Whitgift Summer School

SCHOOL HISTORY

Whitgift School has a long and fascinating history. Many of the values of the founder, John Whitgift, are still felt at the heart of the School today.

In March 1596, John Whitgift, Archbishop of Canterbury laid the foundation stones of his hospital at North End, Croydon for the poor. Attached to the hospital was a grammar school conducted by the chief official of the hospital – the schoolmaster and chaplain. The School, which opened in 1600, paved the way for the ‘Whitgift’ of today. 

By the time they leave us, many of the things that make them who they are – their beliefs, values, and sense of self – will already be forming, if not formed. It’s an enormous shared responsibility, and one that has particular significance within the special context of a boys’ school, given the many challenges young men growing up today will face.

The question then is how best to prepare them for the changing world they will come to shape.  At Whitgift, we believe the answer lies in knowing, valuing, and challenging every individual, stretching and supporting them in equal measure.

Whitgift is unashamedly ambitious when it comes to academic performance, but we know results alone are not everything. To truly succeed, students need more than just knowledge...They will need the confidence and resilience to embrace new challenges, they will need an open mind that is global in its outlook, and they will need the emotional maturity and moral grounding to be a force for good in the communities they serve.

We are incredibly proud of the young men who leave us and what they achieve. We are particularly proud they come from such a diverse range of backgrounds, thanks in part to the generous bursary and scholarship schemes we are able to offer. Indeed, alongside our academic philosophy, comprehensive pastoral support, and fantastic co-curricular programme, the incredible mix of boys who come here is one of the things that makes Whitgift such a truly special place to learn.

OUR VISION

For more than 400 years, Whitgift has been transforming boys’ lives through education.

Whitgift 2025 was created as a result of the input and imagination of staff and students and the next few years will represent an exciting time of evolution for the school, both in terms of our site development plan and the educational partnerships we are embarking on. 

Our overarching vision is:

"Educating bright and talented young men, whatever their background, to become independent learners and thinkers, to achieve beyond what they believed they could, and to leave us ready to give back to the society in which they will be leaders."