Comparing St John’s School, Leatherhead and Kingston Grammar School

St John’s School Leatherhead and Kingston Grammar School are two well-known independent schools serving Surrey and south-west London. Both are co-educational schools for pupils aged 11–18 and offer strong academic results alongside a wide range of extracurricular opportunities. However, they differ in their structure, academic reputation, facilities and overall school atmosphere.

Official school websites
https://www.stjohnsleatherhead.co.uk/
https://www.kgs.org.uk/

Admissions and entry

Both schools are selective independent schools, meaning pupils must pass entrance assessments before being offered a place.

St John’s School Leatherhead admits pupils mainly at 11+ and 13+. Many pupils join after attending prep schools and sit entrance tests or pre-tests before attending an interview and assessment day.

Kingston Grammar School usually admits pupils at 11+ through entrance tests in subjects such as mathematics and English, followed by interviews and school references. Because of the school’s strong academic reputation, competition for places is often high.

Academic results

Both schools achieve strong academic outcomes, though Kingston Grammar School is often seen as the more academically selective of the two.

At Kingston Grammar School, a very high proportion of A-level grades are typically A*–B and most GCSE grades fall within the 9–7 range.

St John’s School Leatherhead also performs strongly academically, with a large proportion of GCSE grades in the 9–7 range and most A-level grades between A* and B.

Students from both schools regularly progress to Russell Group universities, with some gaining places at Oxford and Cambridge.

School environment

Although both schools are academically focused, their environments can feel slightly different.

Kingston Grammar School is located in the centre of Kingston and has a reputation as a highly academic day school. Many pupils travel in from a wide area across south-west London and Surrey, and the school emphasises academic ambition alongside sport, music and drama.

St John’s School Leatherhead offers a broader campus environment and combines academic study with strong pastoral care and community values. The school has a Church of England foundation and places emphasis on character development alongside academic success.

Facilities and extracurricular life

Both schools offer extensive extracurricular opportunities.

Kingston Grammar School has facilities in central Kingston as well as sports grounds across the River Thames near Hampton Court. These support a wide programme of sport, music, drama and clubs.

St John’s School Leatherhead is set on a large campus in Surrey and offers facilities for sport, performing arts and boarding. The school is particularly known for its house system and strong participation in drama, sport and outdoor activities.

Fees

Both schools charge independent school fees.

St John’s School Leatherhead day fees are typically in the region of £29,000–£33,000 per year, with higher costs for boarding.

Kingston Grammar School fees are broadly similar to other London independent day schools, generally in the high £20,000s per year depending on the year group.

Location

The schools are located about ten miles apart.

Kingston Grammar School is located in central Kingston upon Thames, making it easy to reach by train and bus from London and surrounding areas.

St John’s School Leatherhead is located in Leatherhead in Surrey on a large campus setting just outside the town centre.

Overall

St John’s School Leatherhead and Kingston Grammar School are both respected independent schools with strong academic records and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities.

Kingston Grammar School is often chosen by families looking for a highly academic day school with very strong exam results and a central London-area location.

St John’s School Leatherhead appeals to families seeking a co-educational school with a larger campus, boarding options and a strong balance between academic work, sport and pastoral care.

For many families in Surrey and south-west London, the decision often comes down to whether they prefer a highly academic city-based day school or a broader campus-style school with boarding and a strong community atmosphere.