About Esher Sixth Form College
Esher Sixth Form College is an extremely successful, single trust academy situated in Thames Ditton in Surrey.
We are one of the few colleges in the country to achieve ‘Outstanding’ in all areas of our last two full Ofsted inspections and have a reputation for delivering exceptional results. We pride ourselves on creating a friendly and dynamic atmosphere for all students and staff.
Intake
The College has more than 2,000 full-time students, coming from 120+ different schools in both the state and independent sectors. Good transport links mean that staff and students can travel to the College from inner and outer London, as well as within Surrey.
Curriculum
Our core full-time provision offers more than 40 A Level and Level 3 vocational courses, as well as Maths and English GCSEs. Every student takes the equivalent of a three-course programme and each course has four timetabled lessons per week plus:
- A weekly timetabled tutor session, where tutors deliver our Personal Development Programme (PDP)
- A Supervised Academic Learning session (SAS)
- An Enrichment course, which they choose from a diverse range of more than 100 ‘short’ or ‘long’ courses to complement their studies.
We provide a broad and balanced curriculum for students by adopting a Quality First Teaching (QFT) approach to ensure every teacher is supported in delivering high-quality, inclusive teaching within the classroom setting to achieve the best outcomes for all pupils, including those with Special Learning Needs and Disabilities. Approaches such as explicit instruction, scaffolding and flexible grouping are all key components of Quality First Teaching at Esher.
Our Mission Statement and Values
We actively embrace diversity, ensuring every community member is valued, respected and provided with equal opportunities for growth and participation
Performance
The College maintains consistently high academic outcomes, which is borne out by the latest Exam Results 2025. These results are achieved in the context of deliberately inclusive entry requirements and we maintain a genuine open-access policy, without any selection criteria, beyond our minimum entry requirements of five GCSE passes. In September 2022, Ofsted awarded the College Grade 1: Outstanding in all areas.
Student Progression
Every year, approximately 90% of our students go on to University, with 86% gaining their first choice in 2025. Latest data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency demonstrates that 84.7% of our students who graduated in 2023/24 achieved a 1st or 2:1 class degree, compared with other state (76.4%), sixth form colleges (77%). When looking at degree outcomes at Russell Group universities 91% of our students achieved a 1st or 2:1 class honour, compared with other state (85%), sixth form colleges (86% and Independent (90.6%). For a complete breakdown of student progression, please visit our latest Destinations Report.
We also have a dedicated Careers and Progression Guidance Team, with two qualified careers advisers, who support students throughout and beyond their time at Esher. The team also runs a dedicated programme of HE Events and Activities including Apprenticeship and Gap Year Fairs, Alumni Lunches, Personal Statement Writing Workshops and unique to Esher, our High Education Day in March, where more than 90 universities attend our HE Fair and offer a morning programme of specialist subject seminars.
Beyond the Academic
Most teaching staff are personal tutors in a ‘horizontal’ year group structure. We have strong support processes to monitor student progress and to provide careful guidance to individual students when needed.
Our Additional Learning Support (ALN) Team works across the College with subject teachers to ensure that the individual learning needs of all students are identified and met. The ALN Team provide an expert level of support to foster independence rather than dependence on support. To achieve this, we have a team of 12 Learning Mentors in our purpose-built ALN Centre where we can offer students a quiet environment where targeted support and advice around any learning-related issue can be accessed. Students who access regular support can also use it as a quiet space to complete work.
We also have Mental Health Advisors and trained counsellors available on site.
Facilities
The College’s facilities are some of the best available in the area, the product of a long-term Property Strategy. There are specialist facilities for all subjects, with IT access and screen beam technology in every room, two large Learning Resource Centres, extensive computer access, a College Theatre, Drama Studio, a purpose-built music block and a College café for students to relax in. Our large Sports Hall also homes an on-site gym, available to staff and students. We are also fortunate in having a large, landscaped campus, with tennis courts and playing fields.
Staffing
The College currently employs some 200 staff, with an approximate 2:1 split between teaching and support functions, mostly on permanent contracts. Relationships across the staffing structure are very good, being supportive and friendly, with encouragement given to colleagues to contribute to a variety of local, regional and national initiatives.
Travel
Our green campus is located in the picturesque village of Thames Ditton, Surrey, with Hampton Court Palace and the River Thames close by. Use our route planner to determine your journey time to Esher.
The S7 Consortium of Sixth Form Colleges
Esher Sixth Form College is a member of the S7 Consortium, which is committed to pursuing excellence through collaboration. Founded in 2002, S7 began as a network of senior managers between like-minded sixth form colleges, and has grown into a mature, multi-level organisation offering development, best practice, and training opportunities to hundreds of its teaching and support staff each year. The S7 Colleges include Bexhill, BHASVIC, Collyer’s, Godalming, Reigate, Varndean and Woking.