Caterham School

Our View

A top school – surprisingly little known. Well appointed in virtually every area and performing outstandingly in maths, science and RS, it is set to build on the achievements of the last decade. The site is leafy, spacious and comfortable. Hard to beat if a co-ed school in the Home Counties with a boarding option is your thing. It is exceptionally well placed for commuters and those for whom Gatwick/Heathrow are significant – connections couldn't be better. 2004 inspection found no major weaknesses and commented on the 'humane values, the importance of the individual and the sense of community...The school...is very successful in preparing its pupils for their future beyond school'. New head has much to do to maintain the standards set by his predecessor. We will watch with interest.

Headmaster

Since 2007, Mr Julian Thomas BSc MBA PGCE, following the immensely successful, innovative and likeable Rob Davey, who retired after twelve years. Previously second master at Hampton School, Mr Thomas is a computer science graduate who gained experience in the business world at Lloyds Bank and BP before he went into teaching. Previously taught maths and was director of studies at Portsmouth Grammar. Six maths textbooks under his belt. Qualified rugby, cricket, hockey and netball coach – and an experienced player himself. Other interests include drama, environmental issues – he had a leading role in making Hampton the world's first carbon neutral school. He is married to Julia and they have two small children.

Academic Matters

Caterham can now hold its head high in any company, especially in maths, the sciences and religious study. 2009 results included 72 per cent A*/A grades at GCSE and, at A level, 85 per cent A/B grades. All students go on to university and consistently over 80 per cent go to one in the 'top tier'. Something is going right here. A good set of subject options (international students can take their own languages) includes business studies, economics, government and politics, textiles, psychology, photography and theatre studies, in addition to the usual staples. Modern languages, though encouraged by many foreign trips of all kinds, need beefing up to encourage more takers – Mr Davey made great strides here. Excellent language lab helping. Greek survives here – hooray! Years 7 and 8 take a course in citizenship and all sixth formers take general studies. A good combination of the traditional and the trendy but all in a sensible, purposeful manner. SENs are efficiently diagnosed and well supported here, though those with physical disabilities would find parts of this valley/hills site difficult to negotiate. Parents pay tribute to the caring and dedicated staff who 'really enthuse the pupils' but don't have unrealistic expectations of them.

Games, Options, the Arts

On-site playing fields, pitches, all-weather surfaces abound. Superb sports hall, plus pool, giant fitness room with 25 plus exotic-looking machines plus plus plus, opened in 1996 by Sebastian Coe and open to members, ie school families, former pupils etc. Superbly maintained home field for athletics etc. Boarding football enthusiasts coached by a trainer from Crystal Palace FC and school achieves highly in sports which include swimming, rugby, hockey, lacrosse, netball, cricket and cross-country. Riding and fencing too. CCF, Young Enterprise and D of E all popular.

Lots of drama though no designated studio; 'Les Miserables' a recent success. Drama an A level option. Workmanlike, well stocked workshops for IT. Art is well catered for (the art building has just been refurbished) and popular, especially with girls. Printmaking, graphic design, pottery and photography among many options. Interesting interdisciplinary enterprises like a recent, beautifully produced pamphlet of art and writings – a truly imaginative exercise done just for the pleasure of it and wonderfully encouraging for those whose work appears. Flourishing music with many in school lessons on around 20 different instruments and every kind of band and ensemble – a range of small recitals to major choral concerts in the Humphreys Hall. Arcane and eclectic choice of other extra-curriculars includes Amnesty, circus skills, chemistry, Christian Union, debating, various languages and minority sports and the splendid Melting Pot – a chance to exchange multicultural experience with over 20 countries represented. Visits here, there and everywhere – Tanzania, Ukraine, Iceland, USA, skiing, France, Germany and Spain.

Background and Atmosphere

In 1995 boys' school, Caterham, founded in 1811, merged with nearby girls' school, Eothen, founded in 1892. Both Christian foundations. Caterham had been set up to educate the sons of Congregationalist ministers – even thirty years ago around a third of pupils were Welsh and the relationship with the United Reform Church is still close. Christian background informs the ethos and is neither exclusive nor punitive. In fact, this is about as inclusive as a school can get.

School moved to its present 100 acre site in 1884. One arrives at the school down a quiet lane out of Caterham centre with substantial, well spaced detached houses on one side and the school appears on rising ground to one's left. A three storey, immensely long, red-brick building, it is imposing though built in a plain and solid style – free from the excesses of later in that century. It faces banks of glorious, tree-festooned hills and its own sports grounds. Battalions of white minibuses wait on hard standing. Further down is the prep and pre-prep, wonderfully secluded, be-treed and traffic-free. Later building has added necessary facilities and some views can seem a little cramped but, in general, there is a sense of space and light.

Inside the main building, redbrick and tile corridors which could be prison-like but aren't, thanks to sensitive lighting and general decoration – even the somewhat violent yellow of the boys' boarding areas upstairs is well chosen. Boarding for girls and boys recently expensively upgraded. Years 7-9 in good sized rooms for 6, year 10 for 4, year 11 for 2 and year 13 students all have good rooms with ensuite loo and shower – better than most recently built undergraduate rooms. Good kitchens, lots of staff living in and school well up on parents' need for flexi-boarding and very keen to help. New science block and dininghall completed in 2006. New sixth form centre opened in 2008. Uniform a sensible black/white/ grey mix though 'smart business suits' for sixth form girls interpreted somewhat surprisingly by some.

Pastoral Care and Discipline

Commitment to excellent pastoral care evidenced by huge and touchingly accessible booklet, strong RSPE curriculum and general air of happy purposefulness everywhere. Clear but flexible structure. House system. Around 70 per cent stay in over weekends – good programme. Many staff live on site, either in purpose-built houses or in boarding houses. Boarding staff seen as parents rather than staff.

Pupils and Parents

Most boarders from abroad, currently from 23 countries. Largest numbers from Hong Kong, China and Eastern Europe. Day pupils from Surrey and a few from Kent or Sussex borders. Good bus services bring from all over. Large proportion of city and professional families, many first-timers – this is easy, prosperous, commuter country. Perennial problems of getting some hard-working foreign students to join extra-curricular activities and to mix generally being keenly tackled, but remain an issue. Former pupils include Angus Deayton, Jon Finch, Michael Jecks and cricketers Alastair Brown, James Benning and David Sales.

Entrance

Getting harder for those outside school's own prep, especially as more folk grasp the fact that boys and girls from 3-18 get a pretty unbeatable start in life here. Usual tests at 11 and 13, via interview, and six good GCSEs expected at 16.

Exit

In 2009, nine pupils went to Oxbridge, four to Imperial College and eight to UCL. 83 per cent chose top tier universities.

Money Matters

Good number of scholarships awarded at 11, 13 and 16. Extra science scholarships at sixth form. Also art, music and sports awards. Bursaries available for children of clergy, OCs, Services and foreign service personnel. Bursaries also available for the able but less well off.