Open-day season is here: a chance for parents to hear the head, see the dorms, meet the pupils and generally get a sense of whether a school might suit their child. Keep scrolling for our handy list of all upcoming open days in each area of the country, and get booking – spots fill up fast...

And remember: if you can’t snag a place at any of these open events, don’t panic. Schools will always be as accommodating as possible to prospective parents, so our advice is to pick up the phone and contact the school to arrange a visit.

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Prep Schools

ACS Hillingdon International School - Lower School, Hillingdon Open Day - 06 February 2025 Open Day - 26 April 2025 A truly international school with pupils from 50-plus countries, ACS Hillingdon offers a seamless, all-through education, marching to the beat of its own drum rather than following the UK curriculum – it believes that fewer exams mean children develop a deep level of subject knowledge and understanding. The lower school exudes a warm, friendly atmosphere and its head, Michelle Eriksen, is one of the most passionate educators we’ve met. Learning here is inspirational and aspirational, with a motivating attitude of ‘What am I good at and how do I get better?’
Collège Français Bilingue de Londres Prep, Kentish Town Open Day - 26 April 2025 This nurturing bilingual school in north London is beloved by parents as much for its warm, family atmosphere as the gift of fluency in both French and English that it gives children. Each class is taught half the time by a native French teacher and the other half by an English native, meaning both languages are learnt seamlessly – the playground chatter is delightful.
Dallington School, Islington Open Day - 23 January 2025 Open Day - 15 May 2025 With its spot-on location in the centre of London’s Clerkenwell, Dallington is a pocket-sized, family-run primary school that puts creativity at its heart and where pupils of mixed ages learn alongside each other in bright, open-plan classrooms. It was founded by visionary head Mogg Hercules in the 1970s and is overseen today by her daughter Abi.
Kew College Prep, Richmond Open Morning - 14 February 2025 This London prep has a rich mix of pupils who come from all sorts of educational backgrounds making it feel very down to earth. The recent refurbishment means it’s super smart too. And with wraparound care and full-time nursery provision (and a guaranteed place in Reception), for dual-income parents especially, it’s a compelling choice.
King's House School, Richmond Open Morning - 17 January 2025 Open Morning - 31 January 2025 Open Morning - 14 March 2025 Open Morning - 21 March 2025 This in-demand prep in leafy Richmond went co-ed beyond nursery age in September 2024 – which has no doubt made it an even more compelling choice for local families. Something of a Tardis, there’s plenty of space for playing and exploring, and the lovely nursery is one of the most nurturing we’ve visited.
Old Vicarage School, Richmond upon Thames Open Morning - 07 March 2025 This wonderfully nurturing all-girls prep that sits on Richmond Hill in a Grade II-listed, crenellated castle is academically rigorous, but not to the exclusion of letting pupils savour childhood, and it delivers a holistic education with excellent pastoral care. In the words of two Year 5 girls: ‘It is a really kind school, the relationships between the year groups are very powerful, and the teachers understand the pupils and take time to help you.’ For local families looking for an exceptional single-sex school for their daughters, Old Vicarage School (OVS) is a sure-fire choice.
Royal Russell Junior School, Croydon Open Morning - 28 February 2025 There’s much to recommend this co-ed, all-through school that sits in spacious grounds just a stone’s throw from Croydon. Pupils are happy and confident, encouraged academically and supported emotionally, and they have automatic entry into the senior school which is equally excellent. It’s a place where passions are nurtured and pupils are treated as individuals. A beautifully-designed new building due to open in 2026 will be the icing on the cake.
Shrewsbury House Preparatory School, Surbiton Open House - 17 January 2025 Open House - 14 March 2025 Open House - 16 May 2025 Alta Peto (Aim High) is an apt motto for this Surrey prep school, one of the oldest in the country. Academic results are top-notch, but boys don’t just have an opportunity to shine in the classroom – there is something here for the actor, the artist, the sportsman and the musician. The aspirational mindset encompasses moral values too, with good manners and kindness instilled in every pupil. Head Joanna Hubbard says the secondary schools she’s in touch with tell her they can always identify a Shrewsbury House boy as ‘he will be the one who notices the boy needing friendship’.
St James Preparatory School, West Kensington Open Morning - 05 February 2025 Reception 2025 Taster Morning - 20 March 2025 Open Morning - 09 May 2025 Every school likes to harp on about happiness, but there’s an all-pervading sense of joy at this unconventional west London prep, where every lesson starts and finishes with a mindfulness pause, Sanskrit is on the curriculum from nursery and lunches are vegetarian-only. St James offers a traditional British education laced with Eastern wisdom, and its academics are strong – and pastoral care even stronger.
Surbiton High Girls' Prep School, Kingston upon Thames Open Morning - 11 February 2025 Open Morning - 18 March 2025 Established in 1884, Surbiton High is a leading independent school founded on the belief that being happy and successful as a child is the foundation of future accomplishment. The girls’ prep caters for Reception to Year 6 on a roomy campus with well-equipped classrooms and multifunctional teaching spaces. We were shown round by girls who were confident, purposeful, motivated, articulate and fiercely proud of their school – what better advertisement could there be?
The Cavendish School, Camden Open Morning - 21 January 2025 Open Morning - 11 March 2025 Open Morning - 06 May 2025 Open Morning - 10 June 2025 Located in the heart of cosmopolitan Camden, this all-girls day school in north London has a special vibrancy, generating its own unique community spirit within its walls. ‘The girls are just magnificent,’ says proud head Taryn Lombard. ‘They know themselves, they are spirited, they make a difference and are driven.’ All this empowerment doesn’t mean they’re not grounded and super inclusive, though – it’s a school where everyone is applauded, the faultless performers as well as those who make stops and starts.
Tower House School, East Sheen Open Morning - 31 January 2025 The sound of happy voices floats down the street as you approach this south London gem. The only single-form, all-boys’ school in the area, it offers a unique education for the lucky 180 pupils who attend. And if that sounds like a competitive bun fight, it’s not. Proudly non-selective, Tower House School takes boys whatever their ability or learning challenges. Much like its Tardis-like campus, there’s a lot more going on than meets the eye here, with the pupils’ individual needs at the heart of everything.
Twickenham Preparatory School, Hampton Open Morning - 13 March 2025 ‘Nurturing’, ‘inspiring’, ‘caring’ and ‘joyous’ are just some of the adjectives pupils came up with to describe this fantastic prep school in south-west London. Co-ed until Year 6, boys can stay until Year 8 following the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate and will now be taught in the swanky new Hub@51, a state-of-the-art space complete with D&T and art studio, bright airy classrooms, and, in the not-too-distant future, a digital media suite that will see the launch of a school radio station.
University College School Junior Branch, Hampstead Open Evening - 14 May 2025 Open Evening - 04 June 2025 Open Evening - 10 September 2025 Academically sound but without taking itself too seriously – this is the perfect starter school for those wanting their children to step up to UCS Senior (boys from the junior branch make up around a quarter of the intake each year).
Wimbledon Common Preparatory School, Wimbledon Open Morning - 05 March 2025 Open Morning - 04 June 2025 A joyous atmosphere pervades this London pre-prep in leafy Wimbledon Village that goes by the rather lovely nickname of ‘Squirrels’. Part of the King’s College School Corporation, many of the boys skip over the road to the junior school when they turn seven, but while it is selective, there’s no hothousing here – as head Andrew Forbes says, it’s a ‘happy, fun, buzzing school’.

Senior Schools

ACS Hillingdon International School - Upper School, Hillingdon Open Day - 06 February 2025 Open Day - 26 April 2025 A truly international school with pupils from 50-plus countries, ACS Hillingdon offers a seamless, all-through education, marching to the beat of its own drum rather than following the UK curriculum – it believes that fewer exams mean children develop a deep level of subject knowledge and understanding. Instead of GCSEs, there are multiple pathways for seniors, including IB, US high school diploma and advanced placement courses. It’s a place where pupils can really follow their passions, whatever they are.
Collège Français Bilingue de Londres, Kentish Town Open Day - 26 April 2025
Halcyon London International School, Marylebone Open Event 12.00-13.15 (online, all Grades) - 06 December 2024 Open Event 10.00-11.30 (registration will open shortly) - 05 February 2025 Open Event 17.30-18.45 (online) - 11 March 2025 Open Event 10.00-11.30 - 27 March 2025 Open Event 10.00-11.30 - 30 April 2025 This central London school is unique in being the only not-for-profit IB world school in the capital, offering the Middle Years Programme as well as the Diploma. A cosmopolitan pupil body, seriously state-of-the-art tech and a roster of innovative co-curricular make it stand out from the crowd too. And it’s hard not to get behind its mission of delivering a human-centred education to maximise the potential of every pupil.
Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood Open Morning - 10 May 2025 An all-boys school that has an atmosphere that’s calm, not hectic, with pupils who are caring and not macho, MTS confounds stereotypes. With a head who promotes asking the big questions such as ‘What is it to be human?’, the school offers so much more than the stellar academics and world-class facilities it’s renowned for. As the head says, ‘Humans are a musical, running, communicative, social, sophisticated, cultured, conceptually thinking, competitive, featherless biped,’ and this school makes sure it’s always got that 360-degree vision in mind.
St Benedict's School, Ealing Open Morning - 01 May 2025 A school where ‘you really can have it all’ says the head. Expect good academic results, coupled with an all-round education and a pastoral system underpinned by the Benedictine ethos that values every child as an individual. Staff are interested in their pupils and demonstrate that they care – building a rapport that supports student growth, even when it’s tricky. Parents and children are encouraged to learn together by attending lectures exploring themes such as parenting and PSHE or simply enjoying a soprano recital together.
St James Senior Girls' School, West Kensington Open Evening - 19 March 2025 Open Morning - 08 May 2025 Meditation, vegetarianism, mindfulness and Sanskrit are all embraced at this gently quirky, spiritually minded west London senior. Here, lessons begin with moments of stillness, and high-spec hi-tech is sensitively combined with significant teacher input – in return, girls blossom into happy, hardworking, humble sophisticates. It’s selective and small, with half the 11+ intake arriving from the on-site prep (pupils move seamlessly between the two, with boys heading to St James Senior Boys’ School) and the rest from a smattering of states and independents across London. All benefit from the singular ethos at the heart of St James, which in the words of one sixth-former has ‘a unique talent for letting us express ourselves and be individual with our own specific talents’.

South East England

Prep Schools

ACS Cobham International School - Lower and Middle School, Cobham Whole School Open Day - 15 March 2025 This non-selective international school offers a compelling alternative to the traditional British educational system, providing a learning environment where pupils are encouraged to develop critical thinking, creativity and a global outlook – skills that are sometimes overlooked by other schools in the race for results. Facilities are extraordinary – think an American-style university campus – and pastoral care is spot on. And with a seamless transition to the upper and high school, which is on the same site, tortured choices about ‘where next?’ are completely avoided. It’s no wonder local families are as keen on ACS Cobham as expats.

ACS Egham International School - Early Childhood and Lower, Egham Open Morning - 05 December 2024 Set on a beautiful leafy campus on the edge of Windsor Great Park, this all-through international school is one of only two schools in the UK to offer all four International Baccalaureate programmes from primary years upwards. With 46 nationalities represented, it feels like a perfect little global village, full of enthusiastic staff, many of whom bring overseas experience. Each section of the school is neatly demarcated, and all pupils have use of the knockout facilities, which include two on-site forest schools and a massive sports hall complete with ‘show court’, climbing wall and dance studio.

Amesbury, Hindhead Open Morning 10.30am - 12.30pm - 24 January 2025 This picture-perfect Surrey prep has a fantastic reputation locally and deserves to be on every parent’s radar for its on-point pastoral care, down-to-earth atmosphere and all-round sound attitude to educating its pupils. Wellbeing is paramount and the school sees itself as ‘green-housing rather than hot-housing’ its young charges, with staff going above and beyond, and new head Gavin Franklin very much leading by example.

Battle Abbey Prep School, Bexhill Prep and Nursery Open Day (exact date TBC, please email to register) - 05 April 2025   A school where character is valued above academic ability, Battle Abbey Prep takes a holistic approach to education. Keep children children is the ethos energetically embraced by all the staff, not least the charismatic head, Craig Austen-White. The result is uninhibited pupils who love to learn. The senior school a quarter of an hour’s drive away allows for access to ‘big-school’ facilities, and, of course, it’s a natural next step that takes the stress out of 11+ decisions.

Bede's Prep School, Eastbourne Open Morning - 08 March 2025 School days are about more than hitting academic targets at this lovely day and boarding school perched on a clifftop in Eastbourne. Head Leigh-Anne Morris is passionate about children building ‘a bank of memories and friendships and leaving with lasting memories of happy moments’. This holistic ethos serves the 250 or so boys and girls well: ‘Pupils have a sense of joy to pursue their own brilliance; there is something for every child,’ says Mrs Morris. And with a nursery (for babies from six months) and senior school (which encompasses the Legat School of Dance) all part of the same charitable trust, it’s a compelling one-stop educational journey.

Chandlings Prep School, Oxford Early Years Open Morning - 11 December 2024 Early Years Open Morning - 14 March 2025 Whole School Open Morning - 09 May 2025 A high achiever set in 60 acres of beautiful countryside just outside Oxford, this prep has all the facilities you might expect and more, from a riding school and nine-hole golf course to a ballet studio and pet goats – and it’s a pretty special place to spend the halcyon days of childhood. Chandlings Prep's values are written by the pupils, and head Christine Cook is often seen greeting everyone at the gate – just two examples of the inclusive, pastorally driven care here.

Cheam School, Newbury Open Morning - 07 March 2025 Undisputedly smart on the outside, delightfully down to earth on the inside, this impressive Berkshire prep is one of the oldest in the country – and wears its history and heritage with pride. It’s a winning mix of old-fashioned country values and progressive thinking, where academic standards are sky-high and children hop off to top boarding schools all over the country. This is a school brimming with good eggs (yes, they do have an award for that!), and both children and staff are exceptionally well-mannered and kind. An exciting place to be.

Claremont Prep School, St. Leonards-on-Sea Open Week (3rd-7th March) - 03 March 2025 Open Day - 10 May 2025 This inspirational school in Sussex has a new principal at the helm, with former senior head Ed Dickie now overseeing both the prep and the senior, further cementing Claremont as a seamless, all-through option. It’s a school with an enlightened approach to education. ‘We encourage young people to find out what they love doing and give the pupil the opportunity to do it,’ says Mr Dickie. And from a superlative forest school and innovative project-based learning to a stellar football academy and buzzing drama department, all the bases are covered, meaning children can fully embrace the school ethos of Become Your Best.

Cranleigh Preparatory School, Cranleigh Open Morning - 28 February 2025 A country prep an hour’s drive from Wimbledon with forty rolling acres for pupils to run free, and an all-round education delivered with a relaxed, but focused attitude – it’s no wonder more London parents are eschewing the capital’s fevered competition for Cranleigh Prep.

Dragon School, Oxford Open Day - 31 January 2025 Open Day - 01 March 2025 A real high-flyer, this big, buzzy, hugely popular Oxford prep fully deserves its outstanding reputation as an academic powerhouse that sets pupils on a path to top senior schools and, even more impressively, a lifelong love of learning. Innovative teaching methods that inspire children’s thirst for knowledge and super-nurturing pastoral care ensure pupils thrive and feel valued as individuals. And despite the school’s huge size, the experience is warm and friendly where everyone feels part of the Dragon family.

Dulwich Cranbrook - Prep School, Cranbrook Whole School Open Morning - 07 March 2025 Set on a glorious 50-acre campus just an hour from London by train, Dulwich School Cranbrook was founded when the headmaster of Dulwich Prep London evacuated his pupils here to his in-laws’ house after the outbreak of the Second World War. What was originally a group of huts in the orchards surrounding the main manor house has grown into a thriving, incredibly open and welcoming school for 400 children aged three to 13.

Embley Prep School, Romsey Prep School Open Morning - 30 January 2025 Whole School Open Morning - 11 March 2025 Hampshire’s ‘Digital Downton’, with a stunning aristocratic rural setting juxtaposed with a forward-thinking IT strategy and an ever-evolving extracurricular programme, is a real belter. The prep school has nearly doubled in size since head Sheina Wright arrived four years ago, with parents evidently seeing value in this warm, welcoming and active environment – Embley’s is a character education and not just an acquisition of knowledge.

Eton End School, Datchet Open Morning - 15 February 2025 Open Afternoon - 17 May 2025 Nurture is a central tenet at this prep school in Berkshire, with the physical and mental wellbeing of pupils placed at the heart of every decision. A five-year plan includes a total refurbishment of classrooms to both reduce sensory overload by replacing bright colours with neutral tones and boost an atmosphere of safety and cosiness with plants, lamps, comfy furniture and blankets for children to curl up under. While pupils achieve great success in their 11+ exams (to both grammar and independent schools), Eton End is quite clear that it is not an 11+ factory environment – and their focus is far broader than this.

Frensham Heights Junior School, Farnham Junior School Open Morning - 07 February 2025 Whole School Open Morning - 13 March 2025 Whole School Open Evening - 09 May 2025 Whole School Open Morning - 20 June 2025 Frensham Heights is a Surrey day and boarding school with its focus firmly fixed on the future. Since its foundation in 1925, it has sought to provide an alternative style of education based on mutual respect, tolerance and generosity of spirit. Its invitation to ‘come and be you’ and focused attention on inspiring each child to improve themselves – in any way – was a pleasure to see. With no uniform and pupils on first name terms with their teachers, we love the less formal, more progressive educational ethos here – one that celebrates children in the most holistic way possible, and brilliantly prepares them for a world beyond school.

Hazelwood School, Oxted School Open Morning - 21 March 2025 Hazelwood might have more than a century of history behind it, but this forward-thinking co-ed on the Surrey/Kent border certainly lives up to its pupil-chosen motto ‘Spiritu Inspiratus’ – ‘Lungfuls of Inspiration’. The curriculum here has been deliberately designed to spark creativity and teach children how to learn and think for themselves, rather than just spoon-feeding them facts. There’s philosophy and forest school on the timetable, plus The B.O.X – an innovative, tech-first teaching space where pupils can let their imaginations run wild.

Highfield and Brookham , Liphook Open Day - 11 January 2025 Highfield and Brookham is flourishing – it’s got a gloriously family-friendly, homely feel, academics are top notch, and childhood is really valued. Children are happily busy being children, and are sweetly enthusiastic and proud of their school. All of this helps shape the school into one of the South East’s top non-selective preps.

Junior King's Canterbury, Canterbury Nursery and Pre-Prep Open Morning - 09 May 2025 Junior School Open Morning - 10 May 2025 With its bucolic setting and seamless ties with older sibling The King’s School, Canterbury, Junior King’s is becoming an increasingly hot ticket with Londoners wanting to swerve the intensity of the capital and take the stress out of senior school next steps. Flexi boarding has just been introduced and a new head arrived in September 2024.

Lancing Prep Hove, Hove Open Morning - 07 February 2025 Open Morning - 10 May 2025 A gentle co-ed day prep with a family feel set on seven leafy acres in Hove, this is a natural feeder for Lancing College a few miles along the coast (about 75 per cent of pupils move up to it). Head Kirsty Keep has made plenty of improvements since taking charge in 2016, including overseeing the completion of a new multi-purpose hall, which is used for music and drama performances as well as assemblies, and the Snell Library.

Lancing Prep Worthing, Worthing Open Morning - 08 February 2025 Open Morning - 10 May 2025 Previously known as Broadwater Manor School, this prep, housed in a Georgian manor house on a two-acre site in the Broadwater area of Worthing, became part of the Lancing College family in 2014 – and numbers have been on the rise ever since. It’s well equipped, with its own sports field, cricket nets and netball courts, and a newish Foundation Library (children are encouraged to get lost in a book through the Drop Everything and Read scheme) and drama studio.

Moulsford Prep School, Wallingford Whole School Open Morning - 07 February 2025 One of our lunch companions here noted that what he liked about Moulsford Prep was the fact that ‘not everyone does one thing, it’s what suits you’, and that really is what this place is about. It lets children feel prized for being themselves, building confidence and self-esteem by celebrating success in all its forms. Already co-ed in the nursery and pre-prep, Moulsford recently announced that it will welcome girls into the prep school for the first time in September 2026, becoming fully co-ed by 2031. It’s a move that has been many years in the planning, and the next two years will be spent making all the necessary adjustments to get the school ready. And given that you won’t find more charming ambassadors for a school than the happy, bright, articulate and just thoroughly nice Moulsford boys, we have no doubt that the girls will flourish here too.

Notre Dame Prep School, Cobham Whole School Open Event - 13 February 2025 Founded over 400 years ago, the emphasis at this Surrey all-through school is all about the girls. Rooted in a Catholic ethos but open to pupils of all faiths, fabulous facilities include a professional-standard theatre, a 25m indoor swimming pool and an all-singing, all-dancing, brand-new innovation hub, where the latest technology is used to enhance pupils’ learning. A busy enrichment programme allows girls to uncover their talents and passions, and the most academically able are stretched and challenged through the school’s dedicated Above & Beyond the Curriculum programme.

Papplewick School, Ascot Open Morning 10am-12 noon - 31 January 2025 Open Morning 9.30am-11.30am - 01 February 2025 We’re not surprised this Berkshire school that sends around a third of its leavers to Eton every year is currently oversubscribed. A Swallows and Amazons nirvana (without the boats), it’s a traditional all-boys country prep but with added quirk, fun and an extremely kind heart. Non-selective at intake but very strong academically, you won’t find in-your-face grandeur here, but you will find positive values, enthusiasm, humour and teaching beyond compare.

St Andrew's Prep Eastbourne, Eastbourne Open Morning - 07 February 2025 Open Morning - 08 February 2025 Open Morning - 03 October 2025 Open Morning - 04 October 2025 From weekly classes on the beach to forest school in an adventure playground, this East Sussex prep knows how to instil children with a lifelong love of learning. Its dynamic approach holistically integrates academics, pastoral care and co-curricular, with the school values of kindness, honesty and excellence running through everything pupils do. As head Tom Gregory says, this is a place ‘full of opportunity, challenge and fun’.

The New Beacon, Sevenoaks Open Day 9.30 to 11.30am - 07 February 2025 There’s a lovely family feel at this all-boys prep in Sevenoaks which has strong community ties, including with the local girls’ schools. Solidly academic with a great sporting reputation and excellent pastoral care, it mixes tradition and innovation with aplomb, producing happy, purposeful and well-rounded pupils. Now part of the Tonbridge group, boys can make use of the senior school’s fantastic facilities and many choose to go there when they leave, though the prep remains proudly independent.

Thornton College Prep, Milton Keynes Meet the Head - 23 January 2025 Open Morning - 08 March 2025 Meet the Head - 08 May 2025 Very much an all-through school, Thornton College is one family on one site with a focus on inclusive values, and an incredibly inspiring head at the helm. Girls we met were confident, chatty and exceptionally well behaved – and nurture is well and truly baked in.

Walhampton School, Lymington Open Morning - 21 March 2025 This innovative prep has its finger on the pulse when it comes to providing a holistic education where diversity, inclusion and pupil empowerment are paramount. A fully rounded ethos encourages children to be children, while a broad academic offering, stellar co-curricular and a decidedly 21st-century eco awareness means pupils are nurtured in the best possible environment to prepare them for senior school.

Westbourne House School, Chichester Open Week (27th-31st January) - 27 January 2025 Open Morning - 17 May 2025 An idyll of all that is enchanting in childhood – sprawling grounds, woodland playgrounds, acres of playing fields, mucking about in boats on the school lake... Westbourne House has managed to bottle that elusive formula of what makes a prep school perfect: not too big (360 pupils), a small family feel, and yet an immensely large site, fizzing energy and, oh yes, top-drawer academics.

Windlesham House, Pulborough Whole School Open Morning - 01 March 2025 Pre-Prep Open Morning - 15 May 2025 Windlesham House is one of those schools that evokes an incredible emotional response, with many parents themselves having spent Elysian childhoods here. In the heart of rural West Sussex, this is the oldest prep in the country, yet in recent years there has been an injection of fresh energy into the school, which has brilliantly adapted to the needs of modern families and a vibrant local market too. There’s a wow factor here, with parents and pupils alike bowled over by everything it offers.

Senior Schools

ACS Cobham International School - Upper and High School, Cobham Whole School Open Day - 15 March 2025 This non-selective international day and boarding school offers a compelling alternative to the traditional British educational system, providing a learning environment where pupils are encouraged to develop critical thinking, creativity, a global outlook and, perhaps most importantly, the self-confidence to follow their passions. Different pathways through the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and Advanced Placement courses are on offer, and results are strong across the board. It’s no wonder local families are as keen on ACS Cobham as expats.
ACS Egham International School - Middle and High School, Egham Open Morning - 05 December 2024 Set on a beautiful leafy campus on the edge of Windsor Great Park, this all-through international school is one of only two schools in the UK to offer all four International Baccalaureate programmes from primary years upwards. With 46 nationalities represented, it feels like a perfect little global village, full of enthusiastic staff, many of whom bring overseas experience. Each section of the school is neatly demarcated, and all pupils have use of the knockout facilities, which include two on-site forest schools and a massive sports hall complete with ‘show court’, climbing wall and dance studio.
Battle Abbey School, Battle Senior School Open Day - 08 March 2025   Sitting next to the very battlefield where the Battle of Hastings took place, Battle Abbey School certainly has the wow factor, with classes held in a former monastery and a clutch of historic 13th-century buildings. But for all its history, this is a school with an impressive forward-thinking mindset, a place where children thrive where they might not in more traditional settings. Famous for its art and creativity, Battle Abbey knows how to bring the best out of each and every pupil.
Bede's School, Hailsham Open Morning - 15 March 2025 ‘This school lets you be yourself,’ says one pupil at this exceptional co-ed day and boarding school in Sussex where pupils thrive and shine in all areas, from the classroom to the playing field, the art studio to the stage (the Legat Dance Academy is part of the St Bede’s School Trust, as is the nursery and prep). Proudly non-selective, the school is interested in the child not league tables and, says head Peter Goodyer, is ‘mindful we sit as a part of a journey for education rather than as the end. We are responsible for preparing pupils so they can do whatever they want to do in the best shape they can be in.’ It’s a holistic approach that pays dividends, with happy and engaged pupils living in the moment and embracing everything that comes their way.
Benenden School, Cranbrook Open Afternoon - 04 February 2025 Open Morning - 01 March 2025 Open Morning - 13 March 2025 Why do we love Benenden so much? Because it does exactly what it says on the tin: traditional, all-girls full boarding brought bang up to date. For the academically competent all-rounder who is happy to live in a lovely rural bubble, this is a reassuringly solid choice – and a school that’s firing on all cylinders.
Claremont Senior School & Sixth Form, Nr. Robertsbridge Open Week (3rd-7th March) - 03 March 2025 Open Day - 10 May 2025 This inspirational school in Sussex has a new principal at the helm, with former senior head Ed Dickie now overseeing both the prep and the senior, further cementing Claremont as a seamless, all-through option. It’s a school with an enlightened approach to education. ‘We encourage young people to find out what they love doing and give the pupil the opportunity to do it,’ says Mr Dickie. Pupils come from all walks of life and every child’s unique talents are championed. And while the football academy and performing arts offering are certainly a draw, it’s a school for everyone, where all pupils are challenged to try new things as well as build on their strengths.
Cranleigh School, Cranleigh Welcome Morning - 07 December 2024 Welcome Morning - 01 March 2025 Welcome Morning - 08 March 2025 Sixth Form Welcome Morning - 07 June 2025 Senior Open Day - 14 June 2025 Basking in 240 acres of leafy Surrey countryside, Cranleigh School is a bit of a Goldilocks school – not too big, not too small, good for girls, good for boys, not greedy for the sportiest or the cleverest, but rather valuing what every pupil brings to the community. A real family atmosphere and a down-to-earth attitude creates a school filled with happy, well-rounded children confident in their own abilities.
Dulwich Cranbrook - Senior School, Cranbrook Whole School Open Morning - 07 March 2025 Senior School Open Morning - 23 May 2025 Set on a glorious 50-acre campus just an hour from London by train, Dulwich School Cranbrook was founded when the headmaster of Dulwich Prep London evacuated his pupils here to his in-laws’ house after the outbreak of the Second World War. What was originally a group of huts in the orchards surrounding the main manor house has grown into a thriving, incredibly open and welcoming school – and one which has just expanded its appeal even further with the opening of a brand-new senior school, kicking off with an initial Year 9 cohort who arrived in September 2023.
Eastbourne College, Eastbourne Open Morning Years 9-12 - 08 February 2025 Open Morning Years 9-12 - 10 May 2025 Sixth Form Open Evening - 18 September 2025 Open Morning Years 9-12 - 04 October 2025 This school has all bases covered: academics are impressive and getting more so every year, sport serves all, from those looking for fun and fitness to elite athletes (watch out for future female cricket stars) and blue sky thinking runs through everything, from taking learning to the beach and becoming a mobile phone-free school to offering transformational bursaries and outreach programmes to the local community. Once a hidden gem, numbers are now higher than ever, with a waiting list in operation. No wonder. Cosmopolitan and diverse, this co-ed senior boarding school has a modern mindset and knows how to inspire young people.
Embley Senior School & Sixth Form, Romsey Whole School Open Morning - 11 March 2025 Hampshire’s ‘Digital Downton’, with a stunning aristocratic rural setting juxtaposed with a forward-thinking digital strategy, is a real belter. Add in a truckload of extracurricular opportunities, an impressive academic record, a focus on developing compassionate young people and a headmaster who exudes purpose, and you have a pretty attractive package.
Frensham Heights School, Farnham Senior School Open Morning - 29 January 2025 Senior School Open Morning - 27 February 2025 Whole School Open Morning - 13 March 2025 Whole School Open Evening - 09 May 2025 Whole School Open Morning - 20 June 2025 Frensham Heights is a Surrey day and boarding school with its focus firmly on the future. Since its foundation in 1925 it has sought to provide an alternative style of education based on mutual respect, tolerance and generosity of spirit that educates the whole child. Its invitation to ‘come and be you’ and insistence on inspiring each child to improve themselves – in any way – is a pleasure to see. With no uniform and pupils on first name terms with their teachers, we love the less formal, more progressive educational ethos here – one that celebrates children in the most holistic way possible, and brilliantly prepares them for a world beyond school.
Heathfield School, Ascot Open Morning - 14 March 2025 Open Morning - 17 May 2025 ‘The merit of one is the honour of all’ is the school motto here – and there is certainly much to be merited at Heathfield. Cast aside any preconceptions you may have, and prepare to be bowled over, Heathfield hits that rare sweet spot of being small enough to give every girl individual attention, and large enough to offer a full school experience in terms of academic options and co-curricular opportunities, whilst offering an astounding amount of flexibility to families. In her short time at the helm, Sarah Rollings has completely re-invigorated this outstanding school, placing pupil well-being and value-added achievement at the forefront of the unashamedly girls-first ethos, and introducing a stunning new sixth form centre, transforming the A-level experience.
Lancing College, Lancing Open Event (Year 9 entry) - 18 January 2025 Open Event (Year 9 entry) - 08 February 2025 Sixth Form Open Morning - 01 March 2025 Open Event (Year 9 entry) - 22 March 2025 From the beautiful architecture and grounds to the pupils striding purposefully across quads on their way to lessons, Lancing College seems to have the playbook of an Oxford college. But while the environment feels awe-inspiring, it’s also refreshingly unflashy, with no sense of entitlement or privilege, just the love of learning, working hard and being part of a supportive community underpinning its solid foundation. It's an impressive school that surprisingly flies under the radar – but we suspect that won’t be the case for long.
Lord Wandsworth College, Hook Headmaster's Reception 9.30am - 10 December 2024 Philanthropy sits front and centre at this Hampshire school, which was established upon the death of its eponymous founder, Lord Wandsworth, 101 years ago. Originally built for the bereaved children of agricultural workers, it has educated 2,500 ‘Foundationers’ in its first century, with more than 50 pupils on supported places currently at the school and a separate bursary fund for means-tested places. This fosters a real community spirit, with children involved in every aspect of the running of the school – from helping interview new staff to designing the new sixth form centre.
Mayfield School, Mayfield Open Morning - 14 March 2025 In the words of the newly appointed head Deborah Bligh, Mayfield School helps to shape its pupils but does not seek to change them: ‘A Mayfield girl’s voice has real value.’ Integrity, compassion and joy anchor the pupils, and it’s clearly evident in the close bonds between the girls and with staff. Pastoral care is spot on, academics are impressive and the setting is idyllic. It’s no wonder it’s one of the UK’s leading all-girls Catholic schools.
Notre Dame Senior School, Cobham Open Morning - 13 February 2025 Founded over 400 years ago, the emphasis at this Surrey all-through school is all about the girls. Rooted in a Catholic ethos but open to pupils of all faiths, fabulous facilities include a professional-standard theatre, a 25m indoor swimming pool and an all-singing, all-dancing, brand-new innovation hub, where the latest technology is used to enhance pupils’ learning. A busy enrichment programme allows girls to uncover their talents and passions, and the most academically able are stretched and challenged through the school’s dedicated Above & Beyond the Curriculum programme.
Prior's Field, Godalming Open Day - 07 February 2025 This small, super-nurturing, all-girls school in Surrey puts academic progress, wellbeing and happiness first. No one gets lost here – rather, they’re encouraged in all directions from academics and sports to creative arts (which they’re particularly strong at). Softly selective and the opposite of brash, it’s a school that is full of warmth and respect, and a place where girls achieve by being happy, not intimidated. Aldous Huxley’s mother, Julia, founded it in 1902 with the aim of producing ‘confident young women, ready to make their mark on the modern world’; more than a century later, it’s still doing just that.
Radley College, Abingdon Open Day - 08 February 2025 Open Day - 15 March 2025 Open Day - 26 April 2025 Steeped in tradition but not stuck in the past, it’s hard not to be bowled over by Radley. It’s hugely impressive with its glorious grounds, Who’s Who list of alumni and peerless opportunities offered to all who go there. It’s no wonder parents rush to register their sons’ names on the famous Radley List at birth. But while it maintains its all-boys, full-boarding model, this is no hallowed ground institution preserved in aspic – today’s pupils are as passionate about robotics as they are about debating, access has widened with more fully-funded places and scholarships, and innovation continues to thrive under the steady hand of John Moule who’s now led the school for a decade. It’s safe to say that the days of Radley being seen as a bit stuffy and stuck in the past are well and truly over.
Sevenoaks School, Sevenoaks Saturday Group Visit - 18 January 2025 Saturday Group Visit - 08 February 2025 Saturday Group Visit - 08 March 2025 Saturday Group Visit - 14 May 2025 Saturday Group Visit - 07 June 2025 Open Day - 14 June 2025 Recognised globally as one of the top IB schools in the world, sought-after Sevenoaks is academically rigorous, with fantastic facilities and a down-to-earth, all-inclusive approach. Helmed by head Jesse Elzinga –– who is as polished as he is welcoming – the school flies under the radar somewhat, which Mr Elzinga seems perfectly content with. When you’re this good, there’s no need to blow your own trumpet.
Shiplake College, Henley-on-Thames Whole School Open Event 09:00 - 12:00 - 22 March 2025 Selective but aimed at a broad range of abilities, Shiplake College is an authentic and unpretentious place that takes a holistic approach to educating ‘good eggs’. Until now, girls had only been able to join in the sixth form, but the exciting news is that as of September 2023, the school is now fully co-ed, welcoming them from Year 7.
Sir William Perkins's School , Chertsey Open Day - 13 March 2025 Open Day - 03 April 2025 Stellar academics are combined with a fantastic co-curricular programme (it has a particularly fine reputation in rowing) at this day school in Surrey. A new head joined in September and she already has her feet firmly under the desk, ensuring pupils’ individuality continues to be championed – there are no identikit students here, just high-achievers in charge of their own future.
St James Senior Boys' School, Ashford Open Day - 12 March 2025 Open Day - 08 May 2025 This boys-only school in Ashford, Surrey takes a holistic approach to education, with a focus on philosophy, wellbeing and individualised learning. The end result is well-rounded young men who have been encouraged to work outside their comfort zone and grow as learners, as well as people. It’s also the only school in the country to offer Sanskrit to GCSE.
The Duke of York's Royal Military School, Dover Open Morning - 07 December 2024 Open Morning - 11 January 2025 Open Morning - 18 January 2025 Open Morning - 25 January 2025 Open Morning - 01 February 2025 Open Morning - 08 February 2025 This state boarding school’s rich history and majestic location near the White Cliffs of Dover definitely have the wow factor, but even more impressive is the all-round education that instils perhaps the strongest sense of community we’ve encountered at a school. ‘We are one big Dukie family,’ the head boy told us. Military-inspired values of courage, integrity, respect, commitment, loyalty and self-discipline bind everyone together, and while academics are important, so is turning out thoughtful and well-motivated individuals who are ready to enter adulthood with resilience, rigour and leadership.
The Marist School, Ascot Senior Open Morning - 31 January 2025 Excellence is a habit not a vision at this high-flying all-through, all-girls’ school. No less important is commitment and kindness to others. The school community is like a happy, tight-knit family, with every pupil known by every member of staff, and many parents old girls themselves – some even come back to work here. Parents are told to ‘trust us’, and that faith is not misplaced. Academics are top-notch, sports teams are embarrassingly successful, and girls are articulate, kind and thoughtful.
Thornton College, Milton Keynes Meet the Head - 23 January 2025 Open Morning - 08 March 2025 Meet the Head - 08 May 2025 Very much an all-through school, Thornton College is one family on one site with a focus on inclusive values, and an incredibly inspiring head at the helm. Girls we met were confident, chatty and exceptionally well behaved – and nurture is well and truly baked in.
Tonbridge School, Tonbridge Mini Open Morning - 05 December 2024 Mini Open Morning - 16 January 2025 Mini Open Morning for Chinese New Year - 31 January 2025 Open Morning - 08 February 2025 Mini Open Morning for Day Boys - 18 March 2025 It is with experience, passion and rigour that we strive to get under the skin of a school and help parents understand why they would send their children there. But at Tonbridge School, we have simply been left wondering ‘Why wouldn’t they?’ It’s hard not to roll out the superlatives when it comes to this all-boys’ wonder of a school in Kent that’s been acing it as one of the country’s top schools for aeons. Academically astounding yet highly emotionally intelligent, big on community spirit, filled to the brim with a wonderfully refreshing mix of pupils, and faultless at turning out charming boys ready to tackle an ever-changing world, Tonbridge sets itself apart from the rest.

South West England

Prep Schools

Badminton School Prep, Westbury-on-Trym Prep School Open Morning - 06 February 2025 As a small, single-sex school, Badminton offers an incredible level of support from the get-go, with all girls well known individually and allowed to grow at their own pace. That’s not to say the prep school doesn’t have academic clout – it definitely does, and the blue sky-thinking head Heidi Welch is adept at weaving tip-top academics into the super-secure pastoral setting. All but a tiny number of pupils transfer to the senior school in Year 7, but even for those who don’t, this is a smashing launch pad.
Bryanston Prep, Blandford Forum Spring Term Open Morning 9.30am to 12 noon - 07 March 2025 Three years after being brought into the fold of Bryanston’s senior school, this country prep’s all-girls days as Knighton House are a distant memory, along with those iconic red dungarees. It’s grown in stature, for sure, with its offering of a unique educational journey from three to 18. But it still gives its pupils the sense of freedom that comes from being part of a big, happy family – it’s just a bigger family now.
Clayesmore Preparatory School, Blandford Forum Open Morning - 01 February 2025 Open Morning - 10 May 2025 Housed in a turreted mansion between Blandford Forum and Shaftesbury, Clayesmore Prep shares the same gloriously rural surroundings as the senior. Its dedicated facilities are topped up with the bonuses of the main school’s large sports centre, full-sized Astroturf, dance studio, theatre and chapel. There is a real emphasis on older pupils mentoring and supporting younger ones.
Clifton College Preparatory School, Clifton Preschool to Year 8 Spring Open Event - 02 May 2025 Preschool to Year 6 Open Event - 26 September 2025 There’s no ‘one size fits all’ at this unstuffy Bristol prep (which includes a preschool and pre-prep too), part of the Clifton College stable. The intake is refreshingly broad – and so is what’s on offer.
Exeter Junior School, Exeter Whole School Open Morning - 24 January 2025 Summer Open Evening - 08 May 2025 Whole School Open Morning - 17 June 2025 There’s a lovely warm environment at this academically ambitious school in the heart of Exeter, where pupils are as industrious outside the classroom as they are in, throwing themselves into a huge range of different activities. With the pre-prep (on a different site) and senior (on the same site) it’s a compelling all-through option, with engaging overall head Louise Simpson expertly overseeing all three schools, following her pupils from age three to 18.
Exeter Pre-Prep School, Exeter Whole School Open Morning - 24 January 2025 Pre-Prep Open Morning - 11 February 2025 Pre-Prep Open Morning - 19 May 2025 Whole School Open Morning - 17 June 2025 Like its big sibling junior and senior schools, this pre-prep has a lot of academic ambition. It’s achieved through a tremendous sense of teamwork, with every teacher involved with every pupil, which makes for a very special environment, and means little ones are ready to fly when they reach junior school.
Hazlegrove Prep School, Yeovil Open Day - 08 March 2025 This historic Somerset school has enviable film-set looks, but it’s the pupils who give it soul, belting around its 200 acres on bicycles and scooters and clomping through forests in brightly coloured wellies. Bursting with creativity and innovation, plans are afoot for rewilding and solar panels, and the superlative academics (achieved without being selective) and enlightened pastoral care mean parents are clamouring to get their children’s names down from birth.
Pinewood School, Shrivenham Open Day - 15 May 2025 Welcoming, warm, thoughtful, busy, varied, thriving and all about the children, Pinewood is a must-see. The lack of head boy/girl encapsulates the overarching takeaway from this 84-acre nirvana which is that every child is important.
Truro School Prep, Truro Prep School Open Morning - 08 March 2025 This prep just outside Truro has character in spades – full of Cornish charm, it perfectly balances old-fashioned values with a forward-thinking mindset. There’s a calm and purposeful atmosphere here and pupils are articulate, well-mannered and utterly delightful. They’re a wonderful advert for the enriching curriculum the school offers, which includes its own diploma to help them realise their own talents and abilities, and a roster of outward-bound activities such as kayaking and bushcraft.
Wells Cathedral Prep School, Wells Spring Open Morning - 08 March 2025 Summer Open Morning - 10 May 2025 For one of the oldest educational establishments in the world (founded in 909), Wells Cathedral School has a decidedly modern motto: Esto Quod Est (Be What You Are). This co-ed day and boarding all-through school is very well set up for getting the best out of every pupil, and it’s clear that the prep school – which shares the same site as its senior sibling – takes this warm, accepting attitude seriously.

Senior Schools

Canford, Wimborne Open Morning - 26 April 2025 Despite its magnificent setting and illustrious history, there is no sense of privilege or entitlement at this 100-year-old school in the beautiful Dorset countryside. Pupils are friendly, down-to-earth and outward-looking, happy in their own skin and modest about their achievements – even though there would be much to brag about, from ace exam results to stellar performances on the playing field and stage. It’s no wonder waiting lists are growing – this is a school with serious game, turning out wonderfully grounded young men and women with a real awareness of the world around them.
Cheltenham College, Cheltenham Small Group Visit 9.30am - 1.00pm - 07 December 2024 Small Group Visit 9.30am - 12.30pm - 01 February 2025 Small Group Visit 9.30am - 12.30pm - 22 March 2025 Small Group Visit 9.30am - 12.30pm - 10 May 2025 Cheltenham College has long held a reputation for academic success and the broad range of co-curricular opportunities it offers, but the current head’s constant scrutiny of what’s on offer and how it can be enhanced or adjusted to give pupils the best and most rounded education possible has given Cheltenham College an added and very tangible sense of positivity and purpose. A stunning campus in Regency Cheltenham with state-of-the-art facilities provides the backdrop for this impressive and adaptable school – which, despite its size, maintains a very family feel.
Clayesmore School, Blandford Forum Open Morning - 01 February 2025 Open Morning - 10 May 2025 Top-notch academics paired with a family vibe make this rural Dorset school a happy place to be. And with a prep school on the same site, it offers an excellent all-through option. Leaving the prep feels seamless (95 per cent of its pupils join the senior school), and with the stress of being drilled for exams to get into senior school eliminated, the inclusive holistic approach established at the prep continues organically – pupils don’t even need to change uniform, bar a couple of items.
Clifton College, Clifton Sixth Form Open Evening - 03 October 2025 Year 7 to Year 11 Open Event - 04 October 2025 Clifton College hits the sweet spot of individual care and attention, with the numbers and resources to offer everyone a multitude of options. There is no set path here and, as pupils grow and develop, it becomes the school they need to maximise their potential both in the classroom and beyond. And with the adjacent preparatory school available as a seamless build-up, Clifton really does have it all.
Exeter School, Exeter Whole School Open Morning - 24 January 2025 Summer Open Evening - 08 May 2025 Whole School Open Morning - 17 June 2025 A school where academic sights are set high and pupils rise to them through excellent teaching and a programme of mind-expanding lectures, masterclasses and educational trips. Co-curricular is equally strong, with wonderful facilities and a ‘let’s do it’ mentality. The pre-prep and junior sibling schools means it’s a compelling all-through option, with engaging overall head Louise Simpson expertly overseeing all three schools, which means she follows many pupils through their whole educational journey from age three to 18.
Marlborough College, Marlborough Open Day 13+ entry (in 2028 & 2029) - 26 April 2025 Smaller Group Visit 16+ entry (in 2026) - 07 May 2025 Smaller Group Visit 13+ entry (in 2028) - 15 May 2025 Smaller Group Visit 13+ entry (in 2028) - 20 May 2025 Smaller Group Visit 16+ entry (in 2026) - 21 May 2025 Open Day 13+ entry (in 2028 & 2029) - 07 June 2025 Smaller Group Visit 16+ entry (in 2026) - 11 June 2025 Smaller Group Visit 13+ entry (in 2028) - 12 June 2025 With its formidable reputation as one of the country’s top public schools (it’s also one of the very few genuinely seven-days-a-week schools left in the UK), Marlborough might be forgiven for resting on its laurels. But that’s not the Marlborough way. Recent initiatives include a new method of teaching and learning that places health and mental wellbeing at the centre of everything, while the College’s continuing drive to increase accessibility has seen a boom in bursaries. As the inspirational head Louise Moelwyn-Hughes says: ‘We are changing the face of Marlborough College through diversity, and access is at the heart of what we do.’
St Mary's Calne, Calne Open Day - 01 March 2025 Small and nurturing, academic but not a hothouse and brimming with laidback, nicely gung-ho girls, St Mary’s Calne is, says the school, ‘the best of the British boarding school tradition – with a modern twist’. Girls are equipped with firm foundations for life, leaving armed with bucketloads of confidence and self-esteem.
Taunton School, Taunton Virtual Open Event - 01 February 2025 Open Day - 08 February 2025 Open Morning - 26 April 2025 Virtual Open Event - 03 May 2025 A proudly inclusive school that excels in academics as well as co-curricular subjects, Taunton Senior School offers families a compelling all-through educational experience with children moving seamlessly from pre-prep to prep to senior school, meaning parents don’t have to worry about multiple school locations as their children move up the years. This is just one of its strengths in an area with plenty of independent schools vying for pupils.
Truro School, Truro Sixth Form Open Evening - 23 September 2025 Senior School Open Morning - 04 October 2025 The sense of belonging is palpable at this school, which overlooks Truro Cathedral from its hilltop location. As well as enriching children’s lives with learning, physical challenges, creativity and fun (after school you’ll see a flurry of pupils grabbing their surfboards from the corridors to head off to the beach), there’s a real commitment to creating citizens of Cornwall, who will go into the world taking their Cornish identity with them. There’s a feeling of energy and optimism here that’s infectious – and it starts in the nursery and prep school, making Truro a fantastic all-through option.
Wells Cathedral School, Wells Spring Open Morning - 08 March 2025 Summer Open Morning - 10 May 2025 For one of the oldest educational establishments in the world (founded in 909), Wells Cathedral School has a decidedly modern motto: Esto Quod Est (Be What You Are). This co-ed day and boarding school is well set up for getting the best out of every pupil, regardless of their talents. While often compared to four other music specialist schools in the UK, Wells Cathedral School has a very different modus operandi. It’s the only one that is set within a traditional school environment and, perhaps more crucially, it offers an all-through, all-round education in addition to delivering excellence in music.
West Buckland School, Barnstaple Sixth Form Open Evening - 28 January 2025 West Buckland’s trump card is its location. Set in 90 acres of rural Devon and sandwiched between the Atlantic coast and Exmoor National Park, it’s easy to see why being outdoors is such a big and important part of life here. Huge investment in the campus over the last decade has seen a slew of knockout new facilities fling open their doors – including the superb 150 Building, home to the school’s art, D&T and drama departments – and sporting facilities are just as impressive; there’s an indoor swimming pool, golf course and shooting range on site. The school can even proudly lay claim to what’s said to be the longest and toughest school cross country course in the UK.

East of England

Prep Schools

Bedford Prep School, Bedford Open Morning - 17 May 2025 Located in the same grounds as Bedford Upper School, this high-achieving prep is consistently at the top of the leaderboard in academics, sport, music, drama and technology. It shares the same pride among pupils, parents and staff as the senior school, and there is a strong sense of community and camaraderie. We were struck by what a happy place it is – when we visited, there was a real buzz rippling through the bright and airy buildings, with boys prodding snakes in the science lab, charging around the rugby pitch and devouring books in the library – and with most boys moving up to the senior school with no Common Entrance to stress about, it offers an all-through education parents can feel confidence in.

Chigwell Pre Prep & Prep School, Chigwell 4+ School in Action Morning - 18 March 2025 4+ School in Action Morning - 20 May 2025 Whole School Open Morning - 14 June 2025 This Essex school gives the old adage ‘You can’t have your cake and eat it’ a good run for its money. For starters, it’s seamlessly part of the senior school with younger children nested in a self-contained oasis where they can grow their wings knowing exactly where they’re flying on to. It’s got a restless ‘Let’s never stop trying to improve’ ethos backed up by 400 years of tradition. And it combines the convenience of a town school with the spaciousness of a country prep. In an area jostling with good schools, we think this might just be one of the best.

Framlingham College Prep School, Woodbridge Pre-Prep and Prep School Open Morning - 07 March 2025 Pre-Prep and Prep School Open Morning - 05 May 2025 With its country prep feel, top-notch staff and heartening ethos that is all about nurturing and celebrating the uniqueness of each and every child, Framlingham College Prep is hard to resist. And that’s not all – with the excellent Framlingham College providing the final destination for 97 per cent of pupils, it also offers an all-through journey that equips pupils with all the skills and knowledge they need to blossom in the world.

King's Ely Prep, Ely Prep Open Event - 08 March 2025 Prep Open Event - 10 May 2025 This high-achieving prep in Ely near Cambridge is part of the King’s Ely family and so offers a seamless all-through education from age two to 18. Music and drama are standout subjects and Christian values and personal development are foundation stones. Add in a good cultural blend of international pupils, choristers and boarding options and you have the complete package.

Senior Schools

Bedford School, Bedford Open Morning - 17 May 2025 The self-assurance of this venerable school that dates back to 1552 is wonderfully evident in the confident and considerate young men it turns out. Its commitment to a holistic education means it’s not jumpy with change but rather finesses what it does in a mindful manner. A sense of pride and contentment is palpable among pupils and staff alike and, although it might not catch the eye with state-of-the-art buildings, the solidness of Bedford School goes much deeper than a flashy façade.
Chigwell Senior School , Chigwell Whole School Open Morning - 14 June 2025 This Essex school gives the old adage ‘You can’t have your cake and eat it’ a good run for its money. For starters, it’s seamlessly part of the junior school so children can start aged four and move through the school organically with no stressful stop and start at Year 6 or Year 8. It’s got a restless ‘Let’s never stop trying to improve’ ethos backed up by 400 years of tradition. And it combines the convenience of a town school with the spaciousness of a country prep. In an area jostling with good schools, we think this might just be one of the best.
Framlingham College, Framlingham Sixth Form Taster Morning - 06 February 2025 Year 9 Taster Morning - 03 March 2025 Senior School Open Morning - 08 March 2025 Senior School Open Morning - 26 April 2025 This warm and friendly school in Suffolk has its feet on the ground – which gives its pupils the space to reach for the stars without feeling the pressure. There’s no sense of academic snobbery or chasing top billing on league tables here; rather, kindness is the driving ethos and individuality is nurtured, with achievements celebrated in and out of the classroom. A fully integrated prep means pupils can grow up here acquiring skills and knowledge to equip them for the future.
King's Ely, Ely Senior Open Event - 08 March 2025 Senior Open Event - 10 May 2025 One of the oldest schools in the world with the stunning Ely Cathedral at its heart, King’s Ely certainly has gravitas. And with pupils regularly filing into the cathedral for assemblies, services, and choristers’ choir practice, it feels like a grounding force for everyone. But equally appealing is the incredibly friendly atmosphere at the school and the brilliant choice of academic and co-curricular options. And with the prep on the same site and nursery and pre-prep five minutes’ walk away, it offers an all-through option which is certainly compelling.
Royal Hospital School, Ipswich Whole School Open Morning - 29 March 2025 There’s a unique naval heritage at this knockout co-ed day and boarding school in East Anglia whose rich history spans four centuries. And while today it’s no longer a military school, it still pays homage to its roots with regular all-school parades in naval uniform (‘Divisions’ in navy speak), a four-service CCF and an outstanding sailing academy. Add in seriously grand buildings and vast grounds, and you’ve got a school with gravitas where pupils feel part of a strong community.

Midlands

Prep Schools

Bilton Grange, Rugby Open Day - 08 March 2025 This country prep’s burgeoning profile continues apace, with numbers now at nearly 400 and a spectacular, state-of-the-art new boarding house due to open in 2025. The merger with Rugby School in 2020 thrust it into the spotlight and both schools share the same educational philosophy of developing breadth of character, which means that while Bilton Grange pupils don’t have guaranteed places at Rugby (unless they're joining the school's new all-through boarding pathway – more on that below), the active learning approach at the prep neatly dovetails into the IB style of teaching at Rugby.
Edgbaston High Preparatory and Pre-Prep School, Birmingham Pre-Prep and Prep 'School in Action' Morning - 15 January 2025 Pre-Prep and Prep 'School in Action' Morning - 28 February 2025 We were floored by the pace, variety of life and buzzing sense of activity at this aspirational and inspirational multicultural all-girls day school in leafy Edgbaston, just to the south of central Birmingham. Girls zip in all directions across the compact campus, out along the 10-minute walk to the sports fields and move seamlessly up to the senior school (the whole school shares the same campus and even some teachers).
King's Hawford, Worcester Open Morning - 01 March 2025 Of the two prep schools that are part of the King’s Worcester Foundation, co-ed King’s Hawford is the more rural. A newly built elevated wooden fort now greets visitors, visible from the main road and a fitting first glimpse of a school where childhood is front and centre. In kindergarten (from age two) and Reception, every child gets a weekly forest-school session in woodland with space to plant trees, build shelters and learn about wildlife. These outdoor activities give boys and girls the self-confidence and independence of mind that fosters achievement in the mainstream curriculum. There’s a quietly dynamic evolution going on here, and we love it.
King's St Alban's , Worcester Open Morning - 07 February 2025 Part of the King’s Foundation – which includes sibling prep King’s Hawford and senior school King’s Worcester – King’s St Alban’s sits with ‘Big King’s’ adjacent to the grounds of Worcester Cathedral. A brilliant blend of small-scale, prep-school nurturing with the fully shared knockout facilities of the senior, this place is a highly attractive proposition. It’s down to earth, hardworking and hardwired to make education as valuable as possible for both pupils and parents. We came away feeling that it is a great choice for any child, with a tailor-made preparation for King’s Worcester built right in.
Mayfield Prep School, Walsall Open Morning - 14 March 2025 Set in extensive wooded grounds on the edge of Walsall town, this co-ed prep puts equal emphasis on academics, sport and the creative arts – and there really is something for everyone, from cross-country to LAMDA to Brain Skills club.
Repton Prep, Derby Open Morning - 15 March 2025 Open Morning - 10 May 2025 This beautiful school in rural Derbyshire sits in gorgeous countryside and is among one of the most stunning preps we’ve visited. It’s just as beautiful on the inside too, with the super-friendly head Vicky Harding instilling a calm and collaborative atmosphere where pupils really thrive. Pastoral care is wonderful and academics are spot on. And to top it all off, the senior school offers a seamless, all-through path.
The Prep at Denstone College , Uttoxeter Open Morning - 17 May 2025 Exploring who you are is more important than acing tests at this wonderfully holistic Staffordshire prep where pupils throw themselves into everything with boundless enthusiasm whether it’s a maths lesson, cricket match, choir or play. Curiosity and creativity are nurtured and the warm, stress-free environment is the perfect place for both to grow.
Wolverhampton Grammar Junior School, Wolverhampton Junior & Infant School Open Morning - 25 January 2025 Wolverhampton Grammar, located in the city’s suburbs, is refreshingly down to earth. Children are supported throughout their educational journey at this highly aspirational, friendly and well-rounded day school, which has evolved and extended gradually from its original incarnation as an all-boys senior to its current status as a fully co-ed all-through with provision from Reception to Year 13.

Senior Schools

Denstone College, Uttoxeter Open Morning - 17 May 2025 There’s a refreshingly down-to-earth attitude at this Midlands co-ed, where magic happens without the clarion call of ‘be the best’ echoing in pupils’ ears. The no-nonsense approach gives pupils a stress-free space to grow into who they are instead of who they think they are expected to be, with a quiet confidence in their own ability growing exponentially. Magic indeed.
Edgbaston High School for Girls, Birmingham Senior School Open Afternoon - 19 June 2025 Sixth Form Open Afternoon - 19 June 2025 We were floored by the pace, variety of life and buzzing sense of activity at this aspirational and inspirational multi-cultural all-girls day school in leafy Edgbaston, just to the south of central Birmingham. Girls zip in all directions across the compact campus, out along the 10-minute walk to the sports fields and, once their time to leave has come, off to an impressive range of universities.
King's Worcester, Worcester Senior & Sixth Form Open Week (20th-24th January) - 20 January 2025 Senior & Sixth Form Open Morning - 07 June 2025 An upbeat, modern school with a storied history reaching back to the 7th century, King’s Worcester has a uniqueness that not only stems from its historic location at the heart of the city’s cathedral, but also from the caring atmosphere shaped by centuries of Christianity. A modest day school with all the breadth and opportunity of a boarding giant, King’s is down to earth, ticks every box and is well worth a look.
Malvern College, Malvern Open Day - 08 March 2025 Malvern’s campus is groaning with film-set-worthy architecture and breathtaking in its own right, but add in the outstandingly beautiful Malvern Hills as a backdrop and you have a first impression that’s hard to beat. The hallowed turf of the quintessentially English cricket square is at the heart of this very global community where pupils may start the day with a rousing chorus of ‘Jerusalem’ and end it by collaborating over a lecture with a Malvern College school in Hong Kong, China, Egypt or Tokyo. A British education for pupils who will have the world at their feet.

North of England

Prep Schools

Giggleswick Prep School, Settle Giggleswick Prep School Open Week - 03 March 2025 ‘Throw yourself in’ is the motivating ethos at this small prep school in the Yorkshire Dales, and there’s plenty for the 70-odd boys and girls to get stuck into, inside and outside the classroom. From French and philosophy lessons to singing in the chapel and cross-country through the 215-acre campus shared with the senior school, pupils are gently stretched in all directions.

Queen Mary's Prep School, Thirsk Open Day - 01 February 2025 Open Day - 14 March 2025 Small but perfectly formed, this all-girls school in North Yorkshire has just a few hundred pupils. Juniors and seniors share the same beautiful period building, which was once a family home – and it still exudes a sense of homeliness, with log fires, wellies lined up in the porch and happy pupils everywhere you look. The best thing about it? ‘You make the strongest friendships,’ our pupil guide told us.

Senior Schools

Ampleforth College, York Open Morning 9.30am to 1.30pm - 01 February 2025 It’s a new dawn for this high-profile public school in North Yorkshire. In the words of head Peter Roberts, it’s time to move on from ‘being good’, something the school has tirelessly worked on to restore its reputation, to ‘doing good’. We were struck by how happy and confident the pupils are and the genuinely warm and friendly environment. The evergreen Benedictine ethos of serving each other, tolerating differences and living harmoniously as a community is alive and well, and the school’s motto, ‘A Compass for Life’, couldn’t ring truer right now.
Giggleswick School, Settle Giggleswick in Action Open Event - 17 May 2025 This school in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales is one to watch. Numbers are growing and families far and wide are taking note of its unique offering – a nurturing setting that celebrates the individual and has some of the UK’s best outdoor pursuits on its doorstep. It’s no wonder it’s seeing both a drift from local schools and an interest from parents further afield. Giggleswick’s #throwyourselfin campaign really sums up the ‘let’s go for it’ spirit which is seen everywhere from the classroom to the sports field.
Queen Mary's Senior School, Thirsk Open Day - 01 February 2025 Open Day - 14 March 2025 Small but perfectly formed, this all-girls school in North Yorkshire has just a few hundred pupils. Juniors and seniors share the same beautiful period building, which was once a family home – and it still exudes a sense of homeliness, with log fires, wellies lined up in the porch and happy pupils everywhere you look. The best thing about it? ‘You make the strongest friendships,’ our pupil guide told us.

Scotland

Prep Schools Senior Schools

Global Schools

Dulwich College (Singapore), Singapore Whole College Open House - 11 December 2024

Marlborough College Malaysia, Johor Bahru Open Morning - 18 January 2025 Online Admissions Evening 17.30 - 18.30 MYT - 20 February 2025 Senior Open Event - 05 March 2025