Elstree, Berkshire
Elstree – which educates boys and girls from three to 13 – is nestled in 150 acres of stunning countryside near Newbury in Berkshire. The school, which celebrated its 175th anniversary last year, says that its aim is two-fold: ‘to find out how a child is intelligent rather than how intelligent a child is’ and to teach pupils that ‘effort is king’. From Year 4 onwards, children can choose to flexi or weekly board and from Year 5 pupils are taught by individual specialists in all subjects from Year 5, compared with the usual Year 7. Although Elstree is non-selective, school-leavers have received scholarships to – among others – Eton, Harrow, Radley, Marlborough and Winchester. Notable alumni include the singer-songwriter James Blunt, novelist Sebastian Faulks, politician Richard Tice and writer and activist George Monbiot.
Cranleigh, Surrey
Cranleigh School – which offers both boarding and day education to boys and girls aged 13 to 18 – is Surrey’s leading co-educational independent school. A new head, Samantha Price, is joining the school this month, succeeding Martin Reader, who was at the helm for a decade. Cranleigh has been co-ed for 25 years, and opened in 1865 ‘to provide a sound and plain education, on the principles of the Church of England, and on the public school system, for the sons of farmers and others engaged in commercial pursuits’. It now educates 620 pupils across eight houses and has an impressive sporting pedigree, being rated as the third-best sporting school in Britain. Former pupils include the ex-Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger, the playwright Patrick Marber, the England cricketer Ollie Pope and the historian Andrew Roberts.
Monkton Combe School, Somerset
Monkton Combe is a co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged two to 18, in the beautiful Midford valley on the edge of Bath. The school is proud of its Christian ethos, although says that Monkton is ‘very much about faith rather than religion’. Monkton has extensive sporting facilities – including cricket pitches that Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, the ‘bible of cricket’, has selected for its ‘loveliest grounds of England’ lists – and two boathouses on the River Avon. Former pupils include the author Bernard Cornwell, the former head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove and the Oxford theologian Nigel Biggar.
St Robert of Newminster Catholic School, Sunderland
It’s been a big year for former students of St Robert of Newminster Catholic School, a co-educational state secondary and sixth-form college in Washington in Sunderland. Labour’s new Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson attended the school, as did Jordan Pickford, who played in goal for the England football team throughout their run to the final of Euro 2024. St Robert’s was previously a voluntary aided school, but five years ago it converted to academy status. There are more than 1,600 students on roll, and just over a decade ago the school completed a £13 million build-and-refurbishment programme. The headteacher is Mr Dean Juric, who said about Phillipson’s appointment: ‘It is always wonderful to hear success stories from our former students.’
[Alamy]
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