South-West

Exeter Cathedral School

5086 South-West

(Founded 12th century) The Chantry, Palace Gate, Exeter, Devon EX1 1HX Tel: 01392 255298 Email: admissions@exetercs.org

Website:

www.exetercathedralschool.co.uk Headmaster: James Featherstone Appointed: 2016 School type: Co-educational, Day & Boarding, Preparatory Age range of pupils: 3–13 years No. of pupils enrolled as at 01/01/2022: 266 Boys: 165 Girls: 101 No. of boarders: 9

Fees per term as at 01/01/2022:

Day: £2,823–£4,623 Full Boarding: £2,722

Teacher/pupil ratio:

1:10 (Pre-Prep) & 1:13 (Prep)

Exeter Cathedral School is a flourishing day and boarding Prep School for girls and boys.

Founded in the 12th century as a choir school, today we are a vibrant independent Prep School which offers an outstanding educational experience to our 275 pupils, and which is proud to educate the Choristers of Exeter Cathedral.

Our ancient foundations and our wonderful location (in the heart of the city yet nestled safely in the lee of the Cathedral) sit harmoniously alongside our traditional values and our modern, forward-thinking approach, to deliver an education which focuses on developing the whole child.

Our small class sizes, our commitment to nurturing our pupils, our focus on individualised pastoral care and academic rigour, our exciting range of extra-curricular activities, our unparalleled heritage and history, our outstanding provision in sport, and the world-class musical education we offer all of our pupils means that Exeter Cathedral School is a place where children can flourish, aim high, discover, grow, and be happy.

Above all, we are a school where people matter, and where we work with families to help our pupils acquire the right habits for life.

A warm welcome

We host a number of open days and taster events which take place throughout the year. We warmly invite families to discover the joy of an education at Exeter Cathedral School and why its pupils flourish.

For further information, please contact our Admissions Manager, Katharine Pearce, on 01392 255298 or admissions@ exetercs.org

Hazlegrove Prep School

5114 South-West

Hazlegrove House, Sparkford, Somerset BA22 7JA Tel: +44 (0)1963 442606 Email: admissions@hazlegrove.co.uk Website: www.hazlegrove.co.uk Headmaster: Mr Mark White MA (Hons) Appointed: September 2017 School type: Co-educational Day & Boarding Preparatory Age range of pupils: 2–13 years No. of pupils enrolled as at 01/01/2022: 364

Fees per term as at 01/01/2022:

Day: £3,076–£6,237 Full Boarding: £7,235–£9,232 Average class size: 14 Teacher/pupil ratio: 1:9

Hazlegrove is an Independent Day and Boarding Preparatory School for 360 boys and girls. Established in 1947, the school enjoys an inspiring setting within 200 acres of parkland in Somerset and benefits from outstanding facilities. Hazlegrove believes it is important that children, from an early age, should have the breadth of opportunity to develop their abilities and potential whilst enjoying the benefit of a caring, nurturing and secure environment. Hazlegrove is committed to celebrating childhood. A Hazlegrovian in the 21st century is a child that is empathetic, kind and connected to the world; one who is independent but knows that developing relationships and a sense of duty to the community are integral to a successful life. A vibrant and creative curriculum, exceptional pastoral care and stunning rural Somerset location combine to make children feel nurtured, motivated, inspired and encouraged to love learning for life.

The curriculum has a real, hands-on feel where children participate and are not just spectators. Staff are passionate about developing in the children, genuine awe, wonder and curiosity at the complexities of life and the world - past, present and future. The breadth and balance in the curriculum give pupils an opportunity to get excited about the lessons they have each day.

Sport is a clear strength and significant success is achieved by pupils in team and individual sports. Drama and music are part of the school’s DNA with a vast array of choirs, ensemble groups and theatre productions. Every pupil performs in a drama production every year.

The children at Hazlegrove are surrounded with care. That care includes at its core, staff for whom going many extra miles is an everyday thing, and who unashamedly make time to talk about the children. It includes a dedicated Pastoral Leadership Team which meets twice a week, a tutor system, a pastoral care curriculum embedded in everything, and an ever-developing framework for social and emotional literacy and support.

Hazlegrove pupils move on to a wide variety of senior schools aged 13, having taken Common Entrance or Scholarship examinations. Hazlegrove pupils move on to a wide variety of senior schools aged 13, having taken Common Entrance or Scholarship examinations. Over the last four years, a total of 121 scholarships and Awards have been gained to 28 different schools.

Outstanding facilities with a continual programme of investment in its buildings and facilities ensure that Hazlegrove pupils have the best start possible both now and in the future.

For further information, please contact admissions@hazlegrove.co.uk, 01963 442 606

King’s Hall School

7219 South-West

(Founded 1957) Kingston Road, Taunton, Somerset TA2 8AA Tel: 01823 285920 Email: admissions@kings-taunton.co.uk Website: www.kingshalltaunton.co.uk Head: Mr Justin Chippendale

School type:

Co-educational Day & Boarding Age range of pupils: 2–13 years No. of pupils enrolled as at 01/01/2022: 320

Fees per annum as at 01/01/2022:

Day: £8,265–£17,670 Average class size: 20 max Teacher/pupil ratio: 1:9

King’s Hall School is a coeducational PrePrep and Prep school with around 320 pupils, offering both day and boarding. Set in a beautiful countryside location surrounded by farmland, the school is only a couple of minutes’ drive from the centre of Taunton in Somerset.

The school respects traditional values and boarding is a strong feature, which contributes to the tangible family atmosphere that exists in the school. Children enjoy a challenging all-round education in a progressive and stimulating environment.

We have a very popular Pre-Prep located in its own dedicated area of the school, having full access to our extensive facilities and grounds. Our Nursery is a friendly, happy and welcoming setting for children aged 2 to 4 years, and every child has their very own key worker who focuses on individual needs and supports each child through their time with us. When the time comes for moving up to Reception, we take the children and their parents on a tour of the facilities so they can see more of what we have to offer for the next stage of their child’s development. This gentle and smooth transition helps children to become familiar with their new surroundings and to feel like part of one big school family.

When children first join us in Prep, they will open the door to an exciting new world of opportunities and challenges, both inside and outside the classroom. Our teachers are welcoming, engaging and passionate. All children study the core subjects of English, maths, science, geography, history, modern foreign languages (MFL), and religious studies, and our broad curriculum also embraces Latin, the visual and creative arts (including music, art and drama), design technology, and an imaginative programme of PE and games.

Across the school site, pupils benefit from traditional and modern facilities: a bright modern science faculty, new cookery school, adventure playground, outdoor swimming pool, astros and extensive grass pitches, a huge indoor sports centre and gym equipment, as well as an arts centre that acts as the hub for music and performing arts events. The school’s 2.5km ‘King’s Loop’ is popular for cross-country running at lunch times!

Opportunities are extensive, as is the school’s co-curricular offering: Forest School, riding lessons at the school’s offsite equestrian centre, archery, ballet, fencing, cookery, multi-sports and outdoor adventure are but some of the activities available.

King’s Hall has a senior school, King’s College, Taunton, and the two schools benefit from having their own independent sites, furnished with excellent age-appropriate facilities and attitudes to maximise the opportunities for the children in their care.

There is a close working relationship between the schools and transitioning from King’s Hall to King’s College is seamless. A great many pupils start at 2 and finish their education with us at 18. The two-site model enables those joining at 11 to find their feet before moving to King’s College at 13. Scholarships are available for pupils with exceptional ability. These are awarded at 11+ and continue at King’s College up to age 18.

Justin Chippendale, Headmaster at King’s Hall added: “At King’s Hall we provide a fabulous educational experience. We aim to maximise potential and to help develop children to be the best they can be. The school is open and friendly, with solid structures in place to support children with all aspects of their lives. They leave us ready and prepared for the next part of their educational journey.”

Millfield Preparatory School

5576 South-West

(Founded 1945) Edgarley Hall, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 8LD Tel: 01458 832446 Email: admissions@millfieldprep.com Website: www.millfieldschool.com/prep Headmaster: Dan Thornburn Appointed: January 2022

School type:

Co-educational Day & Boarding Age range of pupils: 2–13 years No. of pupils enrolled as at 01/01/2022: 434

Fees per annum as at 01/01/2022:

£11,475–£30,255

Founded in 1945, Millfield Prep offers an exceptional, all-round educational experience that puts the individual at the centre, in order to develop and discover their brilliance. Nestled in 200 acres of beautiful Somerset countryside, Millfield Prep is an independent, co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 2-13, and provides the ideal environment in which to grow up, foster a love of learning and create lifelong childhood memories.

We pride ourselves on providing an exceptional, all-round education where every child can discover their brilliance. Our fundamental belief is that every child is unique and that they all have their own special talents which they enjoy and excel at, and the school’s outstanding facilities and teaching provision help immerse pupils in limitless opportunities.

Our focus is teaching pupils a broad, balanced and individually tailored programme, and promoting confidence, health and wellbeing through involvement in sport and physical activity. All our pupils gain a real sense of achievement from the variety of co-curricular activities on offer. Pupils can choose from a wide range of clubs, from Pottery and Sailing to Rock Climbing and Lego Modelling - there is something for everyone.

Millfield Prep’s outstanding facilities allow pupils to excel. Whether it’s swimming in our 25-metre indoor heated swimming pool, playing golf on our 9- or 18-hole golf courses, or horse riding in our fantastic equestrian centre which features over 120 acres of hacking trails and a British Eventing (BE) cross-country course, we provide opportunities in a wide variety of fields. 95% of Millfield Prep pupils move up to Millfield in Year 9 to continue their education.

We award a number of Academic, Art, Music and Sports Scholarships each year for entry into Years 6, 7 and 8. We also welcome applications for scholarships from good all-rounders; boys and girls who have reached a good standard academically and show promise in specific areas such as Art, Music or Sport.

Monkton Prep School

5125 South-West

(Founded 1886) Church Road, Combe Down, Bath, Bath & North-East Somerset BA2 7ET Tel: 01225 831200 Email: mpsadmissions@monkton.org.uk

Website:

www.monktoncombeschool.com Head: Mrs Catherine Winchcombe Appointed: 2020 School type: Co-educational Day & Boarding Preparatory

Age range of pupils:

2–13 years (boarding from 8) No. of pupils enrolled as at 01/01/2022: 305

Fees per term as at 01/01/2022: Kindergarten - Year 2:

£3,407–£3,504 per term Years 3-8 (Day): £4,115 –£5,995 per term

Years 3-8 (Boarding):

£8,000 –£8,640 per term Average class size: 16 Teacher/pupil ratio: 1:9

Monkton Prep School is a small school with a big heart. It’s built on strong relationships, a Christian foundation and a culture of care designed to give each child a sense of belonging and firm roots from which to grow.

We are a school where children learn about themselves by exploring their own world and a place where they grow in confidence through a sense of belonging. They begin to recognise their own value by valuing others and develop a love of learning through imagination, innovation and creativity.

Being a small school allows us to develop excellent relationships and really get to know our pupils, gaining the insight and understanding to provide outstanding learning and pastoral care. We have a strong sense of family and commitment to a vibrant boarding ethos which help our students to feel unconditionally valued.

We recognise the potential of each individual, helping children to develop their talents by developing a better understanding of themselves and giving them the self-confidence to thrive, experiment and explore.

We are a small school, but our children enjoy an expansive outdoor setting, with space for exploration and adventure, as well as first-rate facilities for games and early years’ sports.

Taunton School

6305 South-West

(Founded 1847) Staplegrove Road, Taunton, Somerset TA2 6AD Tel: +44 (0)1823 703703 Email: enquiries@tauntonschool.co.uk Website: www.tauntonschool.co.uk

Headmaster, Taunton School:

Mr. Lee Glaser Appointed: January 2015

Headmaster, Taunton Prep School:

Mr. Andrew Edwards

School type:

Co-educational Boarding & Day

Religious Denomination:

Non-denominational Age range of pupils: 0–18 years No. of pupils enrolled as at 01/01/2022: 1000

Fees per annum as at 01/01/2022:

Prep: £3,020–£9,190 Senior: £6,960 –£12,960 International: £7,275 –£14,260 Average class size: 10 Teacher/pupil ratio: 1:7

Introduction

Founded in 1847, Taunton School is one of the South West’s leading co-educational independent day and boarding schools for children aged 0–18 years. Set in a beautiful 52-acre site, Taunton School nurtures the individual in a friendly and broad-minded atmosphere, equipping our young people with the life skills to enable them to shape the world in the 21st century.

Information

Taunton School is a lively, international community where we aim to challenge, nurture and inspire young people to succeed in a global community.

Pupils leaving Taunton School go on to top universities including Oxbridge and Russell Group universities. We are one of the only schools in the UK to offer four unique Sixth Form pathways: the popular IB Diploma, A-levels, Level 3 BTEC Diploma in Business and in Sport & Exercise Science and our newly launched Pre-foundation and Foundation course in Business, which are specifically for international students.

Taunton School consists of a caring and experienced Nursery and Pre-Preparatory School, inspiring Preparatory School and an innovative Senior School and International School, which all share the same spacious 56-acre campus, as well as Taunton School International Middle School which is located in The Grange, a beautiful, traditional manor house close to Taunton School. Our outstanding campus includes a brand new £4 million Dining Hall, extensive sports fields, specific Music, Art and D&T departments and a 19th century Grade II listed Chapel built in 1907.

Excellent Boarding

The School offers a supportive boarding environment for children from 7 to 18 years. At the Preparatory School level (aged 7–13 years), boarding life is very much an extension of family life. Taunton Prep School boarders live in Thone boarding house, which is for boys and girls and has recently received a significant £350,000 refurbishment. It has excellent facilities and recreational areas, including a computer room and movie room. We support the children to learn to do things for themselves to be more confident and

to provide them with a tremendous breath of exciting opportunities in all areas of school life.

In the Senior School boarding environment, our young adults have access to abundant cultural and sporting activities. With close friends at hand, they have the opportunity to develop life skills within a relaxed but well-controlled atmosphere.

Exceptional academic results

As a completely non-selective school, Taunton School has achieved consistently excellent GCSE results and some of the most exceptional A-level and International Baccalaureate results in South West England. Approximately 96% of all Sixth Form leavers usually take up university or college places. The school usually sends three or four students per year to Oxford or Cambridge although the number has been as high as seven.

International Baccalaureate at Taunton School

We have been offering the IB Diploma since becoming an IB World School in 2007. During that time over 300 students have obtained the diploma and its popularity continues to grow not just with students, but also with universities and employers.

In 2021, of all the 26 students who passed their Diploma, seven scored 40 or more points including one student achieving the maximum 45 points. The average points score per candidate of 36.4 was well in excess of the world average of 33 and was the highest achieved in the 14 years of running the IB Diploma at Taunton School.

Military Families

Military families have been part of Taunton School for many years and contribute greatly to our broad and diverse community. As well rounded, independent individuals, they enjoy the stability, consistency and undisrupted education that Taunton School can offer, whether it’s through full, weekly or flexible boarding. We believe that every child should benefit from an exceptional education, which is why we offer significant financial support for military families in receipt of CEA. View military families fees information on our website.