Churcher's College
Independent Co-educational Day School · Est. 1722
Churcher's College is where 'work hard, play hard' isn't just a motto — it's a way of life. Founded in 1722 by East India Company trader Richard Churcher, this Hampshire independent sits in the South Downs National Park and values outdoor adventure as much as academic excellence. The school looks for 'joiners' — children who collaborate, listen, and engage. If you want a school that combines strong academics with Ten Tors expeditions, DofE, and the famous Devizes-to-Westminster canoe race, Churcher's delivers. Not a London hothouse — this is healthy, happy, adventurous education.
An independent co-ed day school (founded 1722) in the South Downs National Park with a distinctive 'work hard, play hard' ethos. Uses unique blended assessment: Maths + Creative Writing + GL Assessment + Team Building observation. Bursaries up to 110% of fees available.
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Ramshill, Petersfield, Hampshire GU31 4AS
Annual Fees
~£24,000
per year
Year 7 Places
~90
pupils
Total Pupils
~1,100
ages 3-18
Founded
1722
304 years
Setting
South Downs
National Park
Bursaries
Up to 110%
of fees
Best For
Families wanting strong academics combined with genuine outdoor adventure and co-curricular breadth. Children who are collaborative 'joiners' rather than competitive individualists. Those seeking an alternative to London hothouse pressure.
Watch Out For
Limited published admissions data — no official pass marks or competition ratios available. Team Building Tasks are actively assessed (not just an icebreaker). Must perform across three different exam formats plus observation.
Entry Points
- Main entry at 11+ via blended assessment (Maths + Creative Writing + GL Assessment) plus Team Building observation. Additional entry at 13+ and 16+. Junior School entry from Nursery (3+) through Year 6.
The Complete Admissions Timeline
Every key date, deadline and decision point — with insider intelligence you won't find on the school website. Click any item to reveal verified insider knowledge.
The critical window:
- 1
Open Events
Summer/Early Autumn (Year 6)
- 2
Registration Deadline
October Half Term (Year 6)
- 3
Team Building
Autumn Term (Year 6)
- 4
Exam Day
Late January (Year 6)
- 5
Offers Made
Early February
- 6
Acceptance Deadline
Early March
Three Papers + Team Building Observation
Churcher's uses a distinctive blended assessment. You sit three written papers in late January PLUS an observed Team Building session in the Autumn Term. The Team Building is NOT an icebreaker — it's actively assessed. The school looks for 'joiners' who listen, collaborate, and share ideas.
Maths (45 min)
45 minutes · Written paper (show workings)
This is NOT multiple choice — you must show your working. Students who rush without showing steps lose marks even if the answer is correct.
Creative Writing (30 min)
30 minutes · Handwritten creative task
Only 30 minutes — you must write quickly AND beautifully. Plan briefly (2-3 mins), write fluently, leave time to proofread.
GL Assessment (45 min)
45 minutes · Multiple choice (GL Assessment)
Students familiar with GL format have an advantage. If you've only practiced CEM or ISEB, the GL question types may feel unfamiliar.
Topic Difficulty & Weight
Difficulty (%) and exam weight by topic area
Key takeaway: 45-minute traditional written paper set internally by Heads of Department. Tests core arithmetic first, then escalates to complex problem-solving. SHOWING CLEAR WORKINGS IS VITAL.
Topic Breakdown
Known Exam Traps — Maths (45 min)
ALWAYS show step-by-step working. Partial marks are available for method.
Do accessible questions first. Return to difficult ones if time allows.
Double-check calculations. Write clearly to avoid misreading your own work.
The pattern: This is NOT multiple choice — you must show your working. Students who rush without showing steps lose marks even if the answer is correct.
If you can only improve in one area, make it
Workings Matter
For example:
- →Always show step-by-step working — partial marks available
- →Start with easier questions to secure marks
- →Leave complex problems until after completing accessible questions
All focus areas ranked by impact:
#1
Workings Matter
Maths (45 min)
#2
Speed + Quality
Creative Writing (30 min)
#3
GL Familiarity
GL Assessment (45 min)
Results & League Table Position
Churcher's consistently ranks among the top co-educational schools in England. These figures are benchmarked against national averages so you can see the full picture.
A-Level A* Rate
20%
National rank #180
A-Level A*/A Rate
50%
Use the narrative summary below.
GCSE Grade 9-7
60%
National rank #200.
A-Level A*-B Rate
75%
Ranked 73rd best independent secondary school in the UK. Churcher's competes with larger Hampshire independents while maintaining its distinctive outdoor ethos.
A-Level Results vs National Average
Churcher's vs England average (%)
Strong A-Level results with excellent Russell Group progression. The school balances academic achievement with co-curricular depth, producing well-rounded candidates.
A*
20%
A*/A
50%
A*-B
75%
What this means: Strong A-Level results with excellent Russell Group progression. The school balances academic achievement with co-curricular depth, producing well-rounded candidates.
GCSE Grade Distribution
Churcher's vs National distribution (%)
Solid GCSE performance reflecting the school's ethos of developing the whole child — not just exam results. Pupils achieve strong grades across a broad curriculum.
Grade 9-7
60%
Attainment 8
Not published
What this means: Solid GCSE performance reflecting the school's ethos of developing the whole child — not just exam results. Pupils achieve strong grades across a broad curriculum.
University Destinations
Where Churcher's leavers go — % of cohort
Notable Academic Achievements
Founded 1722 by East India Company trader Richard Churcher
Set in South Downs National Park with exceptional outdoor facilities
Ranked UK's 73rd Best Independent Secondary School (2026)
Famous for Ten Tors, DofE, and Devizes-to-Westminster canoe race
Richard Churcher Foundation bursaries up to 110% of fees
Strong university progression including Oxbridge and Russell Group
League Table Position: Ranked 73rd best independent secondary school in the UK. Churcher's competes with larger Hampshire independents while maintaining its distinctive outdoor ethos.
Observed Collaboration: Looking for 'Joiners'
Format
Small group activities observed by Senior Leadership Team
Duration
Half day in Autumn Term
Role in Admissions
Part of a holistic assessment, not a pass/fail gate
What Makes a Strong Impression
Compiled from parent reports (2023-2025)
The pattern:
Insider Intel: What Other Parents Don't Know
These are the verified insights you will not find on the school website, in Good Schools Guide, or from any single tutoring agency. Each insight is compiled and cross-referenced from 64+ sources including official documents, parent reports, and tutoring industry data.This is the intelligence that gives ClassAce families an edge.
Team Building is ACTIVELY assessed — not an icebreaker
Senior Leadership Team observes how children interact. The school looks for 'joiners' — those who listen, collaborate, and share ideas. Children who dominate, talk over others, or withdraw may lose vital points.
Three different exam formats require split preparation
You need: MC speed (GL), handwriting stamina (Creative Writing), AND mathematical workings (Maths). Cannot rely solely on one skill type.
Creative Writing is only 30 minutes — speed matters
Practice writing complete, structured stories in under 30 minutes. Brief planning (2-3 mins), efficient writing, and a clear ending are essential.
Show ALL mathematical workings
The Maths paper is NOT multiple choice. You must show step-by-step working. Even correct answers may lose marks without clear method shown.
GL Assessment requires specific preparation
If you've only practiced CEM or ISEB, GL formats may feel unfamiliar. Practice GL-specific Verbal Reasoning question types.
'Work hard, play hard' ethos is genuine
Churcher's values outdoor adventure (Ten Tors, DofE, canoe racing) alongside academics. Children who engage with co-curricular life fit well here.
Bursaries can exceed 100% of fees
The Richard Churcher Foundation offers bursaries up to 110% of fees — covering uniform, trips, and extras. Don't assume you can't afford it.
Not a London hothouse
Churcher's explicitly positions itself as 'far removed from sharp-elbowed London environments.' If you want healthy, happy, adventurous education — not pressure-cooker academics — this fits.
Common Mistakes Parents Make
The errors we see most often from families preparing for Churcher's College. Avoid these and you're already ahead of the majority of applicants.
Treating Team Building as just an icebreaker
It's actively assessed. Senior Leadership observes collaboration. Children who dominate, withdraw, or talk over others lose points.
Preparing only for multiple choice exams
Only GL is MC. Maths requires showing workings. Creative Writing requires handwritten stamina. Split your preparation.
Not practicing 30-minute timed creative writing
30 minutes is short. You need to plan briefly, write efficiently, and still produce a structured, engaging story.
Forgetting to show mathematical workings
The Maths paper awards method marks. Correct answers without working may score lower than clear working with minor errors.
Assuming GL is the same as CEM or ISEB
GL has specific Verbal Reasoning formats. If you've only practiced other providers, you may find GL unfamiliar.
Not visiting before applying
The South Downs setting and outdoor ethos are distinctive. Visit to ensure this environment suits your child.
Dismissing Churcher's due to fees without checking bursaries
Bursaries up to 110% of fees are available. Many families who assume they can't afford it actually qualify for support.
Preparing a dominating personality for team tasks
The school wants 'joiners' — children who listen and collaborate. Coaching children to dominate discussions backfires.
Churcher's vs Competitor Schools
How does Churcher's College compare to the schools your child is most likely also applying to? This analysis covers the key factors that actually matter to families.
| Factor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | ||||
| Co-educational | ||||
| VR in Exam | ||||
| Annual Fee | ||||
| 11+ Difficulty | ||||
| Interview Style |
Why Parents Choose Churcher's
- Work Hard, Play Hard EthosTen Tors expeditions, DofE at all levels, the famous Devizes-to-Westminster canoe race. Adventure is woven into school life.
- South Downs National Park SettingExceptional natural environment for outdoor activities. Not a cramped urban campus.
- Looking for 'Joiners'The Team Building assessment explicitly identifies collaborative, engaged children — not competitive individualists.
- Bursaries Up to 110%The Richard Churcher Foundation can cover more than fees — including uniform and trips. Genuinely transformational.
- Alternative to London HothouseExplicitly positions itself as healthy, happy, adventurous education — not pressure-cooker academics.
- All-Through SchoolNursery through Sixth Form on connected campuses. Siblings educated together with seamless progression.
Points to Consider
Scholarships & Financial Support
Churcher's offers academic, music, art, drama, and sport scholarships. The Richard Churcher Foundation provides means-tested bursaries up to 110% of fees, covering uniform and trips.
| Scholarship Type | Value | Available Places | Selection Method | Stackable? |
|---|
* Bursaries can combine with scholarships. The 110% bursary provision is genuinely transformational — don't assume you're ineligible without checking.
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Intelligence Score
Updated May 2026 · 64 sources
Coverage
Measures how much of the admissions picture is directly evidenced rather than inferred from comparable schools or legacy material.
Freshness
This edition was last checked May 2026. Recency scores fall when public evidence ages or current-cycle detail is sparse.
Use it well
Treat lower-scoring areas as prompts to verify with admissions, not as automatic red flags. The score is about evidence quality, not school quality.
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