St Edmund's College

Since 2019, Matthew Mostyn, previously second master at Stonyhurst. Born in Northern Ireland to an army family, educated at Downside, degree in languages from Exeter. Started career at Cheltenham College, teaching French and German, thence to

School has seen a decrease in year 7 joiners (now around 75), but more coming in at years 9 and 12 (now around 30 each). Around a third of year 7s come from the prep; for the rest, there’s an interview with parents, plus reports, references from

Up to a quarter leave after year 11 for state schools (including sixth form colleges) and occasionally other independents. Head would like this to be less and is focusing on ‘not just offering two more years of the same – it genuinely feels exciting

In 2024, 42 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 22 per cent A*/A at A level (53 per cent A*-B).

Current head has tightened up the academics, with a greater focus on pedagogy and teaching to the top end with scaffolding for the rest. ‘But we’re emphatically a school that is about developing the whole person – academics aren’t everything,’ he

Great to hear of sixth formers using research and data to present to prep pupils on ‘why my learning difference is a superpower’ – although we’d like to have seen a noticeboard or posters on neurodiversity around the school. Around 15 per cent on the

Co-curricular, not extracurricular, with the last period of every day dedicated to activities and subjects that other schools run as clubs. Pupils say it’s the best thing about the school. ‘You can do something different each day and change them

Lower-end sport has always been good, but the older end was in the doldrums. Now turned around, thanks to new director of sport who has built up teams and brought in a decent fixture list – with teams of all ages winning tournaments in a way

Around 90 boarders – mainly from overseas, with Catholic links attracting many from Spain, Germany and France. Handful each of weekly and flexi. All well integrated, a couple of the international ones telling us of occasional sleepovers with friends

School is known for its kindness, with a mental health lead, counsellor and two chaplains – priest and lay (the latter also one of the deputy heads). Parents who had faced difficulties told us the school was ‘amazing’. Peer mentoring and buddying

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

Accents range from East End to more plummy, reflecting wider backgrounds than in many independent schools. ‘It’s not uber-glam at the gates, you get as many tracksuits as very wealthy,’ said a parent. Lots working in business, finance and trades.

Academic scholarships at 7+, 11+ and 13+, along with 16+ via a separate exam. Music, art, sport and all-rounder scholarships also available, often in combination with academic awards. These offer up to 20 per cent fee remission, which can be topped

A character-focused school, with timetabled co-curricular a major feature, along with a strong sense of humility. ‘They do everything with kindness and aim to mould every kind of child into a good human,’ summed up one parent.