- Location
- London
- Age range
- 7–19
- Attendance
- Day school
About Eltham College
Schoolscout directory record ·
Eltham College offers a vibrant and nurturing environment, where academic excellence and personal development go hand in hand. With a rich history dating b...
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
Eltham College was founded in 1842 as the School for the Sons of Missionaries by the London Missionary Society — an Evangelical Christian organisation engaged in foreign mission work across China, India, Africa and the South Pacific. The school's original purpose was to provide a free boarding education to the sons of British missionaries serving overseas, who would otherwise have been without an English education. The school operated under this missionary remit through the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries; many Old Elthamians of the period subsequently followed their fathers into Christian missionary service. The school broadened to general fee-paying admission in the post-war period and became fully co-educational in the 1970s. It is now an HMC day school of around 1,075 pupils aged 7-18 on a 70-acre campus at Mottingham, south-east London. The Headmaster is Guy Sanderson.
Eltham's most internationally famous alumnus is Eric Liddell — the Scottish athlete who, at the 1924 Paris Olympics, won gold in the 400 metres on a Sunday despite his Christian convictions about Sabbath observance. The story is told in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire, which dramatises Liddell's refusal to run his preferred event (the 100 metres) when its heats were scheduled for a Sunday, his switch to the 400 metres, and his subsequent gold medal. Liddell was the son of a London Missionary Society missionary in China; he attended Eltham as a boarder during his parents' missionary service, then read science at Edinburgh University, then returned to China as a missionary. He died in a Japanese internment camp in 1945. Eltham continues to commemorate Liddell with the Eric Liddell Sports Centre.
In literature, Mervyn Peake — the author of the Gormenghast trilogy (Titus Groan, Gormenghast, Titus Alone), one of the foundational works of mid-twentieth-century English fantasy and the precursor to the work of Tolkien, Susanna Clarke and Mervyn Wall — attended Eltham in the 1920s before training at the Royal Academy Schools. Peake was the son of London Missionary Society missionaries in China and his Eltham education was paid for by the school's missionary endowment.
In music: Sir Henry Wood, the founder of the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts ("The Proms"), one of the great institutions of British concert music, was an Old Elthamian. The school operates a substantial bursary programme via the Eltham College Foundation.
Additional source record ·
Eltham College is a successful, independent and diverse school for boys and girls aged between 7-18 years old located on a beautiful 70-acre site between Eltham and Mottingham in South East London.
With a rich history dating back to its founding as the ‘School for the Sons of Missionaries’ 180 years ago in 1842, Eltham College has undergone remarkable transformations. Today, we proudly stand as a fully co-educational institution. Our commitment to academic excellence is evident in our students’ outstanding exam results, and we enrich their educational journey with a wide-ranging co-curricular program that encompasses sports, music, drama, and art.
What truly sets Eltham apart is our unwavering dedication to providing exceptional pastoral care and support. Our innovative and comprehensive pastoral system ensures that every student feels supported and valued throughout their educational journey.
School life and highlights in the catalogue
- Founded 1842 as the School for the Sons of Missionaries — original purpose to educate the sons of foreign-mission clergy
- Co-educational ages 7-18
- ≈1,075 pupils across Junior and Senior School
- Set on 70-acre campus at Mottingham, south-east London
- HMC member
- Eric Liddell — 1924 Olympic 400m gold medallist and the figure of Chariots of Fire — was a pupil
- Author Mervyn Peake (the Gormenghast trilogy) attended the school in the 1920s
- Substantial bursary programme
- Founded 1842 — 184 year tradition
- 1,075-pupil community
- Christian foundation
- A-Level A*-B*: 64% achieve AAB+
- Strong Oxbridge progression
Education and school life
- Education levels
- Pre-Prep, Prep, Senior, Sixth Form
- Age range
- 7–19
- Attendance
- Day school
- Pupil intake
- Co-educational
- School type
- Mainstream
- Headteacher / principal
- Mr Guy R Sanderson
- Religious ethos
- Christian
- Listed inspectorate
- ISI
Subjects and qualifications
- Drama (Eric Liddell — Chariots of Fire — and Mervyn Peake — Gormenghast — alumni)
- Music
- Sciences
- Modern languages
- Athletics (1924 Olympic gold medallist Eric Liddell)
- Mathematics
- Drama
- Sport
Listed memberships and accreditations
- HMC (Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference)
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
Progression and destinations in the catalogue
- Oxbridge
- Russell Group (Imperial, UCL, LSE, Edinburgh)
- Medical schools
- US universities
- Russell Group
- International universities
Alumni notes
- Eric Liddell (1924 Olympic gold medallist; Scottish Christian missionary in China; subject of Chariots of Fire)
- Mervyn Peake (author of the Gormenghast trilogy; illustrator and poet)
- Sir Henry Wood (founder of the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts — "The Proms")
- Lord Birkin (chemist and businessman)
- Numerous Old Elthamians who served as Christian missionaries in China, India and Africa through the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries
- Several Royal Society Fellows
- Sir Adrian Cadbury (former chairman of Cadbury Schweppes)
Supporting school records
These dated records may contain different information. Ask our team about current details.
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
- Headteacher / principal
- Guy Sanderson (Headmaster)
- Founded
- 1842
- Religious ethos
- Christian (nondenominational; originally for sons of missionaries)
- Campus setting
- Urban
- Scholarships / bursaries
- Options indicated; confirm availability and eligibility.
Pupil information
- Total pupils
- 1,075
- Boys
- 697 · 64.84%
- Girls
- 378 · 35.16%
- Pupils receiving SEN support
- 224 · 20.84%
- Pupils with an EHCP
- 0 · 0%
Counts and percentages are reproduced from the directory. SEN means special educational needs; EHCP means Education, Health and Care Plan. A pupil census year is not supplied.
A-Level results
- Results year
- 2025
- Progress score
- 0.26 (Above Average)
- Average grade
- A
- AAB percentage
- 63.50%
Results refer to the year shown. The directory does not provide a cohort size or a full methodology for these measures.
Tuition and costs
The fee year is not specified. Ask our team about current fees, VAT and included services.
Schoolscout directory record ·
| Attendance | GBP · Period and VAT unverified |
|---|---|
| Day | £7,786.8 – £9,472.8 |
Current fees and VAT treatment require confirmation from the school. Directory labels are not a verified school quotation.
Check whether boarding, meals, registration, deposits, examinations, trips and guardian arrangements are included. Amounts are in pounds sterling (GBP), without currency conversion.
Ask about current feesPlanning your application
Talk to the UniCampus team about entry points, available places, assessments, language requirements and application dates. Admission arrangements vary by age and year group.
Read the directory’s school and admissions questions below.
MEC guidance can help you compare schools and organise the questions and documents needed for your next step. An enquiry or comparison does not submit an application.
Explore MEC guidanceQuestions in the school directory
Schoolscout directory record ·
What type of school is Eltham College?
Eltham College is a co-educational independent mainstream school for pupils aged 7 to 19, located near London in Greater London. The school offers education from Pre-Prep through to Sixth Form, with pathways leading to GCSEs and A Levels.
How do I apply to Eltham College?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
The admissions process usually starts well in advance of entry and may involve assessments and interviews. The school admissions timeline guide outlines key stages and deadlines.
What are the fees at Eltham College?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
Fees for Eltham College vary by year group, with typical termly costs around £7,786–£9,472.
Is Eltham College a day or boarding school?
Eltham College is a day school.
Is Eltham College selective?
Eltham College is a selective independent school. Admissions may include assessments and interviews where applicable.
School location and enquiries
- Street address
- Grove Park Road, Mottingham
- Town / locality
- London
- County
- Greater London
- Region
- London
- Postcode
- SE9 4QF
- Country
- United Kingdom
Talk to our team about this school, current fees and your application.
Enquire about this schoolView the school locationGrove Park Road, Mottingham, London, Greater London, SE9 4QFSchoolscout directory record ·
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
Additional source record ·
Collection and catalogue update dates are shown above; they are not fee years or pupil census dates. Source text is retained in its original language. The school’s official information takes precedence for current admissions, programmes and fees.