Charterhouse

Overview

Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian monastery in Charterhouse Square, Smithfield, it is one of the original nine English public schools as defined by the Public Schools Act 1868 which derived from the Clarendon Commission of 1864. The school announced in 2009 its decision to switch from A levels to the Cambridge Pre-U and International Baccalaureate. In 2012 Charterhouse had its best set of Cambridge Pre-U results with 96% of examinations taken awarded Distinction or Merit grades. Seventy-eight pupils achieved Distinctions (or their A level equivalent) in all subjects taken and twenty-one achieved the equivalent of A level A* grades in all their subjects. Twenty pupils were offered places at Oxford or Cambridge. The 2009 Ofsted Social Care Inspection Report noted that 'The provision for "Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do" is rated as outstanding.' and 'This is a good school, in which boarders' welfare is promoted by a strong approach to countering bullying and child protection. Boarding staff have good relationships with the boarders, and boarders can list a range of people who they can talk to if they are worried or have concerns.'

Unique Points

The school has a top 60 placing in the A-level league tables, and in 2011 over 80% of pupils are awarded an A* or A grade at GCSE. In 2007, Roy Hattersley, former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and minister, reported on a visit to Charterhouse in the Guardian newspaper. After describing his impression that "[The chapel]'s geometric spires and minarets proclaim complete confidence that Charterhouse educates men who are destined to rule the universe", he said: "Academically and pastorally, it is near to beyond criticism. And after only a brief glimpse of the school, I have no doubt that I would have been ecstatically happy there. But its existence allows the rich and the powerful to ignore the world beyond its boundaries." He therefore concluded that his intention to abolish private education in the 1970s was "totally justified". Charterhouse has an historic joint claim to having founded Association Football, which remains the main Winter sport at the school.

Entry Requirements

Boys are admitted to Charterhouse in Year 9, when most of them are 13. We do not have any hard and fast rules about the age of admission, and some boys come when they are still 12 and others when they are 14. Most boys are admitted after taking the Foundation Scholarship or Common Entrance Examinations. We do, however, have our own tests for boys who are not at Prep Schools. A limited number of boys from overseas are admitted after taking our own tests in English, Mathematics and Science, usually in the January of the year of entry. A limited number of boys who live within very easy reach of Charterhouse can be admitted as day boarders, at the discretion of the Headmaster. At Sixth Form, around 70 girls and 35 boys join each year as boarders or day pupils, and become members of the sixth form House or one of the eleven boarding Houses. Admission is by competitive examination and interview.