Prep schools in Cornwall

[CharlotteC77]

We are considering a move to mid-Cornwall and have two small children. Any recommendations for prep schools in Cornwall? I have noticed that there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of choice! Is this because the state primaries in Cornwall are super good, or because there isn't such a market for private education? Or are there lots of secret preps that I just haven't managed to find via google? They are two-a-penny where we are at the mo! Thanks.

There isn't the money in Cornwall for lots of Preps. I grew up in Devon and there were a handful within an hour of me. I now live somewhere with three within a 5 minute drive! Cornwall is beaitiful but salaries are low. A lot of the state primaries will be great, I'm sure!

Not enough people live in Cornwall with a high disposable income. You will be in a select club!

Thanks both. Can this really be true? How depressing. I know that salaries are crap in Cornwall, but surely there must be SOME people in the whole county who have a higher disposable income and want to privately educate their children? Where are they all?! Having never researched it before I am shocked at how few prep options there are!

It's quite tough for prep schools to do well financially outside of the South East at the moment, so I'm not surprised there aren't many in Cornwall. Apart from a few clusters of wealth, Devon and Cornwall are very poor.

《Where are they all?》

Probably relocated to the SE or Bath area. How much do you really understand about life in the regions?

@barbarianmum No need to be rude! I know quite a bit about life in the regions having grown up in Cornwall, but I've been in London for the past 15 years so obviously I'm out of touch - hence my asking.

There are obviously a few people who are quite wealthy in Cornwall but a lot of them have a London home as well. My DD boarded with a girl from Cornwall. That was in Berkshire and her prep was in London.

You said you found a few schools. That’s the market in Cornwall. Money is mostly old money where younger family members are based in London (or elsewhere). Holiday makers who stay at the Scarlett or at Rock or in St Mawes are not educating their children in Cornwall. From what I can see, quite a few Cornwall residents are a bit more hippy than elsewhere and wouldn’t dream of going Private even if they could.

Devon is a bit more well heeled and Exeter and around has a bit more choice. Wiltshire and Somerset have more choice again. I wouldn’t go to Cornwall for a Private education and what would you do at senior level. Hardly any choice at all outside Truro.

Very well articulated @BubblesBuddy - thank you! Am thinking South West, but not quite as far as Cornwall, might be a better bet.

If you love Cornwall then I'm sure you could move to an area with a fab local state school?

It may also depend on whether there are fab local secondary schools, or not!

Thanks everyone!