The school's journey began with modest ambitions in 1899, but today it stands among England's most competitive state schools. Located on Manor Lane in south London, Sutton Grammar remains one of the nation's elite feeders to top universities, with a track record of consistently fierce admissions and results that place it among the highest-performing state secondaries in the country. Founded over a century ago and occupying a newly modernised campus, the school educates approximately 1,000 boys throughout their secondary years and welcomes girls into its co-educational sixth form.
The main building, a Victorian-era structure dating from 1928, sits prominently opposite Manor Park. Sutton Grammar School in Sutton, London operates at scale (capacity 840), so clear routines and calm transitions matter day to day. Recent extensive building work has transformed much of the campus. The sixth form centre, completed in 2015, includes dedicated study spaces, a boardroom, and a common room overlooking the main site. The mathematics building, purpose-built in 2012, houses six new classrooms. A modern dining hall, finished in 2016, serves both Lower and Upper School students alongside sixth formers.
The school's motto, Floreat Suttona (May Sutton flourish), has guided the institution since 1935, when it was composed by Courtenay Gale, the chairman of governors. This message remains central to the school's identity. Under the leadership of Headmaster B Cloves, who arrived in 2019, the school balances its heritage with contemporary aspirations. His predecessor, G D Ironside, helmed the school for 29 years, building much of the academic foundation that defines Sutton today.
The five-house system, Manor, Warwick, Greyhound, Lenham, and Throwley, creates a strong sense of belonging. Named after boundary roads and the school's original location, these houses compete fiercely in the House Shield across academic and sporting disciplines, with events ranging from athletics to physics olympiad and house drama competitions.
Sutton Grammar ranks 75th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the elite tier at the top 2% of secondary schools. Within Sutton itself, the school ranks 2nd among all state secondaries in the borough. The academic figures underpin this position. In 2024, 85% of all GCSE grades achieved the top two tiers of 9-7, with 68% reaching the highest grades of 9-8. The average Attainment 8 score stands at 8.26, significantly above the England average. Progress 8 of +1.16 indicates exceptional value-added: pupils progress well above what you would expect from their starting points.
Students benefit from the English Baccalaureate curriculum, with 35% meeting the EBacc criteria across English, mathematics, sciences, languages, humanities, and computer science. This breadth ensures that the academic menu extends well beyond narrow specialism.
The sixth form maintains the same rigour. At A-level, 81% of grades achieved A*-B, with 21% at A* and 36% at A. The school ranks 171st in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 7%. Five subject choices in the Sixth Form, Manor, Warwick, Greyhound, Lenham, and Throwley, mirror the house structure, maintaining community while allowing academic specialisation.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
81.03%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
85.3%
% of students achieving grades 9-7
The school's reputation as a Russell Group feeder is well-earned. In 2024, 75% of leavers progressed to university, with 8 students securing places at Oxford and Cambridge combined. The Oxbridge acceptance rate of 57% (8 acceptances from 14 offers) demonstrates the calibre of candidates the school produces. Cambridge proved particularly successful, with 8 Cambridge acceptances from 33 applications. This places the school well above the England average for both Oxbridge access and success rates.
The broader university picture is equally impressive. Beyond Oxbridge, leavers regularly progress to Russell Group universities including Durham, Bristol, Exeter, Edinburgh, and Imperial College. Popular degree choices include medicine, engineering, and sciences, though arts disciplines flourish too.
The curriculum offers traditional academic breadth. All pupils study English, mathematics, sciences, languages, and humanities as part of the core. The school taught Latin to pupils seeking entry to top universities. Sciences are taught separately from Year 7, allowing pupils to develop specialist knowledge early. In the Sixth Form, over 26 A-level subjects are on offer, including Classical Greek and Russian, reflecting the breadth available to ambitious sixth formers.
Teaching follows established practices with high expectations. Staff expertise is evident; the school was featured in 2017 in both The Sunday Times and The Independent for eclipsing even Eton in A-level science rankings. That same year, the school was nominated in the Times Educational Supplement Schools Awards under the category "Science, technology and engineering teacher or team of the year."
Enrichment runs throughout the curriculum. Every subject department provides extension opportunities beyond the standard examination content. Small class sizes in the sixth form (often under 10 for some A-level sets) ensure that pupils receive substantial teaching contact.
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sutton Grammar's extracurricular provision is remarkably comprehensive. This is where ambition meets passion.
The music programme mirrors the academic rigour of the classroom. Students can participate in the Junior Choir, A Cappella Group, A Cappella Choir, and the Senior Choir (a mixed ensemble run in partnership with Sutton High School for Girls). The School Orchestra accepts pupils from grade 2 upwards. A specialist Music Production Club allows those interested in recording and composition to develop technical skills. Joint productions with Sutton High School for Girls add theatrical scale; recent productions include The Comedy of Errors, Grease, Loserville, The Wedding Singer, Sweet Charity, Oklahoma!, West Side Story, and The Murder in the Red Barn.
The school operates two dedicated drama studios, one in the main building and another in the Humanities building. Drama clubs run throughout the year, culminating in ambitious whole-school productions. The school's track record in national competitions is striking. In 2017, pupils won the Big Voice Mooting Competition at the UK Supreme Court and finished runner-up in The Times/Kingsley Napley Student Advocacy Competition.
Sutton Grammar gained national prominence for its science and engineering work. The school is a leader in the Crest Award scheme. Pupils undertake projects including APEX (an altitude photography experiment), Poseidon (oceanography-based exploration), and Helios (measuring the solar wind), projects that regularly earn Gold Crest recognition. In 2024, the Year 10 CanSat team (Team Athena) made the top 10 out of 258 teams in England in the UK CanSat competition. The following year, the new Year 10 team (Team Noctua) won first place in the entire national CanSat finals.
A pupil was named Young Engineer of the Year in 2017 by the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers, a livery company of the City of London, and went on to represent Great Britain at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles. In 2020, another pupil won the Manufacturing Technologies Association's Technology, Design and Innovation Challenge, securing the Best Overall prize in the 17-19 age category. Previous pupils have won the 14-16 and 17-19 age categories of the same competition.
Most notably, one pupil, Krtin Nithiyanandam, received global attention in 2015 when, aged 15, he developed a test for Alzheimer's disease and autism and was awarded the Scientific American Innovator Award. He later discovered a way to make triple negative breast cancer more treatable, research conducted in the school's laboratories. The Guardian named him in its "teen power list" of 2016 alongside Sasha Obama and Brooklyn Beckham, and profiled him as a "rising star of 2017."
The school offers 17 different sports: athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket, cross-country, fitness training, football, gymnastics, rowing (indoor), rugby, table tennis, tennis, and volleyball. The playing fields at Walch Memorial Playing Fields in neighbouring Cheam provide extensive space for cricket, rugby, football, athletics, and cross-country. In 2016, the rugby 1st XV finished runner-up in the Emerging Schools League, and the school won the Borough Cross-country competition.
The school maintains a strong tradition of providing ballboys for the Wimbledon tennis championships, a connection that speaks to its standing in the sporting community.
The CCF is the school's largest extracurricular programme, with approximately 300 cadets drawn from both Sutton Grammar and its partner school, Nonsuch High School for Girls. Operating since 1915, the CCF offers both army and RAF sections. Cadets engage in shooting, field craft, survival training, and adventurous activities including trekking, kayaking, climbing, and mountain biking. RAF cadets have opportunities to fly in powered Tutor planes and gliding aircraft. Parades run every Tuesday after school from 4pm to 5:30pm, with camps throughout the year including Easter treks in the Lake District and Pennines, and a summer camp during Activities Week.
Beyond these pillars, the school runs dozens of clubs. Law Society meets weekly and prepares pupils for the Bar National Mock Trial Competition held in November. The Debating Society engages pupils in formal debate; the school won the Big Voice Mooting Competition in 2017. Philosophy Society, History Society, and a dedicated Oxbridge Philosophy preparation group serve those with academic interests. Chess Club competes in the Briant Poulter League. Duke of Edinburgh Award runs Bronze, Silver, and Gold programmes. Young Enterprise regularly produces finalists; in 2016, the school finished runner-up in the national finals held at the Emirates Stadium. Photography Club, Art Club, and the Royal Academy Young Artist Club support creative pupils. Board Games Club, Anime and Manga Club, Fantasy Football Club, Cubing Club, and Scrabble Club cater to diverse interests. Science clubs include CanSat (aerospace engineering), VEX Robotics, and Coding Club. The Muslim Prayers group provides space for faith-based community. A Money and Economics Society (TMES) focuses on financial literacy. Publications include school magazines, The Suttonian (main school publication), Latitude 51° (geography magazine), Retrospect (history magazine), and Life (biology magazine), allowing pupils to contribute to the school's recorded voice.
Entry to Sutton Grammar is intensely competitive. The school admits 150 boys per year into Year 7, with approximately 790 applications in 2024. This yields a 4.97:1 applications-to-offers ratio, making it the most selective state schools in England. Admissions operate through London's Pan-London Coordinated Admissions Scheme. Prospective pupils must register and sit the Selective Eligibility Test (SET), a two-stage examination. Those passing Stage One proceed to Sutton Grammar's own Stage Two Entrance Examination. Successful candidates must then list the school as a preference on their Local Authority Common Application Form.
Allocation follows a strict priority order. Approximately 75 places go by ranked test scores to pupils living in postcodes SM1-7, KT4, KT17, and CR0/CR4 areas (the school's traditional recruitment zone). The remaining 60 places go to qualified candidates living beyond this area, again by rank order. If scores are equal, proximity to the school gate determines allocation.
In the Sixth Form, the school admits approximately 50 additional pupils per year, welcoming both boys and girls. Sixth form entry requires strong GCSE results (typically grades 7 and above) and departmental subject requirements.
Applications
790
Total received
Places Offered
159
Subscription Rate
5.0x
Apps per place
The house system underpins pastoral support. Each house has a designated house master and a clear pastoral hierarchy. Pupils remain in the same house throughout their school career, creating continuity and close relationships with staff who know them well. The Lower School (Years 7-9), Upper School (Years 10-11), and Sixth Form each have dedicated staff focusing on their age group's specific needs.
Behaviour is clearly defined. The school operates a formal uniform code: maroon blazer with house tie in the Lower School, black blazer with house tie in the Upper School, and lounge suit of the pupil's choice in the Sixth Form. This visual distinction marks progression through the school and supports a sense of status and responsibility at each stage.
The school operates a prefect system with a head student, three deputy head students, senior prefects, and part-time prefects drawn from the Sixth Form. These pupils assume leadership roles in helping to organise school activities and provide peer support.
Sutton Grammar School operates on a traditional secondary timetable. School hours run from approximately 8:50am to 3:20pm, with a lunch break around midday. The main campus sits on Manor Lane in Sutton (postcode SM1 4AS), while playing fields occupy the Walch Memorial site in Cheam. Transport is available via local bus routes; the school is within reach of Sutton railway station.
This is a state school with no tuition fees.
Intense Entrance Competition: With nearly 5 applications per place, entry is fiercely contested. The vast majority of successful candidates engage in external tutoring to prepare for the Selective Eligibility Test. Families should be realistic about chances and prepared emotionally for potential rejection after investing significant effort.
Demanding Peer Group: Every pupil here excelled at their primary school. The adjustment to being surrounded by equally able peers can be challenging. Some pupils thrive on this; others find it intimidating. Families should discuss this honestly with their child before applying.
Selective Culture: The school is genuinely selective and competitive. This brings academic ambition and attracts high-achieving pupils. But it can also create pressure. Pupils seeking a nurturing, non-selective environment should look elsewhere.
Grammar School Pathway: Entry at 11 is via examination only. Girls are not admitted until Sixth Form. Families wanting co-education throughout secondary should consider comprehensive alternatives.
Sutton Grammar delivers elite academic education within the state system. The results are genuinely exceptional, top 2% for GCSE, strong Oxbridge representation, and a consistent pipeline to Russell Group universities. The breadth of extracurricular provision, from CanSat engineering to drama productions to CCF, means that pupils who engage fully can develop substantial depth across intellectual and personal dimensions. Best suited to academically ambitious boys (and girls entering Sixth Form) who thrive in a selective, high-achieving environment. The main barrier is securing a place; once gained, the opportunity is extraordinary.
Yes. The school ranks 75th in England for GCSE outcomes (top 2%) and 171st for A-level (top 7%), both elite positions within the state sector. In 2024, 85% of GCSE grades were 9-7, and 81% of A-levels achieved A*-B. Eight students secured Oxbridge places, with a 57% acceptance rate among those offered places.
Extremely competitive. With nearly 5 applications for every place, the school is among the most oversubscribed in England. Pupils must pass a two-stage examination (Selective Eligibility Test), and most successful candidates have engaged in external tutoring. Approximately 150 places are available per year.
Girls are admitted to the Sixth Form alongside approximately 50 additional pupils (a mix of internal progression and external entry). Typical entry requirements are grades 7 and above at GCSE, with subject-specific requirements set by individual departments.
The school runs over 40 clubs and societies. Music includes Junior Choir, A Cappella Group, A Cappella Choir, Senior Choir, School Orchestra, and Music Production Club. Drama operates two studios with regular productions in partnership with Sutton High School for Girls. Sport includes 17 different activities. The Combined Cadet Force has approximately 300 cadets. Science clubs include CanSat (which won the national competition in 2025) and VEX Robotics. Law Society, Debating Society, Chess Club, Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise, and Philosophy Society cater to academic and intellectual interests. Publications include The Suttonian magazine, plus specialist magazines for geography, history, and biology.
In 2024, 8 students secured places at Oxford and Cambridge combined. Cambridge acceptances totalled 8 from 33 applications (a 24% acceptance rate). The school ranks 84th in England for combined Oxbridge outcomes (FindMySchool data), placing it in the top tier of state schools for Oxbridge access.
The school is a national leader in Crest Award projects. In 2025, the CanSat team won the entire UK national competition. Previous pupils have won the Young Engineer of the Year award and represented Great Britain at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. One pupil, Krtin Nithiyanandam, gained global recognition in 2015 for developing a test for Alzheimer's disease and autism aged 15, and again in 2016 for discovering a way to make triple negative breast cancer more treatable.
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