The School was founded by Archbishop John Whitgift in 1596. The full title of the school is Trinity School of John Whitgift.
One of the three governed by the Whitgift Foundation, the School is an Independent Day School for boys aged 10–18 with a co-educational Sixth Form. The School aims to give a wide education to students of academic promise, irrespective of their parents’ income.
Buildings and grounds. Trinity School has been in its present position since 1965, when it moved out from the middle of Croydon (its old site is now the Whitgift Centre) to a completely new complex of buildings and playing fields on the site of the Shirley Park Hotel. The grounds are some 27 acres in extent, and a feeling of openness is increased by the surrounding Shirley Park Golf Club and the extensive views to the south up to the Addington Hills. There are additional playing fields in Sandilands, ten minutes’ walk from the School.
The resources of the Whitgift Foundation enable the School to provide outstanding facilities. All departments have excellent and fully equipped teaching areas.
Admission. The main ages of admission are at 10, 11 and 13. Entry is by competitive examination and interview. A reference from the feeder school will also be required. The School attracts applications from over 150 schools, with approximately 60% entering from state primaries. Entries of boys and girls into the Sixth Form are also welcomed.
Fees per annum (2024-2025). £24,500 covering tuition, books, stationery and games. Fee excludes VAT.
Bursaries. Whitgift Foundation Bursaries (means-tested) are available providing exceptionally generous help with fees.
Scholarships. Academic, Art, Design Technology, Drama, Music and Sport Scholarships are available annually to boys applying for entry at 10+, 11+ or 13+. Boys must be the relevant age on 1 September of the year of entry. Awards are based on the results of the Entrance Examination, interview and current school reference. They are awarded without regard to parental income and are worth a percentage (maximum 50%) of the school fees throughout a pupil’s career.
Academic, Art, Music and Sport Scholarships are also available for entry to the Sixth Form, based on GCSE results.
Scholarships may be supplemented up to the value of full fees if there is financial need.
Music Scholarships of up to 50% fee remission include free tuition in two instruments. Applicants are required to play two pieces on principal instrument and show academic potential in the Entrance Examination. Awards are available for all instruments and singing ability can be taken into consideration. Further details from the Director of Music.
Organisation and counselling. The School is divided into the Lower School (National Curriculum Years 6–9) and the Upper School (Years 10–13). The Pastoral Leader in charge of each section works with the team of Form Tutors to encourage the academic and personal development of each boy. There is frequent formal and informal contact with parents.
A counselling service is provided to pupils as part of the pastoral provision and a fully qualified School Counsellor is on hand to help students with their individual needs. Pupils can refer themselves to the Counsellor or they may be referred by staff.
There is a structured and thorough Careers service, which advises boys at all levels of the School and arranges work experience and work shadowing.
While the academic curriculum is taught from Monday to Friday, there is a very active programme of sports fixtures and other activities at the weekend, and all boys are expected to put their commitment to the School before other activities.
Curriculum and staffing. The School is generously staffed with well qualified specialists. The organisation of the teaching programme is traditionally departmental based. The syllabus is designed to reflect the general spirit of the National Curriculum while allowing a suitable degree of specialisation in the Upper School.
The normal pattern is for pupils to take 9 or 10 GCSE subjects, and to proceed to the Sixth Form to study an appropriate mixture of AS and A2 level subjects, complemented by a wide-ranging General Studies programme, before proceeding to university.
Games and activities. The main school games are Rugby, Football, Hockey, Cricket and Athletics, with the addition of Netball for girls in the Sixth Form. Many other sports become options as a boy progresses up the School. Games are timetabled, each pupil having one games afternoon a week.
At the appropriate stage, most boys take part in one or more of the following activities: Community Service, CCF, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, Outdoor Activities. There are many organised expeditions during the holidays.
Music. Music at Trinity has an international reputation, and every year Trinity Boys Choir is involved in a varied programme of demanding professional work. The Choir has performed at the BBC Proms for the past seven years and sings at the Royal Opera House, the English National Opera, Glyndebourne or Garsington 3–4 times each year. Recently the choristers have travelled to Vienna, Brussels, Venice, Dusseldorf and Wachock Abbey, Poland. They also appear regularly on radio and television. Trinity Choristers, who specialise in religious music, hold an annual residential Easter Course at a British cathedral. Choral Scholarships are awarded annually and enable boys to receive additional professional voice training without charge.
Many boys learn at least one musical instrument, and a large visiting music staff teach all orchestral instruments, piano, organ and classical guitar. There are numerous orchestras, bands and other instrumental groups for which boys are selected according to their ability. Musicians recently travelled to Canada and instrumentalists are regular finalists in the Pro Corda National Chamber Music competition.
Drama. There are two excellently equipped stages in the school and a lively and developing programme of formal and informal productions directed by pupils, staff and members of the Old Boys Theatre Company. Drama forms part of the formal curriculum in Years 6–9 and can be studied for GCSE and A Level.
Art and Design Technology. As well as the formal curriculum, which has led to 70% of the School taking a GCSE in art or design technology, pupils are encouraged to make use of the excellent facilities to develop their own interests.
Charitable status. The Whitgift Foundation is a Registered Charity, number 312612. The Foundation now comprises the Whitgift Almshouse Charity for the care of the elderly and the Education Charity which administers three schools.
Governors & Staff:
Visitor: His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury
Chairman of the Court of Governors: Mr C J Houlding
Court Governors:
Mr C Houlding
Mr D Seymour, CB
Dr A Mehta
Mr A Patel
Revd Canon Dr Andrew Bishop
Mr N Edward
Mr M Long
The Rt Revd Dr Rosemarie Mallett
Mr W Jones
Mr P Cornforth
Mr J Beckwith
Ms V Dews
Ms C Ashley
Mr M Gascoigne
Chief Executive of the Whitgift Foundation: Ms R Hughes, CBE
School Committee:
Chairman of the Trinity School Committee: Mr D Seymour, CB
M Buxton
C Butler
S Jetha
W Jones
Dr B MacEvoy
A Patel
T Perrin
Revd Canon Dr A Bishop
Dr P Minton
T Ladega
Headmaster: Mr A J S Kennedy, MA Cantab
Senior Deputy Head: Mr T T Rounds, BA Birmingham
Deputy Head, Pastoral: Mrs I Sinclair, BA, MA
Deputy Head, Academic: Mr A J Corstorphine, MA, MBA, MPhil Cantab
Assistant Head, Safeguarding: Mrs S Cater, BA, MPhil
Assistant Head, Lower & Middle Schools: Mr J C Munnery, BSc
Assistant Head, Teaching & Learning: Mr R Hardman, MA, BA
Assistant Head, Co-Curricular: Mr M D Richbell, BSc
Assistant Head, Sixth Form: Mr J Pietersen, BA
Bursar: Ms B Allison BA, FIA
Teaching Staff:
* Head of Department
Mr M I Aldridge, BEd (Head of Futures, Design Technology MIA)
Mr S R Allison, BA (Spanish*, SRA)
Dr M S Asquith, BA, MA, PhD (English, MSA)
Miss R C Bainbridge, MA (Mathematics, RCB)
Ms D S Bala, BDS (Biology, Teacher in Charge of MDV, DZB)
Mr J Baldwin, BSc (Mathematics, JXB)
Mr R Barlow, BSc (Mathematics, RAB)
Mrs S Baulf, BA (Economics & Business, Head of Lower School SXB)
Ms N M Beaumont, MA, MSc (Mathematics*, NMB)
Mr D Beckett (Physical Education, DQB)
Mr O J Benjamin, BA (German*, Spanish, Junior Languages Co-ordinator OJB)
Mrs I M Bennett, BEd (Biology, Head of Netball IMB)
Ms H A Benzinski, BSc (Mathematics, DofE Co-ordinator, T&L Lead, HAB)
Mr G C Beresford-Miller, BA (Physical Education, Head of High Performance and Head of Games GBM)
Mrs K A Beresford-Miller, BA (Religious Studies* KBM)
Mr R M Biggs, BSc (Design Technology, RMB)
Mr P J Blanchard, BSc, MBA (Chemistry PJB)
Miss E Bodinier, MA, BA Hons (German, French EMB)
Miss V J Boorman, BA (Classics, Deputy Head of Sixth Form VJB)
Mr N D Borley, BSc (Chemistry, Junior Science* NDB)
Mrs N Boyce, BA (Religious Studies, Head of Lower School PD NXB)
Miss O A Bradshaw, BA (Psychology, Learning Support OAB)
Mr M M Bright, MSc (Physics MMB)
Mr T Bryars, BSc (Mathematics TJB)
Ms Q Cao (Mandarin SQC)
Mrs H C Carey, BSc (Religious Studies HCC)
Mrs S I Cater, BA, MPhil (English, Drama, Assistant Head - Safeguarding SIC)
Mr C S Chambers, BA (Drama Productions* CSC)
Mr W A Coma, BA (Art, Assistant Head of Mentoring, Head of Junior Year WAC)
Mr A Corstorphine, MA, MBA, Mphil (Classics, Deputy Head Academic AXC)
Ms A Costello, BA (Teacher of Learning Support, Head of Study Skills AMC)
Mr E Cowlard, BA (Religious Studies ESC)
Miss H Crawford (English, Head of First Year HXC)
Mr D W G Currigan, BA, MA (Design Technology* DWC)
Miss A E Davis, BA (Maths AED)
Miss S Deas, MA (Drama)
Mr T J Desbos, LCE (French TJD)
Mr M Doherty, BSc (Geography, MXD)
Ms A Donkin, MChem (Chemistry*, ARD)
Mr A B Doyle, MA, MA (English* ABD)
Mrs R Doyle, BEd (SEN Teacher RXD)
Mrs Z Dungerwalla, MSc, BSc (Chemistry, ZXD)
Miss J S Eminsang, BA (Mathematics, Head of Junior Maths JSE)
Mr R E Evans, Dip Perf (Head of Piano REE)
Ms M Farr, BA, MA (Economics and Business MGF)
Mr L M Flanagan, BA (Physics* , Head of Science LMF)
Mr J Ford, BSc (Business & Economics JXF)
Mrs WJ Frampton, MA, BA (English WXF)
Mrs K Fuge, BSc (Music, Head of Singing KMF)
Mrs A A Fulker, BA (Art, Head of Personal Development AAF)
Mr M Galloway, MA, HNC (Music MGG)
Miss O J Garner, BA (History & Politics OJG)
Miss S P Gerlach, BA (Religious Studies SPG)
Mr N A Giles, BA (Physical Education, Head of Hockey* NAG)
Miss R M Goddard, BSc, PGCE (Biology, Head of Diving, Head of Fifth Year RXG)
Mr B Goode, BA (English, BLG)
Mrs E Gornall, BA, MA (Spanish EXG)
Mr T Guise-Brown (Physical Education, TGB)
Mr D Halliday, BA (Economics & Business, Head of Academic Scholarship DCH)
Mrs O Hamidzadeh, BSc (Mathematics OCH)
Mr M Hammond, BSc Hons (Maths MXH)
Mr R Hardman, BA, MA (History, Assistant Head - Teaching & Learning RXH)
Mr R D G Haythorne, BA, MA (Maths, Physics & Computer Science RDH)
Mr T Heath, BSc, MSc (Biology, MDV Assistant TXH)
Mr T Heaton, BA (Psychology, TDH)
Miss S Hemming-Taylor (Biology)
Mr S M Hodge, BA (Religious Studies, Head of Upper Sixth SMH)
Mr R M Holdsworth, BA, MA (Academic Music* RMH)
Mr E Hooper (Physical Education, Sports Club Duty Manager EOH)
Mrs A C Hornsby, BSc (Mathematics ACH)
Mr O J Hutchings, BA, MA (History, Politics* OJH)
Mr R Jarrold, BSc (PE Administrator, Sports Coach RDJ)
Mr GW Kimmins, MSc (Physical Education, Head of Rackets, Head of Second Year GWK)
Mr S D King, BA (Physical Education, Director of Sport SDK)
Mrs R E Lattery-Lee, BA (History, Head of Middle School RLL)
Mr R Lawrence, BMus, MMus (Head of Woodwind RJL)
Ms A Long (Physical Education, Head of Girls Games, TPPS Co-ordinator AZL)
Mr D J P Lydon, BA, MA (English, Head of Mentoring DJL)
Mr A E Magee, MA (English AXM)
Ms H Malik, BSc (Computer Science HQM)
Dr J Manchester, PhD (Chemistry, Head of STEM JQM)
Miss K J Manisier, MSc (Physics, ITT Lead KJM)
Dr M Mariani, BSc, PhD (Physics MM)
Mr O Marriott, MSc, BSc (Physical Education* OJM)
Mrs S J McDonald, MA (Head of Learning Support SJM)
Mr S A McIntosh, MA (German, Timetabler SAM)
Mrs K Molteni, BA, MA (History KXM)
Mr R D Moralee, BSc (Biology* RDM)
Miss E Moreno (Spanish* EXM)
Mr N Mulroy, MA, DipRAM, ARAM (Music, Director of Choral Music NXM)
Mr J Munnery, BSc (Geography, Assistant Head - Pastoral JZM)
Mr S Orungbamade, BEd (Economics and Business* SOO)
Mr S D Page, BSc (Computer Science* SDP)
Mrs C Pardo, BA (Spanish, French* CXP)
Mr T D Parkins, BA (English TZP)
Miss C A Parkinson, BSc, MsC (Psychology*, Science CAP)
Mr B Patel, MSc (Mathematics, BP)
Mr J A Paterson, BA (Classics, Assistant to Head of Futures JAP)
Mr C P Persinaru, DipRAM, LRAM (Music, Head of Strings CPP)
Mr J Pettitt, BMus (Music, Head of Jazz, Rock and Pop JDP)
Mrs X L Phasey, MA (Chinese XLP)
Mr J Pietersen, BA (History, Head of Sixth Form JEP)
Ms E Poole, BA (History, Head of Fourth Year EJP)
Mrs A Prestney, BA (Geography, AXP)
Mr D K Price, BA (Design Technology, Director of Admissions DKP)
Mr S Reck BMus Performance Hons M Mus, DipLCM, Jazz Guitar,ALCM Jazz Guitar (Music, Head of Guitar SBR)
Mrs L Regan, BMus, LRAM (Music, Director of Music* LZR)
Mr S H Richards (Head of Cricket, Head of Sports Development)
Mr M Richbell, BSc (PE, Assistant Head - Co-Curricular MDR)
Mr T M G Richmond, BSc (Biology, Head of Strength & Conditioning TMR)
Mr P J Roberts, BSc (Physical Education, Economics & Business, Head of Rugby PXR)
Mr J Robertson, BA Hons, PGDip (Director of Art* JZR)
Miss L P Robinson, BA (Director of Drama* LPR)
Mr T Rounds, BA (Religious Studies, Senior Deputy Head TTR)
Mr C P Ruck, BSc (Geography* CPR)
Mr N Russell, MA (History, Activities Coordinator NJR)
Mr R M Salmanpour, BSc (Chemistry RXS)
Mr R Sanchez Saura, BA (Spanish RSS)
Mr J B Savile, BSc (Geography, Head of Second Year JBS)
Ms I S Sher, MA (English ISS)
Mrs I M Sinclair, BA, MA (English, Deputy Head - Pastoral IMS)
Mr L Sinclair, BSc (Physical Education LLS)
Mr A E Smith, BA, MA, MSc (Religious Studies AES)
Ms S Sookdeo, BSc (Biology SSS)
Mr A Spero, MA, BSc (Computer Science APS)
Dr E W Steer, PhD, MA (Chemistry EWS)
Mrs B J Steven, BA (English BJS)
Ms T Stevens-Lewis, BA, MA (Art, i/c Photography TSL)
Dr J N Stewart, MSc, PhD (Physics JNS)
Mr J E Stone, BA (Classics JES)
Ms C S Story BA (English CSS)
Mrs A Stubbings, BA (French, Spanish AQS)
Ms E M Suarez, BA (German, Spanish EMS)
Mr D J Swinson, MA, FRCO, ARCM, LRAM (Assistant Director of Music DJS)
Mr C Taruwona, BSc (Physics CTT)
Mr P G Tattersall, BMus Hons (Music PGT)
Mrs S Z Taylor, BSc (Mathematics, Professional Co-ordinating Mentor SZT)
Mr J G Timm, BA (History, Politics JGT)
Mr C H Todd, BMus, MMus, LRAM, ALCM (Music, Head of Brass* CHT)
Mr J Townsend (Design Technology JZT)
Mr E Turner, BA (Sports Graduate & Cover Teacher EJT)
Mrs T A Upton, BSc (Mathematics TAU)
Miss S T Van Dal, BA, MA (Classics* SVD)
Mr R van Graan, BA (Computer Science, Director of Digital Strategy RVG)
Mrs Q Wang, BA (Chinese* QXW)
Mrs C E Webb, BSc (Mathematics CEW)
Miss G E Webber, BA, MA (Economics & Business, Head of Lower Sixth GEW)
Miss N Wiltshire (Chemistry, Mental Health Lead NXW)
Mrs J Wiskow, MA (German, Second in Charge of Duke of Edinburgh Award JW)
Miss M Xu (Confucius Chinese Teacher ZXX)
Headmaster’s PA: Mrs S M Wilson