Cranleigh (and Bath schools)

[HappyLime]

Hi all we’re looking to move out of SW London and considering Cranleigh Prep with a view to continuing through to the senior school. We visited the prep and loved the grounds/facilities and thought the teachers all seemed enthusiastic and lovely. Can anyone share any views on what the children and the parent community are like? Our children love to get involved with school life (dance, drama, sport etc) but are fairly gentle souls (definitely not alphas) and so we’re looking for a school environment where the other children are genuinely kind and perhaps a bit more down to earth than at their current London prep (especially the girls where there is a definite Mean Girls thing starting in my eldest’s year). Does anyone know whether the vibe is similar to a London prep (conscious for example that there’s a bus route from south west London to ferry children who are weekly boarding) so on the pushy/alpha end of things or is it a bit more nurturing/down to earth? We’re also considering schools in Bath and wondering if that might be a bit more relaxed than the South East. Any experiences or thoughts would be extremely gratefully received!

I don't have any experience/information about prep schools in Bath except to say that the prep school lower prep for Royal High School is closing down at the end of summer term 2026 with years 5 and 6 being transferred to the main site with the senior school. I saw this in the local media.

We attend a different indie in the local area. Cranleigh is definitely known for its Alpha’s. And the pre prep is new this year and I know a few that have struggled to settle. There are other prep schools nearby that are known for being more nurturing and then perhaps consider Cranleigh for senior? With the current state of independent schools, entry is becoming a far less competitive process, despite the story that admissions people try and sell.

Thank you very much for sharing these thoughts - super helpful. We're keen to avoid the 11+ if possible and so have been looking at schools which have the opportunity for an all-through pathway. Would really love to hear whether others in the area have the same feeling about Cranleigh prep/other local prep or all through schools (feel free to DM me if preferred)! Thanks again.

The 11+ route is nowhere near as pressured out in the sticks as it is in SW London, so depending on the age of your children, finding the right prep with a view to keeping your options open for senior schools in year 7 or year 9 would sound like a good idea. 13+ entry points (with a yr 6 pre-test) are common. I

Having said that, Cranleigh (both senior and prep) is an excellent school. Any alpha-ness in the prep school probably comes from sport, although its reputation as being all about sport is changing under the new leadership at both schools. Parents are a normal, sociable bunch (more relaxed than in a number of the more academically selective schools round here) and most kids do progress from the prep to senior school, so no transition if that is important to you. All rounders thrive at Cranleigh - kids that get involved with all the opportunities a school offers will love it.

Hi, I'm a current parent at KES Bath (King Edward's), with children who joined Junior School before moving up to Senior School. Very down to earth and inclusive and as a day school has a different vibe to other boarding/day schools in Bath. Junior School places lots of emphasis on kindness and respect and celebrating differences as well as encouraging everyone to give different things a go - loads of activities for different interests - dance, kit car, tonnes of sport etc. We loved the specialist facilities and teaching in the JS - own science lab etc. There are plans afoot to extend the Junior School facilities further with a new music centre etc. Almost all kids go from Junior to Senior, with lots of transition activities to help adjust to senior school eg team building days and pupils mentors.

I have only heard good things about Kingswood in Bath