Charterhouse

Focus

Dynamic and energetically ambitious students

Day fees 2025/26

$62,700

Boarding fees 2025/26

$80,500

Term dates

• Term 1: 2 September to 5 December 2025
• Term 2: 4 January to 20 March 2026
• Term 3: 14 April to 27 June 2026
  

Ages

13-18

Pupil count

1,030

Spear’s Review

Set in 250 acres of Surrey countryside and with excellent facilities, Charterhouse is well equipped to nurture sporting prowess alongside academic success.

The head, Dr Alex Peterken, says that the school looks upon its relationship with pupils as a partnership in which students are encouraged to develop responsibility, taking an active role in their own education. To this end, the school emphasises the importance of imparting knowledge, skills and attitudes that will allow students to succeed not just in their future schooling – but throughout their adult lives.

Academic rigour, intellectual curiosity and the ability to learn independently are points of emphasis, alongside values of kindness, perseverance, responsibility, moral courage and open-mindedness.

Academics

In 2025:

• 76 per cent of GCSE results were grades 7-9
• 60 per cent of A-Level results were A* or A
• Average IB score was 37.2

Head teacher

Dr Alex Peterken, head since 2018, was an academic prize winner in history and theology at Eton College before gaining a BA in theology from the University of Durham and then an MA in educational management and a doctorate in education, specialising in school leadership. He taught for 11 years at Charterhouse and then served as deputy head and headmaster at Cheltenham College before returning to Charterhouse.

University and college destinations

In 2025, 3 per cent of Charterhouse graduates gained places at Oxford and Cambridge. Students also plan to attend US universities, and another 3 per cent of graduates are continuing their studies at Ivy League schools.

Admissions

According to the school, the admissions process is academically selective by competitive assessment, interview and subject to a reference from a child’s current school. There are four main routes of entry: at 11+, 13+, 14+ and 16+.

Notable alumni

The many notable ‘Old Carthusians’ include:

• David and Jonathan Dimbleby (presenters)
  
• Jeremy Hunt (former Chancellor of the Exchequer)
  
• Sir Robin Niblett (director of Chatham House)
  
• William Thackeray (author)

Accessibility

Heathrow Airport: 50 minutes

Location

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