Sir William Perkins's School
Sir William Perkins's School
Sir William Perkins's School
Sir William Perkins's School
Sir William Perkins's School Chertsey, Surrey Visit
school
Sir William Perkins's School
Chertsey
569 pupils, ages 11-18
Girls only
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Sir William Perkins's School

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Our View

Stellar academics are combined with a fantastic co-curricular programme (it has a particularly fine reputation in rowing) at this day school in Surrey. Here, pupils’ individuality is firmly championed – there are no identikit students, just high-achievers in charge of their own future.

As the school gears up to celebrate its 300th anniversary, there’s exciting change afoot. From September 2026, subject to regulatory approval, Sir William Perkins’s will start welcoming boys in Years 7 and 12, with a view to becoming fully co-educational by 2030.

Where?

Located on the edge of Chertsey, the school sits in 13 acres of Surrey greenbelt and is very easy to get to – it’s near a train station, the M3 and the M25. There are plenty of school-bus routes and a one-way system through the campus so that traffic flows smoothly. The school is named after the wealthy Chertsey merchant who founded it in 1725 to educate the market town’s children, and it has been at its present site since 1819 (the original red-brick building has been extended as pupil numbers have grown). There’s also a wow-factor, contemporary, three-storey performing and creative arts centre, which is home to a glass atrium café, a theatre, two spacious studios, a darkroom and – for the exclusive use of the sixth-formers – a penthouse suite with wraparound glass terrace.

Head

Debbie Picton joined in September 2023 from Bancroft’s School, and this is her first headship and position outside of London. Down to earth and easy to chat to, she takes the girls for who they are. ‘It’s about making sense of the needs of the individual,’ she tells us. She’s surprised Sir William Perkins’s isn’t on more people’s radars, describing it as ‘a really unknown gem’. She loves the mix of girls who are all amazing at different things and values the school’s small size (just under 600 pupils), as it means everyone feels comfortable because they are known and cared about.

Admissions

Unashamedly selective (there is no preferential treatment for siblings), Sir William Perkins’s sets its own entrance exams in English and maths, which staff write themselves every year. Most girls join in Year 7 but can defer or apply for a place in Year 9. They also have a short interview and can join in a sports activity, if they wish. At sixth form, new applicants are interviewed and submit their predicted grades (the school expects 8s and 9s at GCSE in languages or maths if they are to be studied at A-level, for example), with places confirmed on results day in August. Girls who are already at the school have a guaranteed place in the sixth form if a suitable course is available. 

Academics and destinations

The Year 7s follow a very broad curriculum, with around 20 subjects including separate sciences, French, Spanish, Latin, German, cookery, computer science and PSHE. Each subject has its own corridor, and the only one pupils are streamed in is maths, with four classes becoming six sets. At GCSE, pupils choose nine subjects – maths, English and science are compulsory – but this can be fewer for SEND or pastoral reasons (the SEND provision is exceptional, with full-time learning support).

Sixth-formers start with four A-levels, generally dropping one at October half-term. Classes are small – normally fewer than 10 – and pupils are taught in university-style seminars with boardroom tables. There is a large silent study room, as well as booth areas and tables for individual and group work. Sixth-formers also have their own computer room, common room and wraparound terrace overlooking the sports fields.

Alumnae are involved in careers talks, and there is a medicine, vet and dentist committee. Most of the girls head off to Russell Group universities, with a few choosing overseas institutions. Pupils excel in computer science; last year, seven went on to study it at universities including Imperial College and St Andrew’s.

Co-curricular

This is a sporty school – GCSE and A-level PE are both popular options – and there are elite pathways for netball and hockey, with scholarships on offer. Girls can also get stuck into cricket, rugby, football, athletics, rounders and badminton. Rowing is a particular strength – last season, six girls represented GB and England, and pupils can start rowing from Year 9 and join the squad from Year 11. The passionate head of rowing sets each girl her own target, and there are nine to 10 training sessions a week on the water and in the special conditioning gym – the school has its own boat house less than 10 minutes’ drive away, and pupils also train on Eton College’s Dorney Lake.

The performing arts are well served, with lots of inter-house music and drama competitions. The sixth form stages an annual Christmas pantomime, and there are also whole-school musicals – they were rehearsing for Made in Dagenham on our most recent visit. Many of the girls are talented artists too, and their work is displayed throughout the school; sixth-formers have their own dedicated studio. Over in the D&T department, there’s a classroom packed with computers and 3D printers, and pupils learn everything from textiles to electronics.

DofE is huge, with most Year 9s gaining their bronze awards. Other extracurriculars include dance, equality society and lots of different academic clubs.

School community

A staffed wellbeing space is always open, and the girls are allowed to use it at any time, no questions asked. Pastoral care starts with pupils’ form tutor before moving up the chain to the head of year and then the pastoral head. All members of staff have a weekly pastoral briefing to ensure no one slips through the cracks.

Parents are an involved bunch and there’s a real sense of community spirit. The implications of AI, for example, is an ongoing discussion involving parents, staff and pupils alike, and to celebrate the school’s 300th anniversary in 2025, everyone is involved in the planning to do 300 things to help the community. The head is also keen to do more internationally; in October half-term, pupils went trekking in Kathmandu, where the school has a link with a charity. Ms Picton wants to grow these experiences to help expand her charges’ horizons.

And finally....

A wonderful example of the benefits of a focus on the individual, Sir William Perkins’s School consistently turns out capable, confident young adults. With this ethos being expanded to boys as well as girls from 2026, we expect a clamour for places.

Gallery See All

three girls wearing cricket kit walking on green grass chatting
Girls in navy and white playing netball
Girl taking a shot in hockey with the goalkeeper in the foreground
Three girls in uniform walking in front of Sir William Perkins's School
girl touching a silver globe in science with static hair
Girls wearing blue and yellow sitting in a rowing boat on a river
Girl in a white lab coat and safety glasses working in DT
Girl sitting on a blue chair working on an ipad
Girl with long dark hair sitting in a classroom wearing a navy blue jumper
  • Academic results

    GCSE results
    A level results
    Download results as PDF
  • Subjects offered

    GCSE

    Ancient Greek
    Art & Design
    Biology
    Chemistry
    Classical Civilisation
    Computer Science
    Design and Technology
    Drama and Theatre Studies
    English Language
    English Literature
    French
    Geography
    German
    History
    Latin
    Mathematics
    Music
    Physical Education
    Physics
    Religious Studies
    Spanish
    Double-award Science

    A Level

    Art & Design
    Biology
    Business Studies
    Chemistry
    Classical Civilisation
    Computer Science
    Design and Technology
    Drama and Theatre Studies
    Economics
    English Literature
    French
    Further Mathematics
    Geography
    German
    History
    Latin
    Mathematics
    Music
    Physical Education
    Physics
    Politics
    Psychology
    Religious Studies
    Spanish
    Textiles
  • Fees and bursaries

    Day fees per term

    Year 7£8,443
    Year 8 £8,443
    Year 9 £8,443
    Year 10£8,443
    Year 11£8,443
    Year 12£8,443
    Year 13£8,443




    Bursary contact:

    bursarysecretary@swps.org.uk
  • SEND



    Co-ordinator: Head of Personalised Learning admissions@swps.org.uk
  • Transport links

    School Transport
    School daily bus network

    Public Transport
    Nearest mainline train station: Chertsey
    Journey time to London by train: 55 minutes
    Nearest international airport: Heathrow (10 miles)


School Updates

  • Sir William Perkins’s students celebrate A Level success, securing places at top universities

    Students at Sir William Perkins’s School in Chertsey are celebrating well-deserved A Level results this year. 80% of all grades achieved were A*- B and nearly half of grades awarded were A*- A.
    Sir William Perkins’s students celebrate A Level success, securing places at top universities
  • 10 Questions with Debbie Picton, head of Sir William Perkins's School

    10 Questions with Debbie Picton, head of Sir William Perkins's School
  • Sir William Perkins’s School to welcome boys from 2026

    We are delighted to announce that SWPS will open its doors to boys from September 2026. Subject to regulatory approval, this will be a phased introduction, with boys initially joining Years 7 and 12, and the School becoming fully co-educational by 2030.
    Sir William Perkins’s School to welcome boys from 2026
  • Congratulations to Serenna who has won the Young Creative of the Year Award.

    Congratulations to Serenna who has won the Young Creative of the Year Award.
  • Sir William Perkins's School Scholarships Programme

    Sir William Perkins's School Scholarships Programme
  • SWPS Webinars

    Friendship issues, online safety, managing anxiety, working smart. SWPS Talks is a series of bite-sized webinars that are 30 minutes long. All webinars are written and presented by the Staff at SWPS who are Department Heads or subject area specialists.
    SWPS Webinars
  • WATCH: Sir William Perkins's School - Senior School

    WATCH: Sir William Perkins's School - Senior School
  • WATCH: Sir William Perkins's School - Sixth Form

    WATCH: Sir William Perkins's School - Sixth Form
  • WATCH: Sir William Perkins's School - Drone

    WATCH: Sir William Perkins's School - Drone

Essentials

Address
Guildford Road, Chertsey, Surrey KT16 9BN

Contact
admissions@swps.org.uk
01932 574900

Website
swps.org.uk

ISI Report

Fees

Term Dates


Open Days

Open days and how to visit View Open Days Register for open Day

Open Day
13 March 2025
Open Day
28 March 2025


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