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.
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.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before secondary transfer. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Independent 11+ Practice Papers and Quest Software for The Charter School North Dulwich
The Charter School North Dulwich uses the Independent 11+ 11+ format. Our practice papers mirror that exact format, with a short tutor video explaining every question. Quest, our interactive practice software, comes in a Independent 11+ edition too: 4,600 questions across English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning in short tests with medals to win, an Exam Hall of timed mocks, official-format sitting papers, flashcards, a daily five, a Weekly Challenge set by a friendly Guardian and a hero your child unlocks by learning, with a working-out board under every question and My Corrections — plus a Skills Report and a week-by-week plan for parents. Start with the free samples, then choose a pack when you're ready.
When you're readyPractice-paper packs from £19 · all papers £69 · Quest £59 a year · Quest + all papers £89. One-off purchases with 12 months' access — no subscription, nothing renews.
View Independent 11+ practice papers →Start preparing for the The Charter School North Dulwich 11+
Try the free Independent 11+ samples first — a real paper, a tutor video and the Quest demo, no sign-up. Then choose a pack when you're ready.