Frequently Asked Questions

RGS Surrey Hills is a co-educational independent school in Surrey for students aged 11 to 18, offering day, weekly and full boarding. Formerly Box Hill School, it sits in 26 acres of countryside in the Surrey Hills near Dorking and Leatherhead, just 30 miles from London, and is part of the Reigate Grammar School Group. What sets it apart is its deliberately small size, where every student is known as an individual.

Families choose RGS Surrey Hills because it combines the opportunities of a leading independent school with the personal feel of a deliberately small community. Every student is known as an individual, benefiting from small classes, outstanding pastoral care, a choice of A Levels or the IB Diploma Programme, exceptional sporting and co-curricular opportunities, and the strength of the Reigate Grammar School Group.

Unlike many larger independent schools, RGS Surrey Hills offers a genuinely personalised education where students are known, supported and challenged throughout their journey. Our beautiful Surrey Hills campus, international community, Round Square membership and flexible academic pathways create an environment where young people develop confidence, character and ambition.

RGS Surrey Hills is at Old London Road, Mickleham, Dorking, RH5 6EA, between Dorking and Leatherhead in the heart of the Surrey Hills. It enjoys a stunning countryside setting while remaining within easy reach of London, Gatwick and Heathrow, making it a natural choice for local and international families alike.

Yes. RGS Surrey Hills is a private school in Surrey, a fee-paying independent secondary school and sixth form. Families comparing private schools in Dorking, Leatherhead and across Surrey value its small size, where every student is known as an individual.

Yes. RGS Surrey Hills is proudly part of the Reigate Grammar School Family of Schools. Being part of the Group means students benefit from shared expertise, high standards and a wider network of opportunities, alongside sister schools including Chinthurst, Micklefield, Reigate St Mary’s, St Christopher’s and RGS International.

RGS Surrey Hills is relationship-focused and internationally minded, guided by the Round Square IDEALS of Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership and Service. Academic challenge sits alongside exceptional pastoral care and a genuine sense of belonging, with students from Surrey, across the UK and more than 30 countries.

RGS Surrey Hills is ideal for students who thrive in a supportive environment where they are encouraged to be ambitious, curious and confident. Whether a child excels academically, enjoys sport, loves the arts or simply benefits from smaller class sizes and individual attention, families often tell us their children quickly develop a strong sense of belonging.

As a senior school in Surrey, RGS Surrey Hills teaches students from Year 7 through GCSEs and on to A Level or the IB in the Sixth Form. It is a popular senior school in Dorking and the surrounding area, with small classes and a broad, flexible curriculum.

Students progress through GCSEs before choosing either A Levels or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in the Sixth Form. This flexibility allows every student to follow the pathway best suited to their strengths, interests and future aspirations.

Our deliberately small class sizes allow teachers to know every student well, providing personalised support, meaningful feedback and the confidence for students to participate fully in lessons.

Alongside excellent teaching, students benefit from dedicated tutors, experienced pastoral staff and a culture built around kindness, wellbeing and academic ambition.

RGS Surrey Hills is proud to be a Round Square school, giving students international opportunities, leadership experiences, service projects and exchanges that develop global awareness, resilience and character.

Students enjoy a wide range of opportunities including sport, music, drama, leadership, Duke of Edinburgh, outdoor learning, international exchanges and Round Square activities, helping every student discover their passions and develop confidence beyond academic study.

Sport is central to life at RGS Surrey Hills. Students can take part in more than 20 sports, from football, hockey and netball to golf, equestrian and athletics. Teams compete locally and nationally, with recent success including national football titles.

Boarding at RGS Surrey Hills offers the warmth of a family community within a beautiful countryside campus in the Surrey Hills. As an established boarding school in Surrey, and one of the few set between Dorking and Leatherhead yet just 45 minutes from London, it offers full, weekly and flexible boarding alongside a varied programme of evening and weekend activities, creating a genuine home-from-home experience.

Yes. RGS Surrey Hills is an established boarding school in Surrey, offering full, weekly and flexible boarding. Set within the Surrey Hills and just 45 minutes from London, it welcomes boarders from across the UK and around the world into a genuine home-from-home.

Students can choose full, weekly or flexible boarding, so families can find an arrangement that suits home life and educational goals. Boarding is fully integrated into school life, with a varied programme of evening and weekend activities across the 26-acre campus.

RGS Surrey Hills is a welcoming boarding school in Dorking, and its position between Dorking and Leatherhead makes it equally convenient as a boarding school in Leatherhead. It is one of the few boarding schools in England that combines a countryside campus with easy access to London.

Yes. As one of the sixth form boarding schools in the region, RGS Surrey Hills welcomes boarders into the Sixth Form for A Levels or the IB Diploma, supporting them to grow in independence and confidence ahead of university.

Yes. Students from more than 30 countries are part of our boarding community, creating an internationally minded environment that reflects our Round Square values. The school has a dedicated international admissions route with entry points at 13+ and 16+, and this global outlook is part of what distinguishes RGS Surrey Hills among independent schools in the UK.

The Sixth Form in Surrey at RGS Surrey Hills offers a choice of A Levels or the International Baccalaureate Diploma for students aged 16 to 18, with strong careers and university guidance and the option to board.

RGS Surrey Hills is one of the few independent schools in Surrey to offer both the IB Diploma and A Levels. Rather than pushing one route, we help each student choose the qualification that best supports their university ambitions, learning style and career goals: A Levels for depth and focus, the IB for breadth and an internationally recognised profile.

Yes. RGS Surrey Hills is one of the established IB schools in Surrey, offering the IB Diploma Programme alongside A Levels in the Sixth Form. This gives students a broad, internationally recognised pathway suited to a wide range of talents and ambitions.

Yes. Many students join RGS Surrey Hills at 16+ for the Sixth Form, from local schools and from overseas. It is a natural entry point, and our Admissions team makes the move straightforward, with new students quickly settling into the small, welcoming community, whether joining for A Levels, the IB, or to board for the first time.

Students receive dedicated guidance throughout the university process, from choosing courses and universities to personal statements, references and interview preparation, including support for UCAS, Oxbridge, medical and international applications.

Families can register, apply online and book an open event or personal tour through the Admissions pages. Visiting is the best way to compare RGS Surrey Hills with other Surrey independent schools and experience the school for yourself. International applicants can join at 11+, 13+ or 16+.

Absolutely. We encourage families to visit through an Open Event or personal tour to experience the campus, meet staff and students, and discover what makes RGS Surrey Hills unique. It is the best way to judge the fit.

Students typically join at Year 7 (11+), Year 9 (13+) and Sixth Form (16+), with additional entry points available for international students throughout the year where places are available.

Yes. RGS Surrey Hills offers a range of scholarships across disciplines alongside means-tested bursaries. Families considering independent schools in the UK are encouraged to ask the Admissions team about eligibility and how to apply.

Yes. The boarding community brings together students from over 30 countries, and the school has a dedicated international admissions route with entry points at 13+ and 16+. This international outlook is part of what distinguishes RGS Surrey Hills among independent schools in the UK.

Students join RGS Surrey Hills from Dorking, Leatherhead, Reigate, Epsom, Guildford, across Surrey and South London, and internationally through our boarding community.