Hurtwood House School

• Location Hurtwood House School: Dorking, Surrey, England
• Age: 16-18 years;
• Programs: A-level;
• Number of students : 324;
• Foundation year: 1970;
• Type of studying: mixed.

Hartwood House School is a prestigious British boarding school. The school in Britain is distinguished by its developed infrastructure, high rating, and a special atmosphere of coziness. The Hurtwood House campus looks like an authentic British village with small houses, lots of greenery, flower beds.

In private school in the UK talented children from all over the world are studying, it is open to foreign students. Here all conditions for fast and most comfortable adaptation to the British school environment are created. The school values ​​and encourages students' desire for independence and freedom. Everyone is free to decide for themselves which of the proposed means of instruction he should use to achieve academic goals.

Hurtwood House is not just a school. This is a full-fledged creative environment, where future actors, directors, theatrical figures receive basic education. Also, each student gets a chance to start a career in the school years. The educational institution is often visited by directors and casting agents in search of types for films, musicals, etc. Many graduates of the boarding school are not only successful in the profession, but world famous. The school of Nikki Amua-Berd (films "Robin Hood", "Omen"), Phoebe Boswell (the famous artist), Edward Fox (writer), Emily Blunt, known from the film "The Devil Wears PRADA", is rightly proud of the school.

Conditions of admission to Hurtwood House School

To enter the school, the entrant must have an academic record for the last two years of studying, recommendations from teachers on key subjects (mathematics, English). A competent motivation letter is also necessary.

The entrant must be fluent in English. Knowledge of the language is confirmed by the appropriate certificate. On an individual basis, you can take tests in mathematics. As for sports, creative achievements, awards and ranks increase the chances of admission.

Academic Programs

Every year, students demonstrate a high level of education in the final exams. On A-level, the results of A * - A are received by more than 65% of graduates. After school, international students enter the musical, theatrical colleges in Britain, continue to receive education in profile universities in London, Bournemouth, Leeds, Manchester. Also many graduates study at the prestigious Imperial College.

Marie de Tito Mount

Chief Executive Officer

What are the most important factors parents should consider when choosing a school?

Parents should consider the school’s academic record, philosophy and pastoral support network. The most important factor is ‘fit’, is this an environment my child will thrive within. 

At Hurtwood House, A-Level specialists teach exclusively in the Sixth Form upper years. The foundation of the academic process – a weekly achievement assessment system: every Monday morning, students and parents receive current grades and effort scores for each subject, while on Monday evenings tutors discuss the results with their students. This system prevents complacency and immediately highlights strengths and weaknesses in the learning process.

Humanities courses are supplemented by guest speakers, subject conferences, and trips, for example to the Imperial War Museum. An ESOL department operates for international students:

• English language courses with preparation for the test preferred by UK universities and immigration authorities,
• Individual sessions and in-class support for other subjects.

The one-year Foundation GCSE program for international students runs in very small groups of five to six students, with up to 12 for resits of key subjects. Each subject is allocated a minimum of 4.5 hours of lessons per week.

Hurtwood House – a Sixth Form upper school for students aged 16–18.

Four academic tracks:

• Business and Commerce,
• Creative and Performing Arts,
• Humanities and Languages,
• Natural Sciences.

International students have access to a one-year Foundation GCSE program and the ESO department. The academic program is also supplemented by the Extended Project EPQ.

The school does not offer International Diploma or BTEC programs.

The school's alumni are prominent in the global film and theatre industry:

• In 2026, former student Jack Huston stars in the superhero series Spider-Man Noir,
• Graduate Fia Hadid made her stage debut at London's Globe Theatre in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing during the summer season of 2026.

In August 2026, the school announced impressive new A-Level results.

• The school calls itself the most exciting school in England,
• Campus life is close to university life: students are given respect and freedom of choice, and the school defines its approach as guided independence,
• Since 2014, the brand has been expanding a network of schools in China: the first campus opened in Ningbo, followed by schools in Shanghai, Beijing, and Qingdao,
• The school releases its own music albums: the collection The Hurtwood Album 2025 was released on Spotify and YouTube Music in June 2026,
• In June 2026, «Oscar» laureate David Puttnam met with the Hurtwood Film Academy.

The school offers accommodation on a full board basis. Students live in 5 residences, each of which is a cozy English house with single and double rooms, kitchen, play area, lounge with TV and video equipment.

Three meals a day are organized in the dining room.

Subject list: Accounting, Art, biology, business, chemistry, economics, Filmmaking, geography, history, law, maths, media, music, photography, physics, Psychology, sociology
Activity list: B-B-Q, Bouncers, camping, carting, dancing, disco, football, horseback riding, paintball, rock climbing, skating, tennis, windsurfing

The intellectual load is harmoniously complemented by creativity and sport. Students of the boarding school can learn to play basketball, netball, squash, football, rugby, hockey, tennis, golf. Also the following sports destinations are available: cross-country, swimming, horse riding, volleyball, mouting. For power loads in the sports center of the school also has everything you need.

Entertaining part of the extracurricular program provides visits to galleries, museums, theaters of England. In the first place in popularity among students is the tourist infrastructure of London.

Teenagers are invited to Hurtwood House and recreational activities, which are organized on campus and beyond.

• Hurtwood House School is one of the most "free" British schools. Studying of creative individuals does not provide for strict disciplinary framework, asceticism. At school even there is no form. Clothing here is considered an expression tool for a teenager.
• The lessons has an interactive format. Studying in the process of communication is the best choice for a teenager who wants to later master one of the creative professions that are in demand in the world.
• Teachers are not just mentors and curators. They become friends of students. The community of the boarding school is a huge creative team, where everyone is valued as an individual, supported as a member of the family.
• Curricula for each class are made by experienced methodologists. Children are free to choose learning tools at their own discretion. At school, no one forces international students to write lectures or record audio in discussions. Each student decides independently which method of fixing the material for its subsequent repetition is to be selected.
• The educational institution has excellent conditions for creative development. Here you can develop any ability, from music to research.
• The physical development of children is also in focus. At school, 16 sports are offered to the attention of students.
• The boarding school is conveniently located. The British capital is only half an hour away from it. This determines the prospects for acquaintance of students with an extraordinary London - the visiting card of the Foggy Albion.

Hurtwood House is proud of its infrastructure. Studying here takes place in the classrooms equipped with everything necessary for teaching a particular subject. Also in the classrooms there are computers, projectors, interactive whiteboards. Various instruments, acoustic systems are in music rooms.

Sports infrastructure is represented by all-weather fields for team games, fitness rooms, aerobics halls, tennis courts. Also on the campus there is a classic indoor sports complex.

The school has its own theater. It is equipped with a rotating stage, professional light-music and sound equipment. There is also a cinematographic center and a television studio on the campus.

The music department of the equipment school is considered the best in Britain. It has advanced innovative equipment. For student's studying there are equipped with rehearsal rooms, recording studios. Also in the school there are several modern dance classes.

The academic year is divided into terms: autumn, spring, summer. For holidays, there are weekends and holidays, as well as holidays between terms.

Additional fees:

• deposit - (covers office supplies, textbooks, medicines, Activities, etc.);
• allowance for additional study of English;
• registration of visa and documents;
• air travel.

Extras:

• Deposit for a course/programme 400 GBP

Each year approximately half of the student body turns over — around 180 places become available. There are no entrance tests: places are allocated on the basis of school references and interviews, with the interview carrying decisive weight. Students arrive one or two at a time from a wide variety of schools, and around a third come from abroad. Demand is growing alongside academic results, selection is becoming more competitive, and day places are particularly sought after.

Based on 2025 results, 162 students sat 507 A-Level exams:

• 54% of all grades were A* and A, with 21% being the top grade A*,
• The share of A*–B grades was 84%.

Six students received three or more A*s, and all ten students who sat the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) received A or A*.

The strongest 2025 results by subject:

• Dance – 91.7% of grades A*–A,
• Chinese – 83.3%,
• Chemistry – 75%,
• Media Studies – 73.2%,
• Biology – 70%.

Almost all graduates are now studying at their first-choice universities – the range of fields is impressive: from film production to physics, from marketing to medicine, from linguistics to law.

The school admits students to the Sixth Form program (upper school, ages 16–18) to prepare for A-Levels. Selection is based on the impressions from the interview and a reference from the applicant's previous school. Academic performance matters, but it is not the only criterion: the school looks for hardworking, mature, and driven students with a clear sense of their goals, and values character, willingness to work, optimism, creativity, and enthusiasm.

There are no entrance tests; the interview takes place in an informal setting and gives both the student and their parents a chance to get to know the school. For international students who need to improve their English, the school offers preparation for an English language test.

In 2026, the school offers five scholarships in mathematics and the natural sciences for students enrolled in the A-Level program:

• Three scholarships of £1,000 per term,
• One – £2,000,
• One – £4,000.

Scholarships are awarded to talented candidates for both years of study. Selection is based on the results of a scholarship examination in the sciences and mathematics, an interview at the school, and recommendations from teachers at the candidate's current school.

The Hurtwood Foundation funds scholarships and bursaries for students who would otherwise be unable to study for financial reasons. A permanent endowment fund has also been established, the income from which is designated for scholarships and bursaries for the two years of the A-Level program.

The school offers discounts that reduce the cost of tuition.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision