A-level results in 2025: 53.5% A*–A and 83.8% A*–B across the cohort.
A leading British boarding school for sixth form arts and academics
Why this school
A-level results in 2025: 53.5% A*–A and 83.8% A*–B across the cohort.
Theatre, film, fashion, dance, and music run as formal disciplines alongside A-levels.
Sixth-form only: every resource, timetable, and pastoral structure serves ages 16–18 exclusively.
Hurtwood House is a co-educational sixth-form boarding school in the Surrey Hills, founded in 1970. It takes students aged 16 to 18 exclusively — no younger year groups, no prep school — which means the entire campus and every timetable is shaped around that particular moment in a young person’s education. Set within a 200-acre estate near Dorking, the school sits between Guildford and the M25, placing it within easy reach of London while remaining genuinely rural in character. Around 350 students attend, a scale at which individual attention is simply how the place runs. Full boarding fees stand at £65,250 per year (2025/26); day places are also available.
Hurtwood House offers A-levels across 22 subjects alongside the EPQ (Extended Project Qualification), which students frequently use to develop independent research before university. The school does not offer the IB Diploma. In 2025, 53.5% of A-level grades were A* or A, and 83.8% reached A* or B. Both figures sit clearly above the national independent-school average, produced by a cohort that often combines creative ambitions with serious academic targets.
Because Hurtwood House is a sixth-form-only school, Years 12 and 13 are not bolted onto a larger secondary structure. Timetabling, pastoral systems, and enrichment are designed specifically for 16-to-18-year-olds preparing for UCAS and the transition to adult life. International students from outside the UK GCSE system, or those requiring specialist English teaching, are accommodated through a structured entry pathway, though a 15% fee surcharge applies in those cases.
A-Level results
53.5% A*-A, 83.8% A*-B (2025)
All 350 students live and work on the same 200-acre site, which creates a close-knit dynamic unusual in UK boarding schools of this type. Boarding fees cover accommodation and meals; the day option at £44,814 per year (2025/26) suits families based within commuting distance of Surrey. At this scale, housemasters and tutors know students by name and situation rather than by register. Bursarial discounts are available for day places.
The performing and creative arts programme is the most consistently cited differentiator at Hurtwood House. Theatre, music, dance, film, fashion, media, and photography all run as formal disciplines rather than optional extras. Notable alumni include actress Emily Blunt and composer Hans Zimmer. This is not offered as a guarantee of outcomes, but as an indicator of the creative culture the school has sustained across decades. Sport and other co-curricular activities run alongside the arts provision, though the school’s identity is most strongly associated with performance and visual creativity.
The estate covers 200 acres in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, near Dorking. Dedicated arts and performance facilities sit alongside academic buildings and boarding accommodation on a single connected campus. The rural setting contrasts with the school’s strong connections to London’s creative and media industries.
Hurtwood House sits near Dorking in Surrey, approximately 45 minutes from London Gatwick and around 60 minutes from London Heathrow by road. Both airports offer direct international connections, making arrivals and departures straightforward for families flying from the UAE, Europe, or further afield.
Annual tuition
£67,215 per year · full boarding · Sixth Form · Years 12-13
Other tier breakdowns shown below.
| Stage | Year groups | Type | Audience | Fee / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sixth Form | Years 12-13 | Full boarding | — | £67,215 |
| Sixth Form | Years 12-13 | Day | — | £44,814 |
London Gatwick (~45 min) and London Heathrow (~60 min) by road from Dorking, Surrey.
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Hurtwood House accepts students aged 16 to 18 only, covering Years 12 and 13. It is a sixth-form-only school with no younger year groups on site.
Full boarding fees are £65,250 per year (2025/26). Day places are available at £44,814 per year (2025/26). A 15% surcharge applies for international students from outside the UK GCSE system or those requiring specialist English teaching.
The school offers A-levels across 22 subjects and the EPQ (Extended Project Qualification). It does not currently offer the IB Diploma.
In 2025, 53.5% of A-level grades were A* or A, with 83.8% at A* or B. These figures are published by the school for the 2025 examination session.
Yes. Theatre, music, dance, film, fashion, media, and photography are all formal parts of the school’s programme, not optional extras. Alumni include Emily Blunt and Hans Zimmer.
The school is approximately 45 minutes from London Gatwick and around 60 minutes from London Heathrow by road. Both airports have extensive international routes.
Bursarial discounts are available specifically for day places. The school publishes this alongside its day fee tier. Boarding bursary information is not detailed in current published data.
The school has approximately 350 students in total, all in Years 12 and 13. The relatively small roll supports a close-knit boarding environment on the 200-acre Surrey campus.
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