Prep and pre-prep schools: what do I need to know?
What is a prep school in the UK?
Prep and pre-prep schools are private schools educating children typically aged 4 to 13, designed to prepare pupils for entry into senior schools at 11+ or 13+.
A place at a prep school is the first step for many children on their journey through private education. The education offered is generally considered to be the ideal way to set a child up for private senior school starting at either 11 or 13. This is often because they place a particular focus on activities or subject areas that are commonplace at the destination senior school. For example, many prep schools teach classics (including Latin), because private senior schools often expect applicants to have a solid foundation in those subjects.
Due to longer school days and greater resources, preps are also able to offer more art, music and drama than their state school counterparts. Similarly, prep schools often provide considerable time dedicated to sport, something considered a forte of private secondary education.
Are prep schools in London different?
As always, London dances to the rhythm of its own drum and whereas in the countryside it’s a case of putting little Harry or Harriet’s name down and just writing a cheque at your leisure, competition for places at 7+ and 8+ in London’s top prep schools can be fiercely competitive.
The raison d’etre of London pre-prep schools is to prepare children for these competitive entrance exams which means the pressure can start as early as year 1, with practice papers. Some, while having linked prep schools, also send large numbers of children elsewhere.
Why go through the stress of exams at 7+? Well, some of the top preps such as Westminster Under or St Paul’s Prep School don’t start until year 3 when they say they can properly assess the potential of a child through the 7+ exam. Think carefully about whether you want to put your child through this process at such a tender age or if it might be better to choose a school where you can decide at 7+ whether to leave or stay, to avoid undue stress.
What is a pre-prep school?
Pre-prep schools traditionally take children from age 3 or 4 and prepare them to move to a prep school at age 7 or 8 (usually year 3 or 4). While there are some standalone pre-preps educating children from 3 to 7, many pre-preps and preps are two departments in the same school, seamlessly linked with a guaranteed transition between them.
Pre-preps can start even younger, incorporating a nursery which may take children as young as 6 months. As a general rule – although you should always double-check with the school – pre-preps and prep schools work on the basis that ‘once you’re in, you’re in’, meaning that even if the school typically assesses applicants for admission into reception, year 3 or year 6 (for preps that go to 13), if your child started there as a baby or toddler, they should pass through the years without the school needing to conduct an assessment.
At what age do children go to prep school?
Most children start prep school in year 3, aged 7 or 8, although some join later at 11+ entry points. Children attending a pre-prep school usually start in reception, with many schools also offering pre-school and nursery provision from age 3 or younger.
How to choose a prep school
More importantly, how do you select the best prep school for your child? Prep schools stand or fall by their senior school destinations. Whether parents are aiming to get their 3 or 4-year-old into the pre-prep of a chosen all-through school, or their 8-year-old into a prep school that feeds top day and boarding schools, they are generally thinking several years ahead.
However, all-through selective schools rarely guarantee that the pupils they accept into reception will move seamlessly into the senior school. If they do not think your child will keep up, they will advise you – usually in year 5 – to start looking elsewhere.
A school that helps your child to become a confident and happy learner is always the best investment – it’s not a one-size-fits-all decision – and pastoral care should be at the top of any parent’s list. As well as academic rigour, look for inclusive offerings across the arts, music, sport and co-curricular activities, and make sure your child will be able to access all opportunities, regardless of natural ability.
All-through selective schools rarely guarantee that the pupils they accept into reception will move seamlessly into the senior school.
If you think you would like your child to board, now or at some point in the future, you naturally need to find a school which offers boarding. Nowadays the majority of boarding prep schools have adapted to modern family life and offer options of weekly, flexi or full boarding as well as a day school option. There are vanishingly few preps left offering solely boarding places and full boarding is a real rarity – those that board at this level tend to go home after matches on Saturdays. Ludgrove, in Berkshire, is perhaps the only one to buck the trend as the only exclusively full-boarding prep school.
Choosing a prep school in London
London prep schools, whilst bursting at the seams, are often not for the faint of heart and have fearsome reputations for preparing children for entry into top academic schools through a ferocious diet of revision, tests and extension work. This may suit a bright, robust and compliant child but may cause others to flounder.
Choosing a prep school outside of London
With a few exceptions, outside of London places are in greater supply and competition is less fierce. Country preps ensure they have broad horizons and a lot of fun alongside academia. They tend to concentrate on extending childhood – providing a varied diet of music, drama, art, sports, hobbies, interests and trips as well as exam preparation. Many boast extensive grounds, sports halls, shooting ranges, swimming pools, croquet lawns, even golf courses.
Prep school fees: what should parents expect?
Prep school fees vary widely depending on the school and location, but parents should expect to pay several thousand pounds per term. Day places outside major urban areas may cost from around £12,000 per year, while in London fees can exceed £30,000. Extras such as lunches, trips, uniforms and activities can add significantly to the overall cost.
Prep school open days: what to look for
If you want to get a feel for a prep school or two, attend their open days. Don't be dazzled by glitzy facilities or depressed by a dearth – look beyond. Prepare a list of questions and things to look for before you go:
Do you like the head, the staff, the atmosphere, the library?
Is the school well cared for? Does it smell good? Are the toilets clean and biscuits crunchy?
What of the children? Are they friendly, polite, chatty, mannered, smart? Scruffy or sculptured, what matters is, can you imagine your child in amongst the children at the school?
Chat to other parents; do you have anything in common? Are there similarities between their children and yours?
What about sports, drama, art? Is there something for your child? Are sports and music inclusive? Who gets in the teams and bands? What standard are they – is this what you would hope for?
Do they stretch the able, help the struggling, and recognise these two traits may occur in the one child?
What happens when things go wrong? Who is on hand to help, and how? Are they caring and nurturing? Is it ‘forgive and forget’, or strict and unbending?
Are they alert to bullying? Ask for instances and find out how bullies and perpetrators are dealt with.
How will they communicate with you and when? Are parents welcome, if so when, for what, and to do what?
If you liked what you saw on an open day, go back for a private visit, meet the head and watch the school at work. Try to get a balanced view: chat to pupils, staff and other parents. Don’t allow the marketing manager to dominate your visit! Ask whether you can attend school on a match day to get a feel for the parent cohort and team spirit of the school.
Prep school entry requirements: how hard is it to get in?
Entry requirements at 3 or 4 vary considerably from ‘first-come, first-served’ (which may mean name down at birth) to mini-assessment days complete with interview and observations to see just how well Harriet integrates with her peers and playmates. Few will expect children to read and write on entry but, such is the pressure for places at some pre-preps, particularly in London, parents have been known to enlist the help of tutors for their 3-year-olds to get the required head start. Some heads have equated this to tearing up £20 notes and, in general, the play and learning that goes on at home or nursery school should be adequate preparation.
NB that during your tour of the school, you may well be being judged to see if you will fit in with the parent body.
At 7 or 8, nearly every prep school operates a formal (or semi-formal) assessment process. For a country prep, this may be for setting purposes only, or to ensure the child doesn’t have special educational needs or behavioural difficulties they cannot accommodate. For many London day schools, the pressure is on.
Some preps which go to year 8 have an intake at 11+, generally from local state primary schools. Many of these are co-ed preps where girls may choose to move on at 11, and which can use the spaces to take in pupils aiming to sit the 13-plus exams.
Pupils who gain highly sought-after 11+ places at the preps of leading boys’ senior schools, such as Westminster Under School and St Paul’s Prep School, are usually guaranteed places at Westminster School or St Paul’s.
Bursaries at prep school
Bursaries and other types of fee assistance are not common at prep schools. However, some schools do have funds available to make the school more affordable for strong applicants who would otherwise be unable to afford the fees. There is a handful of prestigious preps, such as The Hall in north west London, and Cumnor House Sussex which offer a small number of means-tested bursaries to children who join from state schools. These may be for the duration of school or just the final two or three years with a view to helping the child gain sufficient fee assistance to attend top public schools.
Prep school FAQs
What is a prep school in the UK?
A prep school (short for preparatory school) is a private school for children typically aged 7 to 13, preparing pupils for entry into senior or public schools at 11+ or 13+.
What is a pre-prep school?
A pre-prep school educates younger children, usually from age 3 or 4 to 7 or 8, before they move on to a prep school. Many are part of the same school as the prep, offering a seamless transition.
At what age do children go to prep school?
Most children start prep school in year 3, aged 7 or 8, although some join later at 11+. Children attending a pre-prep school usually start in reception, with many schools also offering nursery provision.
Are prep schools in London more competitive?
In London, entry to top prep schools at 7+ and 8+ can be highly competitive, with preparation often starting early. Outside London, places are generally more readily available and competition less intense.
How hard is it to get into a prep school?
Entry requirements vary by school and age. Some offer places on a first-come basis at 3 or 4, while others assess children at 7+, 8+ or 11+, particularly in London where demand is highest.
How much does a prep school cost?
Prep school fees vary widely by school and location, but parents should expect to pay several thousand pounds per term. Day places outside major urban areas may start from around £12,000 per year, while fees in London can exceed £30,000, with extras adding to the overall cost.
Do prep schools offer bursaries?
Some prep schools offer bursaries, often to children joining from state schools or those preparing to move on to senior schools. These may cover all or part of the fees, depending on circumstances.
