Prep Schools Explained: A Parent's Guide

If you're exploring independent education for your child, you'll quickly encounter the term "prep school." Short for preparatory school, these are a distinctive part of the English private school landscape - but they're not well understood by parents outside that world. This guide explains what prep schools are, how they work, and whether one might be right for your child.

What Is a Prep School?

A prep school is an independent (private) school that educates children, broadly speaking, from age 7 to 11 or 13. The name "preparatory" reflects the school's original purpose: preparing children for entrance examinations to senior independent schools - historically the Common Entrance exam at age 13.

Prep schools differ from other primary schools in several ways:

• They are fee-paying, privately run institutions
• They typically have smaller class sizes (12–18 pupils, compared to up to 30 in state schools)
• They follow their own curriculum rather than the national curriculum (though many align broadly with it)
• They focus explicitly on preparing children for entry to selective senior schools
• They often extend to Year 8 (age 13), unlike state primaries which end at Year 6 (age 11)

Age Range and Structure

The age range of prep schools varies, which can be confusing. The most common patterns are:

Pre-Prep and Prep

Many schools operate as a combined pre-prep and prep:

• Pre-prep: ages 4 to 7 (Reception to Year 2) - broadly equivalent to infant school
• Prep: ages 7 to 11 or 13 (Year 3 to Year 6 or Year 8) - broadly equivalent to junior school and early secondary

Some schools start even earlier, with a nursery or kindergarten from age 2 or 3, feeding into the pre-prep department.

The Year 8 Question

One key difference between prep schools and state primaries is that many preps go up to Year 8 (age 13). This matters because it aligns with the traditional entry point for many senior independent schools, which accept pupils at 13+ via Common Entrance or their own exams. However, the trend is shifting - an increasing number of senior schools now have their main entry at 11+, and some prep schools have adjusted accordingly, ending at Year 6.

What Do Prep Schools Teach?

Prep schools are not required to follow the national curriculum, but most cover the same core subjects - English, mathematics, and science - plus offer a significantly broader curriculum than most state primaries can manage. A typical prep school curriculum includes:

• Core subjects: English, Mathematics, Science - taught to a high standard, often by subject specialists from Year 3 or 4 onwards
• Languages: most preps introduce French or another modern language in the pre-prep years, with Latin often added from Year 5 or 6. Some preps teach two modern languages
• Humanities: History and Geography taught as separate subjects (not combined as "topic work" as in many state primaries)
• The arts: Music, Art, and Drama with specialist teachers and dedicated facilities - purpose-built art rooms, music rooms with individual practice spaces, proper theatre facilities
• Sport: extensive sports provision, often daily, using the school's own grounds. Cricket, rugby, hockey, netball, athletics, swimming, and cross-country are common. Many preps have competitive fixtures against other schools
• Technology: Design and Technology, Computing/ICT
• PSHE: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic education

The breadth and depth of this curriculum is one of the main draws of prep school education. With smaller classes and specialist teachers, subjects like music, art, and sport receive far more time and attention than is typically possible in state primaries, where a single class teacher covers almost everything.

Common Entrance and Senior School Entry

The primary purpose of a prep school is to prepare children for entry to a senior school. The traditional route has been through the Common Entrance examination, sat at 13+ (Year 8). Common Entrance tests English, mathematics, science, French, history, geography, religious studies, and Latin (optional).

However, the landscape has changed significantly in recent years:

• Many senior schools now pre-test at 11+ or even 10+, offering conditional places based on assessments, interviews, and prep school references - with Common Entrance at 13+ serving as a confirmation rather than the primary selection hurdle
• Some senior schools have moved their main entry point to 11+, bypassing Common Entrance entirely
• The ISEB Common Pre-Test (taken at 11+) is increasingly used as the main assessment, with children tested in English, maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning via an adaptive online test

This means prep school parents need to think about senior school entry earlier than in the past. If your target senior school pre-tests at 10+, the preparation starts in Year 5 or earlier.

What Prep Schools Do to Prepare Children

Good prep schools don't just teach to the test. Their preparation for senior school includes:

• Building strong foundations in core subjects so that entrance exams feel manageable
• Developing independent study skills, time management, and exam technique
• Practising interview skills and building confidence in formal settings
• Providing detailed references that support each child's application
• Advising parents on which senior schools are a realistic and good fit for their child

How Much Do Prep Schools Cost?

Prep school fees vary by location and school, but typical ranges for 2024/25 are:

• London preps: £18,000–£24,000 per year for day pupils
• Home counties preps: £15,000–£20,000 per year
• Rest of England: £12,000–£17,000 per year
• Boarding preps: £25,000–£35,000 per year (relatively few preps offer boarding nowadays)

These figures are for the basic fee. On top of this, expect to pay for school lunches (if not included), uniform, school trips, music lessons, learning support, and other extras. The real cost is typically 10–20% above the headline fee. For a full breakdown, see our guide to private school fees.

From January 2025, VAT at 20% applies to prep school fees, as with all independent school fees. This has effectively increased the cost of prep school education by up to 20%, depending on how much schools absorb.

Class Sizes and Teaching

One of the clearest advantages of prep schools is class size. While state primary classes can have up to 30 pupils (and occasionally more beyond Year 2), prep school classes typically have:

• 12–18 pupils per class in most year groups
• Subject specialist teachers from Year 3 or 4 onwards - meaning your child is taught science by a scientist, French by a French speaker, and music by a musician
• Setting by ability in maths and English from Year 4 or 5 at many preps
• Dedicated learning support for children who need extra help - though the availability and cost of this varies between schools

The smaller classes and specialist teaching mean prep school children typically cover more ground, in more depth, than their state school peers - particularly in subjects like languages, music, and science.

Extra-Curricular Life

Prep schools place enormous emphasis on extra-curricular activities. A typical prep school day extends well beyond the academic timetable, with sport in the afternoon and clubs before and after school. Children might have access to:

• Competitive sports fixtures against other schools (several times a week for older children)
• Orchestra, choir, chamber groups, and individual music lessons
• Drama productions (often impressive for the age group)
• Art exhibitions and creative projects
• Clubs ranging from coding and chess to pottery and fencing
• Residential trips - adventure weekends, field trips, and overseas tours for older pupils

This breadth of experience is a genuine differentiator. Many parents choose prep schools not primarily for academic reasons but because they want their child to have access to opportunities that are difficult to find in the state sector.

How to Choose a Prep School

Choosing a prep school involves many of the same considerations as choosing any school, but with some additional factors:

• Which senior schools do leavers go to? This is crucial. A prep school's "leaver destinations" tell you where children end up - and by extension, how well the school prepares them. Look for a spread of good schools rather than concentration on one or two
• Does the prep school feed naturally into your preferred senior school? Some prep schools have formal or informal links with specific senior schools
• What's the school's approach to entrance exam preparation? You want thorough preparation without excessive pressure
• How does the school handle children who are less academically able? Not every child is headed for a highly selective senior school. A good prep school supports all its pupils, not just the brightest
• Visit during a normal school day: see lessons, watch children interact, speak to staff and pupils. The feel of a prep school varies enormously - some are high-pressure academic hothouses, others are warm and nurturing. Neither is inherently better; it depends on your child

Prep School vs State Primary

The choice between a prep school and a state primary is fundamentally a question of resources, values, and priorities. Prep schools offer smaller classes, specialist teaching, broader curricula, and extensive extra-curricular provision - but at a significant financial cost. State primaries offer no-cost education, community connection, and (in many cases) excellent teaching within the national curriculum framework.

Neither option is categorically better. Outstanding state primaries exist, and mediocre prep schools exist. The key is to visit, compare, and choose the school - not the sector - that's right for your child. For a broader overview of school types, see our guide to types of schools in England.