Surbiton High School Review 2026: Academic Excellence Meets Competitive Spirit

Across the arc of 140 years, few schools have undergone such a profound transformation. What began in 1884 with just 11 pupils and a mission to provide superior education for girls in accordance with Church of England principles has evolved into an all-through establishment that attracts families across London and beyond. Today, Surbiton High School occupies seven sites across Surbiton, spanning from Reception through Year 13, with integrated boys' and girls' preparatory schools feeding into a increasingly selective senior school and thriving sixth form.

The numbers are striking. At GCSE, 92% of grades reach the elite A*-A benchmark (FindMySchool ranking: 34th in England, elite tier). At A-level, 86% achieve A*-B, placing the school 94th nationally in the top 4% (FindMySchool data). The 2023 ISI inspection awarded Excellent across all measured areas. In 2024, six students secured Oxbridge places. Beyond the grades, the transformation from a school once perceived as a fallback option into one where families now turn down offers from selective competitors speaks to something more fundamental: the school has quietly rebuilt itself into a powerhouse where academic aspiration and breadth of opportunity reinforce one another.

Matthew Shoults, who arrived as Principal in January 2025 from Notting Hill and Ealing High School, inherited a school with genuine momentum. His appointment is framed as continuity with purposeful evolution; Shoults previously taught at north, london, collegiate, school, where and he led Classics) and at King’s College School, Wimbledon. His leadership comes at a moment when academic standards are climbing without compromising the school's core identity as a place where multiple pathways to success coexist.

The physical layout tells the school's history. Charles Burney House and Avenue Elmers house the Boys' Preparatory School; Mary Bennett House anchors sixth-form provision; Surbiton Assembly Rooms doubles as event space; the main Senior School occupies prime real estate on Surbiton Crescent; the Sixth Form Centre sits across the road. This dispersal creates a campus feel despite the tight geography of south-west London. The rowing club operates at Trowlock Way on the Thames in Teddington, while sports grounds sprawl across Hinchley Wood and Oaken Lane, providing relief from the urban setting.

The founding mission — to educate girls according to Church of England values — has matured into something more inclusive. The school welcomes pupils of all backgrounds and beliefs, though its Christian ethos remains genuine. Morning assemblies reference scripture alongside current affairs. The Charter for Happiness and Wellbeing sits at the centre of pastoral philosophy. A recent Wellbeing Award for Schools, developed with the National Children's Bureau (NCB), acknowledges the school's work in mental health.

Single-sex education persists in the senior school (girls only) and sixth form (girls only), though the preparatory phase now operates on a mostly separate basis with boys and girls in distinct schools. This structure has not dulled girls' academic ambition. The reverse: in 2024, 46% of all GCSE grades achieved Grade 9 (the highest level), with 100% of grades landing between 9 and 4. For a school of over 1,600 pupils, this breadth of excellence is notable.

GCSE Performance

The data from 2024 paints a vivid picture of consistent strength. Across the cohort, 92% of entries achieved grades A*-A (9-7 scale), compared to the national A*-7 average of just 54%. To contextualise: over 91% of grades fell within Grade 7 or above. Every single grade awarded sat between 9 and 4, indicating no pupils fell below Grade 4 (old-system C). Attainment is uniformly high across the full range of subjects.

Surbiton High ranks 34th in England for GCSE performance (FindMySchool ranking), placing it within the elite tier (top 2% nationally). Locally, it ranks 2nd among Kingston upon Thames secondaries. This elite positioning holds steady year on year, reflecting systemic teaching quality rather than cohort variance. The ISI inspection noted that results show "substantial improvement beyond predictions for pupils in almost all subjects," indicating the school's value-added contribution outpaces intake strength.

A-Level Performance

In 2024, 62% of all A-level grades achieved A* or A, with 86% landing between A* and B. These figures align with historical patterns; the school consistently sits among the strongest independent and selective state schools. The A-level rankings place Surbiton High at 94th in England (FindMySchool data), within the national high tier (top 4%).

A wide subject range enhances choice: over 30 A-level options include Classical Greek, History of Art, Philosophy, Dance, Design and Technology (Product Design and Fashion/Textiles separately), and Psychology alongside traditional facilitating subjects. The breadth reduces pressure to specialise too early; students explore before committing.

Oxbridge Outcomes

Six students gained places at Oxford or Cambridge from the 2023–24 cohort. This represents 5% of leavers, a healthy outcome reflecting competitive entry standards. The 2024 cohort saw 11 Oxbridge admissions across the school, though cohort definitions vary.

The curriculum balances traditional academic rigour with space for genuine curiosity. All Year 7 pupils study four modern languages (French, German, Latin, Spanish) in Year 7, not to overload but to build linguistic flexibility. Sciences are taught separately, supporting depth. Computing and digital literacy thread through provision without eclipsing humanities or arts.

Teaching follows clear structures. The ISI report noted teachers have "detailed knowledge" and "build strong, respectful relationships with pupils," underpinning the "rapid progress" inspectors observed. Sixty-five per cent of all A-level grades reached A* to A, suggesting teaching translates ambitious curriculum intent into real achievement.

Learning support operates discreetly. Screening occurs early in Year 7; students with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, or dyscalculia receive tailored help through the Learning Enrichment Department. Spelling and reading booster groups, study skills modules, and small-group tuition address mild specific learning difficulties. EAL pupils access specialist programmes. The tone is developmental, not remedial; the school positions support as normal scaffolding.

Mobile phones are managed via Yondr pouches introduced in September 2023 — pupils lock devices in magnetic pouches at the start of the day, creating uninterrupted focus during lessons. This policy is not universally popular among parents but reflects a deliberate stance on attention and academic environment.

In 2024, 69% of sixth-form leavers progressed to university. An additional 8% entered further education, 2% into apprenticeships, and 11% into employment. Among those heading to higher education, 81% secured places at Russell Group universities or Times Top 10 institutions, with 11 securing Oxbridge places. This reflects the selective nature of the intake and the school's university guidance.

Specific destinations cited regularly include Imperial College London, UCL, Edinburgh, Durham, Bristol, and Warwick, alongside Oxbridge. Medicine remains popular; 18 students gained medical or dental school places in 2024. The competitive universities intake suggests sixth-form teaching calibre and student motivation both operate at high levels.

The co-curricular breadth often surprises first-time visitors. The school catalogs over 170 clubs and societies in the senior school, though meaningful engagement matters more than exhaustive listings. The most distinctive offerings cluster across music, drama, STEM, and sport, each commanding significant infrastructure and staffing.

Music: A Central Pillar

Over 60 musical events occur each academic year. The Music Department includes 30 staff members (specialists and instrumental teachers) delivering over 500 individual lessons weekly. Two dedicated Mac suites support composition software (Sibelius, GarageBand). The ensemble structures are rigorous: the Surbiton High Symphony Orchestra, Surbiton High Choral Society, Fortissimo (unknown repertoire specific to this ensemble), Surbiton Choralia, and Surbiton Koro anchor the programme. The Girls' Prep Upper Chamber Choir feeds talented younger singers upwards.

From Choral, Orchestral, and Ensembles Concerts featuring hundreds of performers to weekly lunchtime recitals and soloist evenings, entry points scale. Weekly keyboards and percussion tuition in Years 7–9 ensures foundational musical literacy across the cohort. Scholarships recognise incoming music talent at 11+ and sixth form, signaling institutional seriousness.

Students from Surbiton High feature in the National Youth Wind Orchestra, National Children's Orchestra, National Youth Choir, Junior Guildhall, Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra, Surrey Youth Orchestra, Richmond Youth Orchestra, and Thames Youth Choir, indicating external recognition of pupil standard.

Drama and Dance

Year-group productions populate the calendar. The school recently staged full musicals at professional venues including the New Wimbledon Theatre, allowing casts of 100+ to perform orchestrated productions. Students engage at multiple levels — performers, set designers, lighting technicians — democratizing creative involvement. Dance enjoys curricular space (A-level Dance offered) alongside extracurricular expression.

STEM: Innovation at Scale

STEM provision weaves through the programme without dominating. Clubs like the Investment Challenge invite Year 12–13 pupils to form teams, research real markets, write analytical reports, and compete for a trip to Philadelphia for the global final. Classical Greek Club introduces etymology and linguistic history. Girls into Coding, led by alumna Avye Couloute (a Year 9 pupil externally recognized for tech advocacy and robotics workshops), reaches girls aged 10–14 in coding, physical computing, robotics, and 3D printing — Avye herself won multiple awards including The Diana Legacy Award and Tech Women100 Award for her tech creations.

The Literary Society meets weekly in the library for discussion and critique. Philosophy Club explores "Big Questions"—not rote ethics but genuine engagement with metaphysical puzzles. Typing's Cool club teaches touch-typing to professional speed. These offerings reflect thoughtful curricular enrichment rather than tokenistic breadth.

Sport: Gymnastics and Rowing Lead the Way

Sport divides into two streams: participation and elite. The Surbiton Advanced Sports (SAS) programme mentors high-performing athletes, coordinating training schedules with academic demands. Gymnastics is legendary; both senior and prep school teams regularly win regional and national titles. Between 2022–2024, the BSGA (British Schools Gymnastics Association) National Finals saw Surbiton entry in floor, vault, and acrobatic gymnastics. In April 2024, every single gymnast the school entered to the nationals earned a medal. The coaching staff includes multiple British Gymnastics Level 5 High Performance coaches and past world champions and medalists — Olympic-caliber expertise filters down through the age groups.

The Surbiton High School Boat Club operates from Trowlock Way on the Thames in Teddington, affiliated with British Rowing (boat code SBT). A junior crew won the British Rowing Junior Championships in 2013 and has produced current international competitors: Lola Anderson, a 2024 Olympic gold medallist in women's quadruple sculls, credited her boat club experience with instilling the discipline and team ethos that propelled her to international success. Another alumna, Danusia Francis (British-Jamaican artistic gymnast, 2020 Tokyo Olympian), trained at the school from 15–18, balancing elite gymnastics with academics before returning as a coach.

Sport structures ensure genuine access alongside competitive excellence. Cricket, netball, hockey, football, tennis, and athletics compete at local and county levels. The TES Sports Award (2019) recognised the school's "Sporting Choice for All" programme, designed to ensure inclusive access while supporting competitive pathways.

The School's Offer

Clubs spanning classical civilisation, visual arts (Gifted and Talented Art Club, annual Surbiton Showcase of Visual Arts in Mary Bennett House), science, languages, leadership, and charity round out the ecosystem. The message is consistent: curiosity finds institutional support.

Fees are structured termly and vary by year group. For 2025–26, state-of-the-art fees broadly range from £10,255 to £14,650+ annually, depending on phase (prep to sixth form). This positions Surbiton at the upper-middle tier of independent school fees, reflecting the premium asset of academic performance and co-curricular scope. Three termly payments, or twelve monthly instalments, distribute the financial load. An acceptance deposit of £1,000 is required upon place offer, retained and credited against fees.

In addition to tuition, extras accrue: lunches (compulsory Reception to Year 7), private music lessons, examination fees, trips and visits, co-curricular charges, school coaches, learning support, and before/after-school clubs. These are billed separately at term end, with one term's notice required to discontinue any service.

The school offers a Fees Refund Scheme (optional), administered by Marsh Ltd, covering illness or accident absence of five or more consecutive days, or school closure due to infectious disease outbreak (refund begins after first seven days of closure). Pandemic-related closures are explicitly excluded.

Entry points include Reception (4+), Year 3 (7+), Year 7 (11+), and Year 12 (16+) across the schools. The senior school entry at 11+ remains highly competitive. Selective admissions via entrance examination filter the cohort; the school's rising reputation has tightened competition year on year. Families increasingly forgo offers from traditional super-selective schools to secure places here — a testament to the school's reputational shift.

Scholarships span academic, music, art, drama, and sport at 11+ and sixth form. Academic scholarships recognise intellectual promise; music scholarships support trained instrumentalists; art scholarships identify visual talent; drama scholarships nurture performers; sport scholarships (particularly rowing and gymnastics) identify elite athletes. All-rounder awards recognise pupils excelling across multiple domains. Bursaries (means-tested) support families, though the school does not publish specific income thresholds.

Sibling discounts apply: 5% for the second child, 10% for third and subsequent siblings attending any of the three schools simultaneously.

The school has invested seriously in mental health and emotional resilience. House systems (operating across both prep and senior levels) provide continuity and identity. Students belong to named houses with appointed heads, creating vertical mentoring opportunities. Charity work embeds service learning; annual initiatives direct fundraising to chosen beneficiaries.

A trained counsellor visits weekly, available for students navigating emotional challenges or life transitions. The Wellbeing Award for Schools (2023) affirmed the school's proactive stance on mental health. The Yondr phone pouches, while operationally practical, also signal reduced social pressure and algorithmic distraction during the school day.

Moral understanding is explicitly cultivated. The ISI noted pupils' "highly developed moral understanding" and their readiness to "take responsibility for their own behaviour." This translates into a calm, respectful atmosphere where peer relationships are largely constructive.

The school day runs from approximately 8:50am to 3:20pm for the main school. Breakfast club operates from 7:30am, providing cereal, yoghurt, fruit juice, and pastries (£10 per day). After-school club extends until 6:00pm, offering supervised homework space, quiet study areas, and healthy snacks (£9 for the first hour, £7 each additional hour).

Transport is not provided by the school, though the local context eases access. Surbiton railway station (South Western Railway) sits within walking distance, serving routes to Clapham Junction, Wimbledon, and central London. Bus routes K1 and K4 connect to Kingston and surrounding areas. The main site sits on busy Surbiton Crescent; parking is limited on-street but manageable during drop-off.

For those in the catchment, the location is readily accessible by car or public transport. Families further afield (e.g., central London, Surrey) typically use rail. Some parents arrange school coaches or carpools given the distance.

Selectivity and entry pressure: The school's rising status has intensified competition. Entry at 11+ is genuinely selective; entrance examinations filter rigorously. Families should engage seriously with preparation but avoid excessive tutoring; the school has redesigned its test to reduce coached advantage.

Single-sex senior education: The main senior school and sixth form are girls-only, with the preparatory schools operating as separate boys' and girls' schools. For families wanting thorough co-education throughout, the structure requires careful consideration, though the boys' preparatory excellence feeds boys into other independent senior schools and selective state schools with strong outcomes.

Fee levels: At £10,255–£14,650+ annually, the school sits in the upper-middle independent tier. Families should budget carefully for extras (music lessons, trips, clubs, uniform) and plan termly cash flow. Bursaries do exist but are not automatically generous; means-tested support is available but not publicized with specificity.

Admissions timing: Entry at other points (7+, 13+) occurs but the main pipeline operates via 11+ and sixth form entry. Waiting lists can form for popular year groups; early registration is wise.

Surbiton High School has undergone genuine transformation over the past decade. Once perceived as a respectable but secondary choice, it now attracts ambitious families who value academic rigour alongside genuine breadth — sport and arts that rival the academic tier, rather than competing against it. The 2023 ISI Excellent across all areas, elite GCSE rankings (FindMySchool data), Oxbridge presence, and Russell Group university progress reflect systemic teaching quality and institutional coherence.

The school suits families who prioritize measurable academic outcomes and expect a selective, motivated peer group but equally value drama, music, sport, and leadership opportunities. Single-sex education appeals to those who believe girls thrive in such environments. The location in south-west London is accessible to families across Greater London willing to use rail. Fees are significant but offset by strong value-added.

The main caveat is that entry remains competitive. Securing a place requires both academic strength and alignment with the school's selective intake profile. Once admitted, though, the educational experience is comprehensive and ambitious.