Woldingham School
Woldingham School
Org 1: HMC
Org 2: GSA
Marden Park, Woldingham, Surrey CR3 7YA
Telephone: 01883 654206
Open events: Details of Open mornings and Information mornings can be found on the school's website
Age Range: Senior to 18
Day or Boarding: Day, Weekly Boarding, Full Boarding, Flexi/Occasional Boarding
Gender: Girls
Exams offered: A Level, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), GCSE, IGCSE
Scholarships Tick: Academic, Art, Drama, Music, Sport
Scholarships Other Types: Performing Arts, Science
Bursaries and discounts: New entrant bursary, Existing pupil bursary/hardship award, Local resident bursary, HM forces discount, Sibling discount
Scholarships and Bursaries – Further Details
Woldingham offers the following scholarships:
11+: Academic, Art, Drama, Music, Performing Arts, Sport and a ‘Local Girl’ Scholarship
13+: Academic, Art, Drama, Music, Performing Arts and Sport
16+: Academic, Science, Art, Drama, Music and Sport
For further information, please contact: Mrs Linda Underwood, Director of Admissions, Woldingham School, Marden Park, Woldingham, Surrey CR3 7YA. Email: registrar@woldinghamschool.co.uk Tel: 01883 654206
A leading day and boarding school for girls aged 11–18 set in 700 acres of the most beautiful Surrey countryside, Woldingham is an inspiring place for students to become confident, compassionate and courageous young women. It’s a place where students learn to ‘write your own story’ through excellent teaching, boundless opportunities and first-rate pastoral care.
Despite Woldingham’s rural and peaceful location, the school 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 only 30 minutes from Gatwick and 45 minutes from Heathrow airports.
Main House, the stunning 19th century mansion at the centre of the school, sits alongside purpose-built science labs, humanities and language hubs, and studios for art, drama and music. With a professional standard auditorium seating 630, it’s no surprise that award-winning actors Emma Corrin and Carey Mulligan both attended Woldingham.
Students achieve outstanding GCSE and A Level results to secure places at leading UK and international universities, opening doors to exciting careers. Students choose from a wide range of academic enrichment opportunities, including a vibrant talks programme from leading academics, annual philosothon, and dynamic scholarship programme to stretch and challenge scholars.
Woldingham has an exceptional programme of sport, clubs, performing arts and outreach into the local community, enabling students to develop an excellent range of skills, expertise and interests. In 2022, Woldingham opened an Outdoor Education & Adventure Centre – a perfect addition to the school’s wonderful 700 acres.
Woldingham has excellent indoor and outdoor sports facilities onsite. Hockey and netball teams compete locally and regionally with first-class training from specialist coaches. The tennis dome means tennis can be played year round, as well as on outside courts in the summer. There is an indoor swimming pool, squash courts, fitness suites, dance studio and newly refurbished sports hall with cricket nets.
The beauty and peace of Woldingham in the Surrey Hills makes it the perfect place to board. Boarders live with their own year group 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, where students spend their weekends at home, is increasingly popular.
One of the UK’s oldest girls’ schools, Woldingham is proud to be a pioneer of women’s education and its staff are experts in teaching in an all-girls environment. Woldingham’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.
Woldingham is a Sacred Heart Catholic school, warmly welcoming students of all faiths and none.
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 (2023–2024). Full boarding: £14,195–£15,450; Weekly boarding: £12,470–£13,610; Day (tuition): £8,030–£9,130; Flexi-boarding: £72.50 per night (max. 2 nights per week).
Charitable status. Woldingham School is a Registered Charity, number 1125376.
Governors & Staff:
Chair of Governors: Ms C Berwick, BSc SocSci Southampton
Interim Head: Mrs J Harrington, BA Exeter, NPQH
Deputy Head Academic: Ms N Weatherston, BSc Newcastle
Deputy Head Operations & Co-curricular: Mrs S Woolaway, BSc Open University
Deputy Head Wellbeing (acting) and Head of Marden: Ms K Renshaw, BSc Leeds
Deputy Head Safeguarding & Boarding (acting): Miss T Bennett, BSc Durham, MSc Oxon
Head of Sixth Form: Mr P Abbott, BSc Cardiff
Bursar: Mrs A Higgs, BSc, LSE, FCA
Director of Communication: Ms J Rawlinson, BA Hull, MA Florida
Foundation Director: 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: Ms B MacLean, BA, MA Canada
French: Mrs C Maillot, BA equiv. France
Geography: Mr D Lock, BA London
German: Mr V Ceska, BA Czech, MA France
Higher Education & Careers: Mrs M Young, BA Durham, MA Durham
History: Mrs A Housden, BA Kent
History of Art: Mr A Cullen, BA SOAS
Learning Enhancement: Ms R Moorvan, BA South Africa, MEd OU
Mathematics: Mrs R McKenna, BSc Cardiff
Media Studies: Mr S Maunder, BA Sheffield
Music: Ms R Ives, BMus, ARCM, DipRCM perf Royal College of Music
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 University, 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]