Eltham College is a thriving co-educational independent day school for students aged 7 to 18.
Set on a spacious and green campus of nearly 70 acres in south-east London, Eltham College is a highly successful school which aims to provide a broad and balanced education for girls and boys to prepare them to prosper as adults in a modern and fast-changing world. The College is academically selective and is one of the leading academic schools in the country, as but also with a rich and varied co-curricular programme including Sport, Music, Drama and Art. The school is a Top 20 London day school in the Sunday Times Parent Power Good Schools Guide and has been named as their "Independent Secondary School of the Year 2024 (London)." We are also a Microsoft-accredited Showcase School, one of only 50 across the UK.
Eltham College has a distinct character, born out of its Christian heritage, and it continues to focus on the care of the individual. Strong pastoral care and a relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere make the school a happy and vibrant place.
There is an ambitious programme of development and expansion as well as a strong emphasis on staff development to ensure students benefit from a dedicated team of staff - experts in their field, and passionate about their subject.
History. The College was founded in 1842 as the ‘School for the Sons of Missionaries’. It began life as a small boarding school catering for the children of missionaries whose parents were serving overseas including, famously, GB gold medal winning Olympic athlete Eric Liddell. The College moved to its present site in Mottingham, south-east London, in 1912. The school's extensive playing fields surround an elegant 18th century mansion, itself a former naval college, as well as many much more modern buildings.
The College has developed into a day school for nearly 1,100 boys and girls - with nearly 800 pupils in the Senior School and approximately 260 in the Junior School. Most recently, the school has merged with Blackheath Prep School to form the Eltham College Family of Schools.
Location. The College is located on a spacious 70-acre site with extensive playing fields in the London Borough of Bromley, adjacent to the boroughs of Royal Greenwich and Lewisham. It lies within easy reach of both central London and the Kent countryside. There are regular and fast train services to London Bridge, Charing Cross and Cannon Street stations (@20–25 minutes) while the nearby A20 main road links to the M25 in less than 15 minutes. Students come from a wide local area that includes Blackheath, Bexley, Bromley, Chislehurst, Dartford, Dulwich, Greenwich, Sydenham and London Docklands.
Facilities. The College has superb facilities which have been improved considerably in recent years. These include the Gerald Moore Art Gallery, newly refurbished Science laboratories, two floodlit all-weather AstroTurf pitches and an extended Dining Hall. The award-winning Turberville Centre, opened in 2019, houses Languages and Maths classrooms, a seminar room, and a new Sixth Form Centre including a café, dedicated study areas and a seminar room. Nearby, a £3 million Medical and Wellbeing Centre provides an integrated hub for the school nursing team, counsellors and Chaplain. The Eric Liddell Sports Centre comprises a sports hall, dance studio and fitness suite and a 25 metre swimming pool.
Curriculum. The curriculum is broad and balanced, incorporating both traditional and modern elements. For example, all students in Year 7 study French, Latin, German and Spanish, and all students go on to study at least one Modern Language to GCSE, and separate Sciences are available to all. Most students take ten GCSEs and three A Levels, chosen from a wide range of subjects, plus the EPQ. Recent examination. Results place Eltham amongst the best schools in the country: in summer 2023, nearly a third of all GCSE grades were grade 9 and more than 80% of all grades were 9/8/7 across a broad range of subjects.
A Level results are consistently high: in 2023, more than one third (34%) of all grades were A* and nearly 75% were A*/A. 96% of our students secured a place at their chosen university that included Oxbridge, other leading Russell Group universities, and a number of specialist colleges and conservatoires in the UK and overseas universities. Popular degree courses include Engineering, English, Drama, Music, Medicine, and Sports Science with others also choosing Psychology, Economics, Computing, and various Modern Languages.
Co-Curricular. The co-curricular activities provide an impressively wide range of opportunities while ensuring that academic potential is fulfilled. The College has an enviable reputation in Sport, Music, Art and Drama. There are a number of international and Olympic standard sports coaches; the quality and range of Music participation and performance is strong and rising; and audiences are frequently treated to spectacular Drama productions in the school's purpose-built theatre.
The majority of students participate in a wide range of clubs and societies including (to name but a few): Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Bloodbowl, Chess, Debating Society, Eco-Eltham, Entreprenerds, FemSoc, Japanese Club, Rocket Club and Water Polo. There is also a School Congress that meets regularly every term to discuss, debate improvements to the school and to put forward ideas and proposals. Students are encouraged to help those less fortunate than themselves by taking part in charity fundraising events. The Lower Sixth take part in a Community Service scheme helping local charities.
Trips and expeditions are a major feature of life at Eltham College. These range from the traditional UK visits to more ambitious overseas trips which in recent years have included: Uganda, China, Germany, Iceland, Switzerland and the United States. Language trips and exchanges are encouraged and these have included visits to Bordeaux, Spain, Beijing and Cologne. Sport, Drama and Music tours are frequent occurrences, both in the UK and overseas, and these have included Spain, South Africa, and The Netherlands.
Admissions. Students are admitted at 7+ (Year 3), 11+ (Year 7) and 16+ (Sixth Form) via an entrance examination and interview. Occasional vacancies do sometimes occur outside of the traditional entrance points. The College is academically highly selective, and there are many more applicants than places. Approximately half of students come from local primary schools and half from the independent sector. The College has a wide social mix, thanks, in part, to our Bursary scheme which provides financial assistance for those unable to afford the full fees.
Scholarships. The College offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to attract the brightest and most talented students to the College. Scholarships and Bursaries (financial assistance) are available to all students applying to the Senior School and Sixth Form. Scholarships offering fee remission are awarded on Academic performance at 11+ and 16+. There are also scholarships in Music, Drama, Art and Sport.
Bursaries. As befits a school founded for the sons of missionaries and a former Direct Grant School, a significant number of students receive financial support to attend the College. Bursaries are available up to 100% of fees subject to ISBA confidential means-tested criteria.
Term of Entry. The College normally accepts students only for the beginning of the academic year in September but, if gaps in particular year groups occur, it is willing to interview and test at any point in the year with a view to immediate or subsequent entry. However, the school is usually over-subscribed.
Junior School. The Junior School is based on the main school campus in a separate building sometimes known as The Grange. This is a large specially converted and fully-equipped school house on the College site which accommodates about 260 day pupils in classes of around 22 children. In addition to classrooms are an Assembly and Games Hall, Science Room, Music Room, and an Art, Design and Technology Room. With an emphasis on English and Mathematics, the curriculum (which includes Mandarin, French and German), provides an excellent foundation for the academic journey on through the Senior School. Excellence and variety is also pursued outside the classroom whether on the sports field, stage or concert hall. The Junior School is managed by its own Head, who is responsible to the Headmaster.
Admission is at 7+ (into Year 3) by entrance assessment, though there are occasional places at 8+. There is no entrance test for students from Eltham College Junior School wishing to move up to the Senior School from Year 7. Recommendation for continuing to the Senior School is made on the basis of a student’s performance during their time in the Junior School and on their potential to flourish in the Senior School. Almost all students progress seamlessly through to the Senior School.
Applications for places in the Junior School should be made to the Head of Admissions (details on the school website).
Fees per term (2023-2024). Senior School/Sixth Form £7,929; Junior School £6,518. Lunch £363.
Charitable status. Eltham College is a Registered Charity, number 1058438. It exists to provide education for boys and girls.
Governors & Staff:
Governors:
The Governing Body comprises the Chairman and Vice Chair, ten Trust Governors and eight Nominated Governors representing the Baptist Missionary Society, the Council for World Mission, the United Reformed Church, the London Boroughs of Bexley and Bromley, the Parents (two representatives elected by the parental body) and the Staff Common Room (one representative elected by the Teaching Staff).
Chairman of the Board: Mr P Doyle
Headmaster: Mr G Sanderson, MA Oxon, FRSA
Bursar: Mr R Wilkinson
Senior Deputy Head (Senior School): Mr J Martin
Deputy Head (Curriculum): Ms K Nutbeem
Deputy Head (Pastoral): Mrs A Massey
Deputy Head (Co-Curricular): Mr J Willatt
Head of Junior School: Ms V Meier
Senior School Teaching Staff:
* Head of Department
Art:
*Miss S Heraghty, BA (Director of Art)
Miss K Duke
Miss Y Shin
Mr D Hughes (Theatre Technician)
Mr L Burton (Artist in Residence)
Biology:
*Mr S Marlow, BSc
Mrs N Colwell, BSc
Mr A Merrett
Miss J C Perry, BSc
Chemistry:
*Mr H Hawkridge, BSc
Ms S Baig
Mrs N Colwell
Mr H Nicholls
Dr J N Hill, BSc (Technician)
Mrs J C Perry, BSc
Mrs K Pender
Classics:
*Dr E Michalopoulou, BA, MA, PhD
Ms M Cogni
Mr C Nicholls
Computing and Computer Science:
*Mr T Collins, MSc, BEng
Mr T Manuell
Miss J Muirhead
Design and Technology:
*Mr C Quinton
Mr N Dale
Miss M Johnson
Mr P Wren
Drama:
Mrs K Robinson, BA, MA (Director of Drama)
Miss E Coleman (Head of Academic Drama)
Miss I Tyner
Mr R Warren (Technical Manager)
Mr M Curley (Theatre Technician)
Economics:
*Mr M Sanusi
Mr T Midgley
MIss A Hampton-Armstrong
English:
*Mr C Cook
Mr T C Mitchell, BA (Head of Creative Writing)
Mr J Stephenson
Miss V Barsby, BA
Miss E Bush
Ms E Tournes
Mrs N Whittaker
Miss T Patel
Geography and Geology:
*Mr P Angel, MA, BSc, NPQSL
Ms M Calwell
Mr A D Beattie, MA
Mr J P Chesterton, BSc
Mrs L Clough
Miss K Richard, BSc
Mr J Willatt, BSc (Deputy Head – Co-curricular)
History:
*Dr A Davies, BA, MA, PhD
Mr M E R Chesterton, BA
Mr E Cavendish
Mr A Higginson
Mr J Martin (Deputy Head)
Mr R Green
Mathematics:
*Mr T Brook
Mrs R E Bevington, BSc
Mr A Astbury-Palmer
Mr J Capocci
Mrs N Bilsby, BSc, MA (Head of Wellbeing)
Mr B Eastley
Mr J P Crowley, BEng
Ms R Gordon, BSc (Assistant Head – Teaching and Learning)
Mr A Hon
Ms A Tysba
Mrs S Wood, BSc [part-time]
Modern Languages:
*Miss L Scarantino, BA
Mrs F Archdale
Miss C Franz, MA (Head of German)
Mrs B Hazeldine
Ms E Paull (Head of Spanish)
Ms M Su, BA, MA (Head of Mandarin Chinese)
Mrs E Brooke
Mr J Houghton, MA (Chaplain)
Mr A Johnston
Ms H Pan
Mr F Nieto Almada, MA
Mrs S Chevrier-Clarke
Music:
Mr S Johns (Director of Music)
Ms E Potter-Hicks (Head of Academic Music)
Ms J Lewis (Administrator)
Ms A Bryans
Mr C Nall
Mrs D Nall
Mr S Thompson
Mr T Bullard
Miss J O'Leary
Mrs D Bailey
Mrs J Brits
Physics:
*Mr A Hindocha, BSc
Ms S Baig
Mr A Chan, MEng
Dr M Cianciaruso, PhD
Mr J Crowley, BEng
Mr S Whittaker, MSc
Politics:
*Mr M Chesterton
Mrs A Massey
Mr T Midgley
Psychology:
*Ms M M Pokorny, BSc (Head of Middle School)
Philosophy and Theology:
*Mr H Burling
Mr E Cavendish (Head of Scholarship)
Ms E Haste (Head of Year 7)
Sport:
*Mr M Edwards (Director of Sport)
Mr Y Arafat (Cricket Pro)
Miss E Evans (Head of Ski Racing)
Miss K Harding (Head of House - Chalmers)
Mr J Halls (Hockey)
Ms B Holmes (PE)
Mr S Florescu-Serban (Fencing)
Mr J Hill (Water Polo Coach)
Mr R Hills (Cricket Coach)
Miss B Holmes (Head of Skiing)
Mr J Kelly (Head of Cricket)
Mr B King (Head of Year 8, Head of Rugby)
Mrs K Parkin (PE and Sports Psychologist)
Mr S Perfect (Head of Aquatics)
Mr L Petrozzi (Rugby)
Mr E Thorogood (Head of HPAP)
Miss L True (Head of Netball)
Mr A Witchell (Rugby Coach)
Learning Support:
*Mrs M Franklin
Ms N Reynolds
Ms N Macaulay
Ms S Kilford
Ms T Patel
Library:
Mrs C M Roche, MiL
EPQ:
Mrs J Angel
Sixth Form:
Ms C Scott-Blount (Head of Sixth Form)
Mr J Stephenson (Head of Year 12)
Mrs K Powis-Holt (Head of Year 13)
Development Director: Ms S O'Donovan
Head of Admissions: Mrs C St Clair-Charles
Head of Communications: Mr E Funnell
Junior School:
Head of the Junior School: Mrs V Meier, MA
Deputy Head of the Junior School (Academic): Ms J Dudley
Deputy Head of the Junior School (Pastoral): Mr A Taylor
Junior School Teaching Staff:
Mrs N J Chamberlain, BEd (Head of Years 3 and 4)
Mr I Wearmouth (Head of Years 5 and 6)
Mr M Alexander, BA (Head of Junior School Music)
Mrs A Wearmouth, BA (Head of English)
Mr N Dale, BA (Head of History)
Miss M S Johnson, BA (Head of Design and Technology)
Mrs B Martin (Head of Modern Foreign Languages)
Mr M O’Dwyer, BEd (Head of Co-curricular)
Mr S Oliver, BSc (Head of Mathematics)
Mrs H Pan (Head of Junior School Mandarin)
Mrs H L Sargeant, BSc (Head of Computing)
Mr W Schaper, BEd (Head of Geography)
Miss N L Tutchings, BEd (Subject Leader PSHE, Form Tutor Year 4)