Schools in Surrey: A Parent’s Guide to State and Independent Schools
Schools in Surrey: A Parent’s Guide to State and Independent Schools
From village primaries to some of the country’s best-known independent schools, Surrey offers families a wealth of choice. Here’s how to make sense of it.
For many London families, the move to Surrey starts with a conversation about schools. It’s easy to see why. Alongside more space and greener surroundings, the county offers well-regarded state schools in many of its towns and villages, and one of the largest independent sectors in the country, with everything from small prep schools to famous names offering day places, boarding or something in between.
But Surrey does things a little differently, and families arriving from London are often caught out. School structures, admissions processes and even the age at which children change schools can vary from one town to the next, so what worked in Wandsworth or Wimbledon won’t always apply in Weybridge or Epsom.
This guide is here to help. We explain how Surrey’s schools work, what to expect from admissions at every stage, and where to find our detailed guides to schools in each local area. Whether you’re planning a move or simply weighing up your next step, start here.
For advice on choosing a school at every stage, see our guide to schools in south west London and Surrey.
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At a Glance
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Local authority: Surrey County Council. Apply through your home council, even if your chosen school is in another area.
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Key deadlines: Secondary school applications by 31 October; Reception and junior school (Year 3) applications by 15 January.
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Infant and junior schools: Many Surrey children attend separate infant and junior schools, with a second application needed for Year 3.
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Grammar schools: None in Surrey. All state secondaries are non-selective, though families in the north of the county may be able to apply to grammar schools in Kingston and Sutton.
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Independent schools: A large sector offering day places, flexi, weekly and full boarding. Inspected by the ISI.
How Surrey schools work
If you’re moving from London, Surrey’s schools may look familiar at first glance. But there are a few important differences, and knowing them early can save a lot of stress later.
Infant and junior schools
In most London boroughs, children start Reception at a primary school and stay until they leave at 11. In much of Surrey, that journey is split in two. More than 100 of the county’s state schools are separate infant schools (ages 4 to 7) or junior schools (ages 7 to 11), alongside the all-through primaries.
That means a second application. If your child attends an infant school, you’ll need to apply for a junior school place for Year 3, with the same 15 January deadline as Reception applications. Many paired infant and junior schools give priority to children moving up from their linked infant school, but this isn’t automatic everywhere, so check the admissions policy for each school on your list.
The 11+ and 13+ routes
Surrey’s independent sector is one of the largest in the country, and it still offers two main routes into senior school. Many day schools admit pupils at 11+, as in London. But Surrey is also home to some well-known boarding schools, and that sector leans heavily towards entry at 13+. Some of these schools run pre-tests in Year 6 or Year 7 before final assessments.
As a result, some Surrey prep schools keep children until 13 rather than 11, so it’s worth asking any prep you visit where its pupils go next, and at what age. Choosing a prep that runs to 13 can shape your options at senior school, and vice versa.
For more on choosing a senior school, see our guide to choosing a secondary school.
State primary schools
Surrey has around 300 state primary schools, with a fairly even mix of academies, community schools and faith schools. Many are excellent, and the most popular are heavily oversubscribed, so where you live often decides where your child goes.
There are a few things to know before you start. Many Surrey children attend separate infant and junior schools, and you’ll need to apply again for a junior school place for Year 3. Faith schools vary: Catholic primaries usually prioritise Catholic families, but many Church of England primaries in Surrey don’t have a faith requirement, so read each school’s policy rather than assuming. Applications for Reception and Year 3 go through your home council and close on 15 January.
State secondary schools
Surrey’s state secondaries are all non-selective, and almost all are co-educational comprehensives. The exceptions are Glyn School (boys) and Rosebery School (girls), both in Epsom. Many are academies, and the county also has a number of Church of England and Catholic secondaries, which may use faith criteria when they’re oversubscribed.
With no grammar schools in the county, competition for the most popular secondaries is intense, and distance from the school often decides who gets a place. Surrey County Council publishes how places were allocated in previous years, so check how far offers reached at the schools you’re considering before you apply. Families in the north of the county may also be within the priority areas of the grammar schools across the border in Kingston.
Sixth form options vary from area to area. Many secondaries have their own sixth forms, while in some parts of the county students move on to a sixth form college at 16. Esher Sixth Form College, for example, draws students from more than 100 schools across Surrey and south west London.
Applications for secondary school places go through your home council and close on 31 October. For September 2027 entry, that’s 31 October 2026.
For advice on making the decision, read our guide to choosing a secondary school.
Independent schools
Surrey has one of the largest independent school sectors in the country, from small village preps and nurseries to some of the best-known senior schools in England. The choice covers day schools, flexi and weekly boarding and full boarding, and the routes into senior school vary too: many day schools admit at 11+, while others, particularly boarding schools, still take most pupils at 13+.
The sector is also changing fast. A striking number of Surrey schools are moving from single-sex to co-education: Parkside in Cobham, Sir William Perkins’s in Chertsey and St James Senior Boys’ in Ashford are all part of that shift. If co-education matters to you, check which year groups are currently mixed, as transitions are often phased over several years.
As in London, fees now include VAT, and independent schools are inspected by the ISI rather than Ofsted. Bursaries and scholarships are widely available, though usually concentrated at the main entry points.
Prep schools
Banstead Prep School
Independent | Co-ed 2–11 | Sutton Lane, Banstead
A co-educational prep and nursery on the outskirts of Banstead village, Banstead Prep puts character at the heart of its approach. It isn’t a feeder for any one senior school, and instead helps families find a realistic but ambitious next step for each child. Forest school runs from nursery to Year 2, and wraparound care from early morning to 6pm will appeal to working parents.
Feltonfleet School
Independent | Co-ed 3–13, day and flexi/weekly boarding | Cobham
Founded in 1903 and set on a 25-acre site near the A3, Feltonfleet keeps children until 13 and prepares them for senior school entry at that age. Its guiding belief is that this is a school “where individuals really matter”. Flexi and weekly boarding are popular with families who want to build their children’s independence before senior school, and clubs and supervision run from 7.30am to 6.30pm.
Parkside School
Independent | Co-ed nursery and pre-prep; boys’ prep to 13, becoming fully co-ed | Stoke d’Abernon, Cobham
Housed since 1978 in a Georgian manor on the banks of the River Mole, Parkside sits in 45 acres that give it a rural feel just minutes from the A3. It is in the middle of a big change: its nursery and pre-prep are already co-educational, girls are joining the prep school from 2026, and the school plans to be fully co-educational by 2030.
St Hilary’s Preparatory School & Nursery
Independent | Co-ed 2–11 | Holloway Hill, Godalming
A short walk from Godalming station, St Hilary’s has been educating local children since 1927 and is now part of the St Edmund’s School Trust. It is non-selective, with a forest school, an adventure play area and a strong emphasis on music, drama and sport. It was named Independent Prep School of the Year in 2020.
Shrewsbury House Pre-Prep
Independent | Co-ed 2–7 | Milbourne Lane, Esher
Established in 1912 and tucked between Claygate and Esher, this small pre-prep has its own grounds designed for young children, including woodland for forest school. It is part of the Shrewsbury House School Trust, alongside The Rowans in Wimbledon and Shrewsbury House prep in Surbiton. Boys can follow a “straight through” route to Shrewsbury House prep, and the school advises girls’ families on a wide range of next schools.
Senior day schools
Halliford School
Independent | Boys 11–18, co-ed sixth form | Russell Road, Shepperton
Set on a bend of the Thames in Shepperton, Halliford is smaller than many of its neighbours, which allows a more tailored approach to learning. Boys join at 11 or 13 for a “seven-year journey”, and girls join its co-educational sixth form. Its theme sums up the ethos: “Come as you are. Go as all you can be.”
Claremont Fan Court School
Independent | Co-ed 2½–18 | Claremont Drive, Esher
Set in around 100 acres of the historic Claremont Estate in Esher, Claremont Fan Court is a “gently selective” all-through school with an almost even balance of boys and girls. Character education is central to its approach, alongside a co-curricular programme of more than 60 activities. Most junior pupils move up to the senior school at 11.
Sir William Perkins’s School
Independent | Co-ed 11–18 (in transition) | Guildford Road, Chertsey
Founded in 1725 and celebrating its 300th anniversary, SWPS has been a girls’ school for most of its history, with a reputation for strong academics and rowing. From September 2026 it began welcoming boys into Years 7 and 12, and it aims to be fully co-educational by 2030. It’s on a 12-acre site a two-minute walk from Chertsey station.
St James Senior Boys’ School
Independent | Boys 11–18 (moving to co-education from 2027) | Church Road, Ashford
Founded in 1975, St James is genuinely different. Every pupil studies philosophy, and periods of stillness and reflection are part of the school day. Beyond that, it’s a busy, sporty school on a 32-acre site, two minutes from Ashford station, with bus routes reaching across south west London. It is now beginning its move to co-education.
SEND provision
Most children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Surrey are supported in mainstream schools, including many with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). For children who need more, the county has two further options: specialist centres attached to mainstream schools, where pupils can mix specialist teaching with time in mainstream classes, and specialist schools.
Demand is high. More than 17,000 children and young people in Surrey now have an EHCP, and the county council has been adding hundreds of new specialist school places each year to keep pace.
If your child has an EHCP, school admissions follow a separate process from the usual application, with its own timetable. If you’re moving to Surrey from London, your child’s EHCP will transfer from your current council to Surrey County Council, so it’s worth contacting the council’s SEND team early.
Two places to start:
- Surrey Local Offer: the council’s online hub for services and support for children and young people with SEND, from birth to 25.
- SEND Advice Surrey: a free, impartial advice service for families, including help with choosing and applying for a school place.
If you’re considering independent schools, ask each one specifically about its learning support, as provision varies widely between schools.
Getting in: admissions in Surrey
State school admissions
Applications for state school places go through your home council, even if the school you want is in another area. If you’re still living in London when you apply, you’ll apply through your London borough, which will pass your application on to Surrey. London boroughs and Surrey share the same online application system, eAdmissions, which makes cross-border applications straightforward.
Independent school entry
Most independent schools ask you to register a year or more before entry, and popular schools can fill their assessment places early. The main entry points are 4+, 7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+, though not every school uses all of them. Assessments for 11+ entry usually take place in the autumn and winter of Year 6, while many schools offering 13+ entry run pre-tests in Year 6 or Year 7 to decide who is invited to final assessments. If you’ll need financial help, ask about bursaries when you register, as applications often have earlier deadlines.
Explore more
Choosing a school is just one part of family life in Surrey. For advice at every stage, from your first nursery visit to sixth form applications, head to our guide to schools in south west London and Surrey.
Choosing a school
- Choosing a secondary school: expert advice on one of the biggest decisions parents face
- Choosing a Sixth Form: Assessing the Options: how to weigh up the many sixth forms across south west London and Surrey
- Nurseries guide: our pick of local early years settings
- The Time & Leisure Schools Guide: profiles of prep, senior and boarding schools across the region
