Senior School

When is the deadline to register my child for entry?

By the Autumn Term before intended start. There is no cut-off date, but applications do need to be submitted before the entrance examination which takes place in January for entry the following September.

When is the Entrance Exam held?

The penultimate Saturday in January of the year of entry. It is held at the Senior School in Petersfield. Exams are taken in classrooms in small groups of approximately 12 children.

How many children apply for how many places?

For 11+ we have approximately 260 children applying for 130 places. For 13+ we have approximately 25 applying for between 8 and 10 places.

What subjects are tested?

English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning. One hour per paper.

Is there an interview with the Headmaster?

Yes there is. Over the course of the Autumn Term before entry, each child meets the Headmaster for 15 minutes one to one. 

When do we find out the results?

Letters are posted and should be received within 10 days of the date of the exam day.

How many children in each class?

On average 22. From GCSE (Year 10) this can vary.

Are the children set for all subjects?

1st Year: Maths set by two broad ability bands at Christmas. All other subjects mixed ability. 2nd Year: Maths; French; German set by ability. 3rd Year: Maths; Science; Spanish; French; German set by ability. Children also select either Latin or Classical Civilisation and choose between Computing and ICT.

What is the boy to girl ratio at the school?

Whole school approximately 60:40. This can vary by year group.

What language options are there?

All children take Spanish and choose between French and German for the first three years. Up to two modern languages can be taken at GCSE. All children also start with Latin for two years before choosing 3rd Year options.

How much homework do the children get?

1st Year & 2nd Year: 20 mins per subject per week.
3rd Year: 30 mins per subject per week.
4th & 5th Year: up to 60 mins per subject per week.
Sixth Form: up to four hours per subject per week.

Is Sport compulsory? What is the ethos of the department?

All pupils have compulsory lessons of PE and games which are timetabled alongside academic studies to provide a balanced curriculum. The aim of the department is to promote physical activity and sport to the school community through these compulsory experiences.

The PE curriculum is designed to help pupils find their ‘sporting niche’ and build a positive relationship with exercise as well as improving the general fitness and physical literacy of pupils so they are able to feel physically and mentally confident to enjoy physical activity whatever the level of their participation.

The games curriculum give pupils experiences across our key termly sports and promotes skill development and positive competitive sporting experiences for pupils, we believe that these school sport experiences provide excellent development not only in a physical sense but the skills of leadership, resilience, cooperation, and confidence in our pupils.

There is also a plethora of extra-curricular sporting opportunities, it is very much the norm for pupils to expand their sporting participation through involvement in these activities, which creates a very positive and strong sporting ethos within the school.

What sports are on offer?

Core term sports are: Autumn > Rugby and Hockey. Spring > Hockey and Netball. Summer > Cricket. Many other sporting opportunities are also available through our extra-curricular programme.

How much sport (games/PE) is covered in the timetable?

Every week each year group has a double lesson for PE and a double lesson for Games. Each lesson is 40 minutes. Training for team sports is after school. Sport fixtures are on Saturdays.

What swimming opportunities are there?

Swimming is a core element of our PE curriculum each year group (1st-4th yr) work through two blocks of 5 weeks of swimming/aquatics in an academic year. This includes cores swimming, Waterpolo, lifesaving skills, synchronised swimming and Aqua aerobics. Swimming also becomes an option for our 5th yr and 6th form in their Games lessons.

We also offer extracurricular swimming before and after school which is split into Development Squad and Competitive Squad. Our swim squad competes in regular interschool galas and also local and national level school competitions.

What if I have out of school commitments on a Saturday that clash with school sport fixtures?

It is strongly encouraged at Churcher’s for all pupils to become involved in competitive school sport on a Saturday, it is very much part of school life and the experience is at the heart of our sporting culture, giving so many benefits to the pupils. We often take the stance of if a pupil is selected for a sporting team on a Saturday this does come first. However, we do understand that pupils juggle a range of extracurricular commitments.

There are many pupils who combine their participation in sport with drama, music, and other sport outside of school whilst also playing school sport on a Saturday and midweek. In the example of football there are many clubs/leagues that play on a Sunday and a large number of boys maintain their football development whilst also participating in rugby and boys hockey on a Saturday in the autumn and spring terms. On occasions, there may be clashes between activities on a Saturday and we work with parents and pupils well in advanced of clash dates to compromise so that pupils can maintain both commitments effectively e.g. a number of pupils still maintain dance, music, sailing activities on a Saturday around their school fixture times.

Can I play football at Churcher’s College?

We have a large programme of competitive fixtures for our main sports which doesn’t allow time or facilities to run a competitive football programme. Students do have the opportunity to play football within the PE & games curriculum and an opportunity to play every lunchtime with their friends. We have a number of students who also continue playing football for local clubs whilst also maintaining a commitment to school fixtures on a Saturday which only continues to improve their transferable skills and general game fitness.

Do you support children with additional needs eg. Dyslexia etc.?

We have a strong and established department. Extra Time is given in the entrance exams after a review of a valid Education Psychologist report or assessment.

What provisions are there at school?

Teachers are notified and there are strong links with the Heads of House. Accommodations can be made within the classroom. 

Do you offer a bus service to and from school?

For children at the Senior School, we have 8 established routes. Please refer to our travel and bus routes page.

How far is the train station?

Many children travel by train into Petersfield train station. Links to Guildford, Havant and Portsmouth. It takes approximately 10 minutes to walk to the school from the station. There are safe crossings, it is well lit and children tend to walk together in groups.

Is there a bus link to the Junior School?

Yes. There is a shuttle bus that leaves the Senior School in Petersfield just after 8am and takes the Junior School children to the site in Liphook. The bus leaves the Junior School just after 4.30pm to bring the children back down to the Senior School for 5pm. There is a staff member supervising.

What clubs are on offer?

We have a vast offering of extra-curricular activities that run either before school, during lunch time or after school. We hold a Fresher’s Fayre late in September where all club opportunities are represented for the children to explore and sign up to. Clubs are optional and a great chance for pupils to try new things.

What is your outdoor and adventure provision?

Churcher's offers a comprehensive adventurous activities programme for all age groups. Please see our Expedition & Adventure page for full details.

Can children take up instrument lessons through school?

We have 28 peripatetic music teachers. Over 50% of pupils take up an instrument. Lessons are held during the school day on rotation in the timetable for those in years 1 - 5. Those learning two or more lessons have one lesson on the rotation and 2nd/ 3rd instruments would be on a fixed time, before, at lunchtime or after school. The Sixth Form students have lessons during their private study periods.

What music/drama opportunities are there?

There are around 30 ensembles being rehearsed on a weekly basis, from various choirs and large instrumental ensembles to small chamber ensembles. A wide range of musical styles are seen within these groups from Classical music, to Jazz through to singer/songwriter sessions and Rock with the Rock school taking place on a Saturday. There is also a studio for those interested in music technology.

Large and small concerts take place throughout the school year with numerous opportunities for pupils to perform solos or within an ensemble.

Tours take place abroad, most recently the orchestra to Lake Geneva.

Large scale musical productions take place each year, together with smaller plays.

More About Music & Performing Arts

Do you offer LAMDA?

LAMDA at Churcher’s College is thriving. Children can take private lessons and tuition in verse and prose, acting, devising drama, performing Shakespeare, musical theatre, and public speaking. Children have 30 minute weekly lessons that can be taken individually, in pairs, or in groups - all leading to an exam in the Summer term. Additional fees apply.