Lord Wandsworth College is a co-educational secondary school for 680 pupils between the ages of 11 and 18. Approximately 60% of the pupils are boarders, either full, weekly or flexi.
LWC is thriving under the leadership of Adam Williams who became Headmaster in 2015. Its increasing popularity has been reflected in rising pupil numbers, and a transformational vision for education has led to major investment in the campus and facilities. The latest, and most significant, of these capital projects is an £8 million state-of-the-art Science Centre that opened in January 2022. This is a dynamic and highly successful school on a clear upward trajectory.
Location and accessibility. Situated in a magnificent 1,200 acre campus of rolling countryside, woodland and a working arable farm, Lord Wandsworth College provides an inspiring education to 650 boarding and day pupils, aged 11–18. LWC is just five miles from Junction 5 of the M3 and only one hour from London by road or rail.
History. Lord Wandsworth College is named after Baron Sydney Stern, a Liberal MP and the son of a City banker. Granted a peerage after winning the seat of Stowmarket in 1891, Stern took the title of Lord Wandsworth in reflection of his many links with the area. When Lord Wandsworth died in 1912, he left a generous bequest to educate the children of agricultural workers – children who had lost one or both parents and needed the support of a boarding environment. Lord Wandsworth’s Trustees purchased the site on which the College now stands and the first Foundationers arrived in 1922, followed by fee-paying pupils in 1945.
Committed to upholding the wishes of Lord Wandsworth, every year the Lord Wandsworth Foundation offers approximately 50 assisted Foundation places. 2,500 Foundationers have passed through the College since its inception. The Foundation exists to help children who have lost the support of one or both parents through death, divorce or separation and require a caring and supportive boarding environment in which to thrive.
Mission statement. For 100 years, Lord Wandsworth College has helped young people become confident, curious and compassionate men and women, ready to seize the opportunities of an ever-changing world.
On our stunning 1,200 acre campus in North Hampshire, we’ve created an extraordinary educational community of staff and 680 boys and girls, offering both boarding and day options.
Our pupils consistently excel in traditional testing, with more than half scoring A* to A at GCSE and A Level. More importantly, they are given an education of opportunities, through inspirational teaching, helping pupils discover their passions and overcome their doubts. We teach through care, giving the support pupils need to achieve their goals; an ambition stemming from our Foundation heritage. Our exceptional character-driven philosophy has been nationally recognised by the Association for Character Education, which shapes confident and resilient young people who are ambitious to go and make a positive difference in the world.
The outstanding features of the school are:
•that almost all academic staff live on campus allowing them to provide a high level of pastoral care;
•that Character Education is imbedded into the curriculum and co-curriculum. By promoting Character Education, we believe we will give all pupils the best chance of realising their full potentials.
•that all pupils, whether full, weekly, flexi boarding or day, belong to one of the eight houses and are fully integrated into the social life of the school;
•that the school is purpose-built with an outstanding range of facilities for both academic and extracurricular activities;
•that the school is an unusually unpretentious, happy and caring community.
Curriculum. The aim of the curriculum is to provide a full and flexible range of subjects to fit the needs of each individual. The school’s policy is to follow closely the National Curriculum.
Subjects taught to GCSE are: English (Language and Literature), French, Geography, Mathematics, History, Latin, Classical Civilisation, Drama, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Spanish, Art, Music, Design & Technology, Computer Science and Religious Studies.
Most pupils continue into the Sixth Form where the subjects taught at A Level are: English, History, Geography, Economics, Business Studies, Classical Civilisation, Music, French, Spanish, Politics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Art, Design, Theatre Studies, PE, Psychology and Photography. We also offer the EPQ and BTECs in Sport, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship and Creative Digital Media.
Games. The school provides incredible sports facilities and has a local and national reputation for many of its pursuits. The main boys’ games are rugby, hockey and cricket and for girls hockey, cricket and netball with many pupils reaching County and National level. In addition swimming, athletics, tennis, football, golf, cross-country running, horse riding and canoeing are all on offer.
Drama. Drama has a high profile and several shows are staged each year. A new performing arts space, The Nadine Uppal Theatre, opened in 2021. There is a musical production every other year as well as showcases, reviews and workshops. Pupils are encouraged to participate in all fields of drama either acting, writing, set design, tech support, lighting, stage management, prop-making or sound.
Music. There is a large variety of instrumental ensembles, including a swing band, concert band and rock groups. Pupils have the opportunity to sing in various choirs. Tuition is available in singing, all orchestral instruments, piano, percussion and guitar. Musicians regularly perform formally and informally both within school and at local venues.
Other activities. There is an extensive co-curricular programme. Some of the activities on offer are: Mandarin, Cookery, Chess, Community Service, Pottery, Drama clubs, Mountain Biking, Dance, Photography, Art Clubs, Riding, Life-saving, Debating and Climbing.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme is thriving and the College has its own licence to run the scheme. There is an active CCF programme for Year 10 pupils and above which has an Army and Air Force Section.
Organisation. There are three main entry points to the College: 11+, 13+ and 16+. Students are accepted at other entry points provided there is a vacancy. The completion of a Registration Form is the first step for all years. A £350 non-refundable registration fee is charged to cover the cost of administration and entrance testing.
Scholarships and Awards on offer are:
First Form (Year 7): Academic, Performing Arts (Music, Drama and Dance) and Sport.
Third Form (Year 9): Academic, Performing Arts (Music, Drama and Dance), Art, Sport and All-Rounder
Sixth Form (Year 12): Academic, Performing Arts (Music, Drama and Dance), Art, Sport and All-Rounder
Foundation Awards are available for children who have lost the support of one or both parents through death, divorce or separation.
Further details for all scholarships and awards may be obtained from the Admissions Office.
Fees per term (2023-2024). Senior Full Boarding £14,000, Senior Weekly Boarding £13,390, Senior Flexi Boarding £12,080, Senior Day £9,880, Junior Full Boarding £12,350, Junior Weekly Boarding £11,930, Junior Flexi Boarding £10,750, Junior Day £8,400.
Charitable status. Lord Wandsworth College is a Registered Charity, number 1143359. It exists to provide education for boys and girls.
Governors & Staff:
Chairman of Governors: R J Hannington
The Governing Body consists of 16 Governors.
Headmaster: Adam Williams, MA
Senior Deputy Head: Alex Battison, MA
Deputy Head, Teaching and Learning: Stephen Badger, MA Cantab
Deputy Head, Pastoral: Alexandra Cocksworth, MA
Chief Operating Officer: Baz Bennett, MA
Marketing and Admissions Director: Pete German, BA
Development Director: Samantha Corfield, BEng
Head of Sixth Form: Tom Rimmer, BSc
Director of Compliance and Projects: Collette McDonald, MA
Director of People: Dawn Wilde, CIPD
Teaching Staff and Assistants:
* Houseparent
Marie-France Allen (EAL Assistant)
Chris Andrews, BA (Director of IT Services)
Sarah Badger, MA (Head of Modern Languages)
Adam Ball, BSc (Chemistry & Academic Enrichment)
Natalie Bastiman, PGCE (Mathematics)
Thomas Batchelor (Business Studies, Economics, Entrepreneurship & Enterprise)
Pippa Battison, BA (Classics & History)
Anna Berney (Interim Head of Business, Economics, and Enterprise & Entrepreneurship)
*David Beven, MA (Sport)
Georgia Bowers (Sport)
Gemma Burns, MSc (Design & Textiles)
Aubrey Collins, BSc (Head of Physics)
Mark Collins, BSc (Geography)
*Kate Cuff, BA (Drama)
Sally Dawson-Couper, MEd (Head of Mathematics, Assistant Deputy Head, Director of Studies)
Rachel De La Cruz, MA (Head of Spanish, Head of 5th Form)
Paul Donald, MA (English)
Jennifer Edgar, MSc (Chemistry)
Michael Firth (Religion, Philosophy & Ethics)
Ed Firth, BA (Geography)
*Russell Fisher, MA (Design & Technology)
*Max Gaulton (Mathematics)
Alex Hamilton, MA (Head of Latin & Classics)
Lee-Anne Hampson, BA (Art)
Esther Haydock, PhD (Science, Head of Academic Enrichment)
Ben Hazell (Sports)
Hannah Hendrick, BA (Sports Science & Academic PE)
Katherine Henley, MA (Spanish & French)
James Hine, BA (History)
*Holly Hunter-Wright, BA (Art)
Kirsty Jackman (Head of Wellbeing & PSHEE)
Nick Jenkins, BSc (Science)
Nicole Jinadasa, BSc (Chemistry, Head of 1st & 2nd Form)
Gitte Kenning, MSc (Business Studies & Economics)
Richard Kimber, BEng (Mathematics, Senior Master)
Poppy Lake, BSc (Head of Girls Sport)
Tanja Lambe, MA (Mathematics, Head of Outreach)
Katia Lannon (Science)
Claire Liggins, BA (Head of Design & Technology)
Jonathan Lilley, BA (Head of History)
Rebecca Lodge-Maynard (Design & Technology)
Jeni Loud, BSc (Physics, Assistant Deputy Head, Staff)
Richard Lovell (Head of Outdoor Learning)
Audley Lumsden, BSc (Physics)
Joanne Mackenzie, MSc (Biology)
Laurie Macvean (English)
*Pete Maidment, BA (Head of Junior House)
Jack Malden, BA (Business Studies & Economics)
Peter McNeely, MA (Classics and Latin, Assistant Deputy, Teaching & Learning)
Graham Mobbs, BA (Head of Art)
Andrew Molin (Biology)
Veronique Morris-Aloni, BA (Head of Curriculum Support)
Vincent Murtagh, BSc, PhD (Head of Chemistry)
Clare Mutch, BA (French & Spanish)
Thelma Naidoo, MA (English)
Jan Norgaard, BSc (Head of Geography)
Craig O'Nions, BSc (Mathematics)
Laura Osborne, BA (English, Assistant Head of Sixth Form)
Liza O'Shea, BA (Art)
Angharad Packer (Psychology)
Aaron Parker, MMus (Acting Director of Music)
Harriet Paskell, BSc (Geography)
Susan Penny, BSc (Science)
Sanna Pollard (Biology)
Chris Radmann, BA (Head of English)
*Lesley Radmann, BA (English)
James Rayner, BA (Head of Academic PE)
Gemma Reeks, BA (Head of Performing Arts)
Tim Richardson, BA (Assistant Director of Co-Curricular)
Tom Rimmer, BSc (Geography, Head of Sixth Form)
Patricia Risley, BSc (Computer Science)
Daniel Rodriguez (French & Spanish)
Thomas Rowland (Science)
Helen Shedden, BA (English, EPQ Coordinator)
*Tom Shedden, BA (History, Head of Boarding)
Lauren Showell (French)
Eloise Shrimpton, BA (Sports Science & Academic PE)
Soma Singh, BA (Director of Sport)
Mark Smith, MA (Geography)
Sophie Springer, BA (History, Head of 4th Form)
Lewis Starbuck, BSc (Sport, Head of Rugby)
Thomas Starnes, MA (Head of Religion, Philosophy & Ethics)
Melisia Swaby (Computer Science)
Alexandra Tarsey (Head of Futures)
Sophie Townsend, BA (Spanish & French)
Ian Watson, MEng (Mathematics, Head of 3rd Form)
Holly Welham, BSc (Head of Science)
Zoe Wheddon (Spanish)
Christian White, MA (Head of Politics)
David Widdowson, BSc (Mathematics)
Timothy Willis (Music)
Chloe Wilson, BA (Classics & Latin)
Jack Wrenn (Sport)
Louis Yates (Head of Psychology)