FAQs

Owing to popular demand amongst the prospective parent market, we have taken the decision to offer another day model from September 2026.

No. We remain committed to boarding and the majority of our students will continue to board in some capacity. At the same time, we want to ensure that we are in a position to continue to grow and in so doing remain accessible to our regional market. We are confident that the culture of Cranleigh will continue to be as strong, especially as it is operating around a full boarding timetable.

The new day option is intended for new pupils, rather than current pupils, who will be joining in September 2026 following a competitive entry process. For existing parents wishing to consider moving to the new day/day plus model, this will be an option going into the Sixth Form which is a natural transition point. Should a pupil change to a day place at this point they would be expected to move out of their Boarding House. However, for our current day pupils (to be known as day plus from September 2026) there will be the option to board a night a week free of additional charge should they wish to do so.

Day pupils will be based in a separate area to the day plus and boarders. They will still have a Housemaster or Housemistress, tutor and same academic, co-curricular and pastoral support. Our day pupils will be affiliated to a Boarding House in the short term and be part of our comprehensive house competition network. As the model develops our day pupils will have a House of their own (name tbc!).

A day plus pupil will be fully integrated into their Boarding House with a dedicated space in a dormitory.  They will have the option to board once a week at no extra cost. They will be able to have breakfast, lunch and dinner in school, complete prep in school, partake in all evening activities and leave at 9pm in the evening. They will get the benefits of a boarding environment and House.

Yes, a pupil can stay for a school commitment e.g. academic lectures, orchestra or a school trip. This must be discussed with, and permission given by, the House Staff. There will be an additional charge if your child wishes to have supper in school.

The School operates a full co-curricular programme during the working day which our day pupils will be able to access up until 5.45pm when they go home. There will be some activities which run into the evenings which day pupils will be welcome to stay for with an additional charge.

Sorry, that would not be possible unless a pupil becomes a day plus pupil or a boarder.

If they are boarders or day plus, they can be in the same House. If one child is a day pupil they will be in a different House.

We aim to make your child’s minibus journey to Cranleigh as seamless as possible. Alternatively, parents can drop off and pick up at their School House or outside Speech Hall.

If you have currently been offered what will be a day plus place, the expectation is that you will take up this place in September 2026. However, if you want to apply for a day place, rather than day plus, please contact our Admissions team although places will be limited.

This is a conversation to be had with our Admissions team who will explore with you the best option for your child and how to manage a change of model to boarding once they start if appropriate.

The decision over whether to board is one that a family should make together. We understand that it’s difficult to make this decision in Year 6 when your child is still young, but it’s important to remember that come Year 9 they will be young adults wanting more independence.

As a modern boarding school we are extremely experienced in helping you to understand contemporary boarding and how it fits with modern family life. Staff at Cranleigh are always happy to answer any questions you or your child may have, however detailed, as we recognise that the decision to board is an important one.

In the Lower School nearly all pupils will share rooms. They will have a dedicated space, and bed of course and we encourage them and roommates to make the room feel like home. Our Boarding Houses are homes! We regularly rotate the pupils around in rooms so that they get to know as many of their housemates as possible and develop strong bonds. In the Sixth Form boarders are in smaller dorms and many will have their own room; again, we encourage them to make this their space.

Most children will experience some form of insecurity worries in joining a new school and sometimes this does manifest itself in homesickness. We are a school that encourages families to be part of the community and will work with parents in supporting their children. We know from experience that in a busy and caring environment that is geared towards creating a wholly fulfilling educational experience any homesickness will not last long.

In each House we have a very strong and dedicated pastoral staff. Each House has two residential staff and two matrons. As well as this all of our teaching staff are house tutors and they are assigned responsibility for individual children – each tutor will support around 10 pupils. They will also have mentors from the older years in both formal and informal ways, so each child in the boarding house will have plenty of day-to-day support from staff and pupils.

After dinner and social time, prep takes place in the boarding houses, with staff and Sixth Form prefects supporting and mentoring prep. Once prep is completed many school and house activities take place before bedtime. This varies day by day and can include simple food treat nights, playing games, TV watching, or playing sports to more ‘organised’ activities such as trips to the cinema, trampoline park or a restaurant.

Yes! All of our pupils have a school iPad with a School email account and we find this is the way many of our pupils keep in regular contact with family and friends. In the Fourth Form we ask that mobile devices are kept at home or with House Staff to enable the children to bond better with one another rather than being on a social media platform. But if they need or wish to contact you they are able to use the private phones in Matron’s room or the House Staff phones. In other years mobile phones are permitted but their use will be restricted, as again we want them to have as few distractions to school life as possible.

Yes! We have many parents and grandparents coming to concerts, plays, or school matches during the week and we encourage this. Many parents pop into the house to drop off supplies and take children out for a pizza or a coffee in the week and we’re happy to welcome them into the community. We want all of our parents to feel like they are part of the Cranleigh family.

Yes! Most pupils go home after matches on Saturdays to have a relaxing weekend. Pupils can then return on a Sunday evening at 9pm or Monday morning at 7.45am.

No! We do not set weekend homework, as we believe that the weekends are times for families to spend quality time together. All laundering is completed at school in the week as well. Weekends are for quality family time.

We offer an exciting and varied programme of events for our boarders at the weekend.

Click here to see where our boarders will be going this term