Collingham College Review 2026: The Academic Haven in Kensington

The sixth form building at 23 Collingham Gardens overlooks a Victorian garden square designed by Harold Peto, where plane trees and cherry blossoms frame the entrance to a school with remarkable heritage. Since 1975, Collingham has served as an educational home to Prince Edward, Lord Snowdon, Robert Kennedy, and Christopher Robin Milne, the inspiration for Winnie the Pooh. But what distinguishes Collingham today is not its famous alumni; it is the fiercely protective approach to individualised education. Housed in a Grade II listed red-brick Victorian building, the college ranks in the national strong band for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), with 61% of grades achieving A*-B. The school attracts approximately 220 students aged 13-19, many arriving after struggling elsewhere, and transforms them into confident university applicants through small classes, personal tutoring, and genuine pastoral care.

Collingham in Earl's Court, London has a clear sense of identity shaped by its setting and community. Students move between lessons without uniforms: boys often in hoodies with dark trousers, while girls tend towards relaxed, comfortable casual clothing. The absence of formal dress code signals something deeper: a culture where individual identity is respected rather than suppressed.

The college occupies two distinct buildings. The sixth form operates from the elegant Victorian building at Collingham Gardens, while the GCSE department is housed in a double-fronted Georgian townhouse on Young Street, formerly the residence of William Makepeace Thackeray. The Brontë sisters are said to have visited this building for supper with the author. This historical setting is not incidental; it anchors the school's identity as a place where intellectual life matters.

Mr James Allder has led the college since 2023, arriving after a career in geography education and law. His appointment reflects the school's commitment to bringing experienced professionals into teaching roles. Many tutors at Collingham have worked in their fields before entering education, a deliberate strategy to bring real-world expertise into the classroom.

The environment is deliberately calm. Students describe it as "a gentle option for gentle souls yet with tip-top teaching." This is not a pressure cooker; it is a place where the anxious, the dyslexic, the restarting, and the ambitious coexist. Approaching 65% of the student body is on the SEND register, yet this does not define the school's character. Instead, inclusivity is woven into daily practice. Staff are trained to support students with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ASD, and ADHD. The school is described by independent reviewers as "totally non-judgemental," with diversity celebrated across cultures, creeds, and ethnicities.

A-Level Performance

Collingham ranks 522nd in England for A-level outcomes, placing it in the national strong band (top 25% ) according to FindMySchool data. In 2024, 61% of A-level grades achieved A*-B, compared to the England average of 47.2%. This represents solid, consistent performance. The spread of grades shows 14.7% at A*, 20.9% at A, and 25.4% at B, a profile reflecting a school that delivers strong results without grade inflation.

Students regularly progress to leading universities. Over 85% of leavers secure places at their first-choice university, with consistent placements at Russell Group institutions including Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, LSE, King's College, and Durham. In the 2023-24 cohort, 37% of leavers progressed to university, with one student securing an Oxbridge place.

GCSE Performance

The college's GCSE results are more variable, reflecting the school's role as a destination for students seeking a fresh start. The school ranks 3928th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), in the national lower band. The attainment 8 score of 17.2 sits below the England average of 45.9. However, this statistic requires context: many Collingham GCSE students arrive with a history of underperformance elsewhere. The school's value lies not in league table positioning but in transformation. Students who arrive lacking confidence often leave with qualifications and self-belief intact.

Curriculum Flexibility

A defining strength is curriculum flexibility. Timetables are manipulated to accommodate subject combinations that would be impossible at traditional schools. Students can pursue unconventional pathways, combining music, art, and photography at GCSE and A-level. The school offers over 26 A-level subjects, including Classical Greek and Russian, alongside facilitating subjects like mathematics, further mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics.

Study Skills are taught as a matter of course at both GCSE and A-level. For students with dyslexia, the school employs a specialist who provides tailored support. EFL tutors assist international students preparing for university entrance. This scaffolding is systematic, not ad-hoc.

Teaching at Collingham is characterised by small class sizes and expert instruction. The average class size is five students; A-level classes contain no more than eight; Year 9 and GCSE classes no more than nine. This allows for seminar-style teaching where every student is known by name and every question receives attention.

Tutors are selected for subject expertise and often bring professional experience into the classroom. A geography teacher may have worked in the city and studied law before realising teaching was their true calling. This blend of academic rigour and real-world perspective shapes the teaching approach. Lessons are structured around expert knowledge, clear explanations, and individual feedback rather than extensive group activities.

The college's ISI inspection in 2023 rated academic delivery as Excellent. The report noted that pupils demonstrate excellent knowledge across year groups and subjects, with an excellent attitude towards learning. Pupils participate positively in tasks and feel comfortable in their small classes, where they experience less pressure than in larger settings. Pupils develop confidence and self-esteem from the moment they arrive, growing in their desire to achieve their full potential.

Every student at Collingham has a personal tutor responsible for their welfare. This is not a nominal role. The personal tutor monitors progress, provides a sympathetic ear, and offers advice on both academic and personal matters. Personal tutors maintain constant contact with subject tutors and stay in close communication with parents. The job combines guidance and encouragement with firm direction when needed.

The school's pastoral approach is described by independent reviewers as genuinely supportive. Parents comment appreciatively on the nurturing environment. Students feel secure and happy, with a sense of being independent while simultaneously being carefully monitored. The level of support given is exceptional, reflected in visible growth in confidence and desire to succeed.

For students with complex needs, the school provides tailored support. A permanent SENCo coordinates provision for dyslexia, dyspraxia, and autism spectrum conditions. The school recognises that there is no such thing as an average student and structures its environment accordingly.

University Destinations

The vast majority of Collingham students progress to university. In 2024, 37% of leavers went to university, with 27% entering employment and 2% pursuing further education. Beyond these headline figures, the quality of destinations is notable. Students regularly secure places at Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, LSE, King's College, and Durham. The school is particularly proud of its record in competitive applications, with strong representation in medicine, law, and engineering.

The college offers mock admissions tests and interviews for Oxbridge applicants, reflecting the seriousness with which university preparation is taken. Students who arrive with university ambitions leave with realistic pathways and the confidence to pursue them.

Flexible Pathways

Some students leave post-GCSE to sixth form colleges, grammars, or independent schools elsewhere. Most, however, stay put, progressing from GCSE to A-level within Collingham. This continuity allows the school to track individual development across five years and build relationships that support sustained academic progress.

Arts & Enrichment

Education at Collingham extends well beyond examinations. The college offers a range of clubs, enrichment opportunities, and excursions designed to promote creativity, confidence, wellbeing, and curiosity. Art, LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art), and debating are core offerings. Trips to the theatre, museums, and universities are regular features of the academic calendar.

Music, art and photography are available at GCSE and A‑level, and the review highlights a strong, varied visual-arts culture across both buildings. The visual culture of the school reflects a commitment to creative expression as integral to student development. Students are encouraged to explore their interests and expand their horizons beyond the curriculum.

Theatre & Performance

Drama is woven into school life. Students access leading performance venues within walking distance, the National Theatre stages bold new productions and timeless classics in striking modernist buildings. Students can experience performances and behind-the-scenes tours, gaining insight into theatre production, design, and dramatic literature. For aspiring creatives, writers, and performers, this proximity to professional theatre is invaluable.

Cultural Access

The location in Kensington provides unparalleled access to cultural institutions. The Victoria & Albert Museum, Imperial College, the Natural History Museum, and the Royal Geographical Society are all within walking distance or a short tube ride. The school explicitly leverages this proximity, with students accessing exhibitions, lectures, and archives that enrich their learning. History students visit Tate Britain's collection of British art from the 1500s to the present. Geography students explore the Royal Geographical Society's exhibitions and archives. This is not abstract learning; it is education grounded in the real world.

Sport & Wellbeing

Sport is compulsory twice weekly for Years 9 and 10, once weekly for Year 11. Years 12 and 13 can access sporting provision on Friday afternoons if they choose. The approach is inclusive: if students put in effort, they participate. Sport is not competitive elite training; it is a vehicle for fitness, teamwork, and wellbeing.

Outdoor Engagement

Students are encouraged to engage with the wider world through excursions and external learning. The school recognises that intellectual growth happens in dialogue with the world beyond the classroom. Whether through museum visits, university open days, or theatre trips, students are regularly exposed to opportunities that broaden perspective and ambition.

Fees depend on how many subjects you take and how much additional support you access. Indicative annual fees range from approximately £7,320 to £27,030 (inclusive of VAT), with termly fees ranging from £1,830 to £9,210 excluding VAT. Registration costs are £330 for domestic students and £640 for international students.

Scholarships and bursaries are available, awarded on the basis of merit and need. Academic scholarships are the primary offering. The college's commitment to financial accessibility means that families with genuine financial need can discuss support options directly with the school.

Collingham operates a non-selective admissions policy. Applicants can join any year from Year 9 to Year 14, although the main intake points are Year 9 (GCSE) and Year 12 (A‑level). Admissions typically involve a visit, an interview and a reference. Most entrants come from boarding schools or London independent day schools, though a minority arrive from state secondaries or from overseas.

The college deliberately welcomes students seeking a fresh start. Those with a history of underperformance or disengagement are not rejected; they are assessed for suitability and supported intensively if admitted. This flexibility is a defining feature. Students can join at any point in the academic year if circumstances require. The January term, for instance, regularly welcomes new arrivals ready for a fresh beginning.

Location: 23 Collingham Gardens, London SW5 0HL (sixth form); 16 Young Street, London W8 5EH (GCSE)

Transport: The college is ideally positioned for London-wide access. South Kensington Station (Circle, District, and Piccadilly lines) is minutes away, offering swift access across London. Gloucester Road Station (District and Piccadilly lines) and Earl's Court Station (District and Piccadilly lines) are also nearby. High Street Kensington Station (Circle and District lines) provides additional options. Tube travel is common, with a slight south‑west London skew; for older students the catchment stretches into the Home Counties.

School Hours: Standard school day operates with flexible timetabling to accommodate subject combinations and individual needs.

Facilities: The sixth form building overlooks Collingham Gardens, a communal garden square designed by Harold Peto. The GCSE building is a Georgian townhouse with historical significance. Both buildings house art studios, teaching spaces, and study areas designed for small-group and individual work.

Not for extensive extracurricular seekers. Collingham isn’t the place for a big compulsory co‑curricular programme; extracurricular life is not positioned as an extensive clubs-and-societies model. The focus is deliberately narrow: academics, wellbeing, and targeted enrichment. Social butterflies seeking a vibrant calendar of evening events may find something missing.

SEND provision is significant. With approximately 65% of students on the SEND register, the school has chosen to specialise in supporting students with learning differences. If your child has complex medical needs or significant learning difficulties, this is a strength. If you are seeking a mainstream environment with minimal SEND provision, this is not the right fit.

Small peer group. With approximately 220 students across the entire college, the peer group is intimate. Students know each other across year groups. This suits some brilliantly; others may crave the anonymity and social breadth of larger schools.

Flexible timetabling requires maturity. The freedom to design bespoke timetables is a strength, but it requires students to be organised and self-directed. Younger students accustomed to rigid structures may initially struggle with the responsibility that flexibility entails.

Collingham is a school for students who think differently, struggle in conventional settings, or simply want an education tailored to their individual needs. The academic results are solid, the teaching is expert, and the pastoral care is genuinely supportive. The location in Kensington provides unparalleled access to cultural institutions. The absence of uniform and the calm, mature environment suit many students brilliantly.

This is not a school for everyone. It is not competitive, not selective, not focused on elite outcomes at any cost. But for families seeking a place where their child is known, valued, and supported in discovering their own strengths, Collingham delivers. The 50-year track record speaks to sustained excellence in a particular niche: transforming students who have struggled elsewhere into confident, articulate young adults ready for university and beyond.

Best suited to students aged 13-19 who value academic rigour, small classes, and genuine pastoral support. Particularly strong for students with mild to moderate learning differences (dyslexia, dyspraxia, ASD, ADHD) who thrive in a non-judgmental environment. Less suitable for those seeking extensive extracurricular provision or a large peer group.