All-through school with excellent prep option

[ClumsyMountainGoat]

Hi, we're looking for a good all-rounder private school where our 7yo DS can stay right up until 18 (with or without a 11/13+ assessment), with a strong prep school offering. We've seen a few schools where the prep school seems a bit underwhelming or not up to the same standard as the senior school. DC seems relatively bright (as far as you can tell with a 7yo) but we're not looking for an academic hothouse but somewhere they can take their time to grow and thrive. Coed preferred.

Based south-east of England but moving is an option (although DH and I will have to commute a few times a week to London so within 90 minutes ideally).

Any inspiration appreciated!

Cheltenham Prep/ College ?

KES southampton, although the prep is on a different site in Romsey.

A few to have a look at:

Our School - Bedford Greenacre Independent School

Welcome | St Columba's Independent Co-Educational Catholic Day School

Berkhamsted Private School | Private School in Hertfordshire

Cranleigh?

Someone has linked Bedford Greenacre above. I would also look at the two other options in Bedford (which has fast trains to London going into St Pancras, or slower trains - which stop at the Thameslink stations in central London).

www.bedmod.co.uk

www.bedfordschool.org.uk

These are selective schools (whereas Greenacre is not) but for average ability and above generally.

Bedford Modern is co-ed, whereas Bedford School is boys only.

Kimbolton School. Amazing prep and very balanced senior school. Senior school has very active sports/music/drama but it all includes all the kids that want to take part rather than always selecting the "stars".

kimboltonschool.com

Lovely villages surrounding, and easy commute to London from Bedford/St Neots/Huntingdon depending on choice of village. I wouldn't personally choose to live in any of Bedford/St Neots/Huntingdon, but living in the villages and using them as local towns (with Peterborough/Cambridge/Milton Keynes as close cities) is lovely!

Oundle school (day and full boarding 11-18) then prep school, Laxton Junior (reception to 11, day).

Easy access to London (pboro 47 mins on train). It's a beautiful area to live (west of Peterborough).

Good luck.

Cheltenham College and prep also a good shout.

Bilton Grange then Rugby School also works.

Stamford School And Stamford Junior (also near peterborough, another lovely town, slightly bigger than Oundle). Gorgeous villages around too.

Wellington and Eagle House (Surrey vibes).

Looks like the above have excellent experience and will offer unbiased, honest knowledge of schools - they would definitely be able to help you.

Repton Prep and Repton School

King’s Ely in, er, Ely (Cambridgeshire). One of the oldest schools in England with a really strong pastoral emphasis. Not an academic hothouse but gets good results.

About 70 mins to King’s Cross on the train from Ely.

https://www.kingsely.org

Slightly outside your hour and a half, but Bromsgrove school might be interesting to look at.

It's about 30 minutes to Birmingham International train station and then an hour and 15 minutes to Euston.

Brighton College

The Stowe Group - Swanbourne House, Winchester House or Ashfold School all feeding into Stowe School. https://www.stowe.co.uk/

Caterham school.
https://www.caterhamschool.co.uk/about/

Their prep has been nominated for TES prep of the year two years running

Berkhamsted

Merchant Taylor’s

Hello, looking for honest recent reviews of Laxton Junior School, Oundle?

St Edmund’s College and prep school in Ware. Near Bishop Stortford and Hertford for trains. Excellent through school

Not sure where you are exactly but Colfe’s in Lee, South East London may be worth exploring: https://www.colfes.com/

Bancrofts and Chigwell are both coed and may suit your child if you’re based in Essex

St Albans High School for Girls, my daughter started there in Reception and stayed until year 13.
St Pancras is 30 minutes away by train.

Reigate Grammar School - has three ‘feeder’ preps that are part of the group. Reigate St Marys’s, Micklefield and Chinthurst. If your child doesn’t make the academic mark for RGS they will be offered a place at RGS Surrey Hills

Caterham - has three feeder preps that are part of the group - Caterham prep, Hawthorns and Copthorne.

I like the groups that have multiple feeders - the prep ‘compete’ amongst themselves and more likely to have one that matches the feel you are looking for.

Junior Kings and then Kings Canterbury?

Canterbury to St Pancras is less than an hour.

Felsted or New Hall if you’re Essex based?