Independent Pre-Prep Schools

Battle Abbey School is an independent coeducational day and boarding school for pupils aged three months to 18 years, situated in Battle and Bexhill, East Sussex. The Senior School occupies the historic site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings, utilising the 13th-century Abbot’s House and surrounding grounds. The school claims to foster an ethos of kindness, compassion, and mutual respect, prioritising individual pastoral care. Facilities include a dedicated Sixth Form centre and a preparatory department in Bexhill featuring extensive gardens and a 25-metre indoor swimming pool.

The Hall School is an independent preparatory day school for boys aged 4 to 13, located in the Belsize Park area of Hampstead, London. Established in 1889, the school is set within Victorian red-brick buildings and aims to provide a broad, high-calibre education that nurtures curiosity and academic excellence. The Hall School prepares pupils for entry into leading senior schools through a balance of academic rigour, music, and sport. The school is organised across three distinct sites—Junior, Middle, and Senior—and maintains a traditional house system alongside its Church of England foundation.

St David's School is a co-educational independent preparatory school located in Purley, Surrey, catering for children aged 2 to 11. Founded in 1912, the school is situated in a residential area and occupies a traditional Victorian building. It provides a broad curriculum that includes specialist teaching in music, sport, and modern foreign languages. The school emphasises the development of individual potential within a supportive community environment. Facilities include a dedicated early years department and outdoor play areas designed to support physical development and creative learning.

Sutton Valence School is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 2 to 18, set within 100 acres of Kent countryside overlooking the Weald. Founded in 1576 by William Lambe, the school balances its rich history with modern facilities, including a 200-seat theatre and the Sydney Wooderson Sports Centre. Its ethos centres on a "Total Curriculum" designed to develop well-rounded individuals through academic, sporting, and artistic achievement. The school provides a supportive community environment, maintaining strong traditions while offering extensive extracurricular opportunities in rugby, hockey, and cricket.

Homefield Preparatory School is an independent day school for boys aged 3 to 13, situated in Sutton, Surrey. Founded in 1870, it is one of the oldest preparatory schools in the United Kingdom. The school provides a broad curriculum that balances academic study with music, art, and sport. Recent site developments have introduced modern facilities, including a performance hall and specialist science laboratories. The school aims to foster a supportive environment where pupils develop confidence and a love of learning in preparation for senior school transition.

Milbourne Lodge is a co-educational pre-prep and preparatory school for pupils aged 4 to 13, located in Esher, Surrey. Founded in 1912, the school is set within 8.5 acres of grounds and occupies a Victorian mansion alongside the purpose-built Hale building. Its ethos combines traditional values, such as courtesy and sportsmanship, with an academic curriculum focused on preparing children for entrance and scholarship exams to senior schools. Facilities include a modern science laboratory, a swimming pool, and extensive sports fields, supporting a daily games programme and a broad range of extracurricular activities.

Royal Russell School is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 18, situated on a 110-acre parkland estate in Croydon. Founded in 1853, the school maintains a long-standing royal patronage. The campus features notable architecture, including a chapel and Great Hall designed by Sir Aston Webb. The school provides a broad curriculum with a focus on developing well-rounded individuals through extensive extracurricular programmes in sport, music, and drama. Facilities include a performing arts centre, modern science laboratories, and comprehensive sports pitches.

Steephill School is a co-educational independent day school for pupils aged 3 to 11, located in Fawkham near Longfield, Kent. Founded in 1935 by Eileen Bignold, the school occupies a five-acre rural site featuring a dedicated woodland area for Forest School. The curriculum is delivered in small classes, focusing on a broad range of subjects including specialist teaching in music and languages. Facilities include a science and art room, an ICT suite, and a library. The rural setting supports an extensive outdoor learning programme and various sporting activities in a nurturing environment.

Falkner House is an independent day school in West London, with separate sites in South Kensington and Earl’s Court. Founded in 1954, the school remains family-run and provides a co-educational nursery followed by single-sex preparatory education for boys and girls aged four to 11. The curriculum balances academic subjects with cultural studies like History of Art, supported by integrated technology. The school’s ethos focuses on individual potential and kindness within a small community, typically maintaining one class per year group to ensure a nurturing environment for every pupil.

Jeannine Manuel School is a co-educational bilingual day school for pupils aged 3 to 18, located in the heart of Bloomsbury, London. Opened in 2015, it is the sister school of the Paris institution founded in 1954 by French Resistance member Jeannine Manuel. The school is housed across three sites in historic listed buildings on Russell Square and Bedford Square. Its ethos emphasises international understanding and pedagogical innovation within a multicultural community. Students follow a bilingual curriculum, preparing for either the French International Baccalaureate (BFI) or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.

Weston Green School is a co-educational independent day school for pupils aged 2 to 11, situated in the village of Thames Ditton, Surrey. Located opposite the village green and duck pond, the school is partially housed in a Victorian building dating to 1828. It emphasises a nurturing ethos centred on kindness, curiosity, and ambition, aiming to develop well-rounded individuals. The curriculum is designed to support individualised learning, with a strong focus on preparing pupils for 11+ transitions. Facilities include a purpose-built nursery and outdoor learning spaces within a leafy conservation area.

Heath Mount School is a co-educational day and boarding preparatory school for pupils aged 2 to 13, located within the 40-acre Woodhall Park Estate in Watton-at-Stone. Established in 1796, it is one of the UK’s oldest prep schools and has occupied its Grade I listed Georgian mansion since 1934. The school maintains a nurturing ethos, balancing academic rigour with a broad enrichment programme. Its extensive grounds include woodland for Forest School and a historic walled garden, providing a scenic setting for a curriculum that focuses on both individual wellbeing and outdoor learning.

Walthamstow Hall is an independent day school for girls aged 2 to 18, located in Sevenoaks, Kent. Established in 1838 to educate the daughters of missionaries, it is one of the oldest schools of its kind in the United Kingdom. The campus combines an Arts and Crafts-inspired main building and Victorian vaulted dining room with modern facilities, including the Ship Theatre and a specialist Sixth Form Centre. The school provides an all-through education that emphasises academic breadth alongside a rich co-curricular programme in sport, music, and the performing arts.

Cumnor House Sussex is a co-educational independent day and boarding prep school for pupils aged 2 to 13, situated near Haywards Heath. Set within 60 acres of grounds on the edge of the Ashdown Forest, the school features facilities including a purpose-built theatre, a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, and an outdoor forest school. Originally founded in 1931, the school promotes an ethos known as 'The Cumnor Way', which focuses on kindness and community contribution. The broad curriculum prepares children for transition into a range of senior schools across the country.

Our Lady of Sion School is an independent, co-educational day school situated in the heart of Worthing, West Sussex. Founded in 1862 by the Sisters of Sion, it offers education from Nursery to Sixth Form (ages 3 to 18). The school operates with an inter-denominational ethos, welcoming students of all faiths, rooted in its Catholic foundation. Its motto, "Consideration Always," is central to school life, aiming to foster a culture of respect and support. The school facilities include an indoor sports hall, astroturf pitch, and various creative arts studios.