Epsom College Review 2026: From Medical Benevolence to National Excellence

When Dr John Propert opened the gates of his new college in 1855, Prince Albert himself came to witness the occasion. The ceremony marked the formal establishment of an institution designed to support the orphans and widows of struggling medical practitioners. That founding mission of benevolence has never left Epsom College, even as the school has grown into one of England's most academically accomplished day and boarding schools. Today, the main Gothic buildings still stand much as they did 170 years ago, their red brick facades and pointed arches a tangible reminder of Victorian ideals of care and excellence. Yet walk beyond the historic quadrangle and you discover a contemporary school of remarkable breadth. The college's 1,150 pupils, roughly balanced between boys and girls, inhabit a leafy 72-acre estate just 15 miles south of Central London. In recent years, Epsom has climbed steadily through the independent school rankings, driven by consistently strong exam results, an exceptionally generous co-curricular programme, and a boarding community that sets a gold standard for pastoral care. The most recent ISI inspection in November 2024 awarded the school Excellent across all areas, with inspectors finding that the school community is "characterised by inclusivity and equal opportunity."

The first thing many families notice about Epsom is the tangible sense of space and calm. The 72 acres of Downs landscape create a sanctuary that feels entirely separate from the nearby suburban sprawl. Boys and girls in their distinctive house colours (visible in the stripes of their ties) move purposefully between lessons; seniors in formal dress gowns give the place a traditional air without feeling stuffy. There is a genuine friendliness here. Pupils greet staff by name. Housemasters and housemistresses live on campus alongside their families, creating the feel of an extended family rather than an institution.

The house system is the bedrock of community life. Thirteen single-sex houses operate like mini-schools within the school, each with its own identity and traditions. From Year 9 onwards, pupils join a house; younger pupils in Years 7 and 8 occupy the separate Lower School, which functions as its own co-ed house. House staff know every pupil intimately. This pastoral structure, refined over decades, means a teenager struggling with anxiety or a friendship crisis will find immediate, knowledgeable support from adults who see them daily. The ISI inspection highlighted this strength explicitly, noting that pupils "consistently demonstrate kindness and mutual respect in the way they support and encourage each other."

The school's founding values of benevolence and excellence remain woven throughout daily life. Service to the community is not a bolt-on charity exercise; it is a timetabled commitment. Year 8 pupils spend a full afternoon each week on local service placements. The school has also developed meaningful partnerships with social mobility charities including the Royal National Children's SpringBoard Foundation, and works with Surrey County Council to offer full boarding places to looked-after children of talent and potential. Head Mark Lascelles, who arrived from Dauntsey's School in September 2024, emphasizes visibility and accessibility. He attends matches, concerts, plays, and events whenever possible, and has been praised for his approachable, straightforward manner.

GCSE Performance

Epsom College ranks 96th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 10% of schools. This consistent performance reflects genuine academic rigour rather than selectivity in admissions.

In 2024, results were strong across the board. 82% of all GCSE grades were at 9-7 (the highest bands), and 63% achieved grades 9-8 alone. This sits well above typical independent school performance. The school's Progress 8 scores indicate pupils make above-average progress from their starting points, suggesting teachers are effective at developing every learner rather than simply recruiting able pupils and coasting.

The curriculum breadth is notable. Pupils choose from two modern languages (French, German, Spanish, or Mandarin), Latin, three sciences taught separately from Year 7, and a full suite of creative and technical subjects. The school does not narrow the curriculum to boost league table positions. English, Mathematics, and the sciences remain the academic priorities, but art, music, drama, and design technology are taken seriously and generously resourced.

A-Level Performance

A-level results place Epsom in the top 5% of schools in England (FindMySchool ranking). In 2024, 87% of grades were A*-B, with 22% achieving A* alone. These figures, while impressive, are presented within context. The sixth form takes both internal GCSE leavers and external applicants, including some from state schools. Results reflect both the calibre of teaching and the commitment of the student body rather than a heavily selective intake.

Twenty-four subjects are offered at A-level and Pre-U, providing genuine choice. Physics, Chemistry, and Biology attract strong numbers, reflecting the school's scientific heritage. Classics (including Latin and Ancient Greek), Economics, Further Mathematics, and History are equally popular. The Extended Project Qualification is available to those seeking intellectual challenge beyond the standard A-level diet.

The quality of teaching is evident in lesson observations and pupil outcomes. Teachers combine rigorous content knowledge with genuine enthusiasm for their subjects. In sciences, separate specialists teach physics, chemistry, and biology from Year 7 onwards, allowing for depth and specialization uncommon in secondary education. The mathematics department similarly pitches content ambitiously, with setting from Year 7 allowing challenge for the most able whilst ensuring all pupils can access the curriculum meaningfully.

Beyond the formal curriculum, the school provides substantial academic enrichment. Daily cultural hour allows pupils to attend lectures, debates, and seminars. Academic societies in subjects ranging from Law to Psychology to Classics offer extension beyond the classroom. The Oxbridge Society (humourously named Outfoxed) supports sixth formers aspiring to Oxford and Cambridge applications. Subject-specific competitions, from the STEM Rocketry Challenge to geography fieldwork expeditions, embed the principle that learning is not confined to exam specifications.

Independent study skills are nurtured carefully, particularly in the sixth form. Pupils are expected to take responsibility for their learning, supported by dedicated staff but with a clear expectation of self-direction. This transition from structured GCSEs to more open-ended A-level study is managed thoughtfully.

University Destinations

75% of leavers progress to university, a strong indicator for a school serving ages 11 to 18. The university pipeline is impressive. In 2024, one student secured an Oxbridge place. Beyond Oxbridge, leavers regularly progress to Russell Group universities including Durham, Edinburgh, Bristol, Exeter, and Imperial College. The school's medical heritage translates into particular strength in medicine and allied health professions, with a significant cohort entering medical school annually.

The school does not artificially inflate Oxbridge aspirations. Guidance is realistic and grounded in individual aptitude. Those choosing vocational routes, apprenticeships, or gap years are supported equally. The 2024 leavers data shows 11% entered employment directly, suggesting the school serves a diverse range of post-18 aspirations.

Sixth Form Entry

Entry to the sixth form is not automatic. Pupils must achieve at least six grade 6s at GCSE, with subject-specific entry requirements for A-level subjects (typically a 7 or above in the subject studied). This creates a cohort of committed sixth formers, though external applications mean the sixth form is not exclusively composed of internal candidates. This mix strengthens academic culture.

The co-curricular programme is one of Epsom's defining strengths, and the investment in breadth is genuinely impressive. With over 150 clubs, societies, and activities available weekly, pupils have extraordinary choice. The Week magazine has recognized this provision as "the best of the best" within independent education.

Music and Performance

Music occupies a privileged position within school life. The Lower School Orchestra, Senior School Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music ensembles, and multiple choirs (Lower School Chapel Choir, Chamber Choir, Senior Concert Band, Barbershop Chorus, Girls' Acapella, and Junior Blues) provide pathways from beginner to advanced. Big Band, Jazz groups, and Contemporary Dance add further variety. Most-learned instrument instruction is available; a significant proportion of pupils study music formally.

Dramatic productions are substantial undertakings. The senior school drama production each year involves casts of 40-60 pupils plus large technical teams. Lower School pupils engage in drama through carousel rotations that include puppetry, physical theatre, and dance. Year 9 has its own drama production (College Players). The school operates three purpose-designed theatrical spaces, suggesting serious commitment to drama as an art form rather than as an add-on activity.

Sports and Athletics

Sport is compulsory through Year 9, with over 22 sports available. The major games include rugby (Michaelmas), hockey (Lent), and cricket/tennis (Summer). Additional sports include rowing (the school benefits from proximity to the Thames), football, American flag football, badminton, basketball, climbing, cross country, swimming, squash, and target rifle shooting. The coaching staff includes over 100 individuals, many of whom are former internationals or Olympians. This extraordinary coaching resource means that even recreational participants benefit from expert teaching.

Target rifle shooting is particularly distinguished. Epsom is recognized as the premier rifle shooting school in England, having won the Ashburton Shield (the national championship) 16 times, most recently in 2024, the highest number of wins of any school. The current England U17 and U18 rifle squads include a high proportion of Epsom pupils. This excellence is the result of sustained investment in facilities, coaching, and a genuine culture of precision and discipline. The school operates both full-bore and small-bore ranges.

Sport facilities are extensive. Playing fields cover 40+ acres. The school boasts indoor courts for basketball and volleyball, a modern fitness suite, a swimming pool, and a golf academy. Friday Night Lights rugby fixtures on the main pitch create a palpable sense of occasion. Saturday morning games and afternoon fixtures build a sporting rhythm that engages all ability levels.

STEM and Academic Clubs

The STEM Club exemplifies the ambition of the co-curricular programme. This group competes annually in the UK Rocketry Competition and races electric cars (built and engineered by pupils) against schools, universities, and youth groups at the Goodwood Race Course. Such opportunities, where pupils apply physics and engineering principles to real challenges with genuine stakes, are transformative learning experiences unavailable to peers at schools without such structures.

Science-specific societies include the Dissection Club, where interested pupils work with members of the biology department to learn anatomical structures through practical dissection, excellent preparation for prospective medics. Chemistry Extension, Maths Extension, and Computer Science (competition-level coding) allow talented pupils to pursue depth in core subjects. The Law Society, Economics and Enterprise Society, and Philosophy Society reflect intellectual breadth. Active Historians and Geography Society leverage specialist expertise within the staff body.

Creative Arts and Cultural Activities

Pottery, Art Appreciation, and Art Club provide outlets for visual creativity. Bridge and Chess clubs develop strategic thinking. The Epsom Debate team competes externally; debating is encouraged from the Lower School onwards. Duke of Edinburgh Award (up to Gold), Combined Cadet Force (CCF), and Peer Mentoring programmes build leadership. More recent societies, the Climate Committee, Amnesty International, and the Diversity, Equality and Inclusivity Society, reflect pupils' genuine agency in shaping their community. Pupils can bid to establish new societies if existing provision does not match their interests.

Fees cover tuition, stationery, books, food, and (for boarders) accommodation and laundry. They do not cover music lessons, private tuition, certain cadet force charges, examination fees, theatre tickets, holiday trips, or some activities, these are charged termly as extras.

Annual fees, calculated at three terms per year, range from £29,181 (Lower School day) to £56,592 (full boarding in senior school). International boarders must pay £15,000 toward first-term fees in advance.

Parents can pay fees in advance as a lump sum, which attracts significant savings. Payment is arranged via Direct Debit (termly or monthly) or through Flywire, an online platform offering favourable exchange rates for international families.

Entry Points

Epsom College accepts pupils at multiple points: Year 7 (age 11), Year 9 (age 13), Year 12 (sixth form age 16), and Lower Sixth (occasionally, age 17). Most applications come at the 11+ and 13+ entry points.

Year 7 entry involves registration at the school, completion of entrance exams in English, Mathematics, and Reasoning, followed by assessment days and interviews. Approximately 150 places are available annually. The school does not publish specific pass marks or accept calculations about tuition guarantee.

Year 9 entry (13+) similarly involves examinations and interviews. Parents should allow 6-12 months for the admissions process and register as early as possible.

Boarding and Day Options

In Years 7 and 8, all pupils are day pupils attending the co-ed Lower School. From Year 9, pupils may elect to board. The school operates on a weekly boarding model alongside full boarding, allowing flexibility for families. Approximately one-third of the senior school board; roughly 70% of the remaining pupils are day students. This mix of day and boarding pupils, combined with the six-day week (Saturday school runs to mid-morning with fixtures in the afternoon), creates continuity and prevents the "weekend ghost town" phenomenon some boarding schools experience.

Financial Considerations

Fees for 2025-26 are £9,727 per term in the Lower School, rising to £12,472 per term for day pupils in the Senior School, £16,708 per term for weekly boarders, and £18,864 per term for full boarders. These fees represent a below-inflation rise of 3% on the previous year. Registration costs £300. A £4,000 deposit is required upon acceptance; £2,000 is credited to first-term fees.

Financial support is genuinely available. The school offered nearly £2 million of support to families in the previous academic year. Bursaries are means-tested; some families pay no fees at all. Scholarships are available for academic, music, sport, and drama achievement, typically offering 10-25% fee reduction. These awards can be layered with bursary support. The Royal Medical Foundation, established separately in 2000, also provides targeted assistance to families with medical connections.

The school actively recruits talented pupils regardless of financial circumstance through partnerships with the Royal National Children's SpringBoard Foundation and Surrey County Council's looked-after children scheme. The benevolence upon which the school was founded remains tangible.

Pastoral care is sophisticated and genuinely prioritized. The house system is supported by tutors, housemasters/housemistresses, and matrons who work closely together. Pupils have regular one-to-one check-ins with tutors. Housemasters and housemistresses are tremendously experienced; most have 10+ years in post. This consistency means staff understand individual pupils deeply.

Mental health support is formalized. The school holds Gold Status from the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools, one of only four boarding schools in England to receive this accreditation. This reflects structured mental health training for staff, accessible counselling, and a culture where seeking support is normalized.

Safeguarding is taken seriously. The ISI inspection confirmed that "the school responds appropriately and swiftly to allegations relating to child-on-child abuse" and that pupils receive effective education on personal safety, including online safety. Safeguarding training is monitored regularly, and staff understanding of reporting procedures is verified.

The school's commitment to inclusivity and diversity is evident in formal structure (Epsom EDI committee, Diversity and Inclusivity Society) and informal culture. Inspectors noted that "the school community is characterised by inclusivity and equal opportunity."

The school day begins with registration at 8:20am. Formal school concludes at 5:30pm, with school transport departing at 5:45pm. Co-curricular activities run from 4pm onwards. Saturday morning school runs 8:20am-12:00pm (Lower School has sports fixtures only on Saturdays). Pupils bring packed lunch or order from the school catering system.

The college sits just 15 miles south of central London, near Epsom Downs on the North Downs. Public transport links include train services to London (approximately 30 minutes to Victoria or London Bridge). Most day pupils travel via car or the school's coach network, which operates from multiple local areas. The A3 and A24 provide road access. Within the grounds, the scale of the estate means pupils spend time outdoors, exploring the formal gardens, lake, and woodland areas.

Competition for places. Epsom has become increasingly sought-after in recent years, and competition at 11+ and 13+ is genuine. Families should register early and be realistic about their child's likely performance in entrance examinations.

The pace and structure. Epsom operates a demanding six-day week with Saturday school from Year 9 onwards. The academic curriculum is ambitious. This suits bright, engaged pupils who thrive on structure and challenge but may be exhausting for those who need downtime or struggle with formality.

Boarding integration. Whilst day pupils outnumber boarders, the presence of boarders shapes the rhythm of weekday life. Some day families appreciate the resulting community; others find the boarding culture slightly at odds with their family's priorities.

Medical heritage focus. Whilst the school has broadened considerably since its founding, there remains a notably high proportion of pupils pursuing medicine, dentistry, and healthcare professions. This reflects excellent guidance and facilities but also a particular cultural emphasis.

Epsom College has executed one of the more impressive turnarounds in recent British independent school history. Fifteen years ago, many regarded it as a capable second-choice school. Today it is viewed as a destination school, and competition for places reflects this change. The ISI inspection results, Excellent across all measures, with zero recommendations for improvement, capture the school's current standing accurately.

The school's core strength lies in its ability to balance academic ambition with genuine breadth. Results are consistently strong without being produced by an over-selected cohort. The 150+ clubs and activities are not a marketing flourish; pupils engage seriously with music, drama, sport, and intellectual pursuits beyond the curriculum. The house system creates community that feels authentic rather than manufactured. The pastoral care infrastructure is thoughtfully designed and resourced.

Best suited to bright, engaged pupils who thrive on structure, challenge, and community; families who value both academic excellence and genuine all-round development; boarding families (or day families comfortable with a boarding culture); and those seeking a school with strong traditions and a sense of institutional purpose.

The main consideration is whether the pace, formality, and competitive admissions process align with your family's needs. For those who fit, Epsom offers a genuinely excellent education.