Independent Pre-Prep Schools

St Andrew's Prep is an independent co-educational day and boarding school located in Eastbourne, East Sussex. Situated in a coastal setting between the sea and the South Downs National Park, the school provides education for children aged nine months to 13 years. Its ethos is based on the values of kindness, honesty, and excellence. Facilities include an on-site woodland classroom, an indoor swimming pool, and dedicated spaces for performing arts. The school is part of the Eastbourne College Charity, sharing resources and professional networks with its neighbouring senior school.

Colfe's School is a co-educational independent day school, situated in Horn Park within the Royal Borough of Greenwich, southeast London. Established in 1568 and re-founded in 1652, the school is governed by the Leathersellers' Company. Co-educational since 1999, it caters to pupils aged 3 to 18. The school claims to focus on values such as effort, happiness, and a love of learning, fostering a purposeful and respectful atmosphere. Its grounds feature over 30 acres of playing fields, a sports complex with a 25m swimming pool, and a performing arts centre. Colfe's School was awarded Microsoft Showcase School status in 2024.

Charterhouse Square School is a co-educational day school and nursery for pupils aged 3 to 11, located in the City of London. Housed in seven interconnected Victorian buildings overlooking the historic Charterhouse Square Gardens, the school operates a progressive ethos where pupils and staff are on a first-name basis and no uniform is worn. Facilities include a rooftop learning deck with views across the City, while the curriculum balances academic rigour with a focus on kindness and individuality. The school prepares pupils for transition to competitive senior schools at age 11.

Maple Walk School is a co-educational day prep school for pupils aged 4 to 11, located in Harlesden, North West London. Founded in 2004 by the New Model School Company, it delivers a knowledge-rich curriculum based on the Core Knowledge approach. The school is housed in purpose-built, eco-friendly premises featuring a sedum roof and solar panels. Alongside traditional academic subjects, there is a strong emphasis on music, art, and drama. Pupils benefit from the proximity of Roundwood Park, which is used extensively for sports and physical education.

Chepstow House School is a co-educational independent day school in Notting Hill, London, for pupils aged 2 to 11. Established in 2010, the school is housed in a building combining 1906 architecture with modern extensions. Its curriculum is structured around three pillars: academics, sport, and the performing and creative arts. Specialist facilities include a science laboratory, music and art studios, and a gym. Pupils benefit from onsite playgrounds and a 'Wild Area' for sensory learning, alongside access to nearby sports grounds. The school emphasises a community-based ethos, aiming to develop well-rounded, resilient individuals.

Situated at Easons Green near Uckfield, Annan School is an independent primary school for children aged 2 to 11. Based on a rural site at Annan Farm, the school follows a Froebelian pedagogy, emphasising a holistic approach to education through real-life experiences and creative thinking. Its curriculum incorporates outdoor learning, including a Forest School programme, within a setting described as having a family feel. The school claims to focus on nurturing curious, independent learners while promoting mutual respect and community engagement.

Gatehouse School is a co-educational independent day school for pupils aged 3 to 11, situated in Bethnal Green opposite Victoria Park. Founded in 1948 by Phyllis Wallbank in the gatehouse of St Bartholomew-the-Great, the school moved to its current site in the 1970s. Its educational philosophy is rooted in Montessori principles, fostering an inclusive, non-selective environment. The school prioritises the arts and physical education, utilising its own playgrounds and the adjacent parkland for sports. Recent renovations have added modern facilities, including a new assembly hall and specialised spaces for music and drama.

Radnor House Sevenoaks is a co-educational independent day school for pupils aged 2 to 18, situated on the historic Combe Bank estate in Kent. Housed in a Grade I listed Palladian mansion set within 27 acres of parkland, the school provides a continuous education from nursery to sixth form. Facilities include a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, a STEM centre, and a performing arts theatre. Formerly known as Combe Bank School, the institution emphasises a core ethos of excellence, respect, courage, and perseverance across its academic and extracurricular programmes.

The Dulwich School Cranbrook is a co-educational day and flexi-boarding school for pupils aged 2 to 16, situated within a 50-acre estate in the Kent countryside. Formerly known as Dulwich Prep Cranbrook, the school recently expanded its curriculum to offer a senior provision through to GCSE. The campus comprises specialised blocks for science, art, and music, alongside extensive sporting facilities including an on-site swimming pool and floodlit astroturf. Established in 1938 as a wartime evacuation camp, the school maintains a strong emphasis on both academic breadth and outdoor learning.

Manor Lodge School is a co-educational independent day school for pupils aged 3 to 11, located in Shenley, Hertfordshire. Set within 22 acres of countryside, the school is centred around a Grade II listed building and promotes a "classroom without walls" ethos that integrates outdoor and indoor learning. Facilities include the Basil Flashman building, which houses a 320-seat theatre and sports hall with a living roof, and "The Space," a contemporary STEAM-focused atrium. The curriculum emphasises academic breadth alongside a diverse range of sports, music, and dramatic arts.

Guildford High School is an independent day school for girls aged 4 to 18, situated on London Road in the heart of Guildford. Founded in 1887 by the Church Schools Company, the school provides a progressive and nurturing environment based on its "GHS 8" principles of kindness and resilience. The campus combines historic architecture with modern facilities, including a dedicated Sixth Form centre in Morton House and a state-of-the-art sports centre featuring a 25-metre swimming pool. Pupils enjoy extensive extracurricular opportunities, with a particular focus on lacrosse and swimming, alongside direct access to the playing fields of Stoke Park.

Somerhill is an independent preparatory school for pupils aged 2 to 13, located near Tonbridge, Kent. Set within 150 acres of parkland, the school is housed in a Grade I listed Jacobean mansion. Its unique structure combines co-educational early years with single-sex classroom teaching from age seven, while maintaining mixed social and extracurricular activities. Facilities include an indoor swimming pool, a purpose-built music centre, and the historic Woodgate Library. Somerhill emphasises a well-rounded education, fostering independent thinkers through a broad curriculum and extensive sporting and creative opportunities.

Cottesmore School is a co-educational preparatory day and boarding school for pupils aged 4 to 13, situated at Pease Pottage in West Sussex. Founded in 1894 and occupying its current site since 1946, the school is housed in Buchan Hill, a Grade II-listed Victorian mansion designed by architects Ernest George and Harold Peto. Set within 30 acres of countryside, the school maintains an ethos that every child has a talent. Facilities include a 20-metre indoor swimming pool and the Sopwith Centre, which provides specialist spaces for art, science, and design technology.

Kensington Wade is a co-educational day school in West London for pupils aged 3 to 11. Established in 2017, it is the first prep school in the United Kingdom to provide a fully immersive English-Chinese bilingual education. The curriculum combines a traditional British framework with Mandarin immersion, utilising the Shanghai Approach for mathematics. Facilities on Fulham Palace Road include a dedicated nursery building, two playgrounds, and a specialist STEAM room. Pupils also benefit from nearby swimming and sports facilities, while the younger children participate in weekly Forest School sessions.

The Prebendal School is a co-educational day and boarding preparatory school for pupils aged 3 to 13, situated in the heart of Chichester, West Sussex. Recognised as the oldest school in Sussex, its history dates back to the 11th century as a song school for Chichester Cathedral, with which it maintains a close official link today. The school is housed in a collection of historic buildings, including a 13th-century school house. It provides a broad education with a strong musical tradition, serving as the choir school for the cathedral’s choristers.