LVS Ascot (Licensed Victuallers' School)

Since 2010, Christine Cunniffe BA MMus MBA. Read music and history, then a master’s in music performance from Reading and an MBA from Leicester. Began a career as a musician before moving into teaching in 1994. Dived straight in as head of music,

Proudly non-selective and a genuine all-through school. No entrance exams, but they do ask for school reports and an interview. Children may enter at odd times and the school is happy to work with parents in most situations, so long as they are up

Around a third leave after GCSEs. Most sixth formers proceed to university, with economics, business, media studies, sport and criminology popular, alongside some interesting vocational courses, eg air transport with commercial pilot training and

In 2024, 38 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 17 per cent A*/A at A level (45 per cent A*-B).

Individualised, but not hippy dippy. The school caters well to a wide ability range, so there’s setting in maths, English and, later, science. All other subjects mixed ability. Average senior school class sizes are 13-15 students – though this may

Neurodiversity centre sits at the heart of the school and has eight full-time staff. Management is keen, however, that LVS not be pigeonholed as a special needs school. ‘For many, the smaller classes here can be all the help they need,’ says the

Extracurricular activities get the same focus as academics. ‘Not everyone is going to Oxbridge,’ joked a teacher. Music, dance and drama are on the timetable from reception through year 9 under the oversight of the head of performing arts, who works

PE twice a week taught in co-ed groups with weekly fixtures from year 3 upward. Saturday morning training or fixtures. Main sports are football, rugby, hockey and netball. Trailblazers in the art of ‘teqball’, a new, ‘inclusive’ football-based game

Boarding now starts from year 6 (will consider year 5 boarders from Forces families only). We were heartbroken to find that boarding houses are no longer named after drinks companies! Goodbye Bass, Carlsberg, Guinness and Gilbey. Hello dreary Kew,

All children allotted to one of three houses – identified by house tie for boys or blazer badge for girls. Plenty of house competitions and rivalry. Within the house team, every child has a tutor and a tutor group with which they gather twice a day.

Bright-eyed, smiling and chatty children whom we very much enjoyed meeting. Licensed trade families now account for only about five to eight per cent of pupil numbers. ‘They used to be virtually all related to the industry, but there are fewer pubs

Economical UK day and boarding fees include food, books, exam fees and even counselling sessions; fees a bit higher for international pupils. School offers a massive range of truly arcane scholarships and bursaries, many of tremendous

A useful, modern, egalitarian school making waves in a sea of pomposity. The antidote to hothouse education. Tiger parents look elsewhere.