Private prep schools in Tunbridge Wells

[Kentmumtw]

Hi, we’re looking at prep schools for our daughter for Sept 2026 and would really appreciate any honest experiences of The Mead or Kent College Pembury. We’re not assuming anything about her yet, but she seems to enjoy physical activity so we’re keen on a school with a good all-round approach, including sport. Both felt very warm and nurturing on our visits, but first-hand insight from parents would be so helpful. Thank you!

I’m a huge fan of The Mead - my personal experience is from some time ago (DD is now 28) but she was extremely happy there and is still in contact with many of her classmates. Unlike other preps, there’s encouragement to go on to grammars in the area, which is what she and a lot of her friends did. I have many friends with younger children who’ve also been through the same system (private then state) with equally very positive experiences.

Kent College appears to have taken a downward turn in recent years but I don’t have any personal experience; rather the impression I have had from friends, some of whom have removed their daughters and have expressed unhappiness that the school will be co-educational from next year. Others may come along to disagree.

My DD went to the mead. I would say it went down hugely in quality ever since she started (she has left now). It is not great if your daughter isn't into music/drama or p.e as the school is mainly focused on those. They do P.E 4 times a week which can be a lot for a child who isn't sporty. They also do a huge musical at the end of each year with the year sixes being the main parts. My daughter has complained about it every year, I think that may be because the teachers got very stressed but I'm not sure how it is now. She managed to get into a good grammar school. A lot of the staff have left since her time there but I do agree with the smaller class sizes, there was a nurturing environment. In recent years it has gone downhill a lot. Overall my daughter didn't enjoy her time there very much but that was because she didn't like what the school was centred around. If you think that she would enjoy the physical side, then for that I would recommend the mead. They also do swimming once a week and from year three play matches against other private schools.
Hope this helps

Thank you, it’s really helpful to hear your DD had such a good experience, especially that she’s still close with her classmates all these years later. That’s exactly the kind of environment we’d love for ours.

On Kent College, we actually feel quite the opposite about the move to co-ed and see it as a positive. I’m curious what the concerns were? If you don’t mind sharing a bit more about what your friends experienced, that would be really helpful as we’re weighing everything up at the moment.

Hi @Kentmumtw - there have been a few threads that echoed what I was hearing from friends at the time (disclaimer: things may have improved).

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/boarding-school/5204241-shocking-pastoral-team?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I am sorry your daughter did not enjoy her time there but it is great to hear she still went on to a good grammar school.

I am a bit unsure because I keep hearing very mixed reviews. We are slightly worried about the lack of facilities and what that means day to day. If my daughter turns out to be sporty it sounds as though she would be travelling around quite a bit to external facilities. From what you have said it also sounds as though the school leans very strongly into the music and sport side which is great for some children but not for everyone.