City of London Freemen's School

The school's head is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The Good Schools Guide described the school as "A traditional academic and sporty school in a stunning setting with impressive facilities but not at all elitist – in fact quite the opposite." In 2024, 33% of grades in A Levels were A* and 72% of grades were A*-A. In GCSEs, 40% of grades were 9, 67% were 8-9 (equivalent to A*) and 86% achieved 9-7 in GCSEs.

• Name — City of London Freemen's School (CLFS) • Motto — Domine Dirige Nos • Established — 1854 • Type — Independent school Day and boarding school • Head Label — Headmaster • Head — Roland Martin • Address — Ashtead Park • City — Ashtead • County — Surrey • Country — England • Postal Code — KT21 1ET • Urn — 125349 • Enrolment — 842 • Gender — Co-educational • Lower Age — 7 • Upper Age — 18 • Houses — Hale, Gresham and Whittington • Colours — red and white White • Alumni — Old Freemen's • Website — https: www.freemens.org/

• Short Title — Foundation of a School for Orphans of Freemen of the City of London Act 1850 • Type — Act • Parliament — Parliament of the United Kingdom • Long Title — An Act for establishing a School for Orphans of Freemen of the City of London. • Year — 1850 • Citation — 13 & 14 Vict. c. 10 • Royal Assent — 14 August 1850 • Status — current • Original Text — https: www.legislation.gov.uk/ukppa/Vict/13-14/10/pdfs/ukppa_18500010_en.pdf • Collapsed — yes The school was founded in 1854 by the Corporation of London, and was originally located in Brixton, London to educate orphans of freemen of the city. It is still possible for such children to be educated as "Foundationers" at the school with the costs of their education borne by the City of London Corporation. The school is set in 57 acre of Ashtead Park in Surrey, having moved from Brixton to Ashtead in 1926.

• Illustration — Ashtead Park House, viewed from Ashtead Park The boarding house, known as Walbrook, is located next to Main House and the junior school and welcomes international students as well as domestic students.

Once pupils leave school they become part of Old Freemen’s Association, which includes the Old Freemen's Rugby Football Club, Cricket Club and Hockey Club. There is also a Guild of Scholars of the City of London, which was formed to encourage former pupils from the three ‘City schools’ to develop links with the City of London. Membership is open to all former pupils, staff, and retired staff, who must have obtained their ‘Freedom of the City of London’ but there is no subscription. In addition any pupil aged 14–17 who is still at school may apply to become an apprentice to a Freeman of the City. They will then be entitled, at the age of 21, to apply for the Freedom of the City and membership of the Guild of Scholars.

Former pupils are known as Old Freemen. Some better known Old Freemen include: • Rory Burns - Surrey and England cricketer • Simon Cowell (presenter) - presenter of Animal Planet and Wildlife SOS • Warwick Davis - actor, star of Willow, also appeared in the Star Wars and Harry Potter movie series • Andrew Garfield - actor, appeared in the film The Amazing Spider-Man and others • Andrew Goddard - gastroenterologist • Ashley Mote - former UKIP MEP • Anders Nielsen - badminton player • Alexandra Rickham - Paralympic sailor • Guy Spier - investor • Joe Strummer - lead singer of punk rock band the Clash; real name John Mellor • Gavin Turk - one of the Young British Artists • Andy Ward - progressive rock drummer best known for playing in Camel in the 1970s • Peter George - former chairman and chief executive of Hilton Group PLC