Academic
To view a short video about academic facilities at Charterhouse, click on the link below:
Most boys arrive at Charterhouse from preparatory schools at the age of thirteen, though some are admitted from other schools in Britain and overseas. They enter the Under School of nearly 400 boys, and pass successively through the Fourth Form (Year 9), the Remove (Year 10) and the Fifth Form (Year 11). Girls are admitted only to the Sixth Form. There are over 350 Sixth Formers (Specialists) of whom 100 are girls.
The curriculum follows the normal path to GCSEs in the Fifth Form and Cambridge Pre-U or AS/A2 in the Specialist years, but every effort is made to teach according to pupils' abilities, and to stretch the ablest well beyond the demands of the syllabus. The academic life of the School is administered by the Headmaster through 100 members of Brooke Hall. James McConnell, in his English Public Schools, offered this observation on the atmosphere at Charterhouse:
"Carthusians speak well of their beaks (teachers) and find them very ready to give extra help when needed. The relationship between Brooke Hall and pupils is relaxed - Carthusians are usually ready questioners, easy to talk to, unselfconscious with strangers or adults, and on good terms with their teachers."
Carthusians' academic progress is closely monitored. In the traditional ceremony of Calling Over, the form master presents his class to the Master of the Under School, who praises those who have shown good effort, and encourages the less hard-working to greater endeavour. Specialists are also awarded regular grades for attainment and effort, which are scrutinised by the Master of the Specialists. Parents receive detailed reports at the end of each term (Quarter), and have a formal opportunity to meet their son's or daughter's teachers every year to discuss progress. The Higher Education and Careers Department provides guidance and training throughout the process of selecting and applying to university.