Shrewsbury School

Set in the heart of England and less than an hour from Birmingham International Airport, Shrewsbury School – founded in 1552 – combines tradition with a vibrant, modern co-educational vision. We are committed to strong academic standards and we believe in a holistic education, as demonstrated through our vast range of different activities and societies.

We are passionate about boarding not just being for convenience, but in providing the best opportunity for young men and women to develop real confidence and belief in themselves. We are fortunate to have one of the best locations of any school in the country: a most beautiful campus-style site on the edge of one of the most historic and attractive county towns in England, perched above the River Severn.

Life at Shrewsbury is founded on a close partnership between staff, parents and pupils to promote the strength of family life, foster responsibility, and balance the claims of developing individuality with the needs of a vibrant community. We are committed to providing an environment where young men and women can learn together on foundations of trust and mutual respect. 

The celebration of individuals and individual talent is central to education at Shrewsbury – both in and beyond the classroom. In whatever sphere, a pupil will find a member of staff to support and encourage, enthuse and inspire him or her to exceed their expectations and meet the challenges that lie ahead with confidence and good judgement.

Our academic results speak for themselves. Our 2018 leavers achieved another excellent year for A Level and Pre-U results, with over 80% of the exams awarded the top A*, A or B grades and 60 pupils achieving an A* or an A in every subject. We also celebrated an outstanding set of GCSE results, with 66% of the exams awarded an A* or A grade.

We want all our pupils, whatever their ability, to enjoy their life beyond the classroom, and Shrewsbury has a well-earned reputation for academic, musical and sporting excellence. We compete internationally in cricket and rowing, and we are one of the strongest schools in the country for football, cross-country running and fives; facilities and coaching for these and a host of other sports including tennis, fencing, lacrosse, hockey, rugby, and netball are excellent.

Our school plays and musicals have drawn praise at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and in London. As one would expect from one of the strongest music departments in the country, the breadth and quality of music-making is remarkable, and a number of students win places at some of the top music colleges each year.

We also offer our pupils an extraordinary array of clubs, societies and other extra-curricular activities, many of which take place on a dedicated weekly activity afternoon. The majority are led by members of school staff. Shrewsbury is surrounded by glorious unspoilt countryside and the School makes the most of its easy access to the Shropshire Hills, the Welsh Marches and Snowdonia.

Above all, in the words of the motto of our youth club, based in inner-city Liverpool, ‘People matter more than things’. Come and visit our beautiful school and meet some of the people who make it such an inspirational place to live and work.

“Shrewsbury School has given me much more than I could have ever anticipated. The challenging yet caring and supportive environment of the School has provided me with a set of skills that, I believe, demonstrate the ‘all-round’ educative capabilities of this school that many others aspire to.” – Former Pupil

“We once read that one of the strengths of Shrewsbury School was that it allowed children to find, and be, their own person. That has truly been our experience. Having a boy and a girl a year apart with very different personalities, each has been encouraged to find their own strengths, develop and be proud of them. They have benefited from extraordinary opportunities and grasped every one, while being encouraged, nurtured and challenged along the way by fantastic teachers, support staff and peers. But Shrewsbury’s greatest strength is that it left it up to them to become who they are today.” – Parent