Claremont Fan Court School Review 2026: Academic Ambition on Historic Ground

When Claremont School was founded as Clear View in 1922, it began with eight girls in a London townhouse and the vision of Christian Scientists seeking an education aligned with their values. A century on, the school has grown into something far larger, but the core aspiration remains unchanged: education that balances rigorous academics with character development, all set within 100 acres of Palladian parkland originally landscaped by Capability Brown. Now merged with its partner, Fan Court, and serving 1,189 pupils from age two through eighteen, Claremont Fan Court ranks in the top 8% of schools in England for GCSE results (FindMySchool ranking) and top 9% for A-levels. Yet what distinguishes this school is not merely its academic standing. Families describe a place where children are encouraged to excel at what matters to them individually, whether that's rowing on the lake, performing in a full-scale musical, or pursuing advanced mathematics. The 100 acres are not decoration; they form the physical manifestation of the school's philosophy: space to be curious, space to make mistakes, space to grow.

Just inside the gates at Claremont, the first thing you notice is not the ranks of pupils but the scale of the grounds. The historic mansion that anchors the estate was built in 1708 by Sir John Vanbrugh. Queen Victoria once lived here. Princess Charlotte walked these lawns. The sense of history is palpable, yet the school wears this heritage lightly. Visitors report an atmosphere that is purposeful without feeling pressured, ambitious without feeling anxious.

The vertical house system binds the school's social fabric together. All Year 7 through 11 pupils join one of six houses, Longcross, Norwood, Radnor, Esher, Stanmore, each named after significant locations in the school's 95-year history. A sixth former mentoring a Year 7 in the same house creates bonds that cut across age gaps. Pastoral care tutors work with the same small group year after year, meaning staff genuinely know their charges. The school describes itself as gently selective, a phrase that appears consistently in independent feedback. It is selective enough to have standards; gentle enough to look beyond the obvious academic talent.

William Brierly, who took the helm in 2021, has driven significant expansion without diluting the school's identity. Senior school numbers have grown from 476 to 800 under his leadership, yet former pupils returning to the school report it still feels intimate. The ethos reflects the school's Christian Science roots, a non-denominational approach emphasizing individual potential, character, and the importance of seeing good in others. This does not mean religious teaching is absent. Rather, it means the school operates as genuinely inclusive, welcoming pupils and families of all faiths.

The physical landscape itself becomes a teaching tool. A pupil might sit in the mathematics classroom in a building that housed nobility centuries ago, pass through gardens that exemplify eighteenth-century landscape design, and then work in a newly built STEM facility. This juxtaposition, heritage and modernity in constant conversation, seems to be intentional.

GCSE Performance

Academic results place Claremont firmly among England's strongest independent schools. In the most recent cohort, 54% of GCSE entries achieved grades 9-7, matching the England average of 54% exactly. However, this figure masks important detail. Independent schools typically see higher proportions of top grades. At Claremont, 32% of entries achieved grades 9-8 alone, indicating genuine depth of high achievement rather than clustering at the borderline.

The school ranks 370th in England across the full breadth of GCSE performance (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 8% of schools. Within Surrey, it ranks first locally, demonstrating consistent strength that stretches across the curriculum.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form reveals even stronger academic depth. 84% of A-level entries achieved grades A*-B, well above the England average of 47%. The figures are worth unpacking: 14% achieved A*, and 30% achieved A, meaning that nearly half of all entries landed in the very top two grades. This reflects the concentration of highly able pupils in the sixth form cohort but also the rigorous teaching.

At A-level, Claremont ranks 246th (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 9% in England. Again, locally it ranks first in the Esher area.

University Destinations

In 2024, 73% of leavers progressed to university, with 1 securing an Oxbridge place. While the Oxbridge figure is modest by the standards of England's most selective schools, it reflects the school's deliberate philosophy: selectivity without snobbery. Pupils progress to a range of universities including Russell Group institutions, with many pursuing competitive courses in medicine, engineering, and the sciences.

The curriculum at Claremont is broad and traditional in structure, yet ambitious in scope. At GCSE, pupils study 10-12 subjects typically, including sciences taught separately (Chemistry, Biology, Physics). Core subjects follow clear progression, with setting in mathematics from Year 9 onward and specialist teaching in all departments.

In the sixth form, 26 A-level subjects are available, including subjects that reflect contemporary concerns, Politics, History of Art, Environmental Science, alongside classical offerings like Latin and Classical Civilisation. Class sizes average 14 at GCSE level and often drop below 10 at A-level, meaning pupils receive genuine individualised feedback on their work.

Teaching approach emphasizes both rigour and resilience. Inspection observations highlight that staff have strong subject knowledge and explain concepts clearly. Pupils are encouraged to think critically rather than accept received wisdom. The 1970s and 1980s saw investment in dedicated spaces, a music school, a theatre, design and technology labs, and recent years have added a new STEM facility. These buildings telegraph the school's conviction that learning happens through doing, not merely through listening.

One aspect of the teaching philosophy deserves emphasis: resilience. At any school ranked in the top 8% in England, the peer group is academically confident. New pupils sometimes experience shock at finding themselves among genuine peers after years as the brightest in their feeder school. The school's pastoral team explicitly addresses this transition, helping pupils recalibrate their self-assessment and find their own niche within a high-achieving cohort.

Drama occupies a central place in school life. Recent productions include Matilda, which involved 73 pupils on stage and 10 behind the scenes. The junior school mounted Peter Pan. The sixth form staged a charity pantomime. These are not token performances by a theatre elite; they are whole-cohort experiences drawing participants from across the school. The Joyce Grenfell Centre, named after the celebrated entertainer and former pupil, houses the theatre and provides dedicated spaces for technical work, lighting design, and set construction.

Music thrives with similar energy. The Chapel Choir performs regularly, including touring performances. A full orchestra operates alongside jazz ensembles and chamber groups. The school employs visiting music teachers for individual tuition; scholarships at entry points include instrumental awards worth up to £2,000 annually, with music scholarship recipients receiving free tuition on one instrument. The music block, built during the 1980s, provides teaching studios, practice rooms, and ensemble spaces.

STEM enjoys particularly strong support. A newly built science and technology block opened recently, housing dedicated chemistry, biology, and physics laboratories. Design and Technology offers hands-on projects, pupils have worked on bike sensors and beach trolleys, practical applications of engineering principles. Computing is embedded throughout the curriculum, not confined to a single classroom. The school reports strong uptake of STEM A-levels, with particular strength in Further Mathematics.

Sports facilities span the full breadth of the 100 acres. Football, rugby, and lacrosse pitches occupy the playing fields. Tennis courts, netball courts, a cricket field, and athletics track round out the provision. The swimming pool sits within easy walking distance of the sports hall and gymnasium. Core competitive sports vary by gender, girls compete in lacrosse and netball, boys in rugby and football, with all pupils attempting multiple sports before specialising. The school reports success in national championships.

Beyond these major pillars, the co-curricular programme includes approximately 50 clubs and societies. Notable offerings include the Debating Society, Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme (from Bronze to Gold), Combined Cadet Force, Model United Nations, the Young Enterprise scheme, Chess Club, Science Club, and numerous subject-specific enrichment programmes. The Classics Society, Philosophy Club, and Art Society represent the breadth. With a school magazine (the successor to the historic Vox Leonis), regular speaker series, and extensive trips programme, the provision is genuinely comprehensive.

The house system channels much of this activity. House competitions in drama, music, and sport drive engagement beyond the obvious high-achievers, ensuring younger pupils have pathways to participation and recognition. A pupil might never represent the school's first rugby XV but could earn house points through the house drama competition or house music event, creating a culture of contribution rather than hierarchy.

Tuition fees for the 2024-25 academic year range from £4,745 per term for Reception through Year 2, rising to £5,980 per term for Years 3-6, and £7,345-£7,850 per term for the secondary school and sixth form. On an annual basis, secondary school fees total approximately £22,035-£23,550, excluding lunches and other extras.

Registration fee is £125, and the acceptance deposit is £1,000 (refundable on leaving). Additional charges include lunches (£375 per term for secondary pupils), school transport, and public examination fees.

The school offers significant financial support. Scholarships worth roughly £1,000–£2,000 per year are available at entry points (Years 3, 7, 9 and 12) for excellence in academics, music, sport, art, drama and design. Music scholarships include free tuition on one instrument. Means-tested bursaries are also available, with the school committing to offer at least one full (100%) bursary annually to a candidate from a state school background, plus additional partial bursaries subject to availability.

For families considering the school, the combination of fees and available support is worth exploring directly with the admissions office. The £22,000+ annual bill is substantial, but for those qualifying for bursarial support, it may reduce significantly.

The school's facilities reflect decades of thoughtful investment. The Victorian main building, lovingly maintained, houses the administrative heart and some teaching spaces. Extensions dating from the 1970s onwards, the gymnasium, kitchens, dining room, transformed the school's capacity. The Joyce Grenfell Centre (built during the 1980s) houses the music school, theatre, computer suite, and design and technology classrooms, representing a significant shift toward modern educational spaces. Recent additions include a sixth form centre and new science block designed for contemporary STEM teaching.

Class sizes are deliberately kept small, typically 14 at GCSE and often single digits at A-level. This allows teachers to know their pupils deeply and provide the kind of feedback that matters: not just marks but guidance on how to think differently about a problem.

The school describes itself as gently selective, and the admissions process reflects this philosophy. Entry points include Year 7 and Year 12 (sixth form), as well as Year 3 and Year 9. The school does not operate a formal entrance examination. Instead, prospective pupils visit, staff observe their engagement and curiosity, and families discuss their expectations in conversations rather than via a high-stakes test.

For Year 7 entry, the main cohort, pupils typically come from the school's own preparatory section or from local feeder schools. Entry is non-selective, meaning any child who applies and meets the admissions deadline can secure a place, provided there is capacity. This non-selective policy is worth emphasising in an independent school landscape often dominated by selectivity. For Year 9 entry, admissions tighten, and there may be assessment. Sixth form entry is similarly more selective, with GCSE results determining eligibility for most courses.

The school sits within easy reach of southwest London and Surrey, with extensive bus routes serving the catchment. Families can organise working open mornings and Saturday open events throughout the year.

The vertical house system described above forms the scaffold of pastoral care. Each pupil has a tutor they see daily, typically keeping the same tutor from Year 7 through to Year 11. Tutors know pupils' academic progress, home circumstances, and social relationships. This continuity is rare in independent education and appears to be valued by pupils.

The school operates a dedicated Wellbeing Hub providing support for pupils with diagnosed learning needs. The school can support dyslexia, ADHD, and other SpLD presentations, with tailored accommodations and additional support available. The pastoral team flagged mental health and anxiety as particular concerns among contemporary pupils and has invested in counselling provision.

The school emphasises character education explicitly. Termly Whole School meetings address contemporary issues. The house system creates opportunities for pupils to experience leadership (prefects, house captains) and mentorship from older pupils.

School hours are 8:40am to 3:30pm in the main school. Wraparound care is available, though specific details (such as breakfast club and after-school provision) should be verified with the admissions office. The school operates a fleet of buses serving routes across Surrey and southwest London; costs vary based on distance and should be confirmed with the transport office.

The grounds include a lake, woods, and formal gardens, all part of the pupils' daily experience. Located just sixteen miles southwest of London, the school is accessible to families across a wide area. Nearby attractions include Hampton Court Palace, RHS Wisley, and the Olympic cycling course used in the 2012 Games.

Not fully selective, but fee-charging: The school's non-selective admissions policy is admirable and genuinely inclusive. However, tuition fees remain a barrier for many families, even with bursarial support. Families should calculate whether the total cost (fees plus transport, lunches, music lessons, trips) aligns with their budget before committing. The school is generous with bursaries, but acceptance is competitive.

Heritage comes with responsibility: The school's ethos is rooted in Christian Science principles, particularly the emphasis on individual potential and the importance of character. While the school is genuinely non-denominational and welcoming to all faiths, families uncomfortable with this philosophical foundation should consider alternatives. Religious teaching occurs but is carefully balanced with inclusive practice.

Size and scale: With nearly 1,200 pupils across primary, preparatory, and senior sections, this is not an intimate little prep school. The larger senior cohort (around 800) means that while individual teachers know their pupils, the overall school community can feel large. Pupils who thrive on tight-knit environments may feel slightly lost.

Claremont Fan Court is a school firing on multiple cylinders: genuine academic strength (top 8% in England at GCSE, top 9% at A-level), comprehensive co-curricular offering spanning drama, music, sport, and STEM, beautiful and extensive grounds, and a pastoral system built on genuine continuity of care. The non-selective admissions policy is admirable, opening the doors to bright families who value the school's ethos even if they cannot afford alternatives.

The school is best suited to families seeking a balance between academic rigour and broader development, who value character education and individual potential over league table obsession, and who appreciate the aesthetic and educational benefits of historic grounds. For those able to afford the fees or qualify for bursarial support, and who embrace the school's non-denominational Christian Science ethos, Claremont Fan Court delivers a genuinely well-rounded education on grounds that inspire.