Salesian School, Chertsey

Salesian School is a significant Catholic secondary and sixth form in Chertsey, with approximately 1,849 students across the main school and sixth form. The recent Ofsted inspection, published in November 2024, awarded Outstanding ratings across all five inspection categories, and the current performance picture remains strong: FindMySchool ranks it 374th overall for secondary outcomes in England, 254th overall for sixth-form outcomes, and 2nd locally in Chertsey for both secondary and sixth-form rankings. The culture combines clear expectations with compassionate support, rooted firmly in Salesian philosophy centred on reason, faith, and affection.

Salesian School operates on a dual-site model that reflects its history. The Salesian College on Highfield Road was founded in 1919 for boys; a convent girls' school on Guildford Road operated separately until the 1971 merger. The school transitioned to full co-education in the early 1980s, maintaining distinct sixth form facilities that create a purposeful separation between younger pupils and sixth formers. The atmosphere is deliberately structured. The headteacher, Paul Gower, who took the post in September 2022, is explicit about this. Staff prioritise firm boundaries: mobile phones for Year 7 are prohibited entirely, extending gradually through Key Stage 3. This is not presented as restriction but as foundation — a framework within which young people can thrive.

The Salesian philosophy, inspired by St John Bosco, permeates the school's daily life. The school motto, "Enlightening also Minds, Uplifting Hearts," guides pastoral practice. Ofsted's 2024 inspection confirmed this culture operates authentically. Teachers know pupils individually; pastoral staff respond swiftly to welfare concerns. The school has invested significantly in recent years: a new Eric Doherty and Peter O'Brien Sports Hall, officially opened by Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah in June 2023, has transformed physical provision. The Devereux Building, housing Geography and English departments, honours Sean Devereux, a staff member who became a Salesian missionary and UNICEF aid worker before his murder in Somalia in 1993. These visible commitments to legacy and remembrance shape a sense of collective purpose.

GCSE Performance

At GCSE, the school demonstrates strong current outcomes. In the 2025 dataset, 48% of grades achieved 9-7, with 29% at grades 9-8. FindMySchool's current rankings place the school 512th of 3,895 schools in England for GCSE academic outcomes and 374th of 3,688 on the overall secondary ranking, while it remains 2nd in the local Chertsey area. The Attainment 8 score is 64.9, Progress 8 is +0.96, and 82.6% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths.

The English Baccalaureate — a measure of breadth encompassing English, maths, sciences, languages, and history or geography — is taken seriously. The current dataset shows 87.7% entered the EBacc, 58.3% achieved the EBacc at grade 5 or above, and the average EBacc APS was 6.2. This focus on subject breadth reflects the school's comprehensive curriculum rather than narrow specialism.

A-Level Performance

Sixth form results demonstrate continued strength. In the current 2025 A-level dataset, 40% of grades achieved A*/A and 70% achieved A*-B across 570 entries. FindMySchool's current rankings place the school 334th of 2,549 in England for A-level academic outcomes and 254th on the overall sixth-form ranking, keeping it in a strong national position.

University destinations signal genuine academic progression. In 2024, 67% of leavers progressed to university, 18% to employment, 3% to apprenticeships, and 2% to further education. One Cambridge place was secured in 2024. The school maintains a dedicated careers team and hosts regular university representatives, apprenticeship fairs, and industry partnerships.

Teaching quality is consistently described as strong. The school emphasises mastery of fundamentals: literacy and numeracy are tracked across all subjects, not confined to English and maths. Staff receive professional development through the Salesian Teaching School Alliance (of which the school is the founder and leader) and the Xavier Teaching School Hub, meaning high-quality practice is embedded.

The curriculum is traditional academic in structure. Languages are offered from Year 7 onwards; sciences are taught separately, not as "double award." STEM subjects benefit from dedicated facilities, though the school's visibility in the broader STEM ecosystem suggests breadth rather than specialist intensity. Drama and music are recognised as curriculum strengths — the Ofsted inspection explicitly noted this.

Teachers are expected to know pupils individually and to communicate high expectations without blame. The school's "low-level concern" reporting system encourages early intervention before issues escalate. In practice, this means staff respond swiftly to signs of struggle, offering structured support rather than allowing pupils to fall behind.

The school's co-curricular offer is expansive and carefully structured. Every student is expected to engage in at least one activity; participation is not optional but embedded in school culture. This generates breadth: the majority of pupils experience something beyond the formal curriculum.

Drama: Professional and Accessible

Drama operates at scale. The school produces three productions annually — an ambitious schedule that creates genuine opportunity for participation beyond the lead roles. Recent productions include The Government Inspector (performed in Centenary Hall on the Highfield Road site), alongside previous stagings of Sweet Charity, Bugsy Malone, Grease, The Wizard of Oz, and Oliver!. Year-group drama clubs run throughout the school (Y7 Drama Club Showcase, Y8 Drama Club Performances, Y13 Drama Exam Rehearsals feature regularly on the calendar). Stage combat training occurs as a routine part of Key Stage 3 learning. Sixth form drama students access theatre criticism and analysis of demanding texts—The Government Inspector appears on the GCSE specification.

Music: Community and Discipline

The music programme balances accessibility with ambition. Two bi-annual community musical concerts serve as focal points, drawing families and staff. A Music Waterbear Workshop (visiting practitioners) appears on the annual calendar. The school maintains named ensembles: a House Music competition, orchestral work, and departmental specialism in classical methods. The curriculum integrates music teaching with literacy and emotional development — not merely technical skill-building. Given the school's Catholic character, liturgical music features; chapel music traditions are maintained.

Sports: Modern Facilities and Team Culture

The 2023 opening of the Eric Doherty and Peter O'Brien Sports Hall — a state-of-the-art multipurpose facility with fitness suite and smart changing — transformed provision. Three astro pitches (at the main site), supplemented by grass fields across the road, ensure adequate space. Competitive teams are fielded in football, netball, basketball, and trampoline, with age-group squads from under-12 to under-18. Inter-school fixtures are regular; the school maintains traditional rivalries and participates in district and county competitions. Sport is compulsory in Key Stage 3, though choice increases at GCSE. Boys' and girls' provision is parallel, not segregated, reflecting genuine co-education.

Duke of Edinburgh Award

The award runs to Gold level and features annually on the school calendar as a major commitment. Expeditions, skill-building, and service elements create a structured framework for personal development beyond classroom assessment.

Sixth Form Enrichment

At Salesian College (Highfield Road), sixth form students access additional layer of opportunity: a 16-19 Bursary Fund supports eligible students; enrichment activities include a dedicated Y13 Super Curricular Day (noted on October 2025 calendar), Y12 Parents' Evening and Futures Festival, and regular mock interview evenings (the 26 November 2024 event drew 200+ attendees from external organisations).

Specialist Provision: The NAS Cullum Centre

The school hosts a specialist resourced provision — the National Autistic Society Cullum Centre — housing 20 pupils with autism spectrum disorders in a dedicated learning space on the main site. This provision, built in partnership with Surrey County Council and the National Autistic Society, allows autistic pupils to access mainstream curriculum and community while receiving tailored support. It is widely regarded as places are highly competitive ("like gold dust," per one observer).

Clubs and Activities

Named activities on the school calendar include: Y9 Careers Fair, Y11 Ensemble Recording Day (music), KS3 House Music, KS3 Spanish & Salsa Workshop, 11Z Options Day, 11Y Options Day, Year 9 Dear England Theatre Trip (West End visit), Y13 Futures Festival, Turandot Opera Visit, Y12/13 Futures Festival, Polish GCSE session, and SEN Surrey Sports Games. The breadth suggests an institution where learning extends deliberately beyond examination syllabuses into cultural experience.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Admissions for Year 7 are handled through Surrey's coordinated secondary transfer route. For September 2027 entry, applications open on 1 September 2026, close on 31 October 2026, offers are issued on 1 March 2027, and Surrey lists 15 March 2027 as the acceptance deadline.

As a Roman Catholic school, faith criteria apply to some places. Families of Catholic background are prioritised under the school's admission policy; families of other faiths or no faith can apply and are admitted once Catholic places are filled. The school's ethos is explicitly Catholic, with daily Mass available to students, religious education woven through the curriculum, and Catholic Social Teaching informing the approach.

No published distance data is available from the most recent admissions round, suggesting either highly variable demand or lack of formal publication. Prospective families should contact the school directly for distance information and admission criteria.

Ofsted's 2024 inspection rated Personal Development as Outstanding. This reflects systematic approach: every student has a form tutor; tutors see pupils daily in structured sessions. Safeguarding procedures are robust; staff receive regular training on child protection. The school operates a "low-level concern" system where staff report early signs of difficulty, allowing early intervention. A trained counsellor visits the school; additional emotional wellbeing support is available through the learning support department.

For students with SEND, the learning support team (SENCos, LSAs, HLTAs) provides classroom-based support, structured interventions in literacy and numeracy, speech and language support, mentoring, and emotional wellbeing work. The Cullum Centre provision noted above offers specialist space for autistic pupils. The school reports positive relationships with special schools and external services.

The main school (Years 7-11) operates 8:15am to 3:30pm, Monday to Friday. The sixth form college follows a two-week timetable, creating some variation. The school day includes form time, tutor periods, and structured break-times. Lunch is provided on-site by Culinera catering.

Transport: The main site (Guildford Road, Chertsey) is accessible via Chertsey train station (approximately 1.5 miles away) and Addlestone bus station (approximately 2 miles away). Parking is available on adjacent roads and the school car park. The sixth form site (Highfield Road) is walking distance from the main site for those who prefer. No formal wraparound childcare (breakfast/after-school club) is mentioned as part of standard provision; families should contact the school for any non-standard hours arrangements.

Uniform is required and follows traditional secondary school standards (blazer, tie, specific colours). Mobile phones for Year 7 are prohibited; older pupils face strict restrictions (phones off, out of sight until 3:30pm). This policy applies school-wide.

Faith Commitment Expected: The school's Catholic character is genuine and pervasive. Daily prayer, regular Masses (students may attend at chapel or participate from classrooms), religious education that engages seriously with Catholic theology, and explicit reference to Gospel values throughout the curriculum are standard. Families uncomfortable with this level of religious practice should consider whether the environment aligns with their own values. The school welcomes families of all backgrounds, but the expectation is respect for and engagement with Catholic education.

Tight Entry at Secondary: Families should verify the current faith criteria, priority rules, and distance evidence before relying on Salesian as a preference, and should apply by Surrey's 31 October 2026 deadline for September 2027 Year 7 entry.

Split-Site Model: Main school operates on Guildford Road; sixth form on Highfield Road. Year 11 pupils transitioning to sixth form experience a physical move. Some pupils may thrive with this fresh start; others may find the transition disruptive. This structure also means younger pupils see sixth formers less frequently than in a single-site school.

Firm Discipline Culture: The school is explicit that it does not tolerate poor attendance, extreme hairstyles, or casual uniform breaches. This is intentional and part of the pastoral philosophy — boundaries are presented as caring, not punitive. However, families seeking a more permissive environment should understand this is not the school's approach.

Salesian School ranks strongly among state comprehensives, combining rigorous academic expectations with genuine pastoral care. The 2024 Ofsted rating of Outstanding across all five categories, paired with current GCSE and A-level outcomes, supports that picture. Current rankings place Salesian 2nd locally in Chertsey for secondary and sixth-form outcomes, 374th overall in England for secondary outcomes, and 254th overall in England for sixth-form outcomes. The Salesian philosophy creates a distinctive culture: faith, discipline, and affection are presented as mutually reinforcing, not contradictory. Drama and music flourish; sports provision is modern and inclusive; SEND support is detailed and specialist. The school suits families who value strong academic outcomes, clear behavioural expectations, Catholic education, and breadth of opportunity beyond examinations. The main practical limitation is admissions planning. Parents comparing alternatives using the Local Hub page and FindMySchool's Comparison Tool will find this school performs consistently at a high level.