Close to nature and academically outstanding
Located just 50 minutes from London, the prestigious Charterhouse School is set on a spacious 100-hectare campus near Godalming in Surrey. Surrounded by historic buildings, modern learning facilities and expansive green spaces, it offers an inspiring environment that combines academic excellence with an exceptionally warm and welcoming community.
As one of the United Kingdom’s most renowned boarding schools, Charterhouse stands for the highest academic standards, innovative teaching methods and a vibrant boarding culture founded on values such as kindness, openness and mutual respect. Around 1,000 students from 45 countries learn, live and grow together in an atmosphere that fosters both personal development and a strong sense of belonging.
With 15 boarding houses, Charterhouse offers a structured yet family-oriented environment. Each house has its own Housemaster or Housemistress, tutors and matrons who support and care for the students. Accommodation ranges from single rooms to shared rooms, some with private bathrooms – with the newest buildings offering particularly comfortable, modern living spaces.
House life forms the heart of the boarding experience: this is where friendships are made, evenings are spent together and house competitions take place. A team of 75 pastoral staff ensures every student feels safe, supported and at home. Healthy eating is an important part of boarding life, and the kitchen caters to individual dietary needs.
Akademis makes history – A Triple Award-Winning Consultancy (2023, 2024 & 2025) 🏆
Akademis has been recognised three years in a row by StudyTravel for excellence in the education sector:
2025 & 2024: Winners of the StudyTravel Secondary School Award (Best Western European Agency)
2023: Winner of the StudyTravel Star Award
(Best Western European Agency)
The StudyTravel Awards are among the most prestigious honours in international education, recognising outstanding quality, client focus and trusted partnerships. Being the first consultancy ever to win for three consecutive years is something we are deeply proud of. For us, these awards highlight our commitment to offering the very best guidance, personal service and long-term support for families embarking on this exciting journey.
Quick Overview
Total number of students: 1000
Age of students: 13–18
Boarding students: 863
International students: 25%
Students in the Sixth Form: 485
Boarding fees for senior school per term: £20,016
The most important sports on offer: football, cricket, netball, tennis, hockey, athletics
Nearest airports: London Heathrow (50 min), London Gatwick (50 min)
Academic Results:
- GCSE: Over 75% of grades awarded 7–9 (A/A*)
Key Strengths at a Glance
Academic excellence
Renowned Art & Design Department (ceramics, fashion, film & animation)
First-class sports facilities & outdoor programmes
Warm, diverse and international boarding community
Charterhouse School – Photo Highlights
Charterhouse School in Detail
Academic life
Charterhouse is known for its rigorous yet modern approach to education, focusing on individual support and intellectual curiosity. Students can choose from a broad range of subjects – from sciences and literature to art, technology & design, business & politics and psychology. Language learning is strongly encouraged, with courses offered in French, Spanish, German, Italian, Latin and Mandarin. Academic performance is consistently impressive: In 2025, over 75% of GCSE results were awarded grades 7–9 (A/A*)
97% of A Level and IB grades achieved A*–B or equivalent. For book lovers, the Charterhouse Library is a true highlight. With more than 30,000 books and materials, a wide selection of digital resources, and access to leading databases such as JSTOR and The Economist, it is an ideal environment for study, research and quiet reading.
Creative arts
Creative subjects are an integral part of school life. The Art & Design Department offers an impressive range of disciplines – from painting, sculpture and ceramics to fashion, textile design, film and animation. Regular gallery visits and international art trips, most recently to New York and Florence, broaden students’ cultural experiences. Music also plays an important role in the school community. Around half of the students receive instrumental lessons, and many participate in choirs, orchestras or chamber ensembles. Numerous concerts, the popular House Singing competition and other performances provide many opportunities to develop and showcase musical talents.
Sport
Sport plays a central role at Charterhouse. The extensive campus includes:
– 17 grass pitches
– 3 artificial turf pitches
– an athletics stadium
– a modern sports centre
– 24 tennis courts
– a 9-hole golf course
Major sports include hockey, football, cricket, tennis, netball and athletics. Students can also explore additional activities such as swimming, climbing, fencing or cross-country.
Co-Curricular & Outdoor Education
With more than 110 clubs and activities, the co-curricular programme is exceptionally diverse. In addition to traditional art and sports clubs, students can join programmes such as aviation, photography, dance, cooking or film production. The Outdoor Education programme includes the Combined Cadet Force and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, both of which build teamwork, leadership skills and resilience.
This is Charterhouse
School Fees
Boarding fees for Sixth Form currently stand at £20,016 per term, approximately £60,000 per year (as of 2025).
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Conclusion
Charterhouse offers a balanced combination of academic excellence, creative opportunities and personal development. The school nurtures independence, responsibility and a strong sense of community – values that accompany students long after they leave.
At the same time, there are many other outstanding boarding schools with holistic educational approaches.
We are confident that, together, we can find the right boarding school for your child.
We’re also happy to advise you on other boarding schools in England. You’ll find an overview on our Boarding Schools in England page.
Benefit from:
- effortless communication
- guidance with visa questions
- authentic insights from first-hand experience
- improved chances of acceptance thanks to our strong relationships with schools
What Makes Akademis Stand Out?
- We remain your trusted contact throughout your child’s stay, well beyond the placement process.
- We provide support with guardianship, visa applications and recognition of qualifications within your home country’s education system.
- We offer fully tailored advice. Our school recommendations are unique to each child and can run to 40 pages in length.
- Families receive our 30+ page boarding school guide, packed with practical tips and insights.
- We prepare your child thoroughly for entrance exams and interviews to maximise their chances of success.
- We arrange school visits, ensuring you have the opportunity to experience each school first-hand.
Every boarding school has its own character and ethos. Having personally visited more than 100 schools, we understand these nuances. We also work with schools that do not pay commission, ensuring that our advice remains independent and always in the best interest of your child.
Our roots lie in the UK. For years, we have placed 200–300 families annually into British boarding schools. While our portfolio now includes schools beyond Britain, the UK remains at the heart of what we do.
Our tailored approach results in exceptional acceptance rates. For example, in 2022/23, all seven students we placed at the highly selective Malvern College received offers – a 100% success rate.
We arrange for prospective families to speak with our current students to hear first-hand accounts of life at a UK boarding school.
