Our guide to the finest preparatory schools in the United Kingdom
Belhaven Hill is depicted as having 'the refinement of an English preparatory school yet the innocence of a Scottish one'. It's regarded for delivering youngsters south to Eton, Oundle and Harrow, whilst numerous head to Fettes and Glenalmond, closer to home. An established premises, with a refreshing coastal position (the dormitories are snug, with coastal views), it engages childhood well: gardening, beach riding, carpentry, apple-picking, fly-tying and, in the brand-new open-air classroom, bushcraft and maintaining bird boxes.
Belhaven Hill is so sought-after that the institution has launched a new starting phase for 7 year olds. The netball squad was undefeated for a 4th year running and the chamber choir thrived at the Edinburgh Music Festival. And the icing on the cake is a new library is nearly ready.
Windlesham House is one of the nation's best and oldest IAPS co-educational day and boarding preparatory schools. Set in 60 gorgeous acres on the South Downs, in West Sussex, the school is in convenient reach of the Horsham, Brighton and Chichester districts, about an hour from Central London and near Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
Founded in 1837, Windlesham House School was one of the first institutions in the country to be set up as a preparatory school and in 1967 established itself as the first IAPS co-educational school.
Windlesham children are happy, open and enthusiastic about learning new experiences. Whilst educational standard and achievement is a high priority, Windlesham provides a warm, safe, nurturing and happy household environment. The Principal, Richard Foster and his wife Rachel do their best at getting to know each and every pupil and gain enormous enjoyment in watching learners flourish in what is an enjoyable atmosphere in an unrivalled setting.
Cottesmore School is 120 years of age and spirits are high: 11 scholarships, a Dubai sports excursion, unbeaten golf, tennis, rugby and hockey teams. It is a family-owned school and Tom Rogerson is a third-generation head. It's him, wife Lottie, son Wilfred and cocker spaniel Buchan and 150 learners, so 'it's just like home', states one scholar. Days are packed with fishing by the lake, cricket, sailing and looking after allotments. The building is stunning too, with a massive fireplace, minstrel's gallery and comfortable drawing room, and dormitories have vistas throughout the North Downs.
At Queen Margaret's girls may start off their day with a swim in the outdoor swimming pool-- a refreshing intro to a helter-skelter curriculum. There is sport daily and they've just employed a brand-new head of exercise and fitness to further their initiatives. The lacrosse squads are the one of the best in the North, with many national athletes, and there is a whole new pentathlon group (you can bring your own horse for the riding part). Groups here include anything from shooting to meditation. There's a large emphasis on personalized studying and young ladies have 32 A-level classes and 26 IGCSEs to choose from, such as Arabic, Mandarin and motion picture studies. The result is a superb 90 % A *-- B and we were very pleased to hear that one QM scholar won a top scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music.
