Published: 21 May 2026
Set between the Surrey towns of Esher and Leatherhead, Oxshott is widely regarded as one of the county’s most prestigious and affluent villages. Located just 15 miles from London yet still retaining a sense of seclusion, the area has consistently attracted wealthy families who are drawn by its expansive estates, strong transport connections - including access to the M25 motorway - and proximity to London.
Among its defining features is access to a wide range of private schools. Across Surrey, approximately 20% of pupils are educated in the private sector, compared to just 6–7% nationally. In effect, children in Surrey are around three times more likely to attend a private school than the average in England.
In this guide, we take a closer look at a handful of the best independent schools in and around Oxshott.
Danes Hill School, Oxshott
Type: Co-educational Preparatory
Fees: £484–£613 per session (Nursery); £6,690 (Pre-Prep: Reception and Year 1); £7,875 (Prep: Year 2); £9,460 (Prep: Years 3–8) per term.
Danes Hill School is a co-educational preparatory school that educates pupils from early years through to 13+, with a focus on progression to senior schools at 11+ and 13+. Originally a late 19th-century private residence that was first recorded in 1891, the site transitioned into a school in 1947 with just 16 pupils at the time of opening. Expansion through the mid-20th century established its local reputation, while later changes, including the end of boarding in 1975, made the move to full co-education in the early 1980s and subsequent integration into an educational trust.
The school has since grown to over 500 pupils, with continued investment adding academic, performing arts and sports facilities, alongside a 25-acre outdoor learning site. Outcomes are measured through attainment and progression, with 2025 results showing an exceptional 76% of grades at A or A* and 99% at A*–C in internal assessments, alongside 100% A*–C in English, Maths and Science. Scholarships also remain a key performance measure, with 30 Scholarships and Exhibitions awarded at 11+ and 13+ and the majority of pupils progressing at Year 8 to senior schools via common entrance or scholarship routes.
Downsend School, Leatherhead
Type: Co-educational Day School
Fees: £6,113 to £7,187 per term.
Downsend School can trace its origins to 1898, when Peterborough Lodge School was established in Hampstead by Arthur Howard Linford before relocating to its current site in Leatherhead. Early development was marked by steady academic progression, with scholarships secured from the 1920s and facilities expanded through the interwar period. Post-war rebuilding and growth continued into the mid-20th century, with boarding ending in 1968 and further expansion through the 1970s and 1980s. By the late 1990s, the school had consolidated into a fully co-educational structure, later entering a period of investment following its acquisition by the global private-schools group Cognita in 2006.
Recent development has centred on repositioning the school as an all-through provider. Since 2020, Downsend has extended its education provision from early years through to GCSE, supported by new academic and co-curricular facilities, including a creative arts centre and expanded sports provision, alongside the launch of a specialist sixth form in Leatherhead. Academic outcomes at GCSE level remain strong, with recent results indicating around 85% of grades at 9–5 and pupils progressing to a mix of prestigious sixth form providers, including Epsom College, Reigate Grammar School and Hurtwood House.
Glenesk School, Leatherhead
Type: Co-educational Pre-preparatory
Fees: £1,126–£5,190 per term (Nursery and Rising Reception, depending on attendance); £5,793 (Reception); £6,547 (Years 1–2) per term.
Glenesk School is an independent pre-prepatory school. Also part of the Cognita family, it is positioned around the early years and Key Stage 1 phase, with an emphasis on small class sizes, high staff ratios and individual attention at a formative stage of development. With facilities including bright classrooms, outdoor learning areas, a library, music room, hall and indoor heated swimming pool. Its broader aim is to provide a strong early foundation before pupils move on to selective schools at Year 3, with some students securing academic or sporting scholarships.
The school states that nearly 90% of children leave the Early Years stage with outcomes at or above the national average, while its 2017 ISI inspection rated it outstanding in all areas.
St John's School, Leatherhead
Type: Co-educational Day and Boarding
Fees: £10,180 (Lower School); £11,570 (Senior School) per term, inclusive of VAT (2026–27). Boarding: £880–£3,690 per term.
Located in Leatherhead, St John’s School is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 11 to 18, it occupies a substantial campus in Surrey. Founded in 1851 by the Reverend Ashby Haslewood, the school was originally established to educate the sons of clergymen. Its subsequent move from London to Leatherhead marked the beginning of its expansion into a larger and more modern institution and has evolved into a fully co-educational school while retaining clear links to its Anglican heritage.
The ethos is rooted in the idea of educating the whole person, with academic success framed as only one part of a broader developmental journey. Pupils are encouraged to take part widely, whether in sport, music, drama or service activities. There is a consistent emphasis on character, kindness, integrity and responsibility as much as on attainment.
In 2025, around half of all A Level grades were awarded at A* or A, with more than four-fifths at A*–B at GCSE level, results were similarly robust, with roughly three-quarters of grades falling within the 9–7 range and a significant proportion at the top 9–8 band.
In Oxshott, private education provides a well-established pipeline from preparatory schools into selective senior schools across Surrey and beyond. With participation rates significantly above the national average, , the area offers choice and consistency for families who are looking to prioritise independent schooling.
