Alleyn's School Review 2026: Elite Heritage School with 400 Years of Excellence

Edward Alleyn was a celebrated Elizabethan actor, a contemporary of Shakespeare and Marlowe, and in 1619 he established a school that would survive and thrive for over four hundred years. Today, Alleyn's School stands on its original 26-acre Dulwich campus, a blend of historic grounds and modern facilities where academic excellence is inseparable from a genuine commitment to character development. Alleyn's was named Co-educational Independent School of the Year 2025 , a recognition of its consistent strength across both classroom and co-curricular domains. The school educates 1,451 pupils aged 4 to 18, from the junior school through sixth form, with rigorous academic entry at 11+ and 16+. Founded in 1619, it has occupied its current site in south east London since 1887 . For parents seeking a selective, independent school with genuine pastoral depth and formidable exam results, particularly for university-bound teenagers. Alleyn's delivers what many elite schools promise but fewer fully achieve: intellectual ambition married to authentic pastoral care and a thriving co-curricular culture.

The Executive Group is chaired by Head Jane Lunnon who is joined by the Head of Alleyn's Junior School Simon Severino and Deputy Heads, COO and CFO . Mrs Lunnon, who arrived in 2021 from Wimbledon High School, has strengthened the school's commitment to both rigour and inclusion. The school's values (ROCCK (Respect, Opportunity, Curiosity, Courage and Kindness)) are woven throughout daily life, not merely announced. Strong leadership at all levels is highly effective in promoting pupils' wellbeing, with governors and leaders sharing a clearly articulated vision for the school, driven by its values and aims, resulting in a stimulating, secure and happy atmosphere in which pupils thrive.

The atmosphere is one of genuine ambition without arrogance. Alleyn's occupies a particular cultural space: In 1619, Edward Alleyn established his 'College of God's Gift' (the gift of love) with twelve poor scholars , a philanthropic mission that echoes through the modern school. The school implements a suitable risk assessment policy and carefully risk-assesses the potential impact on pupils and staff , with particular attention to wellbeing. There is a dedicated 'wellbeing hub' staffed by non-teaching professionals who provide sources of support when pupils are feeling pressured . The senior school is divided into lower (Years 7-8), middle (Years 9-11) and upper (sixth form) sections, which allows tailored pastoral oversight. Behaviour is excellent; pupils understand and respect school values, and the overall tone is positive and purposeful rather than either lax or coercive.

Alleyn's sits at the top of co-educational independent schools across England. According to FindMySchool rankings, the school ranks 49th in the nation for GCSE outcomes, placing it in the elite in England. 73% of GCSE grades achieved were 9 or 8 (the top grades), with 88% achieving grades 9, 8 or 7 (A* or A-equivalent) . These figures far exceed the England average and reflect consistent excellence across the curriculum. English, mathematics, the sciences and modern languages are particularly strong. The school enters a high proportion of pupils for the English Baccalaureate, and performance in this measure is well above the national typical range.

A-Level Performance: Among the Strongest in the Country

The sixth form occupies a position of similar distinction at A-level. According to FindMySchool data, Alleyn's ranks 26th in England for combined GCSE and A-level performance , firmly in the elite. 40% of A-level grades achieved were A*, 38% were A, and 17% were B grades, meaning 96% of entries were graded A*-B . This compares to the England average of approximately 24% A*-A. The school offers a broad range of subjects, including traditional arts and sciences alongside modern disciplines. Many pupils take Further Mathematics, classical languages (Latin and Greek), and specialised sciences. The depth of option, combined with small sixth form teaching groups, creates an environment where able pupils can pursue ambitious academic pathways.

One of Alleyn's defining strengths is its track record of university progression. 66% of the 2023-24 cohort progressed directly to university, with 3% to further education and 15% to employment . This is a highly selective cohort applying to competitive universities. In the most recent data, 60 Alleyn's pupils applied to Oxford and Cambridge combined, securing 21 offers, representing a 35% offer rate and a 95% acceptance rate of offers made (20 pupils confirmed places) . This places the school in the top for Oxbridge outcomes in England.

Cambridge received 31 applications with 10 offers (32% offer rate, 100% acceptance), and Oxford received 29 applications with 11 offers (38% offer rate, 91% acceptance) . Beyond Oxbridge, pupils regularly secure places at Russell Group universities including Imperial College London, University College London, Durham, Edinburgh, Warwick and Bristol, reflecting both strong teaching and broad access to elite higher education.

The curriculum is broad and meets the needs of pupils, combining tradition with innovation as it educates pupils for the modern world . The school offers an ambitious curriculum that moves beyond statutory national curriculum age-related expectations. Subject content typically moves beyond national curriculum age related expectations, combining traditional subjects with more modern disciplines to prepare pupils for an increasingly digital world . In the junior school, this includes phonics, mathematical reasoning, science investigation, and enriched language learning. In the senior school, the breadth is remarkable: alongside English, mathematics and sciences, pupils can study classical languages (Latin, Greek), modern European languages (French, German, Spanish, Mandarin), history, geography, art, music, drama, religious studies, physical education and computer science, among others.

Teaching across the school is stimulating and provides appropriate levels of challenge for pupils, including those with high prior attainment, with teachers using effective methods including clear explanation, group discussion and the encouragement of pupils to take control of their learning in open-ended and research-based tasks.

Teachers have good subject knowledge and understanding, assess pupils' understanding regularly and provide them with typically useful feedback . Senior school pupils particularly value feedback that is explicitly tied to assessment criteria and use this effectively to improve performance.

The school has introduced the AiQ programme (Alleyn's Intelligence Quotient), a research-based learning initiative that develops critical thinking, independent learning and intellectual confidence. Pupils engage in mentored research projects on topics of their choosing, developing the skills that universities expect. On occasion, teaching does not provide senior school pupils with neuro-diverse needs sufficient time to understand or complete a task . This candid observation from the recent Independent Schools Inspectorate inspection is being actively addressed by the school through enhanced training and support.

This is where Alleyn's truly distinguishes itself. The school operates a remarkable co-curricular programme that extends well beyond typical independent school offerings. With over 60 weekly sports clubs, 40 musical ensembles and 220 exciting and diverse co-curricular options, pupils have the opportunity to express themselves on the stage, the screen, the page or the pitch.

Music: A Defining Strength

The music at Alleyn's is equally distinguished, with performances at the Royal Festival Hall and St John's, Smith Square, as well as music tours to Italy, France and Poland . The 40 musical ensembles include multiple orchestras (Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra), choirs (multiple sections), jazz bands, swing bands, wind ensembles and specialist groups. Instrumental tuition is available in all major instruments through a peripatetic staff. The school's music technology and production facilities have been modernised, allowing pupils to explore recording, digital composition and sound design. Regular concerts and recitals provide performance opportunities, and the school has partnerships with prestigious venues.

Drama: Highly Professional and Accessible

Music and drama form a large part of life at Alleyn's with shows put on at the Michael Croft Theatre by the school's drama department . The Michael Croft Theatre is a dedicated 200-seat professional-standard venue located on the school campus, equipped with full lighting, sound and staging capabilities. The drama programme encompasses GCSE and A-level studies, but extends far beyond: junior school pupils participate in annual productions, form plays and improvisation workshops; senior school pupils tackle classical texts, contemporary work and adapted pieces, with some productions involving 100+ cast members and full orchestral accompaniment. The theatre is also hired by external companies, creating a vibrant arts hub within the school community.

Sports: Rowing, Athletics, and 60+ Clubs

For sports, children have access to a heated indoor swimming pool, astro-turf pitches, and a sports hall . The school fields over 150 competitive teams across 30+ sports, with more than 1,200 fixtures annually. Rowing is a signature sport, with access to the Thames and a respected boat club competing at regional and national level. Athletics is exceptionally strong, with an on-site track. Teams compete in traditional sports (rugby, football, netball, hockey, cricket, tennis) and niche activities (fencing, equestrian, rock climbing, badminton, table tennis). The many teams, for both male and female pupils, reach high standards, some becoming national champions in their specific sport.

STEM

Named clubs and initiatives include the Computing Club (robotics, coding, game design), Digital Media Club, Engineering Club and Science Club, which engage pupils in practical projects, competitions and maker activities. The school's facilities include dedicated computing labs, a maker space and science laboratories equipped for advanced practical work.

Academic Societies and Leadership

The school supports pupil-led societies covering Model United Nations, Debating, Philosophy Club, Economics Club, History Society, Foreign Language clubs (French, Spanish, German, Mandarin, Japanese), Classics Club and numerous others. Year 12 and Year 13 pupils take leadership roles in teaching, mentoring and organising co-curricular provision for younger pupils. The Co-Curricular Council provides a formal channel for pupil input into the breadth and direction of activities.

Community and Volunteering

Each week students from Alleyn's engage in an array of volunteering and outreach activities including helping at a community fridge, supporting primary school children in their reading, socialising with the elderly, providing food to the homeless, helping at after-school clubs and arranging fundraising activities for school charities . Large numbers of pupils take the Duke of Edinburgh Award (Bronze, Silver, Gold), and the school runs annual residential expeditions and community projects both locally and internationally.

The non-refundable registration fee is £200 plus VAT or £350 plus VAT for overseas applicants.

Day fees per term for the senior school are £8,340 excluding VAT, or approximately £10,338 including VAT (annual £31,014 inclusive).

Junior School fees are £7,445 excluding VAT (£7,690 including VAT for 2025-26).

Critically, the school has a substantial bursary programme. In September 2024, the school welcomed 24 new bursary recipients, bringing the total number of pupils receiving means-tested support to 117, around 10% of the Senior School population, of which 70 are fully funded.

For those on fully funded places, support extends beyond the classroom to assistance with uniforms, travel, lunches, IT devices, trips and co-curricular opportunities.

The registration fee to apply for Alleyn's is waived for those in receipt of the Pupil Premium . This commitment to financial accessibility is significant and genuine, reflecting the school's foundational ethos.

Support for pupils who have SEND is highly effective, with learning support staff advising teachers on the needs of these pupils, junior school pupils supported in class or in small groups, and short term targeted support provided for senior pupils as required . The school has identified 230 pupils across all phases as having SEND, and provides differentiated support ranging from minor adjustments to more intensive intervention. Pupils with SEND are encouraged to understand their own learning needs and to develop strategies that will best help them.

The school's commitment to inclusion is visible in its curriculum choices and pastoral structures. An equality and diversity panel composed of pupils, staff and governors meet to discuss how to promote inclusivity further, with staff providing support for pupil-led societies such as the feminist society, LGBT society and minority students union . English is an additional language for 318 pupils; the school provides appropriate support where required.

The 26-acre campus includes a mix of period buildings and modern extensions. The Michael Croft Theatre has two galleries and an equally impressive indoor swimming pool and large sports hall . There is a dedicated wellbeing hub staffed by qualified nurses and trained support personnel. Science laboratories, art studios, music practice rooms (individual and group), a professional kitchen for Food Technology, and modern classrooms create an environment conducive to ambitious learning. The grounds include playing fields, a full athletics track, astro-turf pitches and woodland areas used for outdoor learning. Recent investment has upgraded facilities for the expanding sixth form and junior school sections.

Strong leadership at all levels is highly effective in promoting pupils' wellbeing . The pastoral structure is age-appropriate: junior school pupils have form tutors and year group leaders; senior school pupils are placed in houses (vertical pastoral structures that bridge year groups) with head of house and pastoral teams. Sixth formers have dedicated support and are encouraged to develop independence and mentor younger pupils.

Safeguarding procedures are rigorous and thorough, with the designated governor meeting regularly with the designated safeguarding lead to provide support and maintain oversight, and the safeguarding team extended to include all heads of house to strengthen awareness and swift identification of concerns.

Pupils know that they can speak directly to staff or use an icon on the website to report concerns anonymously.

The school operates a selective admissions process. Entry at 11+ (Year 7) requires entrance examinations in English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning, plus an interview and group activity. Approximately 900 applications compete for around 150 places, making entry highly competitive. Entry at 16+ (Year 12) is similarly selective, based on GCSE performance, entrance exams and interviews. The school operates a regular appeals and assessment schedule; prospective families are encouraged to attend open days and book tours well in advance. Admission is determined by ability and potential rather than connections, and the school welcomes applications from across South London and beyond.

The school underwent a full ISI inspection in October 2024 and met all required standards. The most recent ISI inspection took place in October 2024, with the school meeting all five required standards and being recognised for the well-rounded education and excellent pastoral setting at both junior and senior schools . The inspection affirmed strengths in leadership, curriculum breadth, co-curricular richness and safeguarding. The single developmental recommendation concerned ensuring even more precise feedback to junior school pupils.

Alleyn's School is a genuinely first-rate independent school that combines academic distinction with authentic pastoral care and a thriving co-curricular culture. It ranks in the top 1% in England for GCSE and A-level results, with exceptional Oxbridge outcomes and strong progression to elite universities. The school is led with vision and rigour, balances tradition with innovation, and maintains a culture of inclusion despite its selective entry. The facilities are excellent, the teaching is ambitious, and the co-curricular offer is remarkable.

For parents seeking a selective, independent school in South London where their child will be intellectually stretched, well-supported and genuinely known by staff, Alleyn's delivers. The school is not the cheapest independent option, but the bursary programme is generous and meaningful. Admissions are competitive; parents should plan well ahead and ensure their child's application reflects genuine engagement with the school's values and opportunities.

Alleyn's is a school with roots stretching back four centuries and a clear eye to the future. It educates whole young people, not merely exam machines, and that distinction is felt the moment you step onto the campus. It deserves its reputation as one of London's leading co-educational day schools and a destination of choice for ambitious families.