Preparatory school (UK)

In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school (usually abbreviated to prep school) is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are called public schools. While many prep schools prepare their students for entry to a range of senior schools, some are closely associated with a single school, as Colet Court is with St Paul's School. Most British prep schools are primarily day schools, but many also take boarders.

Some maintained grammar schools which are otherwise free have a fee-paying "prep department". Examples include Sullivan Upper School in Holywood and Bangor Grammar School, Bangor, County Down, both in Northern Ireland.

This use of the term in the UK is in contrast to that in the United States and Canada, where "prep school" means a university-preparatory school.

Boys' prep schools are generally for eight to thirteen year olds, when most pupils take the Common Entrance Examination for entry into a secondary independent school. Before the age of eight, the term "pre-prep school", parallel in the UK with a maintained primary school, is often used. Thus, most independently educated boys will go to a pre-prep school from the age of four or five until eight, then from eight to thirteen to a prep school, and from thirteen to an independent secondary school.

Girls' private schools in England tend to follow the age ranges of maintained schools more closely than those for boys. A girls' preparatory school will usually admit girls from the age of five, and they will continue to another independent school at eleven. However, as more girls now go on to boys' schools which have become co-educational, the separation is less clear.

The Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS) is the prep schools' heads' association serving the top 500+ independent prep schools in the UK and worldwide, with a total of 130,000 pupils. The IAPS is one of seven affiliated associations of the Independent Schools Council (ISC).

List of British Preparatory schools

* Abbotsford Preparatory School [ [http://www.abbotsfordprepschool.co.uk abbotsfordprepschool.co.uk] ] , Urmston, Manchester
* Aberdour School, Surrey
* Abingdon Preparatory School, Frilford, Oxfordshire
* Aldwickbury School, Hertfordshire
* Alleyn Court Preparatory School, Westcliff on Sea
* All Hallows Preparatory School, Shepton Mallet
* Aldro School, Shackleford, Surrey
* Alton Burn, Nairn. Invernessshire.
* Altrincham Preparatory School, Cheshire
* Amberley House School, Clifton, Bristol
* Andean House School, [ [http://www.andeanhouse.org andeanhouse.org] ]
* Ardvreck School, Crieff, Perthshire
* Ashfold School, Dorton, Buckinghamshire
* Ashdown House, East Sussex
* Aysgarth School, North Yorkshire
* Bancroft's Preparatory School, Woodford Green
* Beaudesert Park School, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire
* Bedford Preparatory School, Bedfordshire
* Beechenhurst School, Liverpool
* Beechwood Park Preparatory School, Markyate, Hertfordshire
* Belmont Mill Hill Preparatory School,Mill Hill, London
* Belmont Preparatory School [ [http://www.belmont-school.org/ belmont-school.org] ] , Holmbury St Mary, Surrey
* Bilton Grange [ [http://www.biltongrange.co.uk/ biltongrange.co.uk] ] , Rugby, Warwickshire
* Blue Coat School, Edgbaston, Birmingham
* Brentwood Preparatory School, Brentwood, Essex
* Brockhurst and Marlston House School, Hermitage, Berkshire
* Brooklands Preparatory School [ [http://www.brooklandsschool.com brooklandsschool.com] ] , Stafford
* Broughton Manor Preparatory School [http://www.mkps.co.uk mkps.co.uk] ]
* Burys Court School [ [http://www.buryscourtschool.co.uk buryscourtschool.co.uk] ] Leigh, Surrey
* Carleton House Preparatory School, Liverpool
* Caldicott School [ [http://www.caldicott.com caldicott.com] ] Bucks
* Cheam School
* Cheltenham College Junior School [ [http://www.cheltcoll.gloucs.sch.uk/pages/junior/homepage.htm cheltcoll.gloucs.sch.uk] ] Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
* Chinthurst School, Tadworth, Surrey
* Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford
* Clifton College Preparatory School, Bristol
* Clifton Lodge, Ealing, London
* Colet Court, London
* Copthorne School [ [http://www.copthorneprep.co.uk copthorneprep.co.uk] ] ,West Sussex
* Cothill House [ [http://www.cothill.net/ cothill.net] ] , Abingdon
* Cottesmore School, Crawley, West Sussex
* Coworth-Flexlands Preparatory School & Nursery [ [http://www.coworthflexlands.co.uk/ coworthflexlands.co.uk] ] , Chobham, Surrey
* Cranleigh Preparatory School, Cranleigh, Surrey
* Crowstone Preparatory School [http://www.crowstoneprepschool.com crowstoneprepschool.com] ] - [http://www.crowstoneprepschool.com CPS Website] ,Rochford, Essex
* Crowstone Preparatory School - [http://www.crowstoneprepschool.com CPS Website] , Westcliff on-Sea, Essex
* Culford Preparatory School, Culford School, Bury St. Edmunds
* Cundall Manor School North Yorkshire
* Davenies [ [http://www.davenies.co.uk davenies.co.uk] ] Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
* Downsend School, Leatherhead, Surrey
* Downs School, Colwall, Hertfordshire
* Dover Court Preparatory School, Singapore [ [http://www.dovercourt.edu.sg/ dovercourt.edu.sg] ]
* Dragon School, Oxford
* Duke of Kent School, Ewhurst, Cranleigh, Surrey [ [http://www.dukeofkentschool.org.uk dukeofkentschool.org.uk] ]
* Dulwich Prep. [ [http://www.dcpslondon.org/ dcpslondon.org] ] , London
* Dulwich Prep., Kent [ [http://www.dcpskent.org dcpskent.org] ]
* Dumpton School, Dorset [ [http://www.dumpton.com dumpton] ]
* Durham Choristers School, Durham
* Durston House, London
* Durlston Court, Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire
* Eastcourt School, Ilford, London
* Eagle House School, Crowthorne
* Eaton House The Manor School, London
* Edge Grove, Aldenham, Hertfordshire
* Edgeborough School, Farnham, Surrey
* Elm Green Preparatory School, Essex
* The Elms School, Colwall, Herefordshire
* Elstree School, [Woolhampton] , [newbury] , Berkshire
* Exeter School, Exeter, Devon
* Fairfield Preparatory School, Loughborough
* Farleigh School, Andover, Hampshire
* Feltonfleet, Cobham, Surrey
* Foremarke Hall School, Repton, Derbyshire
* Forest Preparatory School, Walthamstow
* Fulham Preparatory School, [ [http://www.fulhamprep.co.uk fulhamprep.co.uk] ] , London
* Gayhurst School, Buckinghamshire [ [http://www.gayhurstschool.eu] ]
* Glebe House School & Nursery, Hunstanton, Norfolk
* Gracefield Preparatory School, Bristol
* Great Ballard Preparatory School, Chichester
* Great Houghton Preparatory School| , Northampton.
* Godstowe Preparatory School, High Wycombe.
* Grace Dieu Manor School, Leicestershire
* Great Walstead School, Haywards Heath
* Gresham's Preparatory School, Holt, Norfolk
* Haddon Dene School Broadstairs kent
* The Hall School, [ [http://www.hallschool.co.uk hallschool.co.uk] ] , Hampstead, London
* Hall Grove School, Bagshot, Surrey
* Hampshire School, knightsbridge, London
* The Hamlets School, Liverpool
* Haslemere Preparatory School, Haslemere
* Hazelwood Preparatory School, Limpsfield, Surrey
* Heath Mount Preparatory School, Stevenage
* Hereward House School, Hampstead
* Highfield School [ [http://www.highfieldschool.org.uk highfieldschool.org.uk] ] , Liphook, Hampshire
* Hilden Grange School, Tonbridge, Kent
* Hill House International School, Knightsbridge, London
* Holland House School, Edgware, London
* Holmewood House School, Kent
* Holmwood House School, Colchester, Essex
* Homefield School, Sutton, Surrey
* Horris Hill School, Berkshire
* Hurstpierpoint College Preparatory School, Sussex
* Kensington Preparatory School, Kensington, London
* Kew College, Surrey
* Kimbolton Preparatory School, Kimbolton
* Kingswood House School, Epsom, Surrey
* King's House School, Richmond
* The King's School, Ely Junior School [ [http://www.kingsschoolely.co.uk kingsschoolely.co.uk] ] , Cambs
* Kings School, Plymouth [ [http://www.kingsschool-plymouth.co.uk kingsschool-plymouth.co.uk] ] , Plymouth, Devon
* Knighton House [ [http://www.knightonhouse.dorset.sch.uk/ knightonhouse.dorset.sch.uk] ] , Dorset
* Knightsbridge School Lennox Gardens, Knightsbridge London SW1 [ [http://www.knightsbridgeschool.com knightsbridgeschool.com] ]
* Lancing College Preparatory School at Mowden, Hove
* Liverpool College, Liverpool
* Lockers Park Prep School [ [http://www.lockerspark.herts.sch.uk lockerspark.herts.sch.uk] ] , Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire*
* Ludgrove [ [http://www.ludgrove.com ludgrove.com] ] , Wokingham
* Lyndon Preparatory School [ [http://www.rydal-penrhos.com/prep.htm rydal-penrhos.com] ] , Colwyn Bay
* Maidwell Hall, Northamptonshire
* Malsis School [ [http://www.malsis.com/ malsis.com] ] , North Yorkshire
* The Manor Prep School [ [http://www.manorprep.org/ manorprep.org] ] , Abingdon
* Marlborough House School, Hawkhurst, Kent
* Milbourne Lodge School [ [http://www.milbournelodge.co.uk/ milbournelodge.co.uk] ] , Esher
* Millfield Preparatory School, Street, Somerset
* Milton Keynes Preparatory School
* Moor Park [ [http://www.moorpark.org.uk moorpark.org.uk] ] , Ludlow
* Moreton Hall Prep School, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk [ [http://www.moretonhall.net moretonhall.net] ]
* Mowden Hall School [ [http://www.mowdenhall.co.uk mowdenhall.co.uk] ] , Northumberland
* The New Beacon Preparatory School [ [http://www.newbeacon.kent.sch.uk newbeacon.kent.sch.uk] ] , Sevenoaks, Kent
* New College Preparatory School, Oxford
* Newland House Preparatory School
* Norman Court Preparatory School, Salisbury, Wiltshire
* Northcote Lodge, Wandsworth, London
* Norwich School Lower School, Norwich, Norfolk
* Notre Dame Preparatory School
* Oakfield Sch. West Dulwich
* Old Buckenham Hall ("OBH") [ [http://www.obh.co.uk obh.co.uk] ]
* Orley Farm School, Harrow, Middlesex
* Orwell Park School, Nacton, Suffolk [ [http://www.orwellpark.co.uk/ orwellpark.co.uk] ]
* The Old Malthouse, Langton Matravers, Dorset [ [http://www.oldmalthouseschool.co.uk/ oldmalthouseschool.co.uk] ]
* Packwood Haugh School [ [http://www.packwood-haugh.co.uk packwood-haugh.co.uk] ] , Shrewsbury
* Papplewick School, Ascot
* Pennthorpe School, Rudgwick
* The Perse Preparatory School [ [http://www.perse.co.uk/prep/ perse.co.uk/prep] ] , Cambridge
* The Portsmouth Grammar Junior School [ [http://www.pgs.org.uk/juniorschool/junior.php pgs.org.uk] ] , Portsmouth, Hampshire
* The Pilgrims School [ [http://www.pilgrims-school.co.uk/ pilgrims-school.co.uk] ] , Winchester, Hampshire
* St Dunstan's Abbey School - The Plymouth College Junior School, Plymouth
* Port Regis [ [http://www.portregis.com portregis.com] ] , Dorset
* Pownall Hall School, Wilmslow, Cheshire
* Prebendal School, Chichester
* Prestfelde School, Shrewsbury
* The Priory School, Banstead, Banstead, Surrey
* Quainton Hall School, Harrow, Middlesex
* Ranby House School, Ranby
* Ripley Court Preparatory School [ [http://www.ripleycourt.co.uk ripleycourt.co.uk] ] , Surrey
* Rossall Junior School
* Royal Masonic School, Rickmansworth
* Rudston Preparatory School, Rotherham
* Runnymede St Edward's School, Liverpool
* Rydes Hill Preparatory School, Guildford [ [http://www.rydeshill.com/about/index.aspx rydeshill.com] ]
* The Royal School Armagh [ [http://www.royalschoolarmagh.com royalschoolarmagh.com] ] , Armagh
* The Ryleys School, Alderley Edge, Cheshire
* S Anselm's School, Bakewell
* Salisbury Cathedral School, Salisbury
* Shernold School, Maidstone, Kent.
* Shrewsbury House School
* St Bede's Preparatory School, Manchester
* St Catherine's Preparatory School, Bramley
* St Cedds School [ [http://www.stcedds.org.uk/ stcedds.org.uk] ] , Chelmsford
* St Christophers School [ [http://www.stchristophershove.org.uk/ stchristophershove.org.uk] ] , Hove
* St Edmunds School, Canterbury
* St Edmunds School, Hindhead
* St Faith's School, Cambridge
* St Ives School [ [http://www.st-ives.surrey.sch.uk/ st-ives.surrey.sch.uk] ] , Haslemere
* St John's Beaumont Preparatory School [ [http://www.stjohnsbeaumont.org.uk/ stjohnsbeaumont.org.uk] ] Windsor
* St John's College School, Cambridge [ [http://www.school-portal.co.uk/GroupHomepage.asp?GroupID=23843 St John's ::: Introduction ] ]
* St Joseph's Preparatory School [ [http://www.stjosephsprepschool.co.uk/ stjosephsprepschool.co.uk] ] , Stoke-on-Trent
* Stoke Brunswick School, Ashurst Wood, Sussex
* St Martin's Ampleforth [ [http://www.stmartins.ampleforth.org.uk ampleforth.org.uk] ] , North Yorkshire (formerly "Ampleforth College Junior School" and "Gilling Castle")
* St Martin's Preparatory School [ [http://www.stmartinsprep.com/ St. Martins Preparatory School | Welcome | Tel - 01472 878907 ] ] , Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire
* Stonyhurst Saint Mary's Hall (formerly "St Mary's Hall, Stonyhurst"; "Hodder Place")
* St Piran's School, Maidenhead
* St. Ronan's School, Hawkhurst, Kent.
* The Schools at Somerhill, Tonbridge
* Sevenoaks Prep School: [ [http://www.sevenoaksprep.kent.sch.uk/ sevenoaksprep.kent.sch.uk] ] Sevenoaks, Kent.
* Springmead Preparatory School [ [http://www.springmead.com/ springmead.com] ] ,Beckington, Bath
* Staines Preparatory School,Staines
* Streatham and Clapham High Prep Department [ [http://www.gdst.net/streathamhigh/ web site] ]
* Summer Fields School, Oxford [ [http://www.summerfields.oxon.sch.uk/ summerfields.oxon.sch.uk] ]
* Sunningdale School [ [http://www.sunningdaleschool.co.uk sunningdaleschool.co.uk] ]
* Sussex House School, London
* Sutton Valence Preparatory School, Kent [ [http://www.svs.org.uk/] ]
* Thorpe House School, Buckinghamshire [ [http://www.thorpehouse.bucks.sch.uk/] ]
* Vinehall School Robertsbridge
* Warminster Preparatory School, Warminster, Wiltshire
* Wellesley House School, Broadstairs,Kent
* Wellingborough Preparatory School [ [http://www.wellingboroughschool.org/prep/index.php wellingboroughschool.org/prep] ] , Wellingborough, Northants.
* Westbourne House School, Chichester, Sussex
* West Hill Park School, Titchfield, Hants
* Westminster Abbey Choir School, London
* Westminster Under School, London
* Winchester House School, Brackley, Northants
* Windlesham House School, Washington, West Sussex [ [http://www.windlesham.com windlesham.com] ]
* Witham Hall School, Lincolnshire
* Wilmslow preparatory school, Wilmslow, Cheshire
* Woodford Green Preparatory School, Woodford Green, London
* Woodleigh School, Langton, Malton, North Yorkshire [ [http://www.woodleighschool.freeserve.co.uk woodleighschool.freeserve.co.uk] ]
* Worksop College, Worksop
* Wycombe Abbey

Former UK prep schools

*Ascham St Vincent's School
*Bridgeway School for girls London
*Hawtreys
*Ravenscroft School (Somerset)
*St Cyprian's School
*Temple Grove School
*West Downs School

ee also

* Independent school
* Boarding school
* Education in England
* School and university in literature, in particular Pamela Hansford Johnson's novel "The Honours Board" (1970)

References

External links

* [http://www.iaps.org.uk/ Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools]
* [http://www.isc.co.uk/ Independent Schools Council]
* [http://www.prepschools.co.uk/ The Prep Schools Guide 2008/09]