· Cheam can trace it roots back to 1645 when it was established in a house known as Whitehall in Cheam, Surrey.
· In 1935, it moved to Headley and counts both Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and King Charles III as former pupils.
· Today, nearly 400 children attend the school and are able to enjoy a site of 80 acres.
· Boarding at Cheam adds significantly to the life of the school, building a unique sense of community, with weekly and flexi boarding on offer from Year 4 onwards.
· The school runs a bus service for boarders from west London every Monday morning.

The school says: 'Cheam is a very special place offering the brightest of learning environments. It is the perfect place to grow – we know that the early years of a child’s life are the very best time to prepare the ground for their adulthood, and our focus at Cheam is on providing the most compelling setting for every child to thrive.'

'There is a ‘feeling’ about our school that cannot be engineered. It is an organic manifestation of an educational environment where opportunity is provided alongside reassurance, where independence co-exists with support, and where kindness is instilled alongside resilience.'

'It is this ethos that ensures our Cheam leavers, year on year, take happiness, confidence and emotional intelligence with them on to pastures new.'

Head, Governance and Inspections

When reviewing details about a particular school, prospective parents should always ensure they have looked at the governance details, reviewed recent inspections and read about the Head's vision for the school. Find out more about how to read an inspection report, the role of the Head (and whether you need to like him or her!), the school's pastoral care provision, looking at what is taught through the curriculum and assessing the extracurricular opportunities on offer.