Shrewsbury School

Shrewsbury follows the English system: a broad Third Form curriculum, GCSEs in the Fourth and Fifth Forms and A Levels in the Sixth Form. Lower Sixth pupils can add the Extended Project Qualification, while younger pupils may take the Higher Project Qualification. A SAT and US University Preparation Programme supports pupils applying to American universities, and the Futures department advises on UK and international higher education.

Shrewsbury School covers ages 13 to 18. Pupils normally join the Third Form (Year 9), move through the Fourth and Fifth Forms to GCSE, and complete the Lower and Upper Sixth with A Levels. Entry is also possible at Year 10 and at Sixth Form. Families can begin at 11+ through one of the three partner prep schools – Packwood, Prestfelde and Terra Nova – with a guaranteed route into Year 9.

Shrewsbury's aim is to educate and empower every pupil to flourish in life and contribute positively to the world. It believes education should cultivate character, inner virtues and life skills as well as academic success, and it describes school as 'serious fun'. The school stands in the Christian tradition while welcoming those of all faiths and none, and encourages kindness, tolerance, social responsibility and a global outlook.

The school site combines a village-green-style centre with more than 100 classrooms, extensive playing fields and dozens of sports facilities. Highlights include the Moser Library and the historic Ancient Library, modern biology laboratories with a natural history museum, the Chatri Design Centre with CNC machines, laser cutting and 3D printing, the Art School with galleries, the Maidment music building, Alington Hall and the Barnes Theatre. Sport has a 25 m swimming pool, a sports hall, fitness suites, squash and Eton fives courts, a boathouse and an indoor cricket centre.

Every pupil has a Housemaster or Housemistress, a resident matron and a personal tutor. The Health Centre is staffed 24 hours a day by registered nurses, with a daily doctor's surgery, counselling and physiotherapy. The Learning Support department helps pupils with dyslexia and other specific learning differences through individual plans. Meals are prepared mostly from scratch in Kingsland Hall, catering for special diets. School coaches run to regional points and Heathrow at the start and end of terms and on 'coach weekends', and there is a parents' association.

Boarding is central to Shrewsbury, which runs a seven-day boarding model. Pupils belong to one of twelve houses – seven for boys and five for girls – shared by boarders and day pupils. Each house is led by a Housemaster or Housemistress with a resident matron, an assistant and a team of tutors. A newer girls' house, Queen Elizabeth Hall, opened in 2023 for up to 70 pupils. Weekend activities, house competitions and chapel are part of boarding life.

Sport is a strong tradition: Shrewsbury fields more than 120 teams and offers athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket, cross-country, fencing, Eton fives, football, golf, hockey, lacrosse, netball, rowing, rugby, squash, swimming and tennis, and recently opened a padel centre. Music includes orchestras, bands and choirs, and there is drama and dance. A weekly activities afternoon covers adventure sports, the Combined Cadet Force, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, polo, scuba diving and STEM, and there are societies for debating, Model United Nations, coding and natural history.