What famous people went to Whitgift?

Derren Brown, illusionist. Leonard Barden, chess columnist. Eric Barker, writer and comedian. Jamie Bulloch, translator. Loyle Carner, hip hop musician. Tim Davie, Director-General, BBC. Basil Dean, actor, film and theatrical producer/director.

Who founded Whitgift School?

In 1596, John Whitgift, Archbishop of Canterbury (1583 to 1604) decided to fulfill his vision to educate the children of South Croydon and founded, what is today, Whitgift School.

Whitgift 7 - Whitgift School

Your Whitgift Journey

Whitgift 7 is a culmination of seven different aspects of school life that come together to provide students in the Junior Years with the foundations to succeed.

Explore Year 7

Preparing for day 1 and Beyond

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Preparing for Day 1 and Beyond

Students joining our school in First Form (Year 7) are already prepared for the transition before they come through the gates. Our activity and induction days give them a feel for our academic culture, fun and excitement is at the heart of these initial experiences and will often see friends in the making. And then their journey begins, surrounded by opportunities to spark interest.

Explore Year 7

whitgift seven — TransitionPersonal DevelopmentAcademic EnrichmentCulture & Giving DaysSportCo-CurricularPerforming Arts

Transition

Activity and Induction Days are carefully designed to help support each boy’s transition into senior school. They give a feel for our academic culture, as well as the fun and excitement that is at the heart of the School. They are well prepared for their journey to begin...

Three boys in dress shirts and ties, one wearing a purple cape, walk down a wood-paneled hallway.

Three boys in navy blue jackets interact with curved grey tubes on a grassy field with trees and buildings in the background.

A %22WHITGIFT%22 sign sits on a grassy slope in the foreground, with a road leading toward brick buildings and a spire under a clear blue sky in the background.

Several boys work together to balance a black bucket using blue strings in a grassy outdoor area with trees and houses in the background.

Personal Development

From day one, our Ideatum curriculum and Humanutopia programmes build confidence and belonging, while leadership opportunities through the Junior Captain Team encourage responsibility, teamwork and service to the School community.

Four young men in blue graduation gowns sit on a stone ledge talking in front of a lush green hedge.

Four young men in dark suits huddle around a table studying documents in a room with a wooden plaque on the wall.

Four schoolboys in navy blazers gather around a laptop outdoors against a backdrop of a brick building and a window.

Several young boys in dark suits and ties sit in a circle of blue chairs within a large, wood-paneled room.

Academic Enrichment

From the moment they arrive, students are introduced to innovative learning opportunities that prepare them for a changing world, while our broad curriculum develops the social and technological responsibility needed to navigate it.

Three smiling students in blazers look at a laptop on a workbench inside a classroom.

Three schoolboys in uniforms interact with colorful molecular models in a bright classroom setting.

Two young men in suits sit behind a wooden table with microphones against a backdrop of dark blue curtains.

A smiling boy in a navy suit speaks into a microphone in the foreground, surrounded by other students in a warmly lit hall.

Culture & Giving Days

Culture & Giving Days celebrate the diversity of our south London community. Through events, community initiatives and charitable fundraising, students gain new perspectives and recognise the importance of giving back.

Five schoolboys in blazers and ties give thumbs-up gestures behind a table of food in front of a brick building.

Two dancers in traditional white and light-colored attire perform on a blue-lit stage with other performers and a screen in the background.

A row of young boys in dark suits and ties stand behind music stands in a shallow-focus outdoor setting.

A group of students in purple academic gowns perform on a stage illuminated by blue spotlights.

Sport

Sport plays an integral role in the education and wellbeing of all students at Whitgift. In the Junior Years it aims to create opportunity to explore, with taster sessions in golf, fencing and swimming. Our ethos is participation, and well over 70% of boys are involved in some form of Saturday competitive fixture.

Four men practice their golf swings at a covered driving range with a backdrop of lush green trees and a blue sky.

Two fencers in white protective gear compete on a blue strip inside a large, industrial-style indoor arena.

A soccer player stands in the foreground behind three balls, facing two other players and a goal on a green field.

A youth basketball team in blue uniforms poses for a group photo on a blue court in front of a wall with lockers and large windows.

Co-curricular

Students in the Junior Years enjoy a range of co-curricular activities during their extended 2-hour lunchtimes and after school. Your son may find, like many of our students, that joining Whitgift gives him the opportunity to discover a new passion or deepen and develop an existing interest.

Two smiling students in blazers and animal masks hold a large snake in the foreground, with a teacher and another student watching in a classroom background.

Soldiers in camouflage uniforms engage in a tug-of-war competition on a grassy field backed by lush green trees.

A young man in a suit lies on the floor holding a tablet next to an R2-D2 droid, with yellow storage bins in the background.

A row of young musicians play trombones in the foreground against a backdrop of deep blue curtains.

Performing Arts

Performing Arts is an integral part of school life, with all students taking part in a full-scale musical concert, instrumental lessons, the First Form Play and Junior Shakespeare Performance. These experiences encourage students to challenge themselves and develop the courage to perform in front of others.