Prep Schools Gloucestershire/Cotswolds

[ALizzyMac]

Hello
I’m looking for some recommendations on country prep schools in Gloucestershire and Cotswolds areas.
We’re moving to the area and all the schools look good! (Rendcomb, Hatherop, Beaudesert, Kitebrook and Westonbirt).
Our kids top priority is forest school and good lunches. Both kids are academic and love art

It depend whether you want a school that goes all the way up to 18 e.g. Westonbirt or just a pure prep like Beaudesert. I believe that Rendcomb is very small in terms of students per year but this could be wrong.
Have you decided?

V good lunches at Rendcomb from what I'm told by two people with direct experience, made fresh on location by a team of chefs, well it was a few years ago.

Forest school is good at both BPS and Rendcomb, not sure about the others.

Would suggest avoiding Kitebrook. A beautiful to look at school but it has an increasingly negative reputation in the area. Many families leave past Year 2 due to very poor leadership from a mediocre head who is in 'over his head' and an ever revolving door of teachers. Hear great things about all of the others on your list!

Beaudesert is academic and prep school leavers go to a variety of prestigious public schools.
I believe Rendcomb and Hatherop are very small.
Westonbirt goes all way to 18, not particularly academic.

I would highly recommend Westonbirt School. It’s an all round fantastic school.

Wycliffe Wycliffe Wycliffe if you want successful, kind, empathetic curious children - total antidote to the intimidating pretentiousness you can find at BP and others.
Wycliffe has this fantastic new head of senior with a gorgeous family. Ambitious and academic.
it’s one of those schools that just really knows and develops your kids and prioritises kindness as well! Visit it - read the good schools’ guide -

Oh and food is really good!! 🤣

They have a new head? Good to know, what put me off is that they apparently had significant pastoral problems a couple of years ago. I’ve always given it a swerve, despite their CReSTeD status and reputable SEN department, because on advice from former students and parents it’s to fill itself with all sorts.