Preparatory school (United Kingdom)

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Lambrook School, a British prep school in Winkfield in Berkshire Lambrook School.jpg
Lambrook School, a British prep school in Winkfield in Berkshire

A preparatory school (or, shortened: prep school) in the United Kingdom is a fee-charging private primary school that caters for children up to approximately the age of 13. The term "preparatory school" is used as it prepares the children for the Common Entrance Examination in order to secure a place at an independent secondary school, typically one of the English public schools. [1] They are also preferred by some parents in the hope of getting their child into a state selective grammar school. [1] Most prep schools are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, which is overseen by Ofsted on behalf of the Department for Education. [2]

Contents

Overview

Boys' prep schools are generally for 8–13 year-olds (Years 3 to 8), who are prepared for the Common Entrance Examination, the key to entry into many secondary independent schools. Before the age of 7 or 8, the term "pre-prep school" is used. [1] Girls' independent schools in England tend to follow the age ranges of state schools more closely than those of boys. Girls' preparatory schools usually admit girls from the age of 4, who will then continue to another independent school at 11 (Year 7), or at 13 (Year 9 if the school is co-educational (as most secondary schools now are). However, as more girls now go on to formerly single-sex boys' schools that have become co-educational, the separation is less clear.

There are 130,000 pupils in over 500 prep schools of all types and sizes. Prep schools may be for boys or girls only, or may be co-educational. They may be day schools, boarding schools, weekly boarding, flexi-boarding, or a combination. They fall into the following general categories: [3] [4]

The Independent Association of Prep Schools is a prep schools heads association; one of seven affiliated associations of the Independent Schools Council. [3]

Pre-prep

Pre-prep schools are generally associated with prep schools, and take children from reception to Year 3. Provision for younger children is generally called a nursery school or kindergarten.

History

Prep schools were originally developed in England and Wales in the early 19th century as boarding schools to prepare boys for leading public schools, such as Eton College, Radley College, Harrow School, Charterhouse School, Oundle School, Rugby School, St Paul's School, Westminster School and Winchester College. The numbers attending such schools increased as many parents were overseas in the service of the British Empire. Prep schools are now found in all parts of the United Kingdom, and elsewhere.

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Related Research Articles

A college-preparatory school is a type of secondary school. The term refers to public, private independent or parochial schools primarily designed to prepare students for higher education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chorister School</span> Preparatory day and boarding school in Durham, County Durham, England

The Chorister School is a co-educational independent school for the 3 to 11 age range. It is part of the Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation, in Durham, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dean Close School</span> Public school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England

Dean Close School is a Public school for pupils aged 3–18) in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, South West England, UK. The school is divided into pre-prep, preparatory and senior schools located on separate but adjacent sites outside Cheltenham town centre, occupying the largest private land area in the town at 50 acres. The school is now co-educational, with both day and boarding pupils, who may be enrolled as young as 3 in the pre-preparatory school, and continue through to 18 at the senior school. Dean Close is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Pilgrims' School</span> School in Winchester, Hampshire, England

The Pilgrims' School is a 4–13 boys preparatory school and cathedral school in the cathedral city of Winchester, Hampshire, England.

Lincoln Minster School is an independent co-educational day and boarding school in Lincoln, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St George's School, Windsor Castle</span> Independent coeducational preparatory school in Windsor, Berkshire, England

St George's School, Windsor Castle is a co-educational independent preparatory school in Windsor, near London, England. Founded to provide choirboys for the Choir of St George's Chapel, it now educates over 400 boys and girls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Prebendal School</span> Preparatory school in West Sussex, England

The Prebendal School is a private preparatory school in Chichester, situated adjacent to the Chichester Cathedral precinct. It is a boarding and day school educating the cathedral choristers. The school has ancient origins as the medieval cathedral song school at the thirteenth-century school house in West Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christ Church Cathedral School</span> Private day and boarding school in Oxford, England

Christ Church Cathedral School is an independent preparatory school for boys in Oxford, England. It is one of three choral foundation schools in the city and educates choristers of Christ Church Cathedral, and the Chapels of Worcester College and Pembroke College. It is a member of the IAPS and the Choir Schools Association.

The Oratory Prep School is a Roman Catholic day and boarding school for some 330 boys and girls aged from two to thirteen, founded in 1925.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St John's College School</span> Private preparatory school in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England

St John's College School is a co-educational preparatory school founded in the 17th century for the education of the choristers of the Choir of St John's College, Cambridge, England. The 20 choristers are educated in the school, which comprises 460 boys and girls aged 4–13. The Head Master is Neil Chippington. The school is divided into two halves, Byron house for KG, T1, T2, Form 1 and Form 2 whilst the 2nd part of the school, further up Grange Road, is in charge of Forms 3-6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abercorn School</span> Private day school in London, England

Abercorn School is a independent private school in central London for pupils ages 2–16 years. In September 2021, Abercorn School announced that the school will begin taking 13–14-year-olds from September 2022 as part of a wider expansion plan to welcome 11–18-year-olds over the coming years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinthurst School</span> School in Tadworth, Surrey, England

Chinthurst School is an independent co-educational nursery, pre-preparatory and preparatory school in semi-rural surroundings in the village of Tadworth, Surrey, England, 15 miles south of the centre of London. As a member of the RGS Group, the school is associated with Reigate Grammar School and Reigate St Mary's School. Its pupils' ages range from two to eleven years.

RGS Prep, formerly Lanesborough School, is an independent, preparatory school in Guildford, Surrey, England. The school was established in 1930 and acted as the choir school for Guildford Cathedral. Formerly an important feeder school for RGS Guildford, the two schools merged in 2021 with Lanesborough becoming RGS Prep.

Devonshire House preparatory school is a co-educational independent IAPS day school for children from 2 to 13 for girls and boys. The school is based in four large Victorian houses in Hampstead. The school currently has about 640 pupils.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sherborne Preparatory School</span> Private preparatory day and boarding school in Sherborne, Dorset, England

Sherborne Preparatory School is a non-selective co-educational preparatory school in the town of Sherborne, Dorset in southern England. It is an independent preparatory school which merged with Sherborne School in April 2021. It continues to benefit from close links with the nearby Sherborne Girls. Pupils generally go on to other independent schools with a large proportion moving onto the Sherborne Schools as well as other schools, predominantly in South West England.

Taverham Hall School was a private co-educational day and boarding preparatory school. Situated in Taverham, Norfolk, it was founded in 1920. The school accommodates over 300 pupils between the ages of 1 and 13. The current headmaster is Mike Crossley, who is a member of the IAPS. In 2016, Taverham Hall School merged with the preparatory department of Langley School, Loddon, to form Langley Preparatory School at Taverham Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School</span> Independent school in West Sussex, United Kingdom

Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School is a historic West Sussex independent school in Sompting, near Worthing and Steyning. It educates children of both sexes aged 2 to 13. The school sits in parkland of 30 acres, which includes woodland, chalk grassland slopes and a pond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reigate St Mary's School</span> Private day school in Reigate, Surrey, England

Reigate St Mary's Preparatory and Choir School is a mixed private prep and choir school in Reigate, Surrey, England.

Polwhele House School is a day and boarding preparatory school at Polwhele House, near Truro, Cornwall.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "What is a Preparatory School?". Gettherightschool.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  2. ↑ Abbotts, Sompting. "What exactly is a prep school". www.somptingabbotts.com. Sompting Abbbotts Preparatory School. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  3. 1 2 The Independent Association of Prep Schools. "About Us". Iaps.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  4. ↑ Chapel Studios – www.chapel-studios.co.uk. "IAPS | The Independent Association of Prep Schools". Iaps.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
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