- Location
- Solihull
- Age range
- 3–19
- Attendance
- Day school
About Solihull School
Schoolscout directory record ·
Situated in the heart of Solihull, this distinguished independent school offers a nurturing environment where academic excellence and personal development...
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
Solihull School is the oldest school in Solihull, founded in 1560 when the revenues of the chantry chapels of St Mary and St Katherine in the parish church of St Alphege were diverted under royal charter to endow a school for boys. The revenues of the chapel of St Alphege were added six years later. The school remained rooted in Church of England tradition through the seventeenth century, when it became a boarding school under the Rev. Richard Mashiter (Headmaster from 1735), and developed steadily through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries into one of the principal independent schools of the West Midlands. It is co-educational, educates around 1,500 pupils aged 3-18, and is a member of the HMC.
The school's campus sits at the centre of Solihull, a town now firmly within the Greater Birmingham commuter belt. The Headmaster since 2021 is Charles Fillingham, previously Headmaster of Francis Holland Regent's Park. The chaplaincy is led by Revd. Rachel Hill Brown.
Solihull's alumni list is unusually rich for a regional independent. In sport: the Olympic figure-skating gold medallist John Curry, whose 1976 Innsbruck gold remains one of British figure skating's defining performances; the 1984 Olympic rowing gold medallist Adrian Ellison; the Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters; the former England cricketer Frank Foster; and the European 400m champion Daniel Caines. In broadcasting: Michael Buerk, whose 1984 BBC report from Ethiopia triggered the Live Aid response; the BBC Radio 2 DJ Simon Mayo; the comedian and writer Stewart Lee; and Richard Hammond, the long-serving Top Gear and Grand Tour presenter. In music: Phil Oakey, the lead singer of The Human League. In academia: Lord Butterfield of Stechford, who served as Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge in the 1980s, and Frank H. T. Rhodes, who was President of Cornell University for 18 years.
Solihull operates a substantial bursary programme and has consistently placed in the top tier of West Midlands schools for A-Level performance and university progression.
School life and highlights in the catalogue
- Founded 1560 from chantry-chapel revenues — 466-year history
- Oldest school in Solihull, West Midlands
- HMC member; co-educational ages 3-18
- ≈1,500 pupils across pre-prep, prep and senior school
- Town-centre campus close to Birmingham International transport links
- Strong sport pipeline: an Olympic figure-skating gold medallist and an Olympic rowing gold medallist
- Broadcasting alumni span four generations of national BBC presenters
- Music alumni include the lead singer of The Human League and multiple internationally performing organists
- 1,564-pupil community
- Church of England foundation
- A-Level A*-B*: 42% achieve AAB+
Education and school life
- Education levels
- Nursery, Pre-Prep, Prep, Senior, Sixth Form
- Age range
- 3–19
- Attendance
- Day school
- Pupil intake
- Co-educational
- School type
- Mainstream
- Religious ethos
- Church of England
- Listed inspectorate
- ISI
Subjects and qualifications
- Music (multiple alumni organists, conductors, harpsichordists)
- Drama & comedy (Richard Hammond, Stewart Lee alumni)
- Sport — cricket, rowing, athletics, figure skating, boxing
- STEM (Roger Tayler, RAS president)
- Classics
- Broadcasting (BBC Michael Buerk, Simon Mayo, Lizo Mzimba)
- Drama
- Sport
Listed memberships and accreditations
- HMC (Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference)
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
Progression and destinations in the catalogue
- Oxbridge
- Russell Group (Birmingham, Warwick, Imperial, UCL, Edinburgh)
- Cornell, Notre Dame, Cambridge fellowships
- Music conservatoires (RAM, RCM)
Alumni notes
- John Curry (Olympic figure-skating gold medallist, 1976)
- Richard Hammond (Top Gear, The Grand Tour presenter)
- Stewart Lee (comedian and writer)
- Phil Oakey (lead singer of The Human League)
- Michael Buerk (BBC News journalist — 1984 Ethiopia famine reports)
- Simon Mayo (BBC Radio 2 DJ and author)
- Richard Masters (Chief Executive of the Premier League)
- Frank H. T. Rhodes (President of Cornell University, 1977-95)
- Lord Butterfield of Stechford (Master of Downing College Cambridge; Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge)
- Daniel Caines (European 400m champion)
- Will Grigg (Northern Ireland international footballer)
- Sir Derek Higgs (businessman, author of the Higgs Review)
- Bert Millichip (former Chairman of the Football Association)
- Adrian Ellison (Olympic gold-medallist rowing cox, 1984)
Supporting school records
These dated records may contain different information. Ask our team about current details.
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
- Headteacher / principal
- Charles Fillingham
- Founded
- 1560
- Religious ethos
- Church of England foundation
- Campus setting
- Urban
- Scholarships / bursaries
- Options indicated; confirm availability and eligibility.
Additional source record ·
- Scholarships / bursaries
- Options not indicated in this record; availability unconfirmed.
Pupil information
- Total pupils
- 1,564
- Boys
- 782 · 50%
- Girls
- 782 · 50%
- Pupils receiving SEN support
- 238 · 15.22%
- Pupils with an EHCP
- 2 · 0.13%
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
- 0.35 (Above Average)
- Average grade
- A-
- AAB percentage
- 41.90%
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 | £5,545.2 – £7,455.6 |
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.
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Explore MEC guidanceQuestions in the school directory
Schoolscout directory record ·
What type of school is Solihull School?
Solihull School is a co-educational independent mainstream school for pupils aged 3 to 19, located near Solihull in West Midlands. The school offers education from Nursery through to Sixth Form, with pathways leading to GCSEs and A Levels.
How do I apply to Solihull School?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
Most families apply to Solihull School 1–2 years before entry, with a process that can include tests, interviews and school reports. See the private school admissions timeline for when to apply and what to expect.
What are the fees at Solihull School?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
The cost of attending Solihull School typically ranges around £5,545–£7,455 per term, with variations based on age and boarding.
Is Solihull School a day or boarding school?
Solihull School offers day options. Where boarding is available, this may include full, weekly or flexi arrangements.
Is Solihull School selective?
Solihull School follows a selective admissions process, which may include interviews or entrance assessments.
School location and enquiries
- Street address
- Warwick Road
- Town / locality
- Solihull
- County
- West Midlands
- Region
- West Midlands
- Postcode
- B91 3DJ
- Country
- United Kingdom
Talk to our team about this school, current fees and your application.
Enquire about this schoolView the school locationWarwick Road, Solihull, West Midlands, B91 3DJSchoolscout 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.
Photo credits
Source: Wikipedia
- img-01.jpg: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - img-02.jpg: CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons