News

Reverse commute: the best schools within easy reach of London

By Talk Education
29 January 2025

Photo: Queen Anne's, Caversham

When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life,’ Samuel Johnson famously said, and two and a half centuries on he’s still not wrong (though less of the gender exclusivity, please). From the fabulous mix of awe-inspiring history and cultural vibrancy to the incredible opportunities for work and play, the UK capital pulses with life and is without doubt one of the best cities in the world to live in.

But a life well lived is all about balance, and while the cosmopolitan buzz of the metropolis can be stimulating for young people too (the museums, parks, West End shows, shops, restaurants and galleries), lots of London families worry about their children missing out on the benefits of a more rural education. Acres of green space to roam in, the sense of time passing more slowly, a tight-knit cohort to bond with and generally preserving a bit of a bubble over childhood before it’s time to hit the ground running as an adult – these are all persuasive arguments for choosing a school in the country.

It’s no surprise that parents endlessly debate the pros and cons of city versus country, wrestling with what often seem to be conflicting demands of family and career, wondering if they should up sticks to a rural enclave or stay put and gun for a top London school. There are as many right answers as there are families, but worth considering is a third way that gives everyone the best of both worlds: say hello to the reverse commute, where your children are city mice at home and country mice at school, travelling between the two in happy equilibrium.

The number of amazing schools within easy reach of London is surprisingly high, and the journeys to and from the capital are not the arduous energy-sappers you might expect. Some are on the Underground and central London bus routes. Others are quick, mainline train rides away. Many schools have dedicated coaches and even lay on shuttles and door-to-door services. All whisk children to spacious and tranquil campuses with the kind of extensive outside space that most London schools can only dream of. With study after study showing that the wellbeing-boosting power of being outdoors can help with academic, emotional and mental growth, the idea of reverse commuting becomes even more compelling. Happy children make successful learners.

Bigger grounds often also mean bigger and better facilities – acres of sports fields, on-site forest schools, equestrian centres, state-of-the art innovation hubs and professional-level performing arts centres – and co- and extracurricular offerings that far outstrip London rivals. There’s often a longer school day, for a start, which allows pupils to find their passions outside the classroom, plus many offer the option of boarding – flexi, weekly or full – so that families can tailor the commute to suit their child, week by week, term by term, year by year, which is a far less disruptive way of meeting their growing needs than changing schools.

All in all, reverse commuting is definitely worth considering if London is your home, or you’re thinking of moving there but want to give your kids a wholesome slice of country life. Here we’ve put together a bumper selection of 30-plus fabulous schools – prep, senior, all-through, single sex, co-ed, day, day and boarding – all within a reasonable journey time of London. Happy hunting!

ACS Cobham

Journey time from London: A comprehensive bus network serves families across London and Surrey, and door-to-door and shuttle services are also on offer. From south-west London the journey time is about 30 minutes.

Details: Co-ed day and boarding school for ages 2 to 18
.

One of three horses in the ACS stable, this school sits in 128 acres of beautiful Surrey countryside with wonderful facilities and a warm and lively atmosphere. The IB is on offer, or pupils can opt to do the US High School Diploma and Advanced Placement Courses, ensuring they are able to choose the right path for them. The school’s goal to make pupils ready for the challenges of tomorrow so they can thrive at every stage of their lives is evident at every turn, with everyone getting the kind of individualised attention that is priceless.



ACS Egham

Journey time from London: An extensive bus network covers south-west London, including Chiswick, Hammersmith and Richmond. There are also dedicated shuttles and even bespoke door-to-door services. Journey times are 40 to 50 minutes.

Details: Co-ed day school for ages 4 to 18
.

One of only two schools in the UK to offer all four international Baccalaureate programmes that cover a child’s entire educational journey, ACS Egham is definitely worth travelling to if you’re considering an IB education with all the advantages it offers – from the development of 21st-century skills to a global passport of qualifications. The leafy campus on the edge of Windsor Great Park is dreamy, and with pupils hailing from all over the world, there’s a real diversity to the warm, tight-knit community. Plus the option of door-to-door service is very tempting.



ACS Hillingdon

Journey time from London: A wide network of school-bus routes covers almost the whole of the capital, from Richmond to Notting Hill and St John’s Wood. It’s also easy to reach by public transport, with lots of bus stops nearby and Hillingdon and Uxbridge Underground stations about a mile from the school campus.

Details: Co-ed day school for ages 4 to 18.


Pupils come from all over London to benefit from the bespoke education offered by this all-through school. The beautifully manicured grounds are fully utilised with lots of outdoor learning and forest school for younger pupils, while sixth-formers have multiple pathways available, including the IB Diploma Programme, Advanced Placement Courses, the US High School Diploma and the IB Career-Related Programme – the latter paves the way for careers in film and theatre, and ACS Hillingdon is the only school in the UK to offer it. Indeed, the visual arts, drama and music are particularly championed here, as is diversity – in cultures, languages and expectations.



Bancroft’s School

Journey time from London: From Oxford Circus it’s 31 minutes to Woodford on the Central line, then a 10-minute walk. The school is also on the Nos 20, 179 and W13 bus routes.

Details: Co-ed day school for ages 7 to 18.


Located right next to Epping Forest, Bancroft’s is not only an academic powerhouse, it also has huge grounds and top-notch facilities that mean classroom learning is super-boosted by a massive raft of 240 co-curricular activities. With its two gyms, swimming pool, double sports hall and 17 acres of sports fields, it’s hard to believe it’s even near a Tube line. Outdoor learning and exploration happen in the forest, and a roomy school day – from 7.45am to 6pm – means pupils who commute still have plenty of time to throw themselves into everything on offer.



Caldicott School

Journey time from London: School buses run from Notting Hill, Barnes Bridge, Chiswick, Brook Green and Hammersmith and take around 30 minutes, with routes being reviewed every year to meet families’ needs.

Details: All-boys day and boarding school for ages 7 to 13.


It’s hard to believe London is only half-an-hour away when you’re immersed in the 40 acres of greenbelt that make up Caldicott’s campus, with Burnham Beeches nature reserve right on the doorstep. It’s the perfect environment for boys to learn in and burn off energy. There’s an energetic and inclusive attitude to sport, with a much-anticipated internal tournament where live commentary, pyrotechnics and a buzzing crowd make for an exciting day. A wide range of flexible boarding is on offer, so pupils and families can customise each week to make it work for them. And the parent community is strong, with an even split between London dwellers and local families who all come together for the many school events. At the end of their time here, boys head off to top senior schools full of happy childhood memories.



Caterham School

Journey time from London: From Clapham Junction it’s a 22-minute ride to Upper Warlingham, where pupils can take a five-minute shuttle bus to the school campus.

Details: Co-ed day and boarding school for ages 3 to 18
.

This award-winning school is located in London’s Zone 6 but, with its 180-acre campus deep in the heart of the Surrey Hills, it feels like a proper country school. Pupils can commute daily, with the regular school shuttle bus to and from the station making it a seamless journey, or opt to board, either weekly or full time. There’s lots of outdoor learning in the on-site woodland, with activities including bushcraft, orienteering, zip wiring and weekend camp-outs all woven into the curriculum. And the impressive performing arts centre with two theatres is matched by equally impressive sports facilities.



Chigwell School

Journey time from London: Chigwell station is 35 to 40 minutes from the City of London on the Central line, and the school is a 15-minute walk away. There are free electric shuttle-bus services from the station and a regular bus service to and from Buckhurst Hill station, which is 30 minutes from Liverpool Street.

Details: Co-ed day school for ages 4 to 18, offering boarding to international pupils in the sixth form.


This academically selective school is located on a stunning 100-acre campus right by Epping Forest, with tantalising glimpses of the City of London through the trees. Its facilities are out of this world: a brand-new sport and wellness centre, a 3G pitch, Astroturf, endless cricket pitches and an outstanding music school and drama centre. Pupils enjoy superlative co-curricular with tons of sport, drama, art and music, and clubs ranging from robotics to feminist society and Japanese film club, alongside academics that ready them for top universities and glittering careers.



Cranleigh School

Journey time from London: Waterloo to Guildford is a 35-minute train ride, and Cranleigh is less than 20 minutes from Guildford. There is also a school-bus service picking up from key south-west London locations, including Wimbledon.

Details: Co-ed day and boarding school for ages 7 to 18.


An expansive 280 acres of stunning grounds in the beautiful Surrey countryside await pupils at this vibrant co-ed with the kind of facilities that city schools can only dream of, including an equestrian centre, art and design studios, a nine-hole golf course, theatres, swimming pool, dance studios, fitness centres and a music school. It’s an outstanding campus, and pupils throw themselves into every part of school life with gusto. Boarders and day pupils are fully integrated and, whether they board or not, the feel is a 100 per cent full-boarding experience.



Downe House

Journey time from London: From September 2025, a new school-bus service to London will run midweek and weekends, stopping at Paddington, Hyde Park Corner, Hammersmith and Chiswick (stops to be confirmed).

Details: All-girls day and boarding school for ages 11 to 18.


Set in 110 acres of glorious Berkshire countryside, Downe House has long attracted London families thanks to its great reputation as an excellent all-rounder. A long school day allows pupils to enjoy the fantastic on-site activities, from lacrosse and tennis (the school is famous for both of them) to every other sport under the sun, as well as heaps of dance, drama, music and creative arts. Downe House is also renowned for its cultural diversity and its excellent global programme of overseas exchanges and internships, which means pupils’ horizons are continually broadened. And with the new weekend and midweek London bus service launching in September, flexi boarding will become even easier for those who want to get the perfect school and home-life balance.



Edgeborough School

Journey time from London: Direct trains from Clapham Junction take 50 minutes, then it’s a short bus ride to the school.

Details: Co-ed day and boarding school for ages 2 to 13
.

Part of the Charterhouse family of schools, this dynamic prep in Farnham, Surrey, blends academic rigour with a holistic curriculum that includes an award-winning drama department, high-achieving sports teams and exceptional music ensembles. The 50-acre campus is designed for learning and adventure, and flexi-boarding options mean school can be tailored to fit in with family life. With many pupils leaving for top public schools including Wellington, Cranleigh and Charterhouse, it also gives older pupils an opportunity to dip their toe into the boarding experience.



Eton End

Journey time from London: Easily accessible from the M4 – driving from central London takes about 60 minutes.

Details: Co-ed day school for ages 2 to 11
.

Nestled in a tranquil setting between Windsor and Eton, and just a stone’s throw from Eton College, this small and friendly prep is surrounded by beautiful green space giving pupils plenty of opportunity for outdoor learning and play. The atmosphere is ideal for allowing pupils to find their passions and thrive in the classroom, as well as just be children. Lots of co-curricular activities are packed into an extended school day, including LAMDA, taekwondo and street dance, with pupils returning home happy and fulfilled.



Feltonfleet School

Journey time from London: Daily school buses run from south London, including Putney and Wimbledon, and take around 40 minutes. The school is easily accessed from the A3, M25 and A245.

Details: Co-ed day and boarding prep school for ages 3 to 13.


With its pristine sports fields, beautifully curated gardens, wonderful woodlands (complete with a hide and a pond) and state-of-the-art teaching facilities, this rural oasis of a prep school has it all. It’s enticingly close to London with flexi boarding as an option, so it’s no surprise that families in the capital are flocking here. Pupils thrive in the close-knit community and have endless opportunities for outdoor adventure, sport, STEM and the performing arts, all of which contribute to the holistic experience the school is so brilliant at delivering.



Frensham Heights

Journey time from London: From Waterloo to Farnham is about an hour by train, then minibuses shuttle pupils to school. There’s also a weekly boarders’ bus to and from Waterloo with a stop in Wandsworth.

Details: Co-ed day and boarding school for ages 3 to 18.

There’s a super-relaxed feel at this progressive school in the Surrey Hills where pupils have 100 acres of grounds to roam in, including beautiful woodland. Pupils and staff are on first-name terms and there’s no uniform, which creates a real feeling of authenticity where everyone can just be themselves and value each other for who they are. The creative and performing arts feature strongly, with six timetabled hours for Years 7 to 9 and an arts awards programme in the sixth form. Boarding is purposefully flexible, from occasional to full, to fit around pupils and their families, not the other way round.



Godstowe School

Journey time from London: The Marylebone to High Wycombe train takes 25 minutes, and the school is a 10-minute walk from the station. There are also daily school buses from Notting Hill and Hammersmith.

Details: Day and boarding prep school for girls aged 3 to 13, and boys aged 3 to 7
.

This idyllic prep on the edge of the Chilterns is the perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of the capital. It’s nestled in 12 acres of grounds, so children have lots of outdoor space for roaming and exploring. There are almost 100 clubs and activities to get stuck into, including swimming in the on-site pool and treading the boards in the state-of-the-art theatre. After-school activities run until 6.30pm, and the flexi- and full-boarding offering means pupils can mix and match when it comes to commuting and sleeping over.



Hampton Court House

Journey time from London: From Wimbledon to Hampton Court Station is 20 minutes (from Clapham Junction 30 minutes), then it’s a seven-minute walk to the school across Hampton Green. 

Details: Co-ed day school for ages 2 to 18
.

When it comes to locations, it doesn’t get much more gorgeous than this progressive, all-through co-ed in southwest London, with its stately, Grade II-listed mansion nestled in stunning parkland with ancient trees, a heart-shaped lake and award-winning gardens all creating a perfect sanctuary for learning. The tranquil setting is matched by the warm and inclusive atmosphere, where pupils wear their own clothes and address staff by their first names. Small class sizes means everyone gets the attention they need and academic results are impressive. Even more impressive though is the wonderfully nurturing pastoral care with student mental health champions, a much-loved recharge room and Leo, one of the friendliest wellbeing dogs you’re likely to meet.



Heathfield School

Journey time from London: A school minibus service covers Richmond, Chiswick and Hammersmith and takes around 45 minutes. A weekly bus service (Friday and Sunday evenings) for boarders covers South Kensington, Hammersmith and Chiswick. New routes are planned from September 2025.

Details: All-girls boarding and day school for ages 11 to 18.


This nurturing school sits in a beautiful, tree-lined, 36-acre campus surrounded by rolling Berkshire countryside. Individual care is superlative here – Heathfield’s small size means no one goes under the radar, and the communication between school and home is exceptional. As are the facilities, which include a knockout STEM building, performing arts theatre, digital recording studio, photography department, cookery suite, on-site chapel, indoor pool, lacrosse pitches galore, dance studio, fitness suite and cross-country track. And with many activities on offer, from polo to paddleboarding, it’s no surprise that the cosy boarding houses are often full, with last-minute requests almost always accommodated.



Lambrook School

Journey time from London: Daily minibus services from Brook Green and Chiswick take about 50 minutes.

Details: Co-ed day and boarding school for ages 3 to 13.


This nurturing prep in 52 acres of bucolic Berkshire countryside expertly balances learning with the magic of childhood. A vibrant mix of pupils come from nearby Ascot, Windsor, Eton and Maidenhead, as well as a big cohort from London whose school day starts and finishes with the friendly minibus drivers. They all enjoy enchanting days full of outside exploration in the woodland and orchard where chickens, lambs and goats roam, and lots of time playing sport – from golf on the school’s nine-hole course to squash, swimming and cricket. It feels a long way from the city, and it’s no wonder weekly and flexi boarding is popular with so much fun to enjoy.



Marymount International School London

Journey time from London: 25 minutes on an overland train from Waterloo to Norbiton, then a 20-minute walk or five-minute drive. The school is also on bus routes from Putney and Kingston, and there are easy train connections from Wimbledon and Raynes Park.

Details: IB all-girls day and boarding school for ages 11 to 18
.

Just south of Wimbledon and 12 miles outside central London, Marymount sits in a quiet, six-acre garden campus in a leafy enclave of Kingston upon Thames. A world-class International Baccalaureate school, it offers the perfect mix of academic breadth and rigour paired with pastoral care that sees every girl nurtured to achieve her potential. Facilities are impressive, and the school community is tight-knit and super supportive. As well as being popular with London families who love the flexi boarding, Marymount also attracts lots of overseas pupils, making for a rich and culturally diverse environment.



Mayfield School

Journey time from London: Within an hour’s drive from central London. Weekly bus services to London operate on Friday afternoons, returning on Sunday evenings.

Details: All-girls day and boarding school for ages 11 to 18
.

Medieval architecture is interspersed with modern facilities on a gorgeous 40-acre campus at this girls’ school in the heart of rural East Sussex. The picturesque setting makes the perfect backdrop for developing individual talent – there’s no churning out cookie-cutter leavers here. Girls have a peaceful haven to focus on their studies, discover their passions and build lifelong friendships. The exceptional STEM offering, on-site equestrian centre and renowned arts and ceramics programmes are all big draws, while the state-of-the-art wellbeing centre testifies to the importance of pastoral care at Mayfield. There’s a strong boarding community of nearly 200 pupils with all boarding options on the table, from full to flexi.



Merchant Taylors’ School

Journey time from London: From Euston, Moor Park station is 33 minutes on the Metropolitan line. The school is a short walk from the station.

Details: All-boys day school for ages 11 to 18
.

Perfectly poised between the countryside and the city, London is within easy reach for the boys at Merchant Taylors’, who regularly go on trips to the capital’s museums, theatres and, thanks to the strong alumni connections, large commercial enterprises in the City that open doors and horizons. Back at school, the massive 285-acre campus offers lakes, woodland, fields, cricket squares (10, no less), Astro pitches and endless opportunities for sport and outdoor adventure, including kayaking, paddleboarding, rowing and forest fieldcraft days.



Notre Dame School

Journey time from London: School buses to and from multiple locations in south-west London take about 30 minutes, and there is a daily late service to allow pupils to take part in after-school activities.

Details: All-girls day school for ages 2 to 18
.

This girls’ school in Cobham offers a serene environment of 26 acres of beautiful Surrey parkland for girls to learn, grow and breathe in. Wellbeing is paramount, and academic aspirations are perfectly balanced with emotional intelligence and fostering a sense of calm and balance where everyone feels comfortable to develop at their own pace. The co-curricular is fabulous (and it doesn’t tail off as the girls get older), in particular sport, with knockout facilities including two cross-country tracks, a fitness suite and an indoor heated pool. Friendships are strong and the whole school community is warm and supportive, no doubt helped by the quiet setting and bags of outside space.



Papplewick School

Journey time from London: Three daily school-bus services, with pick-up and drop-off points in Chiswick, Hammersmith and Gloucester Road and a journey time of 40 to 55 minutes.

Details: All-boys day and boarding prep school for ages 6 to 13.


This boys’ school in Ascot has seen burgeoning numbers of London parents keen to give their sons a country-prep experience, and with Papplewick looking after the commute, it couldn’t be easier. The appeal of this place is indisputable: top-class academics, upmarket country-club-style facilities, boarding options and an endless choice of extracurricular activities (including snake club!). It means parents don’t have to be after-school taxi drivers taking their sons to clubs, while pupils enjoy the greater freedom of a rural school and the old-fashioned childhood it affords, with no computer games or smartphones, just fun, friends and adventures.



Prior’s Field

Journey time from London: 40 minutes from Waterloo, then a five-minute drive from Godalming station, 10 minutes from Guildford.

Details: All-girls day and boarding school for ages 11 to 18.


A safe and happy environment envelops pupils at this historic girls’ school in picturesque Godalming. Founded by Aldous Huxley’s mother Julia in 1902, it still adheres to its progressive principles and understands the importance of a balanced education. A Grade II-listed, Arts & Crafts building by CFA Voysey is the centrepiece of the idyllic 42-acre campus, which includes woodland, lawns, a swimming pool, tennis courts and fantastic music, drama and art facilities. There are boarding options to suit all and clubs from creative writing to Rubik’s Cube to expand minds and foster curiosity.



Queen Anne’s Caversham

Journey time from London: Paddington to Reading is a 25-minute journey, then a school shuttle bus takes 10 minutes from the train station. The school also runs a dedicated London coach service on Monday mornings and Friday afternoons.

Details: All-girls day and boarding school for ages 11 to 18
.

It’s an easy commute to this powerhouse near Reading where the ethos of kind hearts, fierce minds and strong spirits turns out confident and successful young women ready to take on the world. Immersed in an enriching school experience set apart from London life, pupils enjoy national-level sports facilities, a rich curriculum and innovative facilities complete with up-to-the-minute tech. The boarding provision is excellent and popular with pupils and parents alike, who all love the easy coach services to and from home.



Reddam House

Journey time from London: From Paddington to Reading station is a 30-minute train journey; the school provides pick-up and drop-off services from Maidenhead, Windsor, Reading, Crowthorne and Camberley, and its bus network is set to grow in 2025.

Details: Co-ed day and boarding school for ages 4 to 18
.

There’s a real commitment to holistic education at this stunning school in 125 acres of beautiful Berkshire parkland. Pupils really connect with nature, and there’s an amazing co-curricular offering to complement the excellent academics. Facilities are top-notch – look out for the amazing new sports complex due to open in September 2025 – and the extended day means everyone can throw themselves into their passions, with flexible boarding options offering even more immersion to suit each pupil as they grow.



Royal Russell School

Journey time from London: 37 minutes from London Victoria via Clapham Junction and East Croydon. The school is opposite the Coombe Lane tram stop and is on the Nos 130 and 466 bus routes. School buses run to and from Dulwich and Clapham.

Details: Co-ed day and boarding school for ages 3 to 18
.

There’s a lovely family feel to this school in Croydon, with its 110-acre woodland campus filled with knockout facilities, including a cutting-edge science block, immaculate sports pitches, a 25m indoor pool and a professional-level performing arts centre. Co-curricular is great: the sports teams compete at national and international level; and recent stage productions include Beauty and the Beast, Legally Blonde and Chicago. Royal Russell offers full boarding, which means it’s open 24/7, so day pupils can turn up for breakfast and stay until supper, giving them ample time to enjoy everything on offer.



St George’s Ascot

Journey time from London: A 50-minute train ride from Waterloo. There are also daily and weekly school-bus services to and from west London that can be tailored to fit pupils’ schedules.

Details: Girls’ day and boarding school for ages 11 to 18
.

It’s hard not to be blown away by St George’s Ascot’s seriously outstanding facilities, which include professional-level art and dance studios, a music-technology suite complete with a recording studio, a food-tech room that rivals the set of MasterChef and a 25m indoor pool. And all less than an hour from London. An extended day allows the girls to make the most of all the clubs and activities on offer and, with 30 acres of grounds, the school is its own little universe. Flexi boarding allows for stays of two, three or four nights a week, so pupils can find their own perfect balance of home life and school immersion. And with bespoke bus services too, it couldn’t be more convenient for the London-based.



St James Senior Boys’ School

Journey time from London: Clapham Junction to Ashford, Surrey, takes 27 minutes, then it’s a quick two-minute walk from the station.

Details: All-boys day school for ages 11 to 18
.

This boys’ school is renowned for cultivating resilience, self-confidence and a lifelong love of learning – and the setting is an integral part of its superbly holistic offering. The tranquil 30-acre site encompasses endless sports grounds, a climbing wall and the most amazing scenic cross-country track through fields, woodlands and even around a beautiful 2.5-acre lake. Academics are tip-top, and St James also excels at preparing pupils for life with its thriving CCF, DofE programme and on-point pastoral care that equips them with everything they need to navigate life with clarity and purpose.



Shiplake College

Journey time from London: Paddington to Reading takes 25 minutes, and the school runs a shuttle bus to Shiplake (around 15 minutes), depending on demand. For weekly boarders, there is a west London bus route covering Kingston, Barnes and Hammersmith that travels into London on Fridays, and back on Sunday evenings and Monday mornings. The M4 and M40 are easily accessible too.

Details: Co-ed day and boarding school for ages 11 to 18
.

This school is 30 miles from central London, but its rural setting overlooking a peaceful stretch of the Thames in Oxfordshire is a million miles from the rush of the capital. It’s selective but takes a holistic approach to assessment, and its ethos is all about being inclusive, individual and inspirational – three 'I's that see pupils excelling in all areas. Shiplake has a particularly formidable reputation in rowing (Henley is just a few miles away), but all of its sports and performing arts are impressive, and the inclusive approach means everyone gets involved. The weekly and flexi-boarding offering also makes it a popular choice for London families, so much so that it even runs an event at the Soho House on Chiswick High Road to help keep up with enquiries. The next one is scheduled for 6 March, with tickets available on the school website.



Shrewsbury House Preparatory School

Journey time from London: A fleet of school buses covers Putney, Fulham, Wimbledon, Kingston, New Malden, Raynes Park and Hampton Court. Waterloo to Surbiton is a 20-minute train ride, then it’s a 20-minute walk from the station.

Details: All-boys day school for ages 7 to 13
.

Great pastoral care goes hand in hand with amazing academics at this boys’ prep that sits in a peaceful enclave of Surbiton, tucked away from the bustle of the city but easily accessible thanks to the school’s dedicated transport service. Staff are extraordinary – the executive head has gongs to her name – and the facilities no less so, with state-of-the-art science labs, D&T studio, robotics room, swimming pool and an International Rugby Board-certified all-weather surface, where the boys play rugby, cricket and football. It’s a caring and dynamic environment and, at 13, pupils fly off to top senior schools, many with scholarships in hand.



Sir William Perkins's School

Journey time from London: Waterloo to Chertsey is about 50 minutes by train, and the school is a short walk from the station. School-bus routes cover Barnes, Putney and Richmond.

Details: All-girls day school for ages 11 to 18. From September 2026, the school will welcome boys
.

There’s a happy and purposeful atmosphere at this school, where pupils consistently achieve outstanding academic results and go on to top universities worldwide. The 13-acre campus boasts fabulous sports facilities, and the self-contained sixth form centre is beyond impressive. The day extends to 6pm, which gives everyone a chance to commit to the more than 100 co-curricular activities on offer. And with boys soon to join the mix, the school is going from strength to strength.



Whitgift School

Journey time from London: London Bridge to South Croydon is 18 minutes by train, and the school is a 13-minute walk from the station. Free shuttle buses run after school to South Croydon and Waddon stations. The school operates a fleet of minibuses and coaches covering an area of up to one hour’s drive from the school gates, with 13 routes including Clapham, Dulwich, Putney, Wandsworth and Wimbledon. There are also several public bus routes on the doorstep, and East Croydon rail station and tram service are a 15-minute walk away.

Details: All-boys day and boarding school for ages 10 to 18
.

Situated in 45 acres of immaculate grounds and beautiful parkland, Whitgift offers first-class sporting facilities alongside excellent academics and transport that is as tailored to seamless commuting as possible. A full-time transport manager oversees route planning, and each year new families are surveyed to review current routes and adapt them if needed. The school-bus service is brilliant, with a simple app that allows full-term and ad-hoc booking. There’s fantastic diversity at the school too, with boys coming from lots of different backgrounds, and there are also 100 boarders, full and weekly, who reside in the on-site Founder’s House.

TE Logo

TE Schools Advice

Choosing your child’s school is one of the most important decisions you will ever make – let our experienced team help you. We will guide you through the decision-making process and give you the confidence to make the right choice, armed with the most up-to-date insider knowledge. We are all parents ourselves – we know how hard this is, and we can make it easier for you.
read more