Senior School/Years 9-11
We are expanding our provision through to offer GCSEs! From September 2021, pupils already at Copthorne or joining in Year 7 will be able to stay with us to Year 11. Our first GCSE exams will take place in 2026.
We are a school which prides itself on developing pupils’ confidence, providing opportunity and realising pupils’ potential. We have continually adapted throughout our 120-year history to meet the changing needs of our community.
Parents have told us they need a quality senior school alternative, if moving on to one of the increasingly academically selective independent schools is not right for their child. We celebrate the 50% of our pupils who move on to these highly selective schools with scholarships, but we know that all our pupils can thrive given the right environment.
Find out more at our Virtual Open Morning on Saturday 6th March.
Our vision for the Senior School
“Our Copthorne to 16 education will enable your son or daughter to grow academically, emotionally and socially through a wide participation in the life of the school, and through making the most of the opportunities afforded to them. Along the way we have no doubt that they will also earn excellent grades, but they won’t be defined by those alone. That would be missing the point of a Copthorne to 16 education. We are offering a different kind of independent education.”
– Chris Jones, Headmaster.
Copthorne to 16 will offer a distinct, ambitious alternative to the highly academically selective senior schools that are not the right environment for all children. Our class sizes will be no more than 20 so every pupil is well known and supported.
Through the broad and balanced curriculum, our pupils will become independent self-starters, team players and problem-solvers. They’ll have resilience, determination and a perseverance that will enable them to become fully-rounded, valuable members of society. We will celebrate diversity and foster a culture of kindness, tolerance and good citizenship in all pupils.
Helping pupils look to the future and make informed choices about life and careers beyond Copthorne will be an important part of our senior education programme. We will seek to build extensive links with businesses, parents and alumni to give pupils as wide and inspiring a perspective on the world of work as possible.
Our current teaching team is well-equipped for the expansion to 16. Most of our Heads of Department are secondary teacher trained and have experience of teaching up to GCSE.
Beyond our excellent teaching, we will offer a wide range of learning opportunities, high expectations and a warm, happy, nurturing environment where pupils are encouraged to strive for excellence and supported to be the best they can be. Our extra-curricular programme for the Senior School will build on the wide variety of choice already on offer for pupils. Sport, music, art, drama and chess, as well as the Duke of Edinburgh Award, will all feature.
Developing physical and mental wellbeing will be an important part of our Senior School life. All pupils will be encouraged to take part in sports or a general exercise programme; taking advantage of our outstanding facilities which include a full-sized all weather astro turf pitch (brand new for September 2021), hard surface courts, expansive sports fields, a swimming pool, sports hall, climbing tower and beautiful woodland.