A preparatory school is the first stepping stone in an illustrious academic journey. Its unique approach to education and wealth of resources prepare children for the competitive edge of reputed private schools, such as entrance examinations and interviews.
Children who attend prep school are nurtured differently, giving them an upper hand in academics, athletics, social development, and other niche extracurricular activities. They evolve into holistically exceptional individuals, equipped with a launchpad for future success.
Read on to uncover the best prep schools in the United Kingdom.
Guildford High Junior School, Guildford
Guildford High Junior School is a prep school for girls aged four to 18. Renowned for its exemplary academic results, it was crowned Independent School of the Year by The Sunday Times.
The school was established in 1887 and began its uphill journey with merely two students on board and meagre funds. The school steadily evolved over the 1900s, with school uniforms, more headmistresses, and sports avenues. During the nineties and early 2000s, new IT and music departments were established, in addition to other new wings. By 2016, it was ranked as one of England’s best prep schools in reputed publications such as The Times and The Week.
This school’s ethos centres around inculcating in students positivity, kindness, creativity, collaboration, resilience, and a love of learning. The prep school presents a broad roster of 14 subjects, including art, music, computer science, PE, and mathematics. Language options include German, Spanish, and French. Additionally, fun extracurriculars such as sports, drama, and junior clubs are also in the mix. Everything on the curriculum is taught through workshops, exciting trips, and practical projects.
Currently, 280 girls attend Guildford High’s junior school. Overall, the student body comprises 1000 girls.
St. Paul’s Juniors, London
St. Paul’s Juniors is a prestigious prep school for boys aged seven to 13. Driven by a commitment to raise a generation that’ll contribute positively to society, St. Paul Junior’s curriculum promotes all-round excellence.
While St. Paul's Institution was established during the height of the Renaissance in the 1500s, the Junior School was founded in 1881. Progressive and humanist since its early years, St. Paul’s Juniors strives to craft a “lively stimulating, and rewarding” milieu for students. Academic modules include English, mathematics, science, geography, history, theology, philosophy, art, computing, drama, music, and PE. Classical civilisation, engineering, and classical Greek are added age nine and ten onwards.
There are also a range of sports to choose from, such as rugby, football, cricket, tennis, cross country, athletics, badminton, tag American football, volleyball, handball, basketball, swimming, aikido, and water polo.
Children from St. Paul’s Juniors have demonstrated academic superiority, having consistently received accolades in the Junior Mathematics Olympiad and the Young Geographer of the Year competitions.
Westminster Under School, London
Established in 1943, the Westminster Under School is an independent prep school for boys aged seven to 13. According to the 2024 Spear’s Schools Index, Westminster Under is one of the top 15 prep schools in the country.
Westminster Under’s mission is for young minds to benefit from a liberal, humanist education. The curriculum comprises geography, history, mathematics, science, and English, in addition to other cultural endeavours such as religious studies, art, drama, French, chess, and music. The children also receive a weekly swimming lesson at the Queen Mother Sports Centre.
Further, the school is equipped with two bountiful playing fields, a 6,000 m² multi-use indoor sports centre, a gym, two climbing walls, basketball courts, tennis courts, fencing pistes, indoor cricket nets, and football fields, among other sporting facilities.
Dragon School, Oxford
Located in the leafy districts of North Oxford, Dragon School is a co-ed prep school for children aged four to 13. It has been deemed one of England’s best prep schools by publications such as Good Schools Guide, Muddy Stilettos, and Tatler Schools Guide. It presents boarding and day-school options.
Dragon’s ethos is to raise “free thinkers” and “lifelong learners.” Besides mathematics, science, and English, children learn classical languages, coding, music, and programming. Dragon’s pastoral care is particularly exemplary by creating a familial environment where all pupils feel comfortable, confident, and validated.
One of Dragon’s best features is their Special Needs Education Learning Support, an avenue through which neurodivergent individuals reach their highest potential with a stellar curriculum tailored for them. The Learning Support team comprises seasoned professionals from the psychology industry who provide one-on-one guidance for children.
The 22-acre campus hosts a boathouse perched on River Cherwell, an indoor swimming pool, a gym, a DT (design and technology) studio, three palatial art studios, a cooking room, a performance arts centre, and grand science laboratories.
George Heriot Junior School, Edinburgh
George Heriot School is one of Scotland’s most prestigious private schools. With an alumni network of scientists, politicians, artists, military officers, and notable sportsmen, this school has been renowned for its impeccable standards since its foundation in the 17th century.
Residing within a majestic Renaissance building, George Heriot’s Junior School curriculum is dedicated to building up a child’s confidence and nurturing values of kindness, respect, and cooperation. From mathematics to history, geography, and English, all primary subjects are taught with a multifaceted approach. Art, drama, cultural awareness, as well as languages such as French and German, are also on offer. Moreover, there’s also a special “Philosophy for Children” module, designed to foster critical thinking skills.
Children also go on residential programmes abroad, which challenges them intellectually and also equips them with the courage to go against the grain.
Belhaven Hill School, Dunbar
Nestled in the idyllic coastal alcove of East Lothian, Belhaven Hill School caters to children aged five to 13.
Established in 1923, it began with a handful of students and two tutors in a private residence. It has now grown into a 20-acre establishment, characterised by verdant grounds inching into the Belhaven Bay, a boarding hostel, and sports facilities including rugby, cricket, netball, football, cross-country, hockey, swimming, lacrosse, and golf, among others. Noteworthy is that the Belhaven Bay is open for the children to freely play in, adding an adventurous dimension to Belhaven’s school culture.
There’s also a bespoke music school and an “Outdoor Education” module where children learn key life skills like building emergency shelters and maintaining campfires.
Cottesmore School, Sussex
Residing in Sussex’s countryside, Cottesmore is a boarding prep school for children aged four to 13. It is listed in Spear's Index of the world's 100 leading private schools in 2024.
Cottesmore was founded in the autumn of 1894, with just two pupils on board. Within a year, over 50 more students joined in, prompting founder Geoffrey Davidson-Brown to commission an architect to build a spacious boarding facility. Over the next few decades, a chapel, a swimming pool, and sports grounds were also added. Today, the campus also hosts state-of-the-art DT, IT, and craft studios and indoor swimming pools.
Beyond core subjects such as mathematics, science, and English, children are encouraged to excel in co-curricular activities. All children participate in matches and plays, and every child is expected to master at least one instrument. General knowledge and social studies also play a prominent role in the curriculum.
From cultivating stellar oratory skills to becoming a versatile musician; from evolving into an expert swimmer to learning multiple languages, prep schools and private educational institutions prime children for sheer excellence. From the intellectual endeavours at St. Paul’s Juniors to the invigorating adventures at Belhaven Hill, these are some of the United Kingdom’s best prep schools.
