Frequently Asked Questions
We hope our website answers many of the questions you may have about our school, but to help, we have put together some answers to the questions that are most frequently asked by parents and children who visit us. If, having read these, you would like more information on anything or would just like to talk through the admissions process, please do get in touch with the Admissions Team (admissions@lordwandsworth.org).
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What time does the school day start, and what time does it end?
Junior House registration is between 8.15am and 8.30am Monday to Friday, and on Saturday 9.25am. From 3rd to Sixth Form, registration is between 7.30am and 8.20am Monday to Friday, and on Saturday 9.25am. The school day ends at 4.50pm. This is followed by optional co-curricular activities until 6.00pm. Day pupils can come in for breakfast and can stay for tea and supervised prep. There is no extra charge for this.
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Are day pupils allocated to a House?
All pupils are members of a Boarding House. Whether a day, flexi, weekly, or full boarder, everyone starts and ends their day in their House. All pupils enjoy the support of their Houseparent, their Resident Tutor/s, their Visiting Tutors and of course, their Matrons!
Day pupils are welcome to come in for breakfast, stay for tea and prep and join in all the House activities – and most of them do!
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What co-curricular activities do you offer?
Our co-curricular offer is designed to give every pupil the opportunity to try as many new things as they can, in order to discover their talents and passions, whether that is on the sports field, in the art studio, in the music department or elsewhere. Some of these activities are run by the pupils themselves as we encourage our pupils to embrace leadership opportunities.
From Photography and Film Making to Music Tech and Mandarin – and lots more in between – there is something for everyone. We run the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme to Gold Level and have an active CCF Army and RAF contingent, giving our pupils the opportunity to challenge themselves through involvement in new and exciting activities. In addition, our Outreach programme gives pupils the chance to make a difference to our local community through volunteering and charity work.
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Where do LWC pupils move on to?
Destinations range from Oxford and Cambridge to prestigious Art and Drama schools, Russell Group universities and other universities in the UK, Europe and the USA. Our students study a wide variety of courses, which reflects the diverse nature of our student body and the wonderful variety of subjects on offer in our Sixth Form. Some opt for an apprenticeship, art foundation course or go straight into employment.
More details on our leaver’s destinations can be found on our website.
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Do you run a bus service to…
Probably! Our school buses pick up at nearly 30 locations across Hampshire and Surrey. They help to reduce car travel, thereby reducing congestion and pollution in and around the school site and the surrounding villages.
For full details, please click here.
We also operate a parent lift share scheme so parents can link up with others from the same area.
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Is there Saturday school?
There is no compulsory Saturday school. However, most of our pupils join our Saturday morning programme. Saturday mornings are all about expanding horizons from the normal curriculum and encourage pupils to:
- Try things that they would not normally have the opportunity to experience
- Challenge themselves and develop character
- Stretch their intellectual passions
- Explore their inner creativity
- Explore the outdoors and develop new passions
- Become active changemakers
- Find the additional support they need to consolidate their learning
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What are the plans for development?
Our fabulous new Sixth Form Centre and Junior Hub both opened in September 2023, and future plans include:
- Creation of further sports facilities, including a new astro, a further county-level cricket ground, padel courts and golf facilities
- A tech-led Creativity and Innovation Centre (C3i) with lecture theatre
- Continued classroom refurbishment
- Further enhancements to Boarding Houses
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Do you have a SEND department?
Yes, we do. We offer both small-group and one-to-one teaching. Curriculum Support is an integral part of the LWC community and available to all students. For more information or to arrange a call with our Head of Learning Support, please contact the admissions team.
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What is your Parental Engagement Programme (PEP)?
Our PEP recognises the essential nature of the role that parents play in the education of their children. It involves the school and parents working closely together and focuses on sharing accessible, practical, researched-informed strategies with all parents.
Alex Battison (our Senior Deputy Head) was nominated as one of the top 25 innovative educators in the county last year for his work on this programme.
For more information, please click here.
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What careers support do you offer?
We offer outstanding personalised careers guidance to all our pupils. One of the biggest advantages of being part of our Sixth Form is the outstanding tailored careers guidance on offer from our in-house team. All students work closely with our experienced Head of Futures, who provides a detailed programme and in-depth advice on degree courses, UCAS applications, work experience and industry access.
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What grades do you need to join the Sixth Form?
You need a minimum of six grade 5s at GCSE or the equivalent, ideally with a minimum of grade 7 in the subjects to be studied at A Level. If you are not taking GCSEs, you will need to sit entrance tests. Please contact the Admissions Team for further information (admissions@lordwandsworth.org).
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Is everyone taught in sets?
In 1st and 2nd Form, pupils are set in English and Mathematics and taught in mixed-ability classes for other subjects. In 3rd Form, pupils are in sets in English, Mathematics, Sciences and Latin. In 4th and 5th Form, pupils are set in English, Mathematics and Science.
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Can we choose which Boarding House our child/children join?
No, I am afraid not. We allocate pupils to the Houses so that all have a balance of boarders and day pupils and a mixture of pupils with differing interests and skills. We will, however, allocate siblings to the same House unless requested otherwise.
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How do I apply for a place?
All pupils are members of a Boarding House. Whether a day, flexi, weekly, or full boarder, everyone starts and ends their day in their House. All pupils enjoy the support of their Houseparent, their Resident Tutor/s, their Visiting Tutors and of course, their Matrons!
Day pupils are welcome to come in for breakfast, stay for tea and prep and join in all the House activities – and most of them do!
Our co-curricular offer is designed to give every pupil the opportunity to try as many new things as they can, in order to discover their talents and passions, whether that is on the sports field, in the art studio, in the music department or elsewhere. Some of these activities are run by the pupils themselves as we encourage our pupils to embrace leadership opportunities.
From Photography and Film Making to Music Tech and Mandarin – and lots more in between – there is something for everyone. We run the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme to Gold Level and have an active CCF Army and RAF contingent, giving our pupils the opportunity to challenge themselves through involvement in new and exciting activities. In addition, our Outreach programme gives pupils the chance to make a difference to our local community through volunteering and charity work.
Destinations range from Oxford and Cambridge to prestigious Art and Drama schools, Russell Group universities and other universities in the UK, Europe and the USA. Our students study a wide variety of courses, which reflects the diverse nature of our student body and the wonderful variety of subjects on offer in our Sixth Form. Some opt for an apprenticeship, art foundation course or go straight into employment.
More details on our leaver’s destinations can be found on our website.
Probably! Our school buses pick up at nearly 30 locations across Hampshire and Surrey. They help to reduce car travel, thereby reducing congestion and pollution in and around the school site and the surrounding villages.
For full details, please click here.
We also operate a parent lift share scheme so parents can link up with others from the same area.
There is no compulsory Saturday school. However, most of our pupils join our Saturday morning programme. Saturday mornings are all about expanding horizons from the normal curriculum and encourage pupils to:
- Try things that they would not normally have the opportunity to experience
- Challenge themselves and develop character
- Stretch their intellectual passions
- Explore their inner creativity
- Explore the outdoors and develop new passions
- Become active changemakers
- Find the additional support they need to consolidate their learning
Our fabulous new Sixth Form Centre and Junior Hub both opened in September 2023, and future plans include:
- Creation of further sports facilities, including a new astro, a further county-level cricket ground, padel courts and golf facilities
- A tech-led Creativity and Innovation Centre (C3i) with lecture theatre
- Continued classroom refurbishment
- Further enhancements to Boarding Houses
Yes, we do. We offer both small-group and one-to-one teaching. Curriculum Support is an integral part of the LWC community and available to all students. For more information or to arrange a call with our Head of Learning Support, please contact the admissions team.
Our PEP recognises the essential nature of the role that parents play in the education of their children. It involves the school and parents working closely together and focuses on sharing accessible, practical, researched-informed strategies with all parents.
Alex Battison (our Senior Deputy Head) was nominated as one of the top 25 innovative educators in the county last year for his work on this programme.
For more information, please click here.
We offer outstanding personalised careers guidance to all our pupils. One of the biggest advantages of being part of our Sixth Form is the outstanding tailored careers guidance on offer from our in-house team. All students work closely with our experienced Head of Futures, who provides a detailed programme and in-depth advice on degree courses, UCAS applications, work experience and industry access.
You need a minimum of six grade 5s at GCSE or the equivalent, ideally with a minimum of grade 7 in the subjects to be studied at A Level. If you are not taking GCSEs, you will need to sit entrance tests. Please contact the Admissions Team for further information (admissions@lordwandsworth.org).
In 1st and 2nd Form, pupils are set in English and Mathematics and taught in mixed-ability classes for other subjects. In 3rd Form, pupils are in sets in English, Mathematics, Sciences and Latin. In 4th and 5th Form, pupils are set in English, Mathematics and Science.
No, I am afraid not. We allocate pupils to the Houses so that all have a balance of boarders and day pupils and a mixture of pupils with differing interests and skills. We will, however, allocate siblings to the same House unless requested otherwise.