In the autumn of 1940, three Sisters of Notre Dame arrived in Lingfield from Faversham with fourteen young evacuees, establishing a girls' school in a small village on the Surrey-Sussex border that would eventually shape thousands of lives. Today, Lingfield College stands as a thriving, fully co-educational school spanning from Nursery to Sixth Form, with approximately 940 pupils spread across two adjacent campuses set within 40 acres of countryside. The transformation from post-war convent to contemporary independent day school reflects ambition without pretension. Ranked in the top 3% in England for A-Level value-added progress (FindMySchool data), the school consistently helps students achieve above their predicted grades, a measure that cuts through raw performance tables to reveal genuine educational impact. With fees ranging from £4,401 in Reception to £8,711 in the Sixth Form, this is an all-through education that prizes individual growth and pastoral care alongside academic rigour, set in a location just 30 minutes from London yet comfortably rural.
Lingfield College in Lingfield, Lingfield has a clear sense of identity shaped by its setting and community. The mix of Victorian and 1930s buildings, Batnors Hall (Prep School) and Ivy House (Senior School), both period properties on the village edge, sits alongside modern extensions: the dedicated Sixth Form Centre, contemporary science laboratories, and bright performing arts facilities. The Le Clerc building anchors the Senior School campus, creating an architectural identity that honours heritage while looking forward. Staff describe the ethos as "down-to-earth," a phrase that appears repeatedly in parent testimonials, and students seem to confirm it. The sense of a close-knit community without the claustrophobia of a tiny school underpins daily life.
Mr Richard Bool has led the school as Headmaster since 2011, following the long tenure of his predecessor Nuala Shepley (1992-2011), who oversaw the transition to co-education. Under Bool's stewardship, the school has refined its pastoral approach while maintaining serious academic ambition. The ISI inspection in October 2024 found the school provides "a well-rounded educational experience, with a clear emphasis on academic achievements, personal development, and the cultivation of independent learning skills." The four school houses, Bell, Clubb, Higgins, and Yeates, named in 1987 after the founding trustees, remain central to community life, competing regularly in inter-house sport, music, and fundraising.
At the secondary stage, Lingfield College achieved an Attainment 8 score of 49 in the most recent measured year, placing the school in the national typical band. The school sits 2,354th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), a middle-tier position that belies the value-added picture. Progress 8 data is not published for independent schools in the same way as state schools, but the school's focus on individual progress, rather than raw outcome hierarchies, shapes curriculum design. With an average EBACC Advanced Points Score of 4.21 against the England average of 4.08, the school encourages breadth alongside depth, with the full range of subject choices available from 19 GCSE and iGCSE options.
This is where the school's genuine strength emerges. In 2024, 78% of A-Level entries achieved grades 9-7 (A* to A), with 81% achieving A*-B or Distinction-Merit grades. The school ranks 261st in England for A-Level results (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the national high tier (top 10% ). More telling still: Lingfield ranks in the elite top 3% of schools for value-added progress at A-Level, meaning students here exceeded their predicted grades more often than their cohort peers elsewhere. This combination, strong absolute results paired with exceptional progress from input to output, suggests that the school genuinely adds value, rather than simply recruiting high-ability pupils and letting them coast.
University destinations reflect this. In 2024, 92% of Sixth Form leavers progressed to university, securing first-choice destinations at institutions including Imperial College London, Durham, Edinburgh, Bristol, Sussex, and University College London. One student secured an academic and sports scholarship to Penn State University. The Headmaster notes that the school actively encourages exploration beyond UK shores.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
78.02%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
—
% of students achieving grades 9-7
The curriculum spans 19 GCSE subjects and 20 A-Level courses, plus three BTECs, offering genuine breadth. Languages include French, Spanish, German, and Mandarin. Sciences run separately from Year 7 onward. In the Sixth Form, small class sizes, averaging just seven students, enable teachers to tailor support and challenge. The school employs a termly sign-up system for co-curricular clubs during extended 80-minute lunch breaks, with the expectation that students attend at least three activities.
Teaching is described in ISI findings as delivering "ambitious curriculum" with "high expectations." Subject specialists lead in creative arts, music, drama, and languages from the earliest years. The Headmaster Lecture Series brings external speakers, from military strategists to world travellers, into academic life. Enrichment Week in June pulls sixth formers away from the standard timetable to work on life skills (cooking for university, car maintenance, budgeting), wellbeing and creativity (yoga, dance, clay modelling), communication and leadership (public speaking, mock trial), and adventure-based learning (escape rooms, orienteering, crime scene investigations).
Secondary leavers progress to a diverse range of sixth forms and specialist colleges, with many continuing at Lingfield. The Sixth Form itself feeds students into top universities and competitive apprenticeships, with degree apprenticeships from firms including BMW, Ernst & Young, and Markel Insurance providing an alternative pathway to university. In 2023, 90% of university-destined leavers achieved their first-choice destination, even with tightened grade boundaries that year, a figure reflecting support and student readiness rather than grade inflation.
For younger pupils, transition from Prep to Senior School is seamless within the Lingfield community, without the pressure of external entrance exams for families continuing internally.
Total Offers
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Offer Success Rate: 14.3%
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Lingfield's co-curricular programme runs to over 100 clubs and activities across the school, with music, drama, and sport forming the bedrock. This is not a school that simply lists clubs; rather, it cultivates depth across multiple pillars.
Music runs deep through both Prep and Senior School. Over 65% of Prep pupils learn an instrument, and a third perform in choirs. Dedicated facilities include the Music Centre, with specialist teaching in every instrument from classical strings to jazz. Named ensembles include the Lingfield Prep Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Harp-a-Lot, Recorder Rhapsody, Flute Salad, Ebony & Ivory, Fiddlesticks, Reeds United, and Uke Troupe. The Sixth Form enjoys access to All Stars, Guitars, and various vocal groups. Annual concerts, the Christmas music concert and Michaelmas Concert, showcase the vibrancy of the programme. Visiting peripatetic teachers deliver instrumental lessons (£230 per term for ten lessons), and instruments are available to hire at Prep School (£50 per term).
Drama facilities have expanded significantly since 2010, when the old dining room was converted into a hall with a drama facility and art department. Both Prep and Senior schools maintain active drama programmes. Annual productions are professional affairs: Christmas pantomimes and musical theatre in the Prep, lower and upper school dramatic productions in the Senior School, and sixth formers accessing theatre trips. The investment in dedicated performing arts buildings ensures that drama is fully integrated into school life.
Sport is central to the school ethos. Facilities include an all-weather Astroturf pitch with lighting and sound systems, two indoor sports halls, one indoor and seven outdoor netball courts, a grass athletics track with double-ended tartan long jump pit, high jump beds, throwing areas, cricket nets, and rugby pitches. A partnership with Royal Ashdown Golf and Lingfield Park Golf Club provides dedicated facilities for the golf programme, with teams competing at regional and national level.
The school fields teams in: Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Cricket, Equestrian (National Schools Equestrian Association), Football (with dedicated girls' football programme under former Lingfield FC player Toby Hill), Golf, Hockey, Netball, Rounders, Rugby, Table Tennis, Tennis, and recreational clubs including Yoga, Pilates, Volleyball, Fencing, and Bouldering. Cross-country is particularly strong, running year-round with pupils progressing to district, county, and national levels. Netball teams regularly reach county, regional, and final stages of multiple competitions, with close links to CD Phoenix Netball Club. Equestrian riders hold Surrey County Champion titles in dressage and have competed at National Schools Show Jumping at Hickstead.
Football is the most popular sport. Ten teams participate throughout the Autumn term, with years 11-13 fielding 1st, 2nd, and 3rd XI squads alongside year-group A, B, and C teams. External professional coaches deliver training alongside school staff.
Beyond sport and music, the school runs Model United Nations, now in its seventh annual iteration with national conferences. The Headmaster Lecture Series brings accomplished speakers into school throughout the year. Named clubs include Dissection Society (medically-inclined sixth formers), Coding initiatives, Creative Writing, Shakespeare societies, and Votes for Schools (engaging pupils with current affairs and global perspectives).
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award runs from Bronze through Gold, with sixth formers completing their Gold Award. Scholarships are available for talented athletes across sports, musicians, and those excelling in drama and visual arts, with 10-25% fee reductions for academic merit and up to 10% reductions for arts and sports achievement. Sport scholarships particularly encourage elite-level development alongside academics.
From September 2025, termly fees are:
Fees include lunches and many enrichment clubs. A 10% sibling discount applies from the third child onward. Music lessons (£230 per term for ten lessons) are additional and arranged directly with the Music Administrator. Learning support, where required, incurs extra cost, negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
The school participates in Early Years Funding Entitlement for Nursery pupils (see Nursery Fees page for details). Wrap-around care, holiday clubs, school transport, external club memberships, examinations, certain textbooks, trips, and expeditions may incur additional charges.
Payment can be made in full at the start of term, in three instalments across the term, or in twelve monthly payments via School Fee Plan (subject to credit approval).
Discounts are available for advance payment of a year or more of fees; enquire with the Finance Team for details. Registration deposits (non-refundable) are £500-£1,000 depending on entry year.
Fees data coming soon.
The school operates selective admissions, with entrance examinations for Year 7 entry (typically held in January) and the 11-plus assessment including Verbal Reasoning, English, and Mathematics papers. Registration fees are £150 for UK applicants (£174 overseas). Acceptance deposits range from £500 (Reception-Year 6) to £1,000 (Years 7-13).
Families moving from external prep schools feed Lingfield's Senior intake. The school also welcomes entry at 13+ (end of Year 8) and 16+ (Sixth Form). For Sixth Form, students typically study three A-Levels, though four subjects are available for those seeking challenge. Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is undertaken during study periods.
Admission is competitive, reflecting the school's reputation and limited spaces, particularly in the Sixth Form. Early registration is advisable.
The four school houses form the pastoral spine. Each house has a Head of House and Deputy Head of House, with regular inter-house competitions in sport, music, and fundraising. Form tutors oversee small groups of 6-8 pupils.
The school has appointed a school counsellor and recognises wellbeing as integral to academic success. Recent whole-school initiatives include the Silver School Mental Health Award and Surrey Healthy Schools status. Early Years provision emphasises play-based learning with ratios of one adult to six children in Nursery (maximum 24 per class) and two class teachers per Reception class (maximum 20 pupils per class).
For students requiring SEND support, the school identifies approximately 249 pupils with SEN needs across the school, with three holding EHC plans. A dedicated SENDCo coordinates support. Some specialist support is available during the day at additional cost, negotiated with parents.
Lingfield College sits 15 minutes' walk from Lingfield train station (East Croydon to East Grinstead line, then ten-minute walk from the school). By car, the campus is five minutes from the A22, which joins the M25 at junction 5. The campus is approximately 27 miles from central London via road (50-minute drive). School buses operate on defined routes; many sixth formers opt for train travel.
Full wrap-around care is available at Lingfield Prep, with holiday clubs during major school holidays. Prices are available on the school website. Early Years Funding can be used toward wrap-around sessions for eligible families.
Entry Selectivity: With competitive admissions at 7+, 11+, 13+, and 16+ entry points, places are not guaranteed. Entrance examinations test reasoning, literacy, and numeracy; families may wish to prepare candidates accordingly.
Independent School Fees: At £8,525 per year for Years 7-11, fees represent a significant commitment. While the school offers scholarships and fee assistance, families need to budget carefully. Bursaries are available; enquire with the Admissions team about eligibility and support.
Transition Expectations: The school emphasises pastoral continuity between Prep and Senior, reducing entrance examination pressure for internal pupils. Families considering entry at various points should discuss transition support with staff.
Value-Added Profile: The school's strength lies not in ultra-competitive raw rankings but in progress made. Pupils with strong predicted grades and solid foundations generally thrive; exceptionally gifted mathematicians or scientists seeking elite STEM pathways may find equivalent opportunities at more specialist schools.
Lingfield College offers a genuinely rounded education, academically solid, pastorally warm, and genuinely committed to individual progress rather than league-table positioning. The school's top-3% value-added ranking demonstrates that it moves students forward from their starting points more effectively than most competitors. The breadth of music, drama, and sport is exceptional; over 100 co-curricular activities mean nearly every interest finds a home. For families in the Surrey countryside (or willing to travel 30-50 minutes from London) seeking an independent all-through school that balances ambition with kindness, Lingfield merits serious consideration. The school suits pupils who thrive on encouragement, benefit from small classes, and appreciate a genuine community. Best suited to families who value pastoral care and individual progression as much as examination results, and who can commit to the fee structure. A school where academic excellence and down-to-earth culture genuinely coexist.
Lingfield College is a well-regarded independent school recognised for strong academic progress and pastoral care. In 2024, the school ranked 261st for A-Level outcomes (top 10% in England, FindMySchool ranking) and, more significantly, ranked in the top 3% for value-added progress at A-Level, meaning students here exceeded their predicted grades more often than peers at most other schools. The October 2024 ISI inspection found the school provides "a well-rounded educational experience, with a clear emphasis on academic achievements, personal development, and the cultivation of independent learning skills." With 92% of 2024 Sixth Form leavers progressing to university, most securing first-choice destinations, and over 100 co-curricular activities, the school excels at helping every student find their strength.
Termly fees from September 2025 range from £4,401 in Reception through £8,711 in the Sixth Form. Fees include lunches and many enrichment clubs. Registration is £150 (UK applicants, £174 overseas), and acceptance deposits are £500-£1,000 depending on year of entry. Families can pay in full, in three termly instalments, or twelve monthly payments. A 10% sibling discount applies from the third child onward. Music lessons, certain trips, examinations, and learning support incur additional charges. Scholarships (10-25% academic, up to 10% for music/sport/drama) and bursaries are available; contact the Admissions team for eligibility and support.
Entry to Lingfield College is selective. Year 7 entrance includes Verbal Reasoning, English, and Mathematics examinations held in January, typically filled by early January each year. Entry at 11+, 13+, and 16+ (Sixth Form) are also available. Families should register early, as places are limited. Internal progression from Prep to Senior School is not automatic but is strongly supported without external entrance examinations for continuing families.
Yes. Scholarships are awarded for academic achievement (10-25% reduction), music (up to 10%), sport (up to 10%), and drama or visual arts (up to 10%) at Year 7, 9, and 12 entry. Bursaries (means-tested financial aid) are also available; the school invites families to enquire about eligibility. A 10% discount is applied from the third child onward in multi-sibling families. Contact the school directly for enquiries.
Lingfield offers over 100 co-curricular activities. Sports include Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Cricket, Equestrian (competing at National Schools Championships), Football, Golf, Hockey, Netball (with links to county teams), Rounders, Rugby, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Bouldering, Yoga, and Pilates. Music includes the Prep Orchestra, Chamber Choir, and numerous instrumental ensembles. Drama productions run annually. Other clubs include Model United Nations (now in its seventh year), Duke of Edinburgh Award (Bronze through Gold), Creative Writing, Coding, and Dissection Society. Sixth formers access Enrichment Week in June covering life skills, wellbeing, and adventure activities.
Lingfield occupies 40 acres across two adjacent campuses. Facilities include an all-weather Astroturf pitch with lighting, two indoor sports halls, one indoor and seven outdoor netball courts, a grass athletics track with long jump pit and high jump beds, cricket nets, rugby pitches, and partnerships with Royal Ashdown Golf and Lingfield Park Golf Club. Academic facilities include a dedicated Sixth Form Centre, modern science laboratories, a Library, Art Department, Drama Studio, and Music Centre. The Le Clerc building anchors the Senior School, and historic buildings (Batnors Hall, Ivy House) blend with contemporary extensions.
The Sixth Form provides comprehensive support for university preparation and careers guidance. In 2024, 92% of leavers progressed to university, securing first-choice destinations at institutions including Imperial College London, Durham, Edinburgh, Bristol, Sussex, and University College London. One student received an academic and sports scholarship to Penn State University. The school also actively encourages exploration of degree apprenticeships, with placements at firms including BMW, Ernst & Young, and Markel Insurance. Staff note that the school helps students broaden horizons and consider studying abroad in Europe and the USA.
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