal development of each student. There is frequent formal and informal contact with parents.
A counselling service is provided to students as part of the pastoral provision and a fully qualified School Counsellor is on hand to help students with their individual needs. Students can refer themselves to the Counsellor or they may be referred by staff.
There is a structured and thorough Careers service, which advises students at all levels of the School and arranges work experience and work shadowing.
While the academic curriculum is taught from Monday to Friday, there is a very active programme of sports fixtures and other activities at the weekend, and all students are expected to put their commitment to the School before other activities.
Curriculum and staffing. The School is generously staffed with well qualified specialists. The organisation of the teaching programme is traditionally departmental based. The syllabus is designed to reflect the general spirit of the National Curriculum while allowing a suitable degree of specialisation in the Upper School.
The normal pattern is for students to take 9 or 10 GCSE subjects, and to proceed to the Sixth Form to study an appropriate mixture of AS and A2 level subjects, complemented by a wide-ranging General Studies programme, before proceeding to university.
Games and activities. The main school games are rugby, football, hockey, cricket and athletics, with the addition of netball for girls in the Sixth Form. Many other sports become options as students' progress up the School. Games are timetabled, each student having one games afternoon a week.
At the appropriate stage, most students take part in one or more of the following activities: Community Service, CCF, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, Outdoor Activities. There are many organised expeditions during the holidays.
Music. Music at Trinity has an international reputation, and every year Trinity Boys Choir is involved in a varied programme of demanding professional work. The Choir has performed at the BBC Proms for the past seven years and sings at the Royal Opera House, the English National Opera, Glyndebourne or Garsington 3–4 times each year. Recently the choristers have travelled to Vienna, Brussels, Venice, Dusseldorf and Wachock Abbey, Poland. They also appear regularly on radio and television. Trinity Choristers, who specialise in religious music, hold an annual residential Easter Course at a British cathedral. Choral Scholarships are awarded annually and enable students to receive additional professional voice training without charge.
Many students learn at least one musical instrument, and a large visiting music staff teach all orchestral instruments, piano, organ and classical guitar. There are numerous orchestras, bands and other instrumental groups for which students are selected according to their ability. Musicians recently travelled to Canada and instrumentalists are regular finalists in the Pro Corda National Chamber Music competition.
Drama. There are two excellently equipped stages in the school and a lively and developing programme of formal and informal productions directed by students, staff and members of the Old Boys Theatre Company. Drama forms part of the formal curriculum in Years 6–9 and can be studied for GCSE and A level.
Art and Design Technology. As well as the formal curriculum, which has led to 70% of the School taking a GCSE in Art or Design Technology, students are encouraged to make use of the excellent facilities to develop their own interests.
Charitable status. The Whitgift Foundation is a Registered Charity, number 312612. The Foundation now comprises the Whitgift Almshouse Charity for the care of the elderly and the Education Charity which administers three schools.