"Pupils benefit from a carefully and sensitively tailored academic programme which builds upon their personal aspirations."
ISI Inspection Report, January 2026
Discursive Seminar Style Teaching
Who we are
Full of contrast, full of life, fully ourselves.
Collingham is not a school. Not quite a university. Something in between — and better for it. We are proudly non-selective, we don't do uniforms, we go by first names, and we believe the right environment unlocks the student, not the other way around.
Our students are known as individuals from day one. Taught through sustained, conversation-led learning. And they grow into informed, self-directed thinkers capable of shaping their own paths.
Deeply human, maverick spirited, and a place to think differently and beyond the conventional. Established in Kensington since 1975.
What we do
Taught through conversation. Known as individuals.
Most schools manage students through systems. We teach them through conversation. Every lesson at Collingham is a seminar — discursive, exploratory, and driven by the student in the room, not a script on the board.
The result is students who don't just pass exams — they develop real intellectual confidence, learn to argue a position, and leave knowing how to think for themselves.
Discursive, seminar-style learning
Every lesson is a conversation. Students are expected to think, debate, and contribute — not sit passively and copy notes.
Known by first name from day one
No uniforms, no pigeonholes. Teachers know their students — not just their predicted grades. The student is a person here, not a data point.
Subject specialists, not generalists
Our teachers are experts in their subjects — many are practitioners in their own right. The student is taught by someone who genuinely loves their subject.
We change the environment, not the child
If a student isn't thriving, we adapt — the timetable, the approach, the support. Education should fit the student, not the other way around.
Why families choose Collingham
The independent-minded and curious. The ones who think differently.
Be yourself
No uniforms. First names. Classes of no more than nine students. Known as an individual from day one — not a number in a system. We adapt education to the student, not the student to the institution.
Master your subject
Specialist teachers — many practitioners in their own field. Flexible timetables built around the individual. Expert teaching that goes beyond the syllabus and builds real depth.
Think independently
Seminar-style, conversation-led learning that builds real judgement, confidence and personal agency. Students leave Collingham self-aware, intellectually grounded, and unflappable in the real world.
50+
Years
Established 1975
9
Max class size
Average class size of 5
13–19
Ages
GCSE & A Level
Choose your programme
Two programmes. One philosophy.
Ages 16–19
A Level
Choose 3–4 subjects with specialist teachers. Expert tuition, discursive learning, genuine relationships. We shape the timetable around the student — not the other way.
Two-year A Level programme
One-year A Level programme
A Level retakes
Subjects include: Sciences · Mathematics · Humanities · Languages · Arts · Social Sciences
A broad, flexible curriculum in small classes. Foundation for A Level and beyond. Students are known, stretched and supported as people — not data points.
Year 9 curriculum
GCSE programme
GCSE retakes
Subjects include: Mathematics · English · Sciences · Languages · Humanities · Arts
Collingham specialises in fresh starts. Whether you're retaking an exam, changing subjects, or beginning A Levels in one intensive year — we can build a route that works. We're here to help no matter your grades.
A Level Retakes
Didn't hit your offer or missed your target grades? Retake one or more A Levels in a single year with expert subject tutors in classes capped at eight students.
Missed your target grades at GCSE? Retake one or more subjects in small classes with specialist teachers who know their subjects — and know their students.
Want to change subjects or start A Levels from scratch in a single intensive year? Collingham offers one-year A Level programmes built around you — your subjects, your pace, your goals.
No waiting list. No entrance exam. Tell us where you are and we'll tell you what's possible.
International students
A British education with a global outlook.
Collingham has welcomed students from around the world since 1975 — for GCSEs, A Levels, and bespoke programmes. We offer academically rigorous British education at the heart of London, with dedicated EFL support, personal tutors, and a genuinely international community. Same high standards, same small classes, same first-name culture.
GCSE for international studentsA Level for international studentsEFL support availablePersonal tutor systemCentral London location
Yes. Whether you need to retake one subject or several, we'll design a tailored programme around your specific needs rather than putting everyone through the same course.
Year 14 is Collingham's dedicated year for students resitting A levels or taking a new A level in one year, rather than two. Most schools finish at Year 13, so students who need extra time or a fresh attempt are often left with nowhere proper to go. Year 14 is built for exactly that: focused teaching, a class of students in the same position, and tutors who know how to get a full course covered well in twelve months.
The whole A level. Under the current linear system you sit all the exam papers again, in one sitting, in May or June. The one exception is non-exam assessment (coursework), which can sometimes be carried forward. Your subject teacher will tell you what applies to you.
It depends on what you need. Options include a full one-year course, a short intensive course (for example, starting in January or just the Spring Term), or additional tuition alongside a gap year and work experience. We'll work out which shape suits you.
We accept applications on a rolling basis. Most students start in September, but short courses can begin in January or straight after mock results, and many students join us just after their August results come out.
No. Admissions tutors see resit grades every year. What they're looking for is the final grade on your UCAS form, and evidence that you've worked hard to get there. A retake year, done properly, often produces a stronger personal statement, not a weaker one.
Yes, this is common. Some students use their retake year to add a subject that strengthens a particular university course, while resitting the grade that's holding them back.
Retake options cover a wide range of subjects, including Mathematics and Further Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English Literature, History, Politics, Geography, Economics, Business Studies, Psychology, Sociology, French, Spanish, Latin, Art, Photography and Media Studies. See our full subject list and exam boards for details.
Small enough to matter. Group sizes average five students, with a maximum of eight, and individual tuition is available where it's the better fit.
Year 14 students get 7 hours of teaching per subject each week (8 for Chemistry, 4 for one-to-one). You'll have regular Personal Tutor meetings arranged as needed, and independent study should add roughly the same number of hours again per subject.
On the two-year A level programme, Year 12 students get 5 hours per subject (3 if 1-to-1), two 2-hour supervised study periods, one hour of Selfhood (PSHE) and 1 to 2 hours of Friday afternoon activities. Year 13 students get 6 hours per subject (4 if 1-to-1).
Generally we'll keep you on the exam board you originally studied, and our tutors can teach all the major boards. Occasionally it's better to switch, and we'll say so if that's the case. Talk to us and we'll give you honest advice based on your specific subjects.
We allow private external candidates to sit exams with us, but only if they've had some tuition from us first. This usually means a minimum of twenty hours, though it can vary by candidate and subject. Get in touch and we'll talk through what would apply to you.
Come and see us. We'll go through your options there and then, calmly, and help you decide whether a resit, a different subject combination, or a different path altogether is the right next step. You don't need to have an answer on the day itself.
Most schools stop at Year 13. Collingham offers a focused Year 14 built specifically for students who want to resit or take an A level in one year. You'll be alongside others in the same position, taught by tutors who know how to cover a course properly in twelve months, not stretch it thin.
It's worth doing both in parallel rather than choosing one. A review can take weeks with no guarantee of a changed grade. Enrolling for a resit at the same time means you're not losing preparation time while you wait. Talk to us and we'll help you weigh up whether a review is worth pursuing for your specific paper.
Yes. Retake students get structured UCAS guidance, including personal statement writing and improvement, university reapplication advice, Oxbridge and competitive course strategy, and preparation for entrance exams and admissions conversations.
By the time you need a reference and predicted grades, you won't be a stranger to us. Your teachers will have marked your work, sat with you in class, and watched how you handle the material for months. What's different in a Year 14 reference is that we can speak honestly about what happened the first time and what's changed, which often makes for a more convincing UCAS application, not a weaker one.
Yes, plenty. Success looks different for every student. For some it's Oxford or Cambridge. For others it's art college, a degree apprenticeship, or something else entirely. One graduate went on to work on rollercoaster design at Alton Towers. You're an individual with your own backstory and your own goals. We want to help you get there.
There's no blanket grade requirement. Some subjects have a recommended GCSE starting point (Maths and Economics generally need a good GCSE in Maths; humanities generally need a good GCSE in English), but we look at individual circumstances rather than applying these as strict cut-offs. Every student starts with an academic consultation where we build a personalised retake plan and advise honestly on whether the course is the right fit.
That's not a problem. We take students straight from school, students returning after time away, and students who've been studying independently. Get in touch and we'll talk through where you are and what a Year 14 place would involve for you.
Yes. Collingham is licensed to accept students up to the age of 19, so you can't be over 20 when you join us.
Access arrangements have to be reassessed at each new centre, based on evidence of how you normally work, so they don't automatically transfer. Bring us whatever evidence and reports you already have as early as possible and we'll get the process started well before exam entry deadlines.
Contact the Admissions Team and arrange a consultation and meeting with our Principal, James Allder, or other senior members of the team. International applicants can join by video call. Call 020 7244 7414 or complete our enquiry form below.
GCSE Resit FAQs
Yes. We offer both one-year and shorter intensive courses for students retaking one subject or several.
In England, yes. If you're continuing in full-time education after 16 and didn't reach a grade 4 in English and/or maths, you're required to keep studying towards it. That's national policy, not a Collingham rule, but we're set up to support you through it properly rather than treating it as a box to tick.
Full-time and part-time programmes are both available. A full taught course runs from September through to the May/June exams. English and maths can also be sat in the November series, which suits students who are close to their target grade already.
We accept applications on a rolling basis. Most students start in September, but short courses can begin in January or straight after mock results, and many students join us just after their August results come out.
Retakes cover a wide range of subjects, including English Language, Mathematics and the sciences. See our full subject list and exam boards for details.
Sometimes, but it depends on the subject and how far behind you are. Some A levels genuinely need the GCSE foundations in place. Others are more forgiving of a weak GCSE grade, especially if the interest and effort are there. Talk to us about the specific subject and we'll give you a straight answer.
You don't retake the whole of Year 11. At Collingham, GCSE resits usually happen alongside your A level studies, most often for English or maths, taught in dedicated resit classes. If you need a broader reset across several subjects before starting A levels, that's a different conversation worth having with us directly.
Yes. Plenty of students resit a grade 4 or 5 aiming for a 6 or 7, particularly where a specific grade is needed for a sixth form subject or university course. This isn't compulsory, so fees usually apply.
No single grade "fails." Under the 9 to 1 system, a 4 is a standard pass and a 5 is a strong pass. Schools, colleges and universities are used to seeing resit grades and don't read them as a black mark. What they notice is whether you're moving in the right direction.
It's often better to spend a year strengthening your GCSEs before starting A levels, rather than moving on before you're ready. We'll talk this through honestly with you and your family, based on where you actually are, not where the calendar says you should be.
GCSE classes are capped at nine students, with an average class size of five. Small enough for real dialogue with a teacher and direct feedback on your work.
Independent study should add roughly the same number of hours again per subject. Where a class has only one student, weekly hours reduce slightly, typically from 3 to 2.
Generally, yes. Depending on how many subjects you're resitting, we'll usually keep you on your previous exam board, and our tutors can teach all the major boards. Occasionally it's better to switch, and we'll say so if that's the case.
Talk to us before you decide anything. There's more than one route forward and the right one depends on you, not on a generic answer online.
There are no minimum entry grades. Every programme is built around your specific needs, so gaps in understanding get addressed properly rather than glossed over. We'll discuss the right course for your goals.
Yes. Students have access to comprehensive pastoral support, regular academic reviews, and guidance from a dedicated Personal Tutor throughout their resit year.
No prior connection needed. Plenty of students join us specifically for a resit year, having been at a different school beforehand.
Collingham is licensed to accept students up to the age of 19, so you can't be over 20 when you join us. Within that age range, we take students at various stages, not just those moving straight on from Year 11.
There's no limit to how many times you can resit a GCSE. If it happens, we'll sit down with you and work out why, and whether another attempt, a different subject route, or an alternative qualification such as Functional Skills is the better next step.
Access arrangements have to be reassessed at each new centre, based on evidence of how you normally work, so they don't automatically transfer. Bring us whatever evidence and reports you already have as early as possible and we'll get the process started well before exam entry deadlines.
See our fees page for current course fees. Mandatory English/maths resits for eligible students may be funded; voluntary resits are chargeable.
Contact the Admissions Team and arrange a consultation and meeting with the Head of GCSE, Paul Caffell, or our Principal, James Allder. International applicants can join by video call. Call 020 7244 7414 or complete our enquiry form below.
Get in touch
Start the conversation.
Our admissions team responds within 24 hours. Tell us about the student and we'll guide you from first enquiry to first day.
1
We respond within 24 hours
Our admissions team will be in touch directly.
2
We arrange a visit or call
Tour the college and meet the team — no obligation.
3
We guide your application
Simple process. No entrance exam. Places on a fit basis.
