The Croft Preparatory School
The Croft Preparatory School
Org 1: IAPS
Loxley Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7RL
Telephone: 01789 293795
Open events: Wednesday 11 March 2026 and Thursday 21 May 2026
Key dates: Autumn term: Tuesday 2 September 2025 to Friday 12 December 2025
Half term: Monday 20 October 2025 to Friday 31 October 2025
Spring term: Tuesday 6 January 2026 to Friday 27 March 2026
Half term: Monday 16 February 2026 to Friday 20 February 2026
Summer term: Tuesday 21 April 2026 to Friday 10 July 2026
Half term: Monday 25 May 2026 to Friday 29 May 2026
Age Range: Nursery, Pre-Prep/Infants, Prep/Junior to 11
Day or Boarding: Day, Day Only
Gender: Co-ed
Exams offered: Common Entrance to Senior, Current School to Senior
Scholarships Tick: Academic
The Thornton Scholarship
The examination for The Thornton Scholarship takes place in the Lent Term and is open to children who will be moving into Year 3 the following September.
This scholarship, offered by the school, may be up to a maximum of 50% of the school fees, although the actual percentage will depend upon the standard attained. Although the exam is open to all, it is set at scholarship level; we recommend only children attaining a standardised score of 120 (or equivalent) on a recognised formal assessment test be entered.
The tenure of the award will last as long as the child is at The Croft, provided there is no obvious negligence to his or her schoolwork. The percentage of the award will remain the same, whatever changes there are in the rate of inflation and school fees. Scholarship pupils are expected to pay the termly rate for school lunches.
Chair of The Board of Directors: Mrs L Thornton, Cert Ed Lond, FRSA
Chair of the School’s Governing Committee: Mrs V Aris, MBE, MSc
Headmaster: Mr M Cook, BSc Hons, PGCE
Deputy Headmaster: Mr E Bolderston, BSc Hons, PGCE
Age range. 2–11.
Number of pupils. 350: 177 boys, 173 girls.
Fees per term (2025-2026). £0 (in receipt of Early Years’ funding) – £6,518.
Motto. Dulce et Forte.
The Croft Preparatory School is a co-educational day school for children aged 2* to 11, located on the outskirts of Stratford-upon-Avon. Established in 1933, the school sits on a large rural campus with extensive playing fields, a nature conservation area and a lake.
A family-oriented school, The Croft emphasises specialist teaching in small groups, fostering discipline and a broad understanding of the world – spiritual, geographical and cultural. Music, Sport and Drama are integral to the curriculum, contributing to high educational standards and all-round excellence.
The school’s facilities support a wide variety of activities: a sports hall, swimming pool, games pitches, music practice rooms, performance spaces, playground arenas, a 600-seat theatre, a conservation area, a replica Motte and Bailey castle (currently in repair), a geology museum and a train shed.
Pupils are prepared for 11+ entrance to local grammar schools or senior independent schools, ensuring strong academic outcomes alongside rich extracurricular experiences.
Entrance requirements. Children can be accepted in Little Crofters from the age of 2* years. Prospective pupils registered for Years 1–6, where a place is available, are invited into School for a taster day. They will spend a day in the classroom with their age group and be assessed by the Class Teacher. Parents provide a copy of their child’s latest school report and if deemed necessary, an assessment of literacy, numeracy, and sometimes other appropriate tests will be given by the SENDCo.
*Academic year of the child’s 3rd birthday.