Caterham School

Great if you want an academically successful but ultimately miserable child Academically, the school is strong, with many talented and intelligent teachers who genuinely care about their students. However, the overall environment is deeply concerning. The quality of food is poor, and the support for student well-being, particularly for those struggling with mental health, is inadequate and is especially poor from staff involved in well-being/support roles. Issues involving bullying and situations where girls reported being targeted or harassed by boys were often met with minimal or unclear consequences. This left many students feeling unsafe and unsupported. In some cases, students who spoke up felt dismissed, while others observed peers receiving recognition and/or leadership roles despite concerning behaviour/allegations. Several teachers also made outdated and inappropriate comments, contributing to an uncomfortable atmosphere. When I attended, the head of careers exemplified some of these issues. Despite being a female staff member, she expressed openly misogynistic views and discouraged girls from being outwardly feminist, stating that “men don’t like it.” During gender-based discussions about representation in the workplace (ironically, where girls and boys were separated) students who attempted to engage critically with these comments were met with rudeness and dismissal. The school was also not accommodating to trans and non-binary students and did not feel welcoming to those who were not religious, which added to the sense of exclusion for many. There is also a general culture that feels out of touch with the financial realities of students who do not come from very wealthy families (despite the school offering scholarships). The cost of trips, uniform requirements, and various school-related expenses can be burdensome and make some students feel alienated. Although there are genuinely kind educators at the school who work hard and care deeply, socially, this was a very negative experience. In several instances, the school did not provide adequate safeguarding or support to students who needed help. Additionally, the rules around clothing, from the first year through sixth form, are extremely outdated and sexist. For example, boys are allowed to wear very tight and short PE shorts, while girls must wear collared shirts (no turtlenecks even in 6th form) and skirts that reach/are near the knee. I hope the environment improves as the school has the potential to be incredible for all types of students.

Honestly this school is generally brilliant, most of the teachers are lovely but a select few have the tendency to make racist/homophobic/transphobic/etc comments but those have mostly cleared up over the last few years. There are also diversity clubs including GSA(gender sexuality awareness) and BAME which really aid inclusiveness. One of the best things about the school is the pupil run organisations including the Moncrieff Jones society(for all sciences) and the study buddy scheme (where older pupils pair with younger pupils to help them feel welcome and help with their work). The school food has declined over the last few years and as such is not as good as it previously was but it is still not the worst thing as there are often 2-4 options. One thing they lack though is there is not always a vegan meal but they are working on making that a possibility. Overall this school is excellent and definitely worth every penny.