Ewell Castle School

Since 2019, Silas Edmonds MA. First headship. Previously spent 11 years at Surbiton High, starting as vice principal, becoming senior school head five years in and adding role of acting principal late in 2018. Before that, assistant head at

From age 4, with next main entry point into year 7, adding 50 pupils, who sit English and maths assessments and come from local independents and state primaries. Officially four applicants per place – most also sitting assessments elsewhere, so not

Loses a couple of pupils to other independents at 11+ (Epsom College, City of London Freemen’s), as well as grammar and non-selective schools (eg Glyn and Rosebery). Post GCSE, some pupils ‘have outgrown the place and need to be in a different

In 2025, 46 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 33 per cent A*/A at A level (55 per cent A*-B).

Teaching generally excellent, think parents – sciences could be even stronger, not helped by difficulties in filling maths and physics posts (reflected in vacancies listed at the time we visited – ‘now filled’, says the school).

Full creative

Don’t be deceived by hard-to-find SEN policy, tucked into distant corner of the website. It’s a huge strength here. At the time of our visit, eight pupils with EHCPs and over 160 with a diagnosed learning need. Specific learning difficulties most

In addition to timetabled drama, music and art (where work ranges from stark, uncompromising, full-length nudes by art scholars to year 7's giant apples crowding in from the corners of the page – no mannered fruit bowls here), pupils take part in

The school’s big thing. Main team games for boys and girls are rugby, football, hockey and cricket (girls don’t have football or rugby from year 11). Extensive additional sports – some timetabled, others as options or clubs – include sailing (not on

‘Unbelievable,’ says parent. ‘Child has blossomed and grown in confidence.’ Slightly misrepresented on the website, thought pupils, which goes overboard on sticks (extensive menu of detentions) when it’s pretty much carrots all the way, with merits

A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.

A fair few families are first-generation independent school buyers notable for ‘unpretentious self-assurance’, say inspectors.

Most pre-prep families are ultra-local (Ewell Village, Worcester Park, Stoneleigh, Banstead and Epsom) with gradual

Concerted effort to connect with Old Ewellians is translating into goodwill and – more usefully – financial support for pupils post GCSE. Candidates are asked what they’ll bring to the school. Sounds potentially humiliating but Mr Edmonds stresses

Kind, happy, unpretentious (and doing increasingly well on the academic side). Not (yet) a name for status-conscious parents to conjure with, but current pupils rate it as a magical place.