Independent Prep Schools in Surrey

Essendene Lodge School is a co-educational day school and nursery for children aged 2 to 11, situated in Caterham, Surrey. Founded in 1964, the school operates with small class sizes and offers a broad curriculum that includes specialist teaching in music, French, and physical education. The school is located in a residential setting and focuses on preparing pupils for the 11-plus examinations and the transition to various senior schools. Facilities include an on-site nursery and outdoor play areas.

Laleham Lea School is a Catholic independent co-educational day school for pupils aged 3 to 11, situated in Purley, Surrey. Founded in 1945, the school is housed in a Victorian building and provides a primary education rooted in Christian values. It emphasises a nurturing environment with small class sizes to support individual academic and personal growth. The curriculum is broad, incorporating various extracurricular activities alongside core subjects. The school aims to develop well-rounded individuals within a close-knit community, preparing them for the transition to senior education.

Seaton House School is an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 11, with a co-educational nursery, located in Sutton, Surrey. Founded in 1930, the school is situated in a residential setting and emphasises a nurturing environment with small class sizes. It focuses on providing a broad curriculum that prepares pupils for the 11-plus transition to both grammar and independent senior schools. Facilities include dedicated spaces for music, art, and ICT, supporting a range of extracurricular activities alongside its core academic programme.

Frensham Heights is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 18, situated on a 120-acre estate near Farnham, Surrey. Founded in 1925, the school maintains a progressive ethos where students do not wear a uniform and staff are addressed by their first names. The campus is centred around a Grade II listed Edwardian mansion and features a dedicated performing arts centre. The school emphasises individual development and creative expression, offering a broad curriculum that includes a strong focus on outdoor education and the arts.

Cumnor House Boys School is an independent day school for boys aged 2 to 13, located in South Croydon, Surrey. Established in 1931, the school operates across two sites and provides a curriculum focused on preparing pupils for the 11-plus and 13-plus entry into senior schools. Facilities include a swimming pool, music rooms, and extensive sports fields. The school emphasises a balance of academic rigour and character development, offering a variety of extracurricular opportunities in sport, music, and the arts to foster well-rounded individuals.

Cranleigh Preparatory School is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 13, situated on a 280-acre rural campus in the Surrey Hills. Founded in 1913, the school maintains close links with the neighbouring Cranleigh School, sharing facilities such as an indoor sports centre, swimming pool, and golf course. The curriculum balances academic rigour with an emphasis on the performing arts, music, and outdoor learning. Guided by the motto "Ex Cultu Robur", the school focuses on fostering well-rounded individuals within a supportive community and extensive co-curricular programme.

Hampton Court House is a co-educational day school for pupils aged 2 to 18, situated in a Grade II listed 18th-century building in East Molesey, Surrey. Overlooking Bushy Park, the school is set within eight acres of private parkland. It maintains a distinctive ethos where pupils and staff are on a first-name basis and there is no formal uniform. The school provides a bilingual immersion programme in French and English for younger years. The curriculum balances academic study with a focus on individuality and creative development.

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.

Little Downsend Epsom is a co-educational nursery and pre-prep for children aged 2 to 7, set within a leafy residential area of Surrey. Part of the Downsend School group, it provides a nurturing environment across two converted houses, featuring extensive outdoor spaces including grassy fields and a Forest School. The curriculum is built around a "Future Skills" vision, incorporating specialist teaching in French, music, and dance. Pupils also benefit from the facilities at the main Downsend site, including swimming lessons, before typically transitioning there for Year 3.

Reigate St Mary's Preparatory and Choir School is a co-educational day school for children aged 2 to 11, situated within 15 acres of parkland in the centre of Reigate. Serving as the junior school for Reigate Grammar School, it provides a foundation for transition into senior education. The school maintains a strong choral tradition as the choir school for St Mary's Church. Its facilities include extensive sports pitches, a dedicated music suite, and outdoor learning areas, supporting a curriculum that balances academic development with music, sport, and the arts.

Danes Hill School is a co-educational day preparatory school for pupils aged 2 to 13, situated on 55 acres of landscaped grounds in Oxshott, Surrey. Founded in 1947, the school operates across two sites: the Bevendean pre-prep and the main preparatory campus. The curriculum balances academic study with extensive extracurricular activities, utilising facilities such as a 25-metre swimming pool, a 10-metre climbing wall, and 14 sports pitches. A 24-acre woodland area, known as The Paddock, facilitates outdoor learning and Forest School, supporting the school’s focus on providing a well-rounded education.

Glenesk School is a co-educational independent pre-prep and nursery situated in the village of East Horsley, Surrey. Educating children aged 2 to 7, the school specialises in the foundational stages of learning within a community-oriented environment. Facilities include an indoor heated swimming pool, a dedicated music room, and a purpose-built nursery opened in 2024. The grounds feature extensive outdoor spaces for exploration, including a nature area and animal pens for chickens and guinea pigs. The curriculum integrates academic development with forest school sessions, preparing pupils for transition to a variety of local preparatory schools.

Feltonfleet School is a co-educational preparatory school for pupils aged 3 to 13, set within 25 acres of landscaped grounds in Cobham, Surrey. Accommodating both day and flexi-boarding, the school is centred around a handsome Grade II listed neo-Gothic mansion. Its values-driven ethos focuses on honesty, responsibility, respect, and kindness. Pupils benefit from extensive facilities, including a 400-seat performing arts centre, an indoor swimming pool, and specialist sports pitches. The curriculum follows the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate, emphasizing critical thinking and resilience to prepare children for transition to leading senior schools.

Notre Dame Prep School Surrey is an independent Catholic day school for girls aged 2 to 11, with a co-educational nursery for boys up to age four. Situated in Cobham, the school occupies 26 acres of Surrey countryside and is centred around Burwood House, a Grade II listed 18th-century manor. Founded in 1937, the school belongs to the international Order of the Company of Mary Our Lady. Facilities include a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, a theatre, and a forest school, supporting a curriculum that balances academic development with music, drama, and sport.

Hoe Bridge School is an independent co-educational day school for pupils aged six months to 16 years, located on the outskirts of Woking, Surrey. Set within 22 acres of grounds and woodland, the school is centred around Hoe Place, a Grade II listed seventeenth-century mansion once used as a retreat by Lady Castlemaine. The school emphasises a nurturing environment that fosters individual achievement across academics, sports, and the arts. Facilities include a state-of-the-art performing arts centre and a 500-seater theatre, supporting a broad curriculum and extensive extracurricular programme.