When Herbert Budgell founded Ewell Castle in 1926, he chose a Grade II-listed building that had once captivated the Pre-Raphaelite painter John Everett Millais and his wife Effie Gray two centuries earlier. Today, nearly a hundred years on, this same castellated mansion on the Surrey-London border continues to draw families seeking something different. Not selective by design, not academically elite by reputation, yet consistently delivering results that place it in the top 25% of schools in England (FindMySchool ranking). This is a genuinely mixed-ability school where academic ambition coexists comfortably with pastoral care, where a tiny school punches well above its weight in sport, and where families describe a "magical place" where their children flourish. With approximately 650 pupils across three sites, Ewell Castle operates as a seamless all-through experience, from Reception through Sixth Form, anchored by its stated vision to "Inspire and Engage our pupils to Excel."
The physical campus tells the story. The Senior School sits on fifteen acres that were once part of Henry VIII's Nonsuch Palace grounds. The Victorian red-brick buildings, including a 1814 castellated mansion and Glyn House (designed by architect Henry Duesbury in 1838 in the Elizabethan manner), create an atmosphere of established heritage without pretension. These listed buildings impose genuine constraints on modernisation, yet the school has invested thoughtfully in contemporary facilities. The Prep School occupies Glyn House, a Grade II-listed former rectory set within five acres of landscaped gardens, while Chessington Lodge serves as the junior annexe.
What emerges most powerfully from inspection reports and parent feedback is the school's unforced family ethos. Teachers at Ewell Castle do not compete with each other or with neighbouring schools; they teach individual children. Current pupils describe the place as magical. Parents repeatedly mention that their children "have blossomed and grown in confidence."
Under Principal Silas Edmonds, who arrived in January 2019, the school has maintained this culture whilst embedding contemporary educational philosophy. The High Performance Learning (HPL) framework, adopted school-wide, emphasizes growth mindset and neural plasticity rather than fixed ability. In June 2025, the school achieved HPL World Class School status in recognition of "demonstrated world class quality of education throughout the school." This distinction is not marketing hyperbole; it reflects a deliberate move toward systems thinking about how children learn best, underpinned by the work of Professor Deborah Eyre.
At GCSE, Ewell Castle sits in the top 25% of schools in England. The school ranks 643rd (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 14% in England. Locally, it ranks 3rd among Epsom and surrounding schools.
In 2025 (the most recent year with published data), 46% of grades achieved 9-7, representing strong performance. At the lower end, the school achieves 41% at grades A*-A (9-7), confirming that this is a school where most students succeed, but it is not selective entry masking varied ability. The school deliberately maintains mixed-ability intake and celebrates that outcome. A student who arrives at Year 7 working below age-related expectations can still achieve respectable GCSE grades through the school's personalised approach.
Sixth form results reflect similar patterns. At A-level in 2025, the school achieved 33% A*/A and 55% A*-B. This places Ewell Castle at 760th in England (FindMySchool ranking), positioning it as a solid sixth form within the national typical performance band. The A* rate of 10% and A rate of 17% demonstrate that the school does produce students capable of top universities, but this is not the driving narrative.
The real story emerges in where pupils go next. In the 2023-24 leavers cohort, 65% progressed to university, 18% entered employment, and 6% started apprenticeships. Beyond these headline figures, the school reports consistent placement of students at Russell Group universities and, in recent years, one Oxbridge acceptance. The school doesn’t market Oxbridge numbers as a selling point; inspectors note it is not yet a name that status‑conscious parents use as shorthand, and the review suggests this is intentional.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
57.33%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
40.57%
% of students achieving grades 9-7
The curriculum is deliberately broad. At Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9), pupils experience traditional disciplines alongside more contemporary offerings. Subjects include English, Mathematics, Sciences (taught separately as Chemistry, Physics, and Biology from Year 9 onwards), Humanities (History, Geography, Religious Studies), Classical Civilisation, Modern Languages (French and Spanish compulsory), Arts (Art, Drama, Music), Physical Education, and Design & Technology.
Teaching approaches emphasise individual progress rather than cohort comparison. The High Performance Learning framework, now embedded, shifts language away from "clever" and "thick" toward growth, effort, and Neural Plasticity. Teachers speak of the "7 Pillars" and Advanced Cognitive Performance Characteristics (ACPCs), providing shared vocabulary. Setting in Mathematics and Sciences begins in Year 8 (not Year 7), with mixed-ability grouping in Year 7 English and Science to allow students to settle and demonstrate potential. A-level offers 25+ subjects, including Classical Greek and Russian, reflecting a genuine breadth rather than a narrow academic canon.
For students with identified learning needs, the school provides robust support. Specific learning difficulties are the most common. The school employs specialist staff and integrates support into the school day rather than withdrawing pupils into isolated sessions.
For more able students, enrichment is built into the curriculum. The Maths Department enters high performers into the Maths Challenge competitions (run by the UK Mathematics Trust) and UK-wide competitions. The Science Department offers Chemistry Olympiad, Biology Olympiad, Physics Olympiad, and the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge to upper-school pupils. Art scholars undertake "stark, uncompromising, full-length nudes" as coursework alongside younger pupils' more conventional still-life work, suggesting genuine freedom within structure.
The school operates a house system across all ages: Castlemaine, Raleigh, Essex, and Arundel. Houses are vertical, mixing ages, and serve as genuine pastoral units rather than mere timetabling devices. Form tutors know their pupils well; class sizes are deliberately capped at 22 in the senior school and 20 in the prep, enabling such relationships.
Formal support extends to counselling provision and Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs) at both Prep and Senior sites. A new programme called "Ewellness" signals the school's commitment to mental health. Mobile phone policy since 2024 reflects contemporary concerns; Years 7-11 use Yondr pouches during the school day (allowing phones to be present but inaccessible), while sixth formers may use phones only in designated sixth form spaces. The school does not pathologise technology but acknowledges its impact on wellbeing and relationships.
Behaviour is remarkably calm. Students describe a culture of merits far outweighing detentions, despite the school's formal behaviour policy. The school speaks of "personal integrity, mutual respect, social responsibility and lifelong resilience", not empty values, but lived principles reflected in how pupils interact.
The school offers over 120 co-curricular activities, a remarkable breadth for a 650-pupil school. Rather than listing exhaustively, what stands out are the named, specific, and genuinely ambitious offerings.
The Tennis Academy is the school's most visible elite programme. Launched as a scholarship option for gifted players, it has grown from four members to over 24 in the past four years. The Academy includes professional coaching, tailored academic curriculum, and structured progression. In 2022, Ewell Castle was awarded LTA Surrey Tennis School of the Year. Most recently, the school achieved UK national rankings at elite level: ranked 2nd in England in LTA Youth Schools' Boys categories (2nd in the 18U and 2nd in the 15U age groups). The programme has successfully placed students in US university tennis scholarships, a rare achievement for UK schools.
Beyond tennis, the Cricket Academy caters to elite cricket aspirants with four members currently receiving individual coaching. Castle Golf offers pathways for competitive golfers using nearby Cuddington Golf Course.
For non-elite players, weekly Saturday morning fixtures remain central. The school runs competitive teams in rugby, football, netball, and cricket, with fixtures against local schools. A large air-conditioned sports hall houses indoor cricket nets. The school holds plans to build three artificial clay tennis courts, signalling continued investment.
The Fitznells School of Music, founded in 1959 and relocated to Ewell Castle in 1988, operates as an integrated music provision. Individual music lessons are available across instruments. Named ensembles include a Chapel Choir and multiple bands serving students at different levels. Drama productions (such as Oliver! performed at the Epsom Playhouse in 2016, and Little Shop of Horrors in 2019) indicate serious commitment to performance, with pupils often working toward LAMDA qualifications.
Clubs reflect genuine intellectual curiosity. The Eco Club, sponsored by the Geography Department following Eco-Schools accreditation, engages students in sustainability. The Maths Department runs structured competitions. Science clubs facilitate engagement with external competitions and university lectures. Given the school's HPL focus, it is unsurprising that critical thinking and growth mindset emerge as themes in naming clubs and framing extension opportunities.
Beyond formal drama lessons and productions, the school emphasizes creative expression. Art rooms are described as vibrant spaces where "sketchbooks and homework form part of continuous assessment." An Art & Photography Club operates after school. The drama programme integrates LAMDA exams, suggesting professional-level training alongside curriculum delivery.
Additional activities include judo, chess, board games, cooking club, coding and ICT, sailing, Duke of Edinburgh Award (running to Gold level), Design Club, and multiple music ensembles. The school consciously uses SOCS (their integrated timetabling system) to coordinate co-curricular activities, avoiding clashes and enabling genuine choice. Co-curricular clubs termly so that pupils can experiment with different interests across the year.
As an independent school, tuition carries fees:
Fees are inclusive of VAT, payable termly by bank transfer. A registration fee of £180 (inclusive of VAT) applies on application. A deposit is required on acceptance: £500 for Reception, £1,500 for Years 1-13, refundable at the end of a pupil's time at school (but not refundable if a pupil accepts a place and does not join).
Additional costs include optional after-school care, co-curricular clubs (many staff-led and free, others provided by outside specialists and charged termly), school trips and tours, public examination fees, and EAL support if required. School lunches are available on contract basis and include hot meals with vegetarian options. The school caters explicitly for allergies and dietary requirements.
The school offers monthly payment plans via School Fee Plan (subject to affordability and credit checks). Financial assistance via bursaries and scholarships can significantly offset fees for eligible families.
Fees data coming soon.
Prospective families contact admissions directly for Prep School places at all year groups. Entry is non-selective; the school describes itself as genuinely mixed ability.
Secondary entry occurs at Year 7 (age 11+), Year 9 (13+), and Year 12 (16+). The application process involves entrance examinations in Maths and English (at minimum), with some candidates interviewed. An assessment day is typically held in November, with offers and acceptance procedures following formal timelines. For 2025-26 entry, the deadline was 31 October 2025, with assessment on 20 November 2025 (reserve date 28 November).
Scholarships are available across Academic, Dance, Design and Technology, Drama, Music, and Sport at Year 7, Year 9, and Sixth Form. Year 13 adds Photography scholarships.
Bursaries are available for Senior School pupils only and are means-tested. The school actively promotes its bursary appeal through the Old Ewellians (alumni) network and has established clear pathways for eligible families.
Internal progression from Year 11 to Year 12 is not automatic; students must meet entry requirements (typically grades 5-6 across GCSE or equivalent), though these are applied flexibly to support able students who may not have been entered for formal exams.
School day: 8:50am to 3:20pm (Senior School). Prep School hours are slightly different; families should confirm with admissions.
Wrap-around care: After-school care is available (cost varies; see fees documentation). Breakfast club operates in the Senior School from 7:50-8:20am.
Transport: The school operates a school bus from southwest London. New routes from Purley and Surbiton launched in September 2025. Public transport is excellent; Ewell East and Ewell West train stations are nearby, along with local bus routes.
The school is located within Ewell village, a leafy Surrey location that is easily accessible by public transport from greater London and the surrounding counties.
Selective mindset mismatch. This is a genuinely mixed-ability school. Families seeking to game the system, tutor extensively, or position their child as exceptionally able may find the school's ethos, which celebrates growth rather than innate brilliance, misaligned with their values.
Building constraints. Grade II-listed buildings create genuine limitations on space and modernisation. Some areas lack contemporary finish. Parents reported both appreciation for heritage and occasional frustration with practical limitations (e.g., diffuse buildings requiring longer transit times between lessons).
Size and critical mass. With 650 pupils total, the school is smaller than comprehensive secondaries. Some specialist facilities (e.g., specific science labs, multiple drama spaces) are shared across age groups. Year groups are small (approximately 120-150 pupils per cohort), which parents universally praise for pastoral care but which some worried might limit peer choice.
Not a Oxbridge factory. The school produces some Oxbridge acceptances, but this is not its narrative. Families seeking the prestige and certainty of a selective school with consistent Oxbridge production should look elsewhere.
Fee transparency and affordability. Independent school fees are substantial. However, the school's active bursary programme and scholarship offerings mean financial barriers may be less prohibitive than they appear. Families should enquire early about financial support eligibility.
Ewell Castle is a school built on a counterintuitive premise: that real progress comes not from selecting the brightest at entry, but from creating conditions where every child, whatever their starting point, learns to think, to grow, and to contribute. It occupies a distinctive niche. It does not compete with highly selective independent schools or grammar schools. It does not market itself as academically elite. Yet its results are consistently respectable, its pastoral environment is genuinely warm, and current pupils and parents speak of it with affection typically reserved for schools that have genuinely changed their children's lives. With 46% achieving grades 9-7 at GCSE and 65% of leavers progressing to university, it delivers solid academic outcomes. With elite tennis and cricket pathways, it offers genuine sporting opportunity for talented athletes. With over 120 clubs and genuinely integrated enrichment, it provides breadth. Most importantly, it appears to deliver the experience it promises: a school where individual children matter, where effort and growth are celebrated, and where academic learning is bound together with emotional development and social responsibility.
This school is best suited to families seeking a genuine educational experience over a name or status marker; to parents who value their child's wellbeing, confidence, and individual progress over comparative achievement; and to pupils who thrive in smaller, intentional communities. It will resonate with families who have already rejected the competitive tutoring culture of grammar and highly selective independent schools. For them, Ewell Castle is not a backup choice. It is a carefully discovered gem.
Yes. The school ranks in the top 25% for GCSE performance (643rd in England, FindMySchool ranking). The most recent ISI Regulatory Compliance Inspection took place in September 2025. The school is described by inspectors and independent reviewers as delivering strong pastoral care alongside solid academic outcomes. Pupils and parents consistently report high satisfaction.
Fees for 2025-26 are £4,704 per term (Reception), £5,292 per term (Years 1-2), £5,982 per term (Years 3-6), and £8,562 per term (Years 7-13). Fees are inclusive of VAT and payable termly by bank transfer. A registration fee of £180 applies on application, and a deposit is required on acceptance of a place. Additional costs include optional after-school care, some co-curricular clubs, school trips, and EAL support if required. Bursaries and scholarships are available and can significantly reduce fees.
For Prep School (Reception through Year 6), families contact admissions directly. For Senior School entry (Year 7, 9, or 12), candidates sit entrance examinations (typically in Maths and English) and may be interviewed. An assessment day is held annually (typically in November). The school describes its intake as genuinely mixed ability, non-selective by design. Scholarships are available in Academic, Music, Sport, Drama, Dance, Design and Technology, and (for sixth form) Photography.
Yes. Scholarships offering 10-25% fee reduction are available for academic, music, sport, drama, dance, design and technology achievement (and photography at sixth form level). Means-tested bursaries are available for Senior School pupils only and can cover significant portions of fees up to full fees for eligible families. The school actively promotes financial support through its bursary appeal.
The school offers traditional team games (rugby, football, netball, cricket) with regular Saturday morning fixtures. Beyond standard sport, the school runs an elite Tennis Academy (ranked 2nd in England in LTA Youth Schools' Boys categories) and a Cricket Academy. Individual coaching is available. Facilities include a large air-conditioned sports hall with indoor cricket nets, grass playing fields, and two tennis courts (plans exist for three additional artificial clay courts). Co-curricular options include athletics, badminton, basketball, table tennis, tennis, cross country, golf, hockey, sailing, and volleyball.
The Fitznells School of Music (integrated since 1988) provides individual music lessons across instruments. Named ensembles include Chapel Choir and multiple bands. Drama is central to the curriculum and enrichment; pupils often work toward LAMDA qualifications. The school stages annual productions (recent examples include Oliver! and Little Shop of Horrors, performed at the Epsom Playhouse). An Art & Photography Club and visual arts specialism complement performance provision.
The school is located in Ewell village on the Surrey-London border. Ewell East and Ewell West train stations are nearby, with direct rail links to London and surrounding areas. Local bus routes serve the school. The school operates a school bus from southwest London, with new routes from Purley and Surbiton launching in September 2025. The location is easily accessible by public transport and private car.
Get in touch with the school directly
Disclaimer
Information on this page is compiled, analysed, and processed from publicly available sources including the Department for Education (DfE), Ofsted, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and official school websites.
Our rankings, metrics, and assessments are derived from this data using our own methodologies and represent our independent analysis rather than official standings.
While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee that all information is current, complete, or error-free. Data may change without notice, and schools and/or local authorities should be contacted directly to verify any details before making decisions.
FindMySchool does not endorse any particular school, and rankings reflect specific metrics rather than overall quality.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on information provided. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us.
