“Unpretentious, cosmopolitan community; highly academic; forward-thinking, with a deep-pocketed bursary programme and a fabulous real-world co-ed buzz.”
Tatler Schools Guide
Academic, rounded and grounded
As London’s leading fully co-educational school, with 1,400 girls and boys (11 to 18-year-olds) of very individual characters, Latymer Upper School is not a ‘one size fits all’ school. ‘Modern’, ‘traditional’, ‘academic’, ‘caring’, ‘ambitious’ and ‘grounded’ are some of the words most commonly used to describe the School. Latymer is indeed all of these things and more, focussing as it does on both the academic achievement and the personal development of each and every pupil into well-rounded and caring citizens of the future.
Leading educational publication TES recognised Latymer’s achievement by awarding the School three of its most prestigious awards in 2018; Best Independent School, Best Senior School and Best Independent-State Partnership.
“Putting the best possible case for being a public school in this day and age”
– TES judges
Part of the School’s strength and lasting identity is due to the enduring observation of Latymer’s original ethos, which continues to shape all those who study at the site on King Street in Hammersmith. The story of the 17th century lawyer Edward Latymer bestowing part of his great wealth on a grant to educate ‘eight poore boyes’ from Hammersmith has almost mythical status at the School and is celebrated every year on Founder’s Day.
Edward Latymer’s legacy is also seen in the School’s ongoing bursary campaign, Inspiring Minds, the aim of which is to raise enough funds to offer one in four pupils a means-tested bursary, making Latymer one of the most socially inclusive schools in the country. For more information on Inspiring Minds and Latymer’s history see the Latymer Foundation. Latymer’s Campaign Review throws further light on the School’s remarkable character.
Alongside a broad and stimulating curriculum and dedicated teaching, Latymer offers first-class facilities and a plethora of musical, artistic and sporting opportunities beyond the classroom.
State-of-the-art facilities
Newcomers are often surprised by the size of the site on which Latymer Upper School resides, little realising on first glimpse that the School stretches from the gothic gates on King Street in Hammersmith, to Latymer’s Boat House on the banks of the River Thames.
A wonderfully eclectic collection of buildings and facilities sit side by side on the campus. Traditional heritage buildings are as much a part of the School as the stunning later additions – the red brick of the imposing 19th century Main Hall sitting comfortably alongside the striking contemporary glass and steel of the Performing Arts Centre.
“Parents expressed overwhelming praise for the education provided by the school and the care given to their children. Inspectors agree with these views”
Exciting buildings help create a dynamic and creative environment in which to learn and the School takes great pride in its facilities. The on-site Sports Centre includes a six lane, 25m swimming pool (with floating floor to enable water polo), a fitness studio and three fully glazed studios to allow for a broad range of activities including one equipped with a bouldering wall.
Games take place at the Quintin Hogg Memorial Grounds in Chiswick, and at Latymer’s professional standard sports complex on Wood Lane, which offers four rugby/football pitches, three cricket squares, a floodlit astroturf pitch for hockey, netball, football and tennis and a modern pavilion and changing rooms.
The impressively equipped science block includes a well-stocked library and resource centre. Art, Music and Drama flourish at the School and are housed in inspiring buildings: the Latymer Arts Centre, with its fabulous 300-seat theatre, music school and art studios, rubs shoulders with the Performing Arts Centre, which overlooks the piazza and features a 100-seat recital hall and dance/drama studios.
Over 800 pupils learn musical instruments and the theatre productions are a wonderful space in which to showcase extraordinary talent. And based as it is in the heart of West London, the city’s world-class museums, galleries and theatres are but a short tube journey away.