Being named London’s ‘Independent Secondary School of 2024’ by the Sunday Times Schools Guide is more than just a title, it is a reflection of constant hard work and high standards.
Eltham College in South East London educates children aged seven to 18, providing a well-rounded, fulfilling education and huge opportunities.
A thriving, diverse school set in 70 acres of land, in the past year the school has not only taken home the prestigious Sunday Times title, but has also become fully co-educational and achieved phenomenal results.
An exceptional education
Eltham College’s academic results are particularly outstanding. In 2024, 38% of all GCSE results were grade 9, with 88% grades 7 to 9, while more than two-thirds of A-level grades were A* or A.
Meanwhile, STEM subjects are a perennial strength, with more than three-quarters of all A-level STEM grades since 2019 being A* or A.
Guy Sanderson, Eltham College’s Principal, said: “Our mission is to provide an outstanding and well-rounded education for girls and boys.
“We want all our students to have a positive attitude towards life and to adopt values and behaviors that will help and guide them towards living a happy and fulfilled adult life.”
Well-rounded individuals
Sport is hugely important to the school, with pupils taking part in a range of activities from netball to fencing, rugby to cross-country skiing, with some even playing at national level.
In fact, Eltham College is taking sports prioritization to the next level in September 2025 by introducing sports science at both GCSE and A level.
Creativity is nurtured through the school’s fantastic drama and art offering, with many students going on to further study the subjects, while music is at the heart of the Eltham experience.
Almost two-thirds of students play at least one musical instrument, with almost 700 one-to-one music lessons and 55 different ensemble rehearsals each week.
To get them started, pupils from Eltham College Junior School are given a period of free lessons through the ‘Music Alive’ scheme to give beginners a chance to try out a string instrument, wind or woodwind.
And despite their many successes, humility remains a hallmark of Eltham College students. A recent display was a group of Year 12 students who joined Olympic medalist Alex Haydock-Wilson to start a new athletics club in Lewisham, which is being paid for by the students’ own fundraising.
Be part of something special
Eltham College Junior School will be holding its final Open Day on Saturday 9th November from 10am to 1pm.
The junior school is co-located with the secondary school, sharing its fantastic facilities and creating a seamless transition for students entering Year 7.
Applications to join Year 3 at the primary school close on 28 November, while applications to join Eltham College in 2025 as a Year 7 pupil close on 11 November.
