The Ashcombe School Review 2026, Mole Valley secondary with a calm culture and broad sixth form options

Orderly routines matter here. The school’s emphasis on clear learning habits and positive relationships comes through in both daily expectations and larger opportunities, from leadership roles for sixth formers to high participation in Duke of Edinburgh’s Award activities.

Academically, GCSE outcomes are a notable strength locally. Ranked 757th in England and 1st in Mole Valley for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), results sit comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England.

Post 16, there is a large subject offer and some distinctive pathways, including the Dorking Wanderers Football Academy partnership for students combining study with professional coaching.

A key feature is the school’s focus on predictable, sensible conduct. Expectations are framed as habits that students can practise and improve, rather than one off rules. That approach helps explain why behaviour is described as calm and orderly, and why students generally report feeling safe.

Leadership is stable and clearly signposted. Chris Panting is the named headteacher, and the school sits within the South East Surrey Schools Education Trust (SESSET) structure, with governance through trustees.

For families who value continuity, it is also useful context that the modern school identity was formed through local mergers in 1976, bringing together earlier Dorking provision into what became The Ashcombe School.

The GCSE profile is stronger than many families expect from a fully comprehensive intake.

Ranked 757th in England and 1st in Mole Valley for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), the school sits above England average and within the top 25% of schools in England.

Key GCSE indicators include:

• Attainment 8: 54.

• Progress 8: +0.27, indicating progress above the England benchmark of 0.

• EBacc average point score: 5.13, compared with an England benchmark of 4.08.

At sixth form, outcomes are more middle of the pack nationally, but still solid for a local comprehensive.

Ranked 1,200th in England and 1st in Mole Valley for A level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), performance is broadly in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile).

Grade distribution shows:

• A* to B: 46.76% (England benchmark: 47.2%).

• A* to A: 21.69% (England benchmark: 23.6%).

For parents comparing nearby schools, FindMySchool’s Local Hub and Comparison Tool can be useful for checking how these figures stack up against other Mole Valley options using the same official-data basis.

Curriculum breadth is a recurring theme. Students follow a broad key stage 3 entitlement before specialising, and the options remain sizeable at both key stage 4 and in sixth form.

The teaching model leans on subject expertise and careful sequencing of knowledge. Lessons typically build in a logical order, with planned revisiting so that students remember more over time.

Two areas are worth noting for parents who want the full picture. First, the school’s approach to checking understanding can be variable between classrooms, so some students may need to be proactive in asking for help if they feel a topic has moved on too quickly. Second, attendance is generally strong, but the school is working to improve regular attendance for some disadvantaged students, where absence can interrupt learning.

Reading is treated as a priority rather than an add on. Students who arrive needing help with reading are identified early and supported, and the library is promoted as a place to find books for pleasure as well as study.

Where Students Go Next

For families thinking about post 16 and post 18 pathways, there are three useful lenses: university aspiration, vocational routes, and the culture of guidance.

On elite university applications, the school is active rather than passive. In the measurement period, 11 students applied to Oxford or Cambridge, 3 received offers, and 3 took up places, with Cambridge accounting for the offers and acceptances.

On broader destinations, the published leaver outcomes for the 2023/24 cohort show a mixed set of routes: 52% progressed to university, 4% to apprenticeships, 31% to employment, and 1% to further education (with remaining destinations not specified in the published data).

The school also publishes qualitative destination information, which is helpful if you want a feel for typical choices. Named examples of popular higher education destinations include Cardiff, UCL, Bristol, Bournemouth, Sheffield and Swansea, alongside Oxford and Cambridge references without specific counts.

Year 7 entry is coordinated by Surrey County Council, with applications opening 1 September 2025 for September 2026 entry and the on time deadline set at 31 October 2025.

Surrey confirms outcomes on the evening of 2 March 2026, and families must accept or decline the offered place by 16 March 2026.

The school is its own admissions authority as an academy, but aligns arrangements with Surrey’s coordinated process.

For sixth form entry (including external applicants), the school publishes a clear calendar for September 2026 starters, including an open evening in October and interviews in January and February, followed by offers and induction steps later in the year.

If you are weighing the role of distance in Surrey admissions generally, FindMySchool Map Search is a practical way to check your home to school distance precisely. For any school, historical cut offs can move year to year.

Pastoral practice is framed around belonging and positive relationships. Sixth formers are used deliberately as role models, mentors and coaches for younger students, which often helps new Year 7s settle into a larger environment.

Students are expected to understand how to report concerns, and bullying is treated as an exception rather than a norm. When issues do arise, the expectation is that they are dealt with quickly and consistently.

The latest Ofsted inspection confirmed that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

A major strength is the sheer variety of lunchtime and after school options, which matters for students who want identity beyond the timetable.

The school reports over 50 club opportunities each week, spanning sport, creative activities, and wellbeing or homework support. Specific examples include Tabletop Gaming Club, Car Club, British Sign Language, Creative Writing, Sewing, and Photography.

Music is structured rather than ad hoc. One concrete example is the Year 7 Wind Band programme, designed to bring a cohort into ensemble playing quickly and build performance confidence early in secondary school.

Drama appears to be a visible strand, with school productions functioning as large scale participation events. A recent example cited in official reporting is the planned performance of The Addams Family, signalling that productions are big enough to become part of the school’s shared calendar rather than a niche activity.

For sixth formers, the Dorking Wanderers Football Academy partnership stands out as a defined pathway for those who want professional coaching alongside study, rather than sport being treated only as an enrichment option.

The formal school day runs from 08:45 to 15:15, with students expected on site by 08:40. The canteen opens from 08:00.

Transport wise, Surrey County Council lists bus services that serve the school, including route 32.

The school publishes key transition dates for incoming Year 7, including an induction evening on 30 June 2026 and an induction day on 1 July 2026.

• Sixth form outcomes are more typical nationally than the GCSE picture. A level performance sits broadly within the middle 35% of schools in England, which can still be a strong fit, but it is a different profile from the school’s top tier local GCSE position.

• Classroom checking of understanding is not always consistent. Some students may need to be confident about asking questions and using support channels if a topic has moved on before they feel secure.

• Attendance for some disadvantaged students is an improvement priority. Families of students who are likely to struggle with attendance should ask directly about the school’s current support and escalation steps.

• Post 16 pathways are broad, including employment and apprenticeships. This is positive for choice, but it also means families should engage early with careers guidance so students pick a route with clear requirements and timelines.

This is a high performing Mole Valley comprehensive at GCSE, with a culture built around sensible routines, strong relationships, and plenty of routes to take responsibility through clubs, leadership and service. The sixth form is broad and includes some distinctive options, even if A level outcomes sit closer to the England middle than the school’s GCSE strength might suggest.

Best suited to families who want a structured, calm mainstream environment with a large menu of extracurricular choices and clear progression routes into post 16, including both university and vocational pathways.