About The Charter School North Dulwich
The Charter School North Dulwich (TCSND) is a non-selective, co-educational state secondary school and sixth form for pupils aged 11–18 in Dulwich, in the London Borough of Southwark. It is a state-funded academy — not an independent, fee-paying school — opened in 2000 after a local campaign for an excellent state secondary in the area, and rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.
It is state-funded, so there are no fees and no academic entrance exam — places are allocated through Southwark’s coordinated admissions on the basis of distance from the school. It offers a broad, ambitious curriculum with strong results.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for The Charter School North Dulwich
The Charter School North Dulwich Admissions Criteria
The Charter School North Dulwich is a non-selective, all-ability state academy, so there is no academic entrance exam and no fees. Year 7 places are coordinated by Southwark Council and offered, after higher-priority categories, on the basis of distance from the school. You apply through your home Local Authority, not directly to the school.
- ✓Step 1 — Visit: Look round at an Open Day or arranged tour to get a feel for the school. This is not part of any selection process.
- ✓Step 2 — Apply through your Local Authority: List the school on your child’s secondary Common Application Form (CAF) through your home Local Authority by the national deadline of 31 October in Year 6. You do not register or pay a fee directly to the school.
- ✓Step 3 — Offers: Your Local Authority sends offers on National Offer Day (1 March of Year 6). Places are allocated against the published oversubscription criteria below.
- ✓Step 4 — Accept your place: Accept the offer through your Local Authority by the date given. There is no acceptance deposit — it is a state-funded school.
As a state-funded school there are no tuition fees. Support such as free school meals and pupil premium funding is available to eligible families — contact the school for details.
How Places Are Allocated at The Charter School North Dulwich
- Looked-after and previously looked-after children, and children with an Education, Health and Care Plan that names the school.
- Children of members of staff (under the usual conditions).
- Children with a sibling at the school on entry.
- All other children, ranked by straight-line distance from home to school (the tie-breaker), with a number of places prioritised for pupil-premium pupils.
- The catchment is tight — in recent years roughly 700–900m — so most pupils live in Dulwich Village, Herne Hill and East Dulwich.
Catchment Area for The Charter School North Dulwich
The Charter School North Dulwich is a non-selective state academy, so admission is by Southwark’s coordinated process rather than an entrance exam — with a tight, distance-based catchment.
Cut-off distances vary year to year and the catchment is small, so check the school’s admission arrangements and the Southwark secondary admissions booklet before applying.
Academic Performance at The Charter School North Dulwich (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Charter North Dulwich is a high-performing, non-selective school rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.
- GCSE: strong — around 78% of pupils achieve grade 5+, well above the national average.
- A-Level: excellent — in recent years around 49% of grades were A*–A, with most leavers going to Russell Group universities and several to Oxbridge each year.
- Progression: the great majority of leavers progress to university.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school’s website.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Opened in 2000, The Charter School North Dulwich is a non-selective, co-educational state academy for pupils aged 11–18 in Dulwich, south London — a ‘family school’ that grew out of a parental campaign for excellent state education in the area, and is rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. It is organised into houses named after inspiring figures (including Pankhurst, Seacole, Turing, Mandela and King), with a focus on knowledge, skills and character.
Co-curricular life is wide-ranging, spanning sport, music (with notable concerts), drama, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and many clubs. For the full list, see the school’s own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Charter School North Dulwich
How do I apply to The Charter School North Dulwich for Year 7?
Apply through your home Local Authority (Southwark’s coordinated admissions), naming the school on your child’s Common Application Form by 31 October. There is no separate registration with the school and no fee.
Is there an entrance exam at Charter North Dulwich?
No. It is a non-selective, all-ability state school with no entrance exam; places are decided by the published criteria, not by a test.
Is Charter North Dulwich selective?
No. It is a comprehensive academy that serves its local community and does not select on academic ability.
How are places allocated if the school is oversubscribed?
After looked-after children, those with an EHCP, staff children and siblings, the remaining places go by straight-line distance from the school — and the catchment is tight, recently around 700–900m.
Does the school have a Sixth Form?
Yes — a co-educational Sixth Form; external entry at 16 is based on GCSE results, with a small number of places each year.
Are there fees at Charter North Dulwich?
No. It is a state-funded school, so there are no tuition fees.
Independent Practice Papers for The Charter School North Dulwich
The Charter School North Dulwich is non-selective and does not set an 11+ entrance exam. Many families still use 11+ practice to strengthen core English and maths skills before secondary school — our Independent 11+ format papers are a useful general resource, with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 11 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
Building 11+ Skills for The Charter School North Dulwich (General Practice)
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
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Start at least 6–12 months before secondary transfer. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
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Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
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Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.