Collingwood College: Broad Opportunities in Camberley

Collingwood College is one of Surrey’s largest secondary schools, serving over 2,000 students on a sprawling campus in Camberley. It operates as a high-performing academy that balances academic rigour with a genuinely comprehensive ethos. The size allows for extensive facilities and curriculum breadth, while a structured pastoral system ensures individual students are not lost in the crowd.

Miss Karen Watling, appointed Principal in September 2024, leads the college. The school prides itself on being a hub for the local community, offering a "believe, succeed" culture that values vocational excellence alongside traditional academic achievement.

The campus is vast, defined by its split-site layout. The Kingston and Barossa buildings are linked by a long network of covered walkways, giving the school a collegiate feel distinct from a standard secondary. Students move between these hubs for lessons, creating a busy, energetic environment that mirrors a university campus more than a school.

The atmosphere is purposeful. With such a large cohort, systems are tight; movement is regulated and behaviour expectations are clear. The sheer scale allows for specialist zones: dedicated technology workshops, extensive sports fields, and a professional-grade theatre space.

History meets modernity here. While the original buildings date from the mid-20th century, significant investment has added a modern Sixth Form Centre and upgraded sports facilities.

Academic outcomes are solid and consistent. In 2024, the school ranked 2,110th in England for GCSE results (FindMySchool ranking). This performance sits in the "national typical" band, reflecting solid performance in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile). Locally, the college ranks 2nd among secondary schools in Camberley.

The Progress 8 score of -0.01 indicates that students make progress broadly in line with national expectations from their starting points.

At A-level, the college is the clear local leader. Ranked 1,122nd in England and 1st in Camberley for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), the Sixth Form is a strength. In 2024, 47% of A-level grades were A*-B.

The curriculum is a major draw. Unlike smaller schools that may restrict options, Collingwood maintains a wide offer. Students can pursue traditional Ebacc subjects alongside strong vocational courses in Media, Technology, and Business.

Teaching is structured and disciplined. In Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9), students rotate through specialist subjects, ensuring they have hands-on experience in food technology, resistant materials, and textiles before making GCSE choices. The college uses "Period 6" sessions effectively for Year 11 intervention, providing targeted revision support that students cite as a key factor in exam preparation.

Collingwood stands out for its commitment to diverse pathways. While 41% of 2024 leavers progressed to university, a remarkable 47% moved directly into employment or higher-level apprenticeships. This figure is significantly above the national average and reflects the school’s strong industry links and pragmatic approach to careers.

For those choosing university, destinations are varied. In the most recent cycle, students secured places at Russell Group institutions, and one student achieved a place at Oxbridge. The college supports these aspirations through its "High Performance" programme, but it is equally proud of students securing competitive engineering apprenticeships with local aerospace and technology firms.

Admissions are coordinated by Surrey County Council. The school is consistently oversubscribed; in 2024, there were 626 applications for the available Year 7 places, a ratio of two applications for every seat.

The last distance offered is not fixed and varies annually. Places are allocated first to looked-after children and siblings, then by straight-line distance. Families living on the edge of the catchment should check historical cut-offs using the FindMySchoolMap Search, but be aware that distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

Given the school’s size, pastoral care is structured by Year Group rather than a vertical House system. Each year has a dedicated Year Manager (non-teaching) and a Progress Leader. This ensures that a specific team knows the students in that cohort intimately and can respond quickly to social or behavioral issues.

The "school within a school" model is effective. Year 7s have their own transition arrangements to help them settle into the large campus. Wellbeing support includes access to counsellors and a clear anti-bullying protocol, essential in such a large community.

The scale of Collingwood allows for an extracurricular list that smaller schools cannot match.

STEM

The Greenpower electric car racing team is a flagship activity. Students design, build, and race electric vehicles, competing at tracks like Goodwood. This is supported by strong Technology facilities.

Performing Arts

The annual productions are professional in scale, utilising the Barossa Studio. Alumni include Luke and Matt Goss (Bros) and actress Jessica Henwick, testament to the school’s long strength in this area.

Sport

Facilities include a large sports hall and extensive playing fields. Teams compete in district and county leagues in football, rugby, and netball.

The school day runs from 8:30am to 3:05pm. Transport is a key logistical element; a network of school buses serves the wider catchment, including Bagshot and Deepcut. Uniform is a black blazer with the college crest, white shirt, and house tie.

• Scale: This is a very large school. While pastoral support is strong, the campus environment requires students to be somewhat independent. It suits children who are robust and ready to navigate a busy environment; it may feel overwhelming for those who need a small, nurturing cocoon.
• Split Site: Students walk between buildings for lessons. This provides fresh air and movement but means the school day involves more transition time than in a single-block school.
• Dated Inspection: The school was last inspected in 2013 (Good), with a short inspection in 2017. While results remain solid, families should rely more on current data and visits than on the historic Ofsted report.

Collingwood College is a powerhouse of the local community, offering a breadth of opportunity that few schools can rival. It is not an exam factory but a true comprehensive, valuing the future apprentice as highly as the future undergraduate. Best suited to students who want a busy, "real world" environment with extensive facilities and are ready to seize the opportunities a large school offers. The main challenge is securing a place in this popular local hub.