FAQs

Charterhouse Welcomes Amesbury School into Its Family – FAQs

16 march 2026

charterhouse news

Why is Amesbury School merging with Charterhouse?
Both Governing Bodies believe that there are multiple benefits from this move: It will further enrich the experience for pupils of all ages. Pupils at Amesbury will enjoy extra depth and breadth in both academic and co-curricular life. Charterhouse’s mergers with Edgeborough and Windlesham House have been extremely successful and Amesbury, with its well-established co-education offer for children from 9 months – 13 years old, will play a distinctive and complementary role within the family. Amesbury will offer an additional way for children leaving another prep school at 11, but destined for Charterhouse at thirteen, to join the family immediately. It is already the case that a steady stream of Amesbury pupils progress onto Charterhouse each year aged at 13, and thrive there. It will bring significant business and operational benefits. Increased size means increased specialist support skills and greater purchasing power, important for today’s cost efficiency and tomorrow’s plans. Whilst all four schools are financially secure and enjoying strong momentum, they will be even stronger together. Overall, Amesbury joining the Charterhouse family provides further opportunity to shape an exciting and dynamic educational offer. Collectively, we will be part of the creation of the country’s stand-out family of co-educational schools, providing the very best in boarding and day education from 3 to 18, to both UK and international families.
Why has each organisation chosen the other for this merger?
Amesbury and Charterhouse enjoy a longstanding and close relationship and, in many ways, share a very similar ethos which blends tradition with innovation, and providing an exceptional academic, yet all-round, curriculum to prepare our pupils for life. Each year, a number of Amesbury pupils continue their studies at Charterhouse. As such both schools have witnessed first-hand the quality of education that is provided. During this time, the rapport and respect between the two schools, their senior leadership teams and Governors has become clear. This step brings the schools much closer together and builds on the shared commitment to an outstanding academic and all-round education. Amesbury’s well-established coeducation offer fits well with Charterhouse’s own fully coeducational offer.
Are the reasons for this merger financial?
No. There are clearly business and operational benefits, but each school within the Charterhouse family is financially secure and enjoying strong forward momentum. The main reason for this merger is the direct long-term benefits that support the collective pupil experience. In turn, the merger provides the opportunity for all organisations within the group to continue their growth, from a renewed position of strength, at a time of significant and sustained pressure facing the independent education sector at large. It is important to note that the decision to merge has not been taken in light of the Government’s decision to impose VAT on school fees. The rationale for the merger is far reaching as outlined above. The business benefits that will result are welcome, but secondary.
Will there be a commitment to capital investment at Amesbury?
Amesbury is in a secure financial position and is well invested but, like any school, it will wish to undertake further capital priorities for the coming years. Charterhouse will of course be supportive of any future capital investment that is required to deliver on our joint ambitions, within sensible budgetary criteria. One of the benefits of being part of a larger group is that it provides greater scope for a long-term approach to planning and investment.
Are the schools planning to grow?
The primary focus for all of the schools within the Charterhouse family is to, first and foremost, provide an outstanding all-round education in an environment where pastoral care is at the centre of all that is done. We are not pursuing growth for the sake of growth. However, under their current leadership teams, each organisation enjoys strong demand for places. This is expected to continue.
Will Amesbury still welcome and support pupils who wish to go on to other senior schools?
Yes. As always, Amesbury will continue to welcome and prepare pupils for a wide range of senior schools aiming to ensure that the choice best suits each pupil’s individual needs. The School will continue to hold strong relationships with other senior schools, and all involved are committed to ensuring that each child attends the senior school which best fits their needs.
Will Amesbury Pupils be expected to move to Charterhouse?
No. The merger will neither guarantee a place for Amesbury pupils at Charterhouse nor stop parents from choosing an alternative senior school for their children. Those wishing to apply to Charterhouse will participate in the usual admissions process, just like any other applicant.
Why will Amesbury pupils still be required to go through the Charterhouse admissions process, if they wish to go to Charterhouse?
It is important to each school that pupils from Amesbury attend the senior school that best suits their individual needs and parental preferences. The Charterhouse admissions process is valuable for assessing pupils to ensure that they will thrive at the School, and for parents to feel comfortable with this decision.
As a parent or pupil, what will remain the same?
It will seem like business as usual from a parent and pupil perspective. Each school will retain their current leadership teams, identity, name, ethos, values, badge, uniform policy, admissions processes, and curriculum, as well as day-to-day operational autonomy.   Our shared focus on an academically rigorous all-round education is one of the great strengths of our schools, and this common philosophy is one of the key factors behind our merger. Pupils will continue to enjoy a full, and rounded, education, which will develop their interests in sports, music, art, drama, and in many other ways, and will move onto the next stage in their education superbly equipped for the future, just as they do now.
Who will lead the schools?
The Amesbury Headmaster, Gavin Franklin, will remain responsible for the day-to-day running of the School, along with his senior leadership team. The School will retain its own DfE registration and ISI inspection regime along with the membership of the Independent Association of Prep schools (IAPS) Charterhouse’s Head, Alex Peterken, will have overall executive responsibility for the group. As such, all schools will continue to benefit from the significant expertise that has been developed via the growth that has taken place within our family of schools, both nationally and internationally.
Will Amesbury’s fees rise (or fall) as a result of becoming part of the Charterhouse family?
Fees will continue to be set based on the same budgetary principles that currently apply, which seek to ensure that Amesbury remains accessible for as many families as possible, whilst taking account of the short and longer-term financial needs of the School and the costs of delivering an outstanding educational experience.
What will the new Governance Structure look like?
A single Governing Body will have responsibility for all four schools. Up to two Governors from Amesbury will join that Governing Body, and a new Amesbury Committee will be created which will oversee the governance of the school specifically and local matters. Membership of this committee is likely to be made up of two current Amesbury governors, two existing Charterhouse governors and two new co-opted governors. This will ensure both continuity of oversight of Amesbury and the most appropriate level of focus and support.