- Location
- Derby
- Age range
- 12–19
- Attendance
- Day and boarding
About Repton School
Schoolscout directory record ·
Repton School offers a rich educational experience that combines academic excellence with a strong emphasis on personal development. Located in the heart o...
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
Repton School was founded in 1557 following the will of Sir John Port of Etwall, who left funds for the establishment of a grammar school on the dissolved site of Repton Priory in the Derbyshire village of Repton — once the seat of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia. The school took possession of the Augustinian priory buildings in 1559. Repton is a co-educational HMC and BSA boarding and day school of around 700+ Senior School pupils aged 13-18, with The Preparatory School (Foremarke Hall) educating another 400 boys and girls aged 3-13. Girls were first admitted to Repton in the 1970s; the school became fully co-educational in 1991. The Headmaster is Mark Semmence.
Repton's most internationally famous alumnus is Roald Dahl — the children's writer whose Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, The Witches and The BFG are among the defining English-language children's books of the twentieth century, and whose adult Tales of the Unexpected became a long-running ITV series. Dahl attended Repton in the early 1930s and bitterly disliked the school's culture of corporal punishment and prefectorial bullying; his memoir Boy: Tales of Childhood (1984) contains a chapter on Repton that is one of the most uncomfortable descriptions of an English public-school childhood in any twentieth-century English memoir. The school has subsequently acknowledged the validity of Dahl's criticisms.
Other literary alumni include Christopher Isherwood, whose Goodbye to Berlin became the source material for Cabaret; the cartoonist Ralph Steadman, whose ink-and-blot illustrations defined Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and gonzo journalism more broadly; and the Victorian humorous poet Charles Stuart Calverley.
In comedy and broadcasting: Adrian Edmondson, the Young Ones and Bottom star and now author; Jeremy Clarkson, the long-running Top Gear and Grand Tour presenter. In sport: Andrew Strauss, Baron Strauss — England Test cricket captain through 2009-12, including the 2010-11 Ashes-winning tour of Australia — was a Reptonian, as was the earlier England Test cricketer Donald Carr; the Wimbledon finalist Bunny Austin and the Davis Cup champion of 1933, 1935 and 1936; and the Lions rugby player Donald Carr (the same name, a coincidence). In military and architectural history: Field Marshal Earl Haig, the British commander on the Western Front in World War I, was a Reptonian, as was Sir Basil Spence OM, the architect of the rebuilt Coventry Cathedral. The school operates a substantial bursary programme via the Repton School Foundation.
Additional source record ·
The story of the foundation of Repton School lies not only in the generosity of one man, Sir John Port, but in every pupil who has passed through the Arch.
As a pre-eminent co-educational boarding and day school in the heart of England, Repton provides an exceptional broad-based education, blending heritage with the pursuit of excellence in a 21st century context, offering world class facilities as well as high quality teaching and pastoral care.
Academic standards are high and because most of our teachers, tutors and coaches are based in the village, Reptonians never have to prioritise academic achievement over their love of the theatre or rank their aptitude for sport above their passion for music.
School life and highlights in the catalogue
- Founded 1557 by Sir John Port of Etwall — 469-year history
- Established at Repton Priory using its dissolution endowment
- Co-educational ages 13-18 (girls admitted from the 1970s; fully co-educational since 1991)
- ≈700+ pupils in the Senior School + ≈400 in The Preparatory School (Foremarke Hall)
- Located in Repton village, Derbyshire — Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia
- HMC and BSA member
- Roald Dahl attended Repton in the 1930s and famously hated it
- Substantial bursary programme
- Founded 1557 — 469 year tradition
- Day and boarding places available
- Christian foundation
- Strong in Music, Drama, Sport
- Strong Oxbridge progression
Education and school life
- Education levels
- Senior, Sixth Form
- Age range
- 12–19
- Attendance
- Day and boarding
- Pupil intake
- Co-educational
- School type
- Mainstream
- Headteacher / principal
- Mr Mark Semmence
- Religious ethos
- Christian
- Listed inspectorate
- ISI
Subjects and qualifications
- Cricket (multiple England Test captains)
- Literature (Roald Dahl, Christopher Isherwood, Roald Dahl alumni)
- Drama
- Sciences
- Music
- Rowing on the Trent
- Sport
- Outdoor
Listed memberships and accreditations
- HMC (Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference)
- BSA (Boarding Schools Association)
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
Progression and destinations in the catalogue
- Oxbridge
- Russell Group (Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester, Imperial)
- US Ivy League
- International universities
- Edinburgh / St Andrews
Alumni notes
- Roald Dahl (children's author — Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach; the school appears in his memoir Boy)
- Christopher Isherwood (novelist — Goodbye to Berlin, Cabaret source material)
- Adrian Edmondson (comedian and actor — The Young Ones, Bottom)
- Jeremy Clarkson (former Top Gear presenter; The Grand Tour)
- Field Marshal Earl Haig of Bemersyde (commander of the British Expeditionary Force, World War I)
- Sir Basil Spence OM OBE RA (architect of Coventry Cathedral)
- Olive Cooke (longest-serving Royal British Legion poppy seller; subject of Daily Mail concern)
- Andrew Strauss, Baron Strauss (former England Test cricket captain; Director of England Cricket)
- Donald Carr (England Test cricketer; former Secretary of Test and County Cricket Board)
- Bunny Austin (Wimbledon finalist; Davis Cup champion 1933, 1935, 1936)
- Charles Stuart Calverley (Victorian humorous poet)
- Ralph Steadman (illustrator and cartoonist — Hunter S. Thompson's books)
Supporting school records
These dated records may contain different information. Ask our team about current details.
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
- Headteacher / principal
- Mark Semmence (Headmaster)
- Founded
- 1557
- Religious ethos
- Church of England (Augustinian foundation)
- Campus setting
- Rural
- Scholarships / bursaries
- Options indicated; confirm availability and eligibility.
Additional source record ·
- Campus setting
- Urban
Pupil information
- Total pupils
- 626
- Boys
- 336 · 53.67%
- Girls
- 290 · 46.33%
- Pupils receiving SEN support
- 107 · 17.09%
- Pupils with an EHCP
- 1 · 0.16%
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
- 0.41 (Well Above Average)
- Average grade
- B+
- AAB percentage
- 29.30%
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 | Lower amount: £13,555.2 |
| Boarding | Lower amount: £18,274.8 |
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
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Read the directory’s school and admissions questions below.
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Explore MEC guidanceQuestions in the school directory
Schoolscout directory record ·
What type of school is Repton School?
Repton School is a co-educational independent mainstream school for pupils aged 12 to 19, located near Derby in Derbyshire. The school offers education from Senior through to Sixth Form, with pathways leading to GCSEs and A Levels.
How do I apply to Repton School?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
Applications typically begin 1–2 years in advance and may include registration, assessments and interviews. Families can explore the UK private school admissions timeline to understand key dates and entry points.
What are the fees at Repton School?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
Fees at Repton School are approximately £13,555 per term, depending on the year group and whether pupils board. Families can learn more about UK private school fees and what is typically included.
Is Repton School a day or boarding school?
Repton School is a day and boarding school.
Is Repton School selective?
Admissions to Repton School may include assessments and interviews where applicable.
School location and enquiries
- Street address
- Repton
- Town / locality
- Derby
- County
- Derbyshire
- Region
- East Midlands
- Postcode
- DE65 6FH
- Country
- United Kingdom
Talk to our team about this school, current fees and your application.
Enquire about this schoolView the school locationRepton, Derby, Derbyshire, East Midlands, DE65 6FHSchoolscout 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.