A leading day and boarding school for girls aged 11–18, set in hundreds of acres of beautiful Surrey countryside, Woldingham is an inspiring place for students to become courageous, confident and compassionate young women. It’s a place to learn how to ‘write your own story’ through excellent teaching, boundless opportunities and first-rate pastoral care, underpinned by a strong set of values.
Woldingham’s rural location is remarkably easy to get to. With Woldingham station adjoining the school grounds, London is just 30 minutes away by train, and the school is easily accessible for families in Surrey, Kent and Sussex.
The stunning mansion at the heart of the school sits alongside purpose-built science labs, humanities and language hubs, studios for art, drama and music, and a professional standard auditorium seating 630.
Woldingham’s Sixth Form Centre, which opened in September 2024, is the inspiring new home for our A Level students, where learning, creativity and excellence flourish in the state-of-the-art building.
Girls achieve outstanding GCSE and A Level results. In 2024, 51% of A Level grades awarded were A*/A, with 82% A*–B. At GCSE, 30% of all results were at grade 9, with more than three quarters grade 9–7. Students secure places at leading UK and international universities, opening doors to exciting careers. They choose from a wide range of academic enrichment opportunities, including a vibrant talks programme from leading academics and an annual philosothon, and Woldingham has a dynamic scholarship programme.
Woldingham has an exceptional programme of sport, performing arts, clubs and societies, enabling students to develop a comprehensive range of skills, expertise and interests.
With excellent indoor and outdoor sports facilities, hockey, netball, cricket and swimming teams compete locally and regionally with first-class training from specialist coaches. The tennis dome allows year-round play, as well as on outside courts in the summer. There is an indoor swimming pool, squash courts, gym, dance studio and recently refurbished sports hall with cricket nets.
The beauty and peace of Woldingham makes it the perfect place to board. Boarders live in comfortable and well-equipped boarding houses, and there is a great sense of community. Enthusiastic and experienced housemistresses understand how to help new girls settle in quickly and make the most of school life. Flexi boarding is a great option and weekly boarding is increasingly popular.
Widely recognised as a school which provides outstanding pastoral care, Woldingham is one of a small number of UK schools offering timetabled wellbeing lessons, where each girl is supported to be mentally and physically healthy, equipped with critical thinking skills to make better decisions and manage challenges now and in the future.
One of the UK’s oldest girls’ schools, Woldingham’s staff are experts in teaching in an all-girls environment. The school’s supportive and stimulating single-sex environment enables students to become authors of their own life story, growing into independent women who make a positive contribution to the world.
A Sacred Heart Catholic school, Woldingham warmly welcomes students of all faiths and none to a thriving school community founded on values derived from the Sacred Heart goals of faith, intellect, social awareness, community and personal growth.
Admissions. Main entry is via the Woldingham School Assessment in the autumn prior to entry for 11+, 13+ (standard and deferred entry) and 16+ candidates.
Scholarships. We offer the following academic and co-curricular scholarships, designed to recognise exceptional achievement, intellectual curiosity and persistence:
Academic, Art, Music, Drama and Sport Scholarships are offered at 11+, 13+ and 16+. In addition, a Local Girl Scholarship (means tested) is offered at 11+, Performing Arts Scholarships at 11+ and 13+ and Science Scholarships at 16+.
Bursaries. We are committed to providing bursaries, depending upon the financial and other pertinent circumstances of applicants. They are intended for girls who demonstrate strong academic potential and where the financial circumstances of the family will make attending Woldingham impossible.
Fees per term 2024–2025 (exclusive of any applicable taxes). Full boarding: £14,765–£16,685; Weekly boarding: £12,970–£14,700; Day (tuition): £8,350–£9,860; Flexi-boarding: £90 per night.
Charitable status. Woldingham School is a Registered Charity, number 1125376.
Governors & Staff:
Chair of Governors: Ms C Berwick, BSc SocSci Southampton
Head: Mrs S Baillie, BA Leicester, PGCE Cantab, FRSA
Deputy Head Academic: Ms N Weatherston, BSc Newcastle
Deputy Head Operations & Co-curricular: Mrs S Woolaway, BSc Open
Deputy Head Pastoral: Ms K Renshaw, BSc Leeds
Deputy Head Safeguarding: Miss T Bennett, BSc Durham, MSc Oxon
Director of Finance and Operations: Ms E Roche, BSc Leeds, ACA
Head of Sixth Form: Mr P Abbott, BSc Cardiff
Assistant Head Empowered Learning: Mrs G Haythorne, MA Oxon
Director of External Relations: Mrs C Mair, BA London
Director of Admissions: Mrs L Underwood
Heads of Department:
Art: Miss S Campbell, BA London Metropolitan
Biology: Mrs E Petty, BSc Birmingham
Business: Mrs C Abbott, BA Westminster
Chemistry: Mr P Currie, Graduate RSC Kingston
Classics & Latin: Dr J Dixon, PhD Manchester, BA, MA Liverpool
Computer Science: Mr T Rattle, BA Exeter, MA Brighton
Design & Technology: Mr D Wahab, BA Brighton
Drama: Miss S Williams, BA Italia Conti Academy
EAL: Mrs T Carrilero, BA Spain
Economics: Mr I Smith, BA Liverpool, MEd Greenwich
English: Mr R Stott, MA Edinburgh
French: Mrs C Maillot, BA equiv. France
Geography: Mrs R Bush, BSc Bristol
German: Mr V Ceska, BA Czech, MA France
Higher Education & Careers: Mrs J Travis
History: Mrs A Housden, BA Kent
Learning Enhancement: Ms R Moorvan, BA South Africa, MEd OU
Mathematics: Mrs R McKenna, BSc Cardiff
Media Studies: Mr S Maunder, BA Sheffield
Music: Mr R Hammond-Hall, BMus King's College London/Royal Academy of Music, MMus Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Physical Education: Mrs C Treacy, BSc Gloucestershire
Physics: Mrs M Clayton, BSc Birmingham
Politics: Mrs K Payne, BA Durham
Psychology: Mrs R Deaney, BSc Open, BMus, PG Dip RCM
Science: Mr P Rickard, BSc Bristol, BSc Liverpool
Spanish: Mr A Lopez, BA Oviedo
Theology: Mr A Ross, BA Lancaster, MA St Mary’s, AIDTA [B]