When I first came to see Freemen’s for myself, I was immediately struck by how warm and inviting the people and the place were.

It seemed like somewhere that I could feel at home easily; a school where professional, first-rate teachers were busy; where open-hearted children were happy to be; where academic excellence was an expectation, but which was unabashedly rooted in a supportive environment where every child matters. Indeed, it felt like home very quickly. In post as Headmaster, those qualities still strike me every day, and they certainly strike visitors to Freemen’s.  

Our mission is to learn, lead and make a difference. We live and breathe that ethos every day here at Freemen’s: staff and students. Academic excellence is a given, that’s the foundation of any good school and we are very firmly rooted in a tradition of achievement. However, good grades and progression to top universities only make up part of the picture here in Ashtead Park. We want to develop balanced, compassionate, rounded and unpretentious young people, who will go out into the wider world and leave a lasting impact: young people who can and will make a difference throughout their lives.  

Roland Martin, Headmaster

 

The ethos is felt throughout the School, from Juniors to Seniors and beyond into Sixth Form. We are fortunate to have a wonderful sense of community in our beautiful patch of Surrey parkland, with a diverse and welcoming cohort of students; expert, trailblazing teaching staff; an active and engaged parent body and a wealth of friends and supporters in the local area, the City of London and as part of our burgeoning alumni community.

Our founding ethos was all about community and that remains at the forefront of our thinking almost 170 years later. City of London Freemen’s School was set up to look after the orphaned children of Freemen of the City. The school was founded in Brixton in 1854 to educate boys and girls - we have always been co-educational, it is an essential part of our character, even before that was commonplace. As well as committing right from our foundation to a charitable, co-ed, broad education, we have also continuously admitted boarders alongside our day pupils and they remain an integral part of what makes Freemen’s the community it is. 

In 1926 the City Corporation moved us out to Ashtead Park, which I do consider to be a stroke of genius! We really do enjoy the best of locations - a leafy Surrey Hills site, but wholeheartedly connected to the Square Mile and only a short train journey into Waterloo or Victoria. Since then, our site has expanded to accommodate swelling numbers and to support our children’s development in excellent facilities. You can be sure that the interests of the children will always come first here. 

I should very much like to invite you to visit us at Freemen’s to see what we can offer you. We have various opportunities throughout the year for prospective families to visit; information is available on this website as to when these will take place. Furthermore, do please contact [email protected] if you would like more details, or to register your interest if you are considering choosing us to educate your child.

With every good wish,
Roland J. Martin