An independent co-educational day and boarding school for children aged 7 to 18.
Freemen’s is a school where open-hearted children are happy to be; where academic excellence is an expectation but is rooted in a supportive environment where every child matters. We place particular emphasis on the individual and their needs, and in providing the opportunities to identify and develop their skills to flourish throughout their time at Freemen’s, and beyond.
Our mission is to learn, lead and make a difference. This ethos is felt throughout the School, from Juniors to Seniors and beyond into Sixth Form. We are fortunate to have a wonderful sense of community in our beautiful patch of Surrey parkland, with a diverse and welcoming cohort of students; expert, trailblazing teaching staff; an active and engaged parent body and a wealth of friends and supporters in the local area, the City of London and as part of our burgeoning alumni community.
Our founding ethos was all about community and that remains at the forefront of our thinking almost 170 years later. City of London Freemen’s School was set up to look after the orphaned children of Freemen of the City. The school was founded in Brixton in 1854 to educate boys and girls; we have always been co-educational – it is an essential part of our character, even before that was commonplace. As well as committing right from our foundation to a charitable, co-ed, broad education, we have also continuously admitted boarders alongside our day pupils, and they remain an integral part of what makes Freemen’s the community it is.
In 1926, the City of London Corporation moved the school to Ashtead Park. We really do enjoy the best of locations – a leafy Surrey Hills site, but wholeheartedly connected to the Square Mile and only a short train journey into Waterloo or Victoria. We are located between Epsom and Leatherhead with easy access to Heathrow and Gatwick – both of which are only 22 miles away – via the M25. Since then, our site has expanded to accommodate numbers and to support our children’s development in excellent facilities. You can be sure that the interests of the children will always come first here.
School buildings include a central Georgian Mansion, a floodlit all-weather pitch, Sports Hall, an Art and Design Centre, a Science and Technology Centre and a Studio Theatre. A state-of-the-art music school – including a Steinway-D concert grand piano – and a co-educational boarding house for 60 pupils were completed and opened in 2014. An award-winning swimming pool was opened in 2017 and an ambitious refurbishment project on the Main House building, which houses a state-of-the-art Sixth Form Centre, was completed in 2021.
Junior School. The Junior School provides 20 classrooms for up to 400 pupils. and is fully integrated within the framework and policies of the whole school. Its facilities include specialist rooms for Art and Design, Science and STEM learning, as well as an Assembly Hall and Library. See Junior School entry in IAPS section.
Organisation and entry. Freemen’s is divided into two sections but is administered as a single unit. The Junior School has its own specially trained staff and its own self-contained building, but otherwise all staff teach throughout the school. Pupils seeking entry to the Junior School sit the school’s own entrance assessments at 7+ (held in December). Pupils seeking entry to the Senior School take the school’s own entrance assessments at 11+ and 13+ (held in November). Freemen’s Junior School pupils may expect to transfer directly to the Senior School at 11+ without sitting further examinations.
Sixth Form applicants do not need to sit entrance assessments if they are sitting 7 or more GCSEs (including GCSE English). Entry requirements for Sixth Form include:
•a minimum Grade 7 in seven subjects and specific requirements in the subjects you wish to study at A Level
•completion of a Sixth Form Questionnaire after applying
•a one-to-one interview with a member of the Sixth Form team
•a confidential report from pupil’s current school.
Curriculum. The first four years (Years 3 to 6) are largely taught by class teachers following the broad outlines of the National Curriculum. Up to the age of about 14, all pupils have substantially the same curriculum which comprises English, French/German/Spanish, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Religious Education, Latin, Design Technology, Computing, Food Technology, Art, Music, PE and Games
Thereafter, apart from a common core of English, French or German or Spanish, Mathematics and the three separate Sciences, GCSEs can be selected from subjects including Art and Design, Business Studies, Computer Science, Design Technology, Drama, Food Preparation and Nutrition, French, Geography, German, History, Latin, Music, Philosophy, Ethics and Religion and Spanish, so that most pupils will take 10 subjects. Physical Education and Personal, Social and Health Education are included in the curriculum at all levels and all age groups have an Enrichment afternoon.
Sixth Form courses include the following: Art, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Classical Civilisation, Computer Science, Design and Technology, Drama, Economics, English Literature, French, Further Mathematics, Geography, German, Politics, History, Latin, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy Ethics and Religion, Physics, Psychology, Spanish and Sport Studies.
The Sixth Form curriculum is designed to ensure that Freemen’s students are well prepared for university entry and future employment. The range of subjects available aims to allow all potential Sixth Formers to follow a programme that meets their interests, abilities and career aspirations. For each Sixth Form student, three pathways are offered through the curriculum:
•Pathway 1: Four A levels to include Mathematics and Further Mathematics
•Pathway 2: Three A Levels + EPQ + Free Minds
•Pathway 3: Three A levels + Free Minds.
This is complemented by enrichment mornings, a varied programme of games afternoons, careers guidance and personal, social and health education.
The School has an excellent academic record. Recent GCSE results have been excellent, with 39% of students achieving the highest grade (9) and 84% of examinations awarded grades A*/A or equivalent (7–9).
A Level results have been equally impressive with 23% of grades at the highest level (A*) and 87% of examinations awarded A*–B grades. Nearly all leavers go on to degree courses at universities or other higher education institutes. 2023 saw 64% of students receive an offer at a Russell Group university and 93% of students were placed at their university of choice.
Games. Each pupil is treated as an individual and we give them the opportunity to forge their own path of physical activity to suit them. To do this we ensure our programme is broad, to enable pupils to try numerous sports, and give our pupils a choice of activity in Games for their latter years at the school, making our programme more relevant to each of our pupils.
Freemen’s sports programme for Junior and Senior pupils includes football, rugby, netball, hockey, cricket, athletics, tennis, boys hockey and girls' touch rugby.
Pupils in Year 11 to Year 13 are given the option of selecting from 14 different activities in Games each term. There are competitive fixtures in fencing, football, netball, rugby, swimming, squash, tennis, athletics, cricket, cross country, fencing, indoor hockey and rugby sevens.
Co-curricular. The co-curricular programme offers a huge choice of activities and covers everything from performing arts and sport to the enrichment, elective activities and House programmes.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a very popular option in the Senior School. Students may also participate in the Army or RAF Sections of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF).
All pupils belong to one of three Houses in which they will take part in a range of competitions including music, drama, sport as well as cookery, photography, debating and more. Pupils are based in form groups aligned with their house as they move up through the key stages. The house system also gives pupils leadership opportunities throughout each key stage.
Fees per term (2023-2024). Junior School: £5,856–£6,505 (day); Senior School: £7,861 (day), £12,568 (weekly boarding), £13,958 (full boarding); Sixth Form: £8,214 (day), £12,921 (weekly boarding), £14,311 (full boarding). Instrumental Music lessons: £288 per term. School lunches: £258 (day pupils) per term.
Scholarships and bursaries. Scholarships are awarded in recognition of excellence, achievement and potential in academic study or music. They carry considerable prestige for the award holder but are of limited financial value (up to 5% discount of the fees). Academic Scholarships and Music Scholarships are available for entry into Year 7, Year 9 and Year 12 to internal and external pupils. Bursaries are offered based on the amount of need required and the child’s performance in our entrance assessments. The level of bursary will depend on each family’s circumstances, but transformational bursaries are available and could be up to 110% of the school fees. All applications are strictly confidential and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Governors & Staff:
Board of Governors:
Deputy Philip Woodhouse (Chairman)
Jamel Banda (Deputy Chairman)
Deputy Graham Packham
Alderman Robert Howard
Alderman Tim Levene (ex-officio)
Alderman Christopher Makin
Councillor Chris Townsend
Roy Anklesaria
John Foley
Nicholas Goddard
Michael Hudson
Andrew McMillan
Clare Verga
Lady Gillian Yarrow
Support Officer: Melanie Peel
Executive Leadership Team:
Headmaster: Mr Roland Martin
Deputy Head: Mr Stuart Bachelor
Academic Deputy Head: Mr Paul Bridges
Bursar: Mrs Oonagh O'Mahoney
Senior Leadership Team:
Assistant Head (Head of Sixth Form): Mrs Sarah Stewart
Assistant Head (Head of Upper School): Ms Sophie Blair
Assistant Head (Head of Junior School): Mr Matthew Robinson
Assistant Head (Head of Boarding): Mr Alan Auld
Assistant Head (Learning, Teaching and Innovation): Mr James Felgate
Assistant Head (Co-curricular): Mr Jamie Shore-Nye
Assistant Head (Staff and Staff Development): Mrs Emma Smith
Director of External Relations: Mr Jason Harrison-Miles
Director of HR: Mrs Anna Atkins
Director of Learning Support: Mrs Sarah Bailey
Director of Operations: Mr Ed Kennedy
Boarding:
Deputy Houseparent: Miss Georgina Farrington
Deputy Houseparent: Mrs Katie Moilliet
Heads of Year:
Assistant Head of Upper School: Mrs Joanne McCullagh (Maternity cover)
Head of Year 9: Mr Tim Deakin
Head of Year 10: Dr Beatrice Blucke
Head of Year 11: Mr Peter McKee
Head of Year 12: Mr Daniel Moran
Head of Year 13: Mrs Nicola Bax
Heads of Department:
Art: Mrs Rebecca Houseman (Maternity cover)
Biology: Mr John Graham
Business and Economics: Mrs Justine Marvin
Chemistry: Dr Julia Lister
Classics: Mrs Romer Attenborough
Computer Science: Mrs Ghadah Ibrahim
Drama: Mr Jeremy Colton (Director of Drama)
English: Mr James Smith
Examinations: Mrs Sufiah Wallace
Food Preparation and Nutrition: Mrs Tina Judge
Future Pathways: Mrs Lucy Ryckeart
Geography: Mrs Ofelia Bueno-Lopez
History and Politics: Mr Andrew Weston
Languages: Alicia Palomo Lopez
Mathematics: Mrs Marie Cast
Music: Mr Anthony Merryweather (Director of Music)
Philosophy and Religion: Mr Tim Wright
Physics: Mr James Hallam
PSHE: Mrs Philippa Whiteley
Psychology: Miss Joanna Vinall
Spanish: Mrs Christina Salisbury
Sport: Mr Edward Smith (Director of Sport)
Design and Technology: Mr Steve Sarsfield
Junior School:
Assistant Head of Junior School: Mrs Louise Jowitt
Head of Year 3 (Form 1): Mrs Emma Smith
Head of Year 4 (L2): Mrs Vanessa Symonds
Head of Year 5 (U2): Mrs Janet Wilby-King
Head of Year 6 (L3): Mrs Sarah Gillespie
Head of Year 7 (U3): Mr Haydon Jones
Head of Year 8 (L4): Mrs Fiona Moncur
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award:
DofE Senior Coordinator: Revd Jon Prior
Combined Cadet Force:
CCF Contingent Commander: Mr Alexander Truelove
Medical Centre:
School Nurse Managers: Ms Kate Lynch; Mrs Elizabeth Holmden
School Nurses: Mrs Diana Carter; Mrs Priscilla Mills
Professional Services Staff:
Executive Assistant to the Headmaster: Mrs Tracie Bruce
Executive Assistant to the COO: Mrs Katie Reeves
Safeguarding Coordinator: Mr Nigel Legg
HR Officer: Miss Helen Lambert
HR Administrator: Mrs Gillian Anklesaria
Finance Manager: Mrs Angela Bulkeley
Finance Officers: Mrs Debra Widmer; Mrs Jane Arnett; Mrs Natalia Schutte; Mrs Suzanne Wilding
Head of Admissions: Ms Debbie Bellenger
Head of Marketing and Communications: Mrs Nicola Warren
Marketing and Communications Officer: Ms Gemma Roberts
Digital Marketing Officer: Ms Katherine Alano
Admissions Officer: Mrs Cheryl Turnbull
Development Officer: Mrs Sabina Lillyman
Office Manager: Ms Sonia Oke
SLT Secretary: Mrs Julia Donovan
Senior School Receptionist and Administrator: Mrs Karen Shelton
PA to Head of Junior School: Mrs Kathy Hurst
Junior School Administrator: Mrs Michelle Grasty
Sports Administrator: Mrs Tracey Clarke
Music Administrator: Mrs Patricia Barrie
Librarians: Mrs Ashley Bate; Ms Charlotte Bellsham-Revell
Director of Digital Services: Mr Paul Hykin
Data Manager: Mr Anthony Richmond
Technology, Enhanced Learning and Training Manager: Mr Matt Skilton
Head of Operations: Mr Edward Kennedy
Head of Grounds and Gardens: Mr Gary Marshall
Facilities Manager: Mr Gyorgy Simon
Chaplain: Rev Jonathan Prior
Technicians:
Mrs Joanna Wojcik (Senior Technician, Physics)
Mrs Mary Marrett (Senior Technician, Biology and Chemistry)
Mrs Christine Foster (Science, Junior School)
Mr Lewis Grover (Biology and Physics)
Mrs Emma Eshelby (Chemistry)
Ms Emma Hughes-Phillips (Art and Design)
Mr Daniel Barter (Art and Design)
Mr Chris Ruby (Facilities)
Mr David Holloway (Technologies)
Mrs Eileen Enright (Food Technology)