Independent Prep Schools in Kent

Beechwood School is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 18, located in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Set within 23 acres of landscaped grounds, the school is centred around a grand Victorian mansion constructed in 1855. Founded in 1915 by the Society of the Sacred Heart, it maintains a nurturing ethos based on its founding traditions while welcoming children of all faiths. Facilities include a dedicated auditorium, sports gym, and MUGA pitch, supporting a broad curriculum that offers a wide variety of academic and creative subjects at GCSE and A-level.

The New Beacon is an independent preparatory day and boarding school for boys aged 4 to 13, located in Sevenoaks, Kent. Founded in 1863 and operating on its current 22-acre semi-rural site since 1900, the school also includes a co-educational nursery. In 2021, it merged with Tonbridge School and is part of the Skinners’ Company group. Facilities include a sports centre, swimming pool, and a purpose-built nursery building. The curriculum provides a balance of academic, creative, and sporting activities. Notable former pupils include the poet Siegfried Sassoon.

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.

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.

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.

Solefield School is a co-educational day preparatory school in Sevenoaks, Kent, for pupils aged 3 to 13. Established in 1948, the school is housed in a former Victorian residence and is situated near the site of the 1450 Battle of Solefield. It maintains a nurturing ethos with small class sizes and a focus on the development of the whole child. Facilities include a music school, art studio, and science laboratory. The curriculum balances academic study with music, drama, and sport, preparing pupils for transition to senior schools at both 11+ and 13+.

The Mead School is a co-educational independent preparatory day school and nursery for pupils aged 3 to 11, situated near the historic Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells. Established in 1957 and housed in a Victorian villa, the school maintains a family-focused ethos founded on Christian principles. The curriculum provides specialist teaching in music, drama, and sport, alongside core academics. A member of the Wishford Schools group, the school prepares children for various senior destinations, including local grammar schools. Facilities include on-site playgrounds and a nearby playing field for outdoor education and sport.

Saint Ronan's is a co-educational preparatory day and boarding school for children aged 2 to 13, located in Hawkhurst, Kent. The school is housed in Tongswood House, a Grade II listed Victorian mansion set within 250 acres of Wealden countryside. Founded in 1883 in Worthing, the school relocated to its current site in 1946. Facilities include an on-site farm, a chapel relocated brick by brick from Sussex, and extensive sports pitches. The school provides a broad education with a particular focus on music, sport, and outdoor learning within its expansive grounds.

Junior King’s School is a co-educational day and boarding preparatory school for pupils aged 3 to 13, situated on the Milner Court estate in Sturry, Kent. Set within 80 acres along the River Stour, the campus features a 16th-century manor house and a historic tithe barn. The school serves as the junior department of The King’s School, Canterbury, offering a curriculum that balances academic study with music, sport, and performing arts. Facilities include a dedicated music school, a sports hall, and a heated outdoor swimming pool.

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.

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.

Merton Court Preparatory School is a co-educational day school in Sidcup, Kent, for pupils aged 3 to 11. Established in 1899, it is the area’s oldest preparatory school and has been family-run since 1979. The school follows a holistic “Head, hand, heart” ethos, promoting a well-rounded education. Extensive on-site facilities include a 25m indoor swimming pool, two floodlit Astroturf pitches, a sports hall, and a dedicated Forest School. Pupils also benefit from specialist STEAM, music, and dance facilities, alongside the school’s own allotment and beehives.

West Lodge School is a co-educational day school in Sidcup, Kent, for pupils aged 3 to 11. Founded in 1940, the school occupies a Victorian building modernised to include an all-weather sports pitch, a specialist art room, and a computer suite with 3D printers. The curriculum emphasises literacy and numeracy alongside a growth mindset philosophy. By maintaining one class per year group, the school fosters a small, family-focused environment. Pupils have access to a broad range of subjects and extracurricular activities, including music, drama, and various sporting disciplines.

St Faith's Prep is a co-educational independent day school and nursery for children aged 2 to 11, located in the village of Ash, Kent. Set within five acres of grounds overlooking the countryside, the school is housed in a handsome Victorian villa. Facilities include a nature garden, a multi-purpose sports hall, and a heated saltwater swimming pool. Guided by the motto 'I Can & I Will', the school provides a broad curriculum with specialist teaching in music, art, computing, and sport. A variety of extracurricular activities, such as choirs and orchestras, are also available.