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, 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 was named as their ‘Independent Secondary School of the Year 2024’ (London).
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 270 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 60-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. Eltham College enjoys superb facilities which have been improved considerably in recent years. During the summer of 2025, King George’s Hall was refurbished, enhancing the dining experience for both Junior and Senior School pupils, while the Sixth Form Study Centre was expanded and the café and social area doubled in size. Further improvements to the Science and Technology Centre, begun in 2024 with four brand-new laboratories, have continued with the refurbishment of remaining laboratories, classrooms, and preparation areas, the creation of a home for Sports Science, and a larger, improved Careers Hub. Facilities include a thriving Music School at the heart of the College— which is home to practice rooms, performance areas, 2 iMac suite classrooms and a new recording studio—a drama theatre, a modern art gallery, a dedicated medical and wellbeing facility, and the Eric Liddell Sports Centre, which houses a sports hall, dance studio, fitness suite, and 25-metre swimming pool. Extensive sports facilities across the College’s 70-acre campus include 11 rugby pitches, 6 netball courts (1 indoor), 6 tennis courts, 2 hockey astroturf pitches, 8 cricket squares and 2 artificial pitches, 8 astro and 8 grass cricket nets and 7 football pitches.
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 examinations. Results place Eltham amongst the best schools in the country: in 2025, 45% of GCSE grades were 9s and over two-thirds of results were 9/8 grades and 88% of all grades were 9/8/7.
In A levels in 2025, 34% of grades were A*, while 68% were either A* or A and 92% of A level grades were A*–B. The huge majority of students secured a place at their chosen university—destinations include Durham, Exeter, UCL, King’s College, London, Bristol, Warwick and Edinburgh, as well as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and top UK drama schools and conservatoires. 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 oversubscribed.
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 270 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 (2025-2026). Senior School/Sixth Form: £9,999 (incl. £1,641 VAT); Junior School: £8,219 (incl. £1,349 VAT). Lunch: £410.
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, one Nominated Safeguarding Governor and two Nominated Governors representing the Baptist Missionary Society and the Council for World Mission.
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): Mr S Michael
Deputy Head (Co-Curricular): Mr J Willatt
Head of Junior School: Ms R Thompson
Senior School Teaching Staff:
* Head of Department
Art:
*Miss S Heraghty, BA (Director of Art)
Mr E Allen
Miss K Duke
Mr D Hughes (Art Technician)
Mr R Lye (Artist in Residence)
Biology:
*Mr S Marlow, BSc
Mrs N Colwell, BSc
Mr A Merrett
Mr H Nicholls
Mr S Patel
Mrs K Pender
Ms M Pokorny
Miss E Rees
Chemistry:
*Dr M N Everard-Pennell
Mr R Avadanutei
Mrs S Baig
Mrs N Colwell
Mr H Nicholls
Mr S Patel
Mrs K Pender
Miss E Rees
Classics:
*Dr E Michalopoulou, BA, MA, PhD
Ms M Cogni
Computing:
*Mr E Shannon
Miss K Hassan
Mrs J Isaacs
Design and Technology:
*Mr C Quinton
Mr J Bacon
Ms F S Bird
Miss S Howells
Mr P Wren
Drama:
M J Marshall (Director of Drama)
Miss D Chapman (Head of Co-curricular Drama)
Mr M Curley (Theatre Technician)
Mrs S Kendrick
Mr R Warren (Technical Manager)
Economics:
*Mr C Emmerich
Mr T Boulton
Miss A Hampton-Armstrong
English:
*Mr C Cook
Ms A Beech
Miss E Bush
Mr G Evans
Mr H Manning
Mr S Michael
Mr T C Mitchell, BA (Head of Creative Writing)
Ms K Nutbeem
Miss T Patel
Mrs N Whittaker
Geography:
*Mrs A Mollison
Mrs K Bryson
Ms S Chalmers
Ms A Chen
Mr J Chesterton
Mrs L Clough-James
Mrs C Scott-Blount
Mr J Willatt, BSc (Deputy Head – Co-curriculum)
History:
*Mr L O’Boyle
Mr E Cavendish
Mr R Green
Mr A Higginson
Mr J Martin (Deputy Head)
Mrs K Powis-Holt
Mr A Sachak
Mathematics:
*Mr A Mowll
Mr A Astbury-Palmer
Mrs N Bilsby, BSc, MA (Wellbeing and EDI)
Mr J Capocci
Mr J P Crowley, BEng
Ms R Gordon, BSc (Assistant Head – Teaching and Learning)
Mr A Hon
Miss C Hughes
Mr S Kinsella
Ms A Tsyba
Ms V Watts
Mrs S Wood, BSc
Modern Languages:
*Miss L Scarantino, BA
Mrs L Bekman
Mrs E Brooke
Miss I Brown
Mrs S Chevrier-Clarke
Mr J Houghton, MA (Chaplain)
Miss E Keim
Mr F Nieto Almada
Mrs A Nieto Gutierrez
Mrs M Parra Ariza
Ms M Su, BA, MA (Head of Mandarin Chinese)
Music:
*Mr S Johns (Director of Music)
Mr R Albero
Mrs J Brits
Ms A Bryans
Mr T Bullard
Ms J Lewis (Administrator)
Mr C Nall
Mrs D Nall
Miss J O'Leary
Ms E Potter-Hicks (Head of Academic Music)
Mr S Thompson
Miss Y Qu
Physics:
*Mr L Evans
Ms S Baig
Mr A Chan, MEng
Miss K Gent
Mr A Hindocha
Dr S Magueri
Mr G Ward
Mr S Whittaker, MSc
Politics:
*Mr L O’Boyle
Mrs K Powis-Holt
Mr A Sachak
Philosophy and Theology:
*Mr H Burling
Mr E Cavendish (Head of Scholarship)
Mr H Chapman
Sport:
*Mr M Edwards (Director of Sport)
Mr Y Arafat (Cricket Pro)
Miss D Barrett
Mr J Batten (Head of Hockey)
Mr T Bungane (Head of Water Polo)
Miss E Evans (Head of Ski Racing)
Mr S Florescu-Serban (Head of Fencing)
Mr J Halls (Hockey Pro)
Mr M Hodson (Head of Strength & Conditioning)
Mr J Kelly (Head of Cricket)
Mr B King (Head of Rugby)
Mr M Morrish (Head of Tennis)
Mrs K Parkin (PE and Sports Psychologist)
Mr A Peck
Mr S Perfect (Head of Aquatics)
Mr L Petrozzi (Rugby Pro)
Miss A Rigg
Mr E Thorogood (Head of HPAP)
Miss L True (Head of Netball)
Miss C Watts
Learning Support:
*Mrs A Beech
Miss E Bush
Ms D Chadwick
Ms S Kilford
Ms N Macaulay
Miss T Patel
Library:
Mrs K Hans
EPQ:
Mr R Green
Sixth Form:
Ms C Scott-Blount (Head of Sixth Form)
Mrs K Powis-Holt (Head of Year 12)
Dr T Davis (Head of Year 13)
Development Director: Ms S O'Donovan
Director of Admissions: Mrs C St Clair-Charles
Director of Marketing & Communications: Mrs C Ward Vine
Junior School:
Head of the Junior School: Ms R Thompson
Deputy Head of the Junior School (Academic): Ms J Dudley
Deputy Head of the Junior School (Pastoral): Mr A Taylor
Junior School Teaching Staff:
Mr M Alexander (Head of Junior School Music)
Mrs E Barber (Year 6 Tutor 6EB (maternity cover), Head of Science)
Mrs N J Chamberlain (Head of Years 3 and 4, SENDCo, DDSL)
Mr N Dale (Head of History)
Mrs A Duncan (Teaching Assistant / Art and Science Technician)
Mrs L Gill (Year 5 Tutor 5LG)
Miss M Johnson (Head of Art)
Mr R Jones (Year 4 Tutor 4RJ, Head of RS, JS Head of House (Livingstone))
Mrs B Martin (Head of Modern Foreign Languages)
Mr R Morgan (Year 4 Tutor 4RM, Head of Geography)
Mr S Oliver (Head of Mathematics)
Mrs P Perrin (Junior School Assistant Chaplain)
Ms H Pan (Mandarin Teacher)
Mrs H Pan (Head of Junior School Mandarin)
Mr M O'Dwyer (Assistant Director Sport (Junior School), PE Teacher, Games Lead)
Mr W Schaper (Head of Geography)
Mrs C Saunders (General Subjects Teacher and SENDCo teacher)
Mrs H L Sargeant (Head of Computing)
Mr D Taylor (Year 6 Tutor 6DT, Digital Learning and Innovation Lead)
Mr H Timbrell (Head of Drama, Listening Space Lead)
Mrs A Wearmouth (Head of English)
Mr I Wearmouth (Head of Years 5 and 6)
Mrs S Wilde (Year 3 Tutor 3SW)
Miss N L Tutchings (Subject Leader PSHE, Form Tutor Year 4)