Fees per term (2023-2024). Nursery: £510–£540 per morning/afternoon. Pre-Prep (Reception and Year 1): £5,300. Prep (Years 2–8): £7,500.
Scholarships offered. Scholarships are available for pupils in Year 3, 5 and 7 and include Academic, Art, Design and Technology, Drama, Music and Sport.
Danes Hill is a co-educational day school providing children aged 3 to 13 with an exciting and dynamic curriculum. This unique educational environment gives the children a chance to develop academically and socially before embarking on their Senior School journey.
The Pre-Prep
The Pre-Prep takes children from 3 to 6 years and is situated separately, but within easy walking distance of the Prep site. Located on Steels Lane in Oxshott Surrey, the Pre-Prep is home to our Nursery, Reception and Year 1 children with the Head, Mrs Ruth Samson at the helm of the school. Alongside their dedicated Class Teacher, the children are taught by talented specialist teachers. This includes lessons such as Forest School, sport, swimming, performing arts, French and Spanish. The school recognises that young children thrive, and their minds and bodies develop best when they have access to stimulating outdoor environments. At the Pre-Prep, pupils have regular timetabled days when learning takes place outdoors. The children regularly visit our outdoor learning environment, The Paddock, with their trained Forest School teachers. Facilities include a heated swimming pool which the children swim in weekly, an expansive playground with a sandpit, mindfulness garden and pirate ship, an ICT suite and a Library.
The Prep
High academic success combines happily with a strong tradition of sporting prowess, to ensure that all children are exposed to a kaleidoscope of opportunity on a peaceful 55-acre site in the heart of Oxshott Village in Surrey. The facilities are designed to enhance the excellent standard of teaching that is offered at Danes Hill: state-of-the-art classrooms and five Science Labs are just the beginning of this. A refurbished Library offers a wonderful learning atmosphere, opening out onto the Head’s Terrace when the weather permits. There is an outstanding Dining Room and catering facilities, offering a range of lunch options for all pupils. The children also enjoy the new state-of-the-art Sports Hall with climbing wall. Both Pre-Prep and Prep sites have swimming pools.
The curriculum is dynamic and exciting, and a wide range of extra-curricular activity is encouraged. The Danes Hill Extra Curricular Activities (ECA) programme aims to deliver fun and stimulating pursuits to children who wish to take part. It has been created in order to offer an opportunity to enjoy and participate in interests beyond the normal school day. The programme is an integral part of school life, providing pupils with an opportunity to expand their horizons or harness an existing skill or talent.
Pastoral care and pupil welfare are closely monitored. The Pastoral system is one of the school’s greatest strengths, and parents and visitors comment on the excellent knowledge that our staff have of our pupils as individuals. The school is divided into sections, the Pre-Prep, Junior School and Upper School, allowing focus on individual pupils and their needs. The school has an onsite School Counsellor who supports the pupils, parents and staff. The school's Learning Support Centre provides a high level of support both for those children with specific learning needs, as well as running a programme for our more able pupils.
Residential and day trips are seen as an essential part of the school experience and a range are offered on an annual basis. These may include language, ski, choir and drama trips, as well as sports tours. The annual Trips Week is a very special feature of the School Calendar, with the pupils leaving site for various residential destinations in the UK and abroad.
Sport is a major strength and specialist Games staff ensure that all the major sports are expertly coached. A floodlit astroturf pitch allows all-weather training and team spirit is valued alongside ability. There are extensive programmes of inter-school fixtures for all age groups. Every child is encouraged to participate. We also hold annual Games Dinners for the senior teams and their parents to celebrate the end of each season. In-house Christmas, Easter and Summer holiday activity courses are also very popular options with the pupils.
Head Maxine Shaw says: ‘Childhood is precious and as adults we have a true responsibility to our children to make it as special as possible. We want our children to have breadth to their lives, to recognise the importance of sport, the arts, philosophical debate, friendships, teamwork … I could go on. At Danes Hill your child’s emotional wellbeing will be strengthened by this breadth and they will become rounded and emotionally intelligent human beings. We want them to have great EQ, to learn to be kind and to understand that a Danes Hill education is a privilege that brings with it the responsibility to give back to others. We want to work with you, as parents, to help your children to become thoroughly decent human beings.’
Charitable status. Danes Hill School (administered by The Vernon Educational Trust Ltd) is a Registered Charity, number 269433. It exists to provide high-quality education for boys and girls.