Comparing Notre Dame School Cobham and Surbiton High School

Notre Dame School in Cobham and Surbiton High School are two well-known independent schools in Surrey and south-west London. Both schools educate girls through their senior years and offer strong academic programmes along with extracurricular opportunities. However, they differ in their academic focus, school atmosphere, facilities and overall approach to education.

Official school websites
https://www.notredame.co.uk/
https://www.surbitonhigh.com/

Admissions and entry

Both schools are independent fee-paying schools and select pupils through entrance assessments and interviews.

Notre Dame School is a girls’ independent day school located in Cobham, Surrey. Pupils typically join at several stages including Year 7 and sixth form. The school emphasises a supportive admissions process that looks at the whole pupil rather than focusing only on academic testing.

Surbiton High School is also an independent girls’ school at senior level and forms part of a larger school that includes preparatory and junior sections. Entry normally takes place through assessments and interviews, and the school is known to be academically selective.

Academic results

Both schools achieve strong results, though Surbiton High School is generally seen as the more academically intensive environment.

At Surbiton High School, a high proportion of A-level grades are A*–A and many students go on to Russell Group universities.

Notre Dame School also achieves good academic results and places a strong emphasis on progress and personal development, with pupils typically making strong progress across GCSE subjects.

While both schools prepare pupils for university, Surbiton High is often regarded as one of the more academically competitive girls’ schools in the area.

School environment

The atmosphere at the two schools can feel quite different.

Notre Dame School has a reputation for a nurturing and supportive environment. The school places emphasis on values such as respect, community and personal growth. It is often described as more balanced and less academically pressured than some nearby independent schools.

Surbiton High School tends to have a stronger academic focus combined with high expectations for pupils. The school encourages ambition while also offering strong pastoral support.

Facilities and extracurricular life

Both schools provide a wide range of activities beyond the classroom.

Notre Dame School is set in parkland in Cobham and has outdoor spaces, sports facilities and green surroundings which contribute to a calm learning environment.

Surbiton High School operates across several sites in Kingston and Surbiton and offers facilities for sport, music, drama and academic enrichment. Pupils have access to clubs, societies and leadership opportunities throughout their time at the school.

Fees

Both schools charge independent school tuition fees.

Surbiton High School fees are typically in the region of the mid-£20,000s per year depending on the year group.

Notre Dame School fees are generally slightly lower than some larger London independent schools, although they still fall within the typical independent school fee range.

Location

The schools are located only a few miles apart in Surrey.

Notre Dame School is located in Cobham, a village in Surrey known for its green surroundings and residential community.

Surbiton High School is located in Surbiton and Kingston upon Thames, giving it a more urban setting with easy access to London transport links.

Overall

Notre Dame School Cobham and Surbiton High School are both respected independent schools with strong academic programmes and supportive learning environments.

Notre Dame School often appeals to families looking for a smaller girls’ school with a nurturing atmosphere and a strong sense of community.

Surbiton High School is often chosen by families seeking a more academically competitive girls’ school with very strong exam results and a wide range of opportunities.

For many families in Surrey and south-west London, the choice often comes down to whether they prefer the smaller, community-focused environment of Notre Dame or the more academically driven setting of Surbiton High School.