Age range. 2 to 13.
Number of children. 370 pupils.
Fees per annum (2024-2025). Reception: £13,776; Years 1–2: £15,711; Years 3–8: £18,861. Nursery & kindergarten: £480 one session/week per term or £940 for a full day/week per term.
Founded in 1919, Sevenoaks Prep School stands on a spacious 25-acre site of playing fields and woodland bordering the 1,000-acre Knole Estate. We welcome girls and boys from 2 to 13 years of age. Our small class sizes and family atmosphere enable us to build special relationships with the children and their parents.
The curriculum is tailored to the needs of the pupils and their future aspirations. While due regard is paid to the National Curriculum, our children are taught to the highest standard achievable by the individual. To this end, our teachers enhance their Programmes of Study to ensure that every pupil is motivated, challenged and prepared for 11+ or 13+ entry tests to local grammar schools or via ISEB Common Entrance examinations and scholarships to independent schools. Our academic achievements are consistently high and our pupils compete successfully for academic, sport, music and other scholarships.
Throughout the school, all classes regularly participate in a programme of visits, workshops and field trips to support their learning. Education at Sevenoaks Prep is for life not just the classroom – it is the balance of academic study and co-curricular activities that prepare the children for their future.
The school had their latest ISI Inspection in March 2022 which is available to view on their website. They were delighted to have received a glowing report and were graded as ‘Excellent’ for both pupils’ personal and academic achievements, the highest outcome that a school can receive.
The school comprises the Pre-Prep (Nursery–Year 2), and the Prep School (Years 3–8).
Nursery and Kindergarten are staffed by teachers who are specially qualified in Early Years education, with a high teacher to pupil ratio. The education provided is specifically designed to match each child’s needs, so that child-initiated play and teacher-directed activities are thoughtfully planned and carefully balanced.
Full-time education starts in the Reception class in Pre-Prep and from this point, through Years 1 and 2, class teachers and their assistants provide a rich and stimulating environment where curiosity and enthusiasm to learn are fostered. Pupils benefit from specialist teaching in art, music, outdoor learning, PE and swimming. They also enjoy making full use of the Prep facilities for their computer and art lessons, taught by prep school teachers, and regularly coming up to the Prep side which enhances their learning experience.
On entering the Prep school in Year 3, class teaching is continued for core subjects (with specialist teaching for drama, languages, music, ICT, PE and games). By the age of 10, our pupils are taught by specialist teachers in all subjects while each class continues to have a form teacher who monitors their progress. Years 7 and 8 are the secondary school years and this is reflected in the teaching and levels of responsibility offered to the children. At Sevenoaks Prep they are at the top of the school and are provided with leadership opportunities and responsibilities. Heads of our destination schools say that children from Sevenoaks Prep enter Year 9 as rounded individuals, confident both academically and socially.
Facilities include a large multipurpose sports hall, a state-of-the-art drama and music suite, ‘Forest School’ outdoor education area, and modern Early Years classrooms and hall. A new Centenary Centre housing science, art, humanities, ICT and a library opened in 2020. The location provides a useful and natural extension to the teaching facilities and a vast playground, where children are trusted and encouraged to explore safely.
The school provides year-round wraparound care, with breakfast club from 7.30 am and after-school care until 6.00 pm each evening, and the extracurricular activities are extensive. They run full-day holiday camps for families of their students throughout the year. The school is supported by an active Social Events Committee who regularly arrange social events for parents to meet each other and to raise money for the school.