City Of London Freemen's School Overview
City of London Freemen’s School is a co-educational private school for day and boarding pupils. Set in 57 acres of Ashtead Park, Surrey, the school is conveniently located by Ashtead Station (20-minute walk to the school), with regular, direct services from London Victoria and Waterloo. Steeped in prestige, it is one of three independent schools owned by the City of London Corporation, with whom they maintain strong connections.
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Academic Matters
City of London Freemen’s School aims to inspire pupils to learn, lead, and make a difference. This vision is supported by a strong learning community and a wide range of opportunities that encourage students to broaden their horizons. The school is known for its excellent academic results, with particular strength in Mathematics.
University destinations reflect this academic success—77% of students secure places at Russell Group universities as their first choice, including offers to Oxford and Cambridge, with eight students heading to these top institutions.
Careers guidance is centred around university applications and modern apprenticeships. The dedicated Sixth Form Careers team provides full support with UCAS applications, as well as targeted guidance for those applying to Oxford, Cambridge, and courses in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science.
Students benefit from regular lunchtime talks and year-group assemblies featuring guest speakers from a range of industries. Being located near London also gives them access to world-class resources, including the British Museum, Tate Modern, and major academic libraries—offering rich opportunities for enrichment and independent learning.
City Of London Freemen's School Courses And Programmes
GCSE
All students follow a core curriculum of seven compulsory subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, and one Modern Foreign Language (chosen from French, German, or Spanish). In addition to these, Games, PE, and Religious Studies are incorporated into the weekly timetable to promote well-being and broader personal development. Beyond the core, students may choose from up to 14 optional subjects, including Design & Technology, Sports Studies, Drama, History, and Geography—allowing them to tailor their studies to their interests and future goals.
A Level
In the Sixth Form, City of London Freemen’s School offers three flexible A Level pathways to suit different student profiles and ambitions.
The first pathway includes four A Level subjects, typically for students with strong academic ambition, especially those taking Mathematics and Further Mathematics.
The second pathway combines three A Levels with the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the Free Minds enrichment programme.
The third pathway offers three A Levels alongside the Free Minds programme, without the EPQ component.
A broad range of A Level subjects is available, including Art, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Business, Computer Science, Drama, Economics, French, German, Latin, Spanish, Design & Technology, Geography, History, Philosophy, Ethics & Religion, Psychology, and Sport Studies.
The EPQ allows students to engage in independent research on a topic of personal interest, encouraging skills in critical thinking, project planning, and academic writing—often regarded highly by universities. The Free Minds programme is a unique intellectual enrichment offering, where students choose five short courses across diverse fields. Each course runs for six weeks and includes a one-hour seminar per week, helping students broaden their academic exposure and think beyond exam specifications.
City Of London Freemen's School Fees
For the 2025/2026 intake, full boarding fees, inclusive of VAT are as follows:
- Year 9: £54,570
- Year 10 – 11: £54,570
- Year 12 – 13: £55,935
City Of London Freemen's School Application Deadline
City Of London Freemen's School Boarding And Pastoral Care
City of London Freemen’s School places strong emphasis on both academic and personal support. Each pupil is guided throughout their school journey by a dedicated Form Teacher who monitors academic progress and overall well-being. In addition to Form Tutors, students have easy access to subject teachers, Heads of Year, Heads of Houses, and members of the Senior Leadership Team. For more personal support, Peer Mentors and Nursing Sisters are available for confidential conversations, ensuring students always have someone to turn to.
Boarding at Freemen’s is intentionally small-scale, with around 60 boarders per year. This creates a close-knit, family-style environment where staff know each student individually and can offer tailored care and attention. Freemen’s offers three flexible boarding options: full boarding, weekly boarding, and flexi-boarding. Full boarders—mainly international students—stay on campus during term time and return home at half term or the end of term. Weekly boarders, often from families living further away, stay from Sunday evening to Friday afternoon. Flexi-boarding provides a practical solution for pupils involved in early morning or late evening school activities.
Boarders live in shared ‘pods’ of 10, made up of single and double rooms. Each room includes a desk, storage space, and a wash basin, with a shared bathroom and social area for the pod. Central to the boarding house is The Hub—a shared space that connects the boys’ and girls’ accommodation. It features a PlayStation, TV, table football, and board games. There’s also a Chill Out Zone, a device-free area designed for quiet relaxation, and two kitchens for casual use. Additional facilities include a laundry room for student use and a dedicated music practice room for those who want to rehearse outside of lessons.
City Of London Freemen's School Extracurricular Activities
City of London Freemen’s School offers an extensive and well-rounded extracurricular programme, ensuring every student can find an activity that excites, challenges, and inspires them. Whether through the arts, sport, or academic enrichment, students are encouraged to explore their interests beyond the classroom.
Creative Arts
The school provides a vibrant selection of creative activities. Students can participate in Art & Craft, Drama, Music, Design Technology, Food Technology, and Debate. Facilities include well-equipped studios in the Art and Design Centre, music rehearsal rooms, individual tuition spaces, and performance areas—all fostering creative expression and skill development.
Sports
Sport plays a major role in school life, with students excelling particularly in rugby, hockey, netball, and swimming. The school offers a wide range of sporting activities including Athletics, Cricket, Cross Country, Football, Hockey (including indoor and seven-a-side), Netball, Rugby Union, Rugby Sevens, Squash, Swimming, Tag Rugby, Tennis, and general Games. Facilities are excellent, with two all-weather pitches, tennis courts, cricket nets, athletics areas, and a large multi-purpose Sports Hall.
Academic and Co-Curricular Clubs
A variety of academic clubs give students the opportunity to deepen their interests and engage with subjects in new ways. These include clubs for English, History, Languages, Religious Education, and Science, alongside a Homework Club that provides structured support outside of lessons.
City Of London Freemen's School Reviews
City Of London Freemen's School Contact Information
- Official Website: https://www.freemens.org/
- Location: Ashtead Park, Ashtead, Surrey, KT21 1ET
- Email address:jnrreception@freemens.org, reception@freemens.org
- Phone: 01372 822400
