Amesbury School to join the Charterhouse family
Amesbury School and Charterhouse are delighted to announce that their respective charities will merge, with Amesbury joining the Charterhouse family of schools on 1 August 2026.
Craig Decker, Chair of Governors at Amesbury, said:
“We are thrilled to be joining the Charterhouse family of schools. From the outset, our discussions have shown a strong alignment in values, ambition and approach.
What unites us is a shared vision for education that values both achievement and wellbeing. Joining the Charterhouse family will allow us to collaborate with like-minded colleagues, enrich opportunities for our pupils, and secure Amesbury’s long-term future as a place of excellence and care. It is a partnership that will enable Amesbury to continue building on its long history of educational excellence while providing our pupils and staff with the additional opportunities that come from being part of a wider, forward-looking group.
Together, we will strengthen what makes our School special – a warm, ambitious community where every child is encouraged to flourish academically, creatively and personally.”
Gavin Franklin, Head of Amesbury, said:
“This marks an exciting new chapter in Amesbury’s story. Charterhouse has a distinguished reputation for combining tradition with innovation, and we share the same aspiration – to prepare young people not just for exams, but for life.
Becoming part of the Charterhouse family will bring meaningful collaboration, shared expertise and fresh opportunities for our pupils, while ensuring that our distinctive character, ethos and independence remain firmly intact. This is an incredibly positive step for our School, our families and our future.
Connections between our two schools are already strong, with a number of Amesbury pupils each year moving on to thrive at Charterhouse – a tradition that we look forward to continuing. That said, one of Amesbury’s most important roles is to support each pupil in choosing whichever senior school best suits their individual needs and family preferences, and we remain firmly committed to doing so.”
Welcoming Amesbury to the Charterhouse family, Dr Alex Peterken, Head at Charterhouse, said:
“Amesbury is an exceptional school that we know very well, with a strong academic record, excellent pastoral care and a clear sense of purpose. This merger represents a considered and deliberate expansion of our existing family of schools. Each new partnership is chosen carefully for its quality and the way it complements and strengthens our collective offer, and Amesbury brings its own distinctive spirit, strong leadership and commitment to all-round education. We are delighted to welcome the whole Amesbury community into the Charterhouse family – one built on shared values, high standards and a genuine belief in the power of all-round education.
Together, we will continue developing the country’s leading co-educational school group, offering an inspiring education for children from the age of 9 months to 18 years old.
Importantly, Amesbury will retain its own identity, including its name, ethos, values, uniform and badge, as well as its day-to-day operational independence. The School’s senior leadership team will remain in place, with Gavin Franklin continuing as Head.
Dr Alex Peterken will provide overarching executive leadership for all schools within the Charterhouse group.
A single Governing Body will oversee the group as a whole. Within this, a dedicated Amesbury sub-committee will be established, comprising a blend of governors from both Charterhouse and Amesbury. This structure will ensure continuity, strong oversight and tailored support for Amesbury as it enters this exciting new chapter.
The merger will formally take effect on 1 August 2026, subject to the usual regulatory approvals, and will mark the start of a new and exciting chapter in Amesbury’s proud history – one that builds on past success while unlocking new possibilities for future generations.
Charterhouse welcomes Amesbury School into its family
Charterhouse and Amesbury are delighted to announce that their respective charities will merge, with Amesbury joining the Charterhouse family of schools on 1 August 2026.
Following the successful addition of Edgeborough in 2021, and Windlesham House in 2025, this new partnership marks another significant step forward in Charterhouse’s vision to create the UK’s leading family of co-educational schools, providing an outstanding education for children from the age of 9 months to 18 years old.
Mark Bishop, Chair of Governors at Charterhouse, said:
“We have long admired Amesbury’s excellence in both academic and personal development, and the many pupils who have moved from Amesbury to Charterhouse over the years are a testament to the strength of that education.
Our schools share a belief in nurturing character, curiosity and confidence, and this partnership deepens our shared mission to deliver an education that is both rigorous and inspiring.
Amesbury is a natural and exciting addition to our family.”
Craig Decker, Chair of Governors at Amesbury, said:
“What unites us is a shared vision for education that values both achievement and wellbeing. Joining the Charterhouse family will allow us to collaborate with like-minded colleagues, enrich opportunities for our pupils, and secure Amesbury’s long-term future as a place of excellence and care. It is a partnership built on shared ideals and mutual respect.”
Welcoming Amesbury, Dr Alex Peterken, Head at Charterhouse, said:
“This merger represents a considered and deliberate expansion of our family of schools. Each new partnership is chosen carefully for its quality and the way it complements and strengthens our collective offer.
Amesbury brings its own distinctive spirit, strong leadership and commitment to all-round education. Together, our schools will continue to set the benchmark for independent co-education in the UK.”
As with previous partnerships, Amesbury will retain its own identity, ethos and leadership, with Gavin Franklin continuing as Head. Charterhouse will provide strategic support and shared expertise while ensuring that Amesbury continues to thrive as a distinctive community.
The merger will take formal effect on 1 August 2026, subject to regulatory approval. Together, Charterhouse, Edgeborough, Windlesham House and Amesbury will continue developing an inspiring educational pathway from early years through to Sixth Form, for both UK and International families – one that nurtures excellence, curiosity and kindness at every stage.
Click here to read Frequently Asked Questions