Aims
Charterhouse aims to be an academically-focused, all-round boarding school. Although our priorities are primarily academic, that does not mean achieving only qualifications by passing examinations. We aim too to stimulate independent enquiry and intellectual curiosity, to enrich spiritual awareness, to match physical fitness with love of the arts, and to promote individuality together with a sense of duty to friends and society.
Admission criteria
Registration consists of filling in a form and paying a small Registration Fee. A report will be requested from the prospective pupil’s current school. As long as this is satisfactory, entry for boys at 13+ will be guaranteed subject to acceptance through Common Entrance. For boys and girls at 16+, places are awarded on the basis of a selective examination and interview.
Management team
The Headmaster has a Management Team to assist him with the day-to-day running of the School. This is currently composed of the Headmaster, Deputy Headmaster, Assistant Headmaster (Academic), Assistant Headmaster (Pastoral), Head of Girls and Bursar.
Organisation of boarding
The House forms the home away from home for all pupils. There are eleven Houses, each offering a unique sense of identity to boys and girls at all stages of the School. The four old Houses differ only in date and character from the seven new ones. Each House enjoys a degree of autonomy and individuality. House spirit is encouraged by inter-House competitions in a wide variety of activities, both sporting and cultural.
While girls have studies in the Houses, and are as much involved in the House and the School as the boys during the daytime, they have separate sleeping accommodation in halls of residence.
Housemasters, Assistant Housemasters, Matrons and Tutors
All Housemasters are fully residential and have the support of a residential Matron and a team of Tutors including an Assistant Housemaster. Each Tutor also has a small number of pupils with whom he or she meets at least once a week to provide the help and encouragement that enables every pupil to make the most of the opportunities that Charterhouse has to offer.
Housemasters, assisted by an Assistant Housemaster and Tutors, share responsibility for discipline with the Assistant Headmaster (Pastoral) and ultimately the Headmaster. Discipline, however, is more cooperative than adversarial in spirit.
Additional support services for pupils
In addition to a pupil’s Housemaster, Tutor and Matron, pupils are free to approach other adults who are involved in pupils’ welfare. These include:
Spiritual and moral development
The spiritual life of the School centres on Chapel. There are two full-time Chaplains and a part-time Roman Catholic Chaplain. A short service for the whole School is held at 8.30 am on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays with a hymn practice on Fridays. The main school service on Sunday is usually held at 7.00 pm and takes the form of either Evensong or Sung Eucharist. Roman Catholic pupils may attend Mass in Founder’s Chapel at this time. Twice a term, the main school service is Matins at 10.45 am. Voluntary services of Holy Communion are held thrice weekly. A confirmation service is held annually and pupils are prepared for this by the Chaplains. There is also a Christian Union which meets each Tuesday evening and is regularly attended by around 30 pupils. Special arrangements will be made at parents’ request for pupils of other faiths.
The moral development of the pupils is fostered not only through Chapel, but also through the ethos and rules of the School. Housemasters, Tutors, Matrons, Chaplains and the PHSE programme all play a significant role.
Social and cultural development
Pupils’ social and cultural development is fostered through a wide range of extra-curricular activities including sport, music, drama and other evening and weekend activities. A pupil’s social life centres on the boarding house (plus the Halls of Residence for girls) as well as around such places as Club and the Queen’s Sports Centre. Under School pupils must attend a stated number of plays and concerts within the School each Quarter. There are also opportunities to attend cultural events outside the School.
Rules and policies for pupils
The school rules are published each Quarter in the Calendar. Any changes are indicated by bold type.
There are also policies relating to the following areas which are displayed on notice boards in all Houses:
Child Protection Policy
The School has a Child Protection Policy and a Designated Child Protection Officer. All staff are regularly trained in child protection issues.
Links with parents
Links with parents are fostered through:
Complaints procedures
If a pupil has a complaint it may be addressed to the Head of House, Head of School, Head Girl, Tutor, Matron, Housemaster, Master of the Under School, Assistant Headmaster Pastoral) or Deputy Headmaster. If matters cannot be resolved by them, or if circumstances dictate a direct reference to him, the Headmaster can be consulted, or the School Medical Officer, who is the senior staff member responsible for the complaints procedure.
Alternatively, the complaint can be referred to a member of the Independent Panel. Names and contact details are available from the Headmaster’s Office.
Parents or pupils may also contact the local office of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) on 01483 413540.
Disability Policy
The School has a Disability Policy. In accordance with the provisions of the Disability Act(1995), Charterhouse will seek to treat those with disabilities as favourably as those without disabilities. It will make reasonable adjustments, wherever practical, including the relocation of certain classes and activities to ground floor accessible rooms to avoid putting those with disability at a disadvantage.
Links with the Community and Public Benefit
The School has recently appointed a Director of Public Benefit who will work with the Management Team to coordinate and develop programmes bringing public benefit to the community around Charterhouse, and beyond. Links with the community are fostered through the First Year Specialists’ (Year 12) Monday Activity programme, Charterhouse-in-Southwark, the Queen’s Sports Centre as well as links with a number of local Schools, and through teacher training, revision courses and summer schools. Outside organisations are welcome to use the School’s facilities and this is coordinated by the School’s Lettings Manager.
May 2006
[Revised December 2006]
The above may be downloaded as a PDF file: