- Location
- LONDON
- Age range
- 3–18
- Attendance
- Day school
About St Dunstan's College
Schoolscout directory record ·
St Dunstan's College offers a nurturing environment where academic excellence and personal growth thrive side by side. With a rich history and a commitment...
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
St Dunstan's College is one of the oldest schools in London. The institution's lineage runs back to approximately 1446, when an earlier school was endowed at the church of St Dunstan-in-the-East in the City. The original foundation lapsed during the Reformation; the present St Dunstan's College was re-established at Catford in south-east London in 1888 by the Charity Commissioners using the residual endowment of the medieval foundation. The school today is a co-educational HMC day school of around 1,043 pupils aged 3-18, in the London Borough of Lewisham. The Head is Nick Hewlett.
St Dunstan's modern academic and cultural alumni list is unusually strong. The most internationally significant is Sir Martin Evans, who shared the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the development of knockout-mouse genetics — the technique that allowed scientists to study the function of individual genes by selectively disabling them in mice, with profound consequences for medical research. The senior media figure Lord Grade of Yarmouth (Michael Grade) — Chairman of the BBC, Chairman of Ofcom and former executive Chairman of ITV — was educated at St Dunstan's, as was the journalist Matthew d'Ancona, former editor of The Spectator.
In music, the keyboardist Steve Nieve (born Steve Nason) of Elvis Costello and the Attractions — whose work defines records like Pump It Up, Watching the Detectives, Oliver's Army and the entire This Year's Model and Imperial Bedroom albums — was a pupil at St Dunstan's. In military aviation, the Royal Air Force fighter ace Robert Stanford Tuck DSO DFC AFC, who flew through the Battle of Britain and the Battle of France, achieving 29 aerial victories before his shooting-down and capture, was one of "the Few" educated at St Dunstan's.
In public life, recent alumni include Sir Chuka Umunna, the former MP for Streatham who served in Labour's shadow cabinet before joining Change UK and then the Liberal Democrats; Lord Drayson, the former defence-procurement minister; Sir William Castell, former Chairman of the Wellcome Trust; and Sir Geoffrey Nice KC, the international war-crimes barrister who led the prosecution of Slobodan Milošević at the ICTY. The school operates a substantial bursary programme.
School life and highlights in the catalogue
- Founded c. 1446 (re-established 1888) — original Saxon-era foundation predecessor
- Co-educational ages 3-18 (≈1,043 pupils)
- South-east London location (Catford / Lewisham)
- HMC member; Church of England foundation
- Sir Martin Evans (Nobel Medicine 2007) was a pupil
- Strong cultural alumni: Michael Grade ITV/BBC, Steve Nieve Elvis Costello, Matthew d'Ancona
- RAF Battle of Britain ace Robert Stanford Tuck — one of "the Few"
- Substantial bursary programme
- Founded in 2022
- 1,196-pupil community
- Church of England foundation
- A-Level A*-B*: 34% achieve AAB+
- Strong in STEM, Drama, Sport
- IAPS prep school accreditation
Education and school life
- Education levels
- Nursery, Pre-Prep, Prep, Senior, Sixth Form
- Age range
- 3–18
- Attendance
- Day school
- Pupil intake
- Co-educational
- School type
- Mainstream
- Religious ethos
- Church of England
- Listed inspectorate
- ISI
Subjects and qualifications
- Sciences (Nobel laureate Sir Martin Evans — genetics)
- Music (Steve Nieve of Elvis Costello and the Attractions)
- Drama & broadcasting
- Politics & public-service
- Cricket
- Engineering
- STEM
- Drama
- Sport
- Outdoor
Listed memberships and accreditations
- HMC (Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference)
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
- IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools)
Progression and destinations in the catalogue
- Oxbridge
- Russell Group
- US Ivy League
- Music conservatoires
- Conservatoires
Alumni notes
- Sir Martin Evans (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 2007 — knockout mice; embryonic stem cells)
- Lord Grade of Yarmouth (Michael Grade — former Chairman of the BBC and Ofcom; Chief Executive of ITV)
- Steve Nieve (keyboardist for Elvis Costello and the Attractions — Pump It Up, Watching the Detectives)
- Robert Stanford Tuck (RAF World War II fighter ace — 29 aerial victories; one of "the Few")
- Matthew d'Ancona (former editor of The Spectator; Sunday Telegraph columnist)
- Sir William Castell (former Chairman of the Wellcome Trust; director of GE and BP)
- Lord Drayson (former defence procurement minister)
- Sir Chuka Umunna (former Liberal Democrat MP for Streatham)
- Sir Geoffrey Nice KC (international war-crimes prosecutor — led prosecution of Slobodan Milošević at the ICTY)
- Brian Brolly (co-founder of Jazz FM and Classic FM)
- Walter Hamilton (former headmaster of Westminster, Rugby, Magdalene Cambridge)
- Frederick Henry Johnson VC (World War I Victoria Cross recipient)
Supporting school records
These dated records may contain different information. Ask our team about current details.
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
- Headteacher / principal
- Nick Hewlett
- Founded
- 1446
- Campus setting
- Urban
- Scholarships / bursaries
- Options indicated; confirm availability and eligibility.
Additional source record ·
- Founded
- 2022
Pupil information
- Total pupils
- 1,196
- Boys
- 648 · 54.18%
- Girls
- 548 · 45.82%
- Pupils receiving SEN support
- 221 · 18.48%
- 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
- 0.44 (Well Above Average)
- Average grade
- A-
- AAB percentage
- 33.90%
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 | £6,436.8 – £8,812.8 |
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 St Dunstan's College?
St Dunstan's College is a co-educational independent mainstream school for pupils aged 3 to 18, located near LONDON in Greater London. The school offers education from Nursery through to Sixth Form, with pathways leading to GCSEs and A Levels.
How do I apply to St Dunstan's 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 St Dunstan's College?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
Fees at St Dunstan's College are approximately £6,436–£8,812 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 St Dunstan's College a day or boarding school?
St Dunstan's College offers day options. Where boarding is available, this may include full, weekly or flexi arrangements.
Is St Dunstan's College selective?
Admissions to St Dunstan's College are selective, with entry based on overall fit and, where relevant, academic assessment.
School location and enquiries
- Street address
- Stanstead Road, Catford
- Town / locality
- LONDON
- County
- Greater London
- Region
- London
- Postcode
- SE6 4TY
- Country
- United Kingdom
Talk to our team about this school, current fees and your application.
Enquire about this schoolView the school locationStanstead Road, Catford, LONDON, Greater London, London, SE6 4TYSchoolscout 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
- st-dunstans-college.jpg: CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons