Rydes Hill Preparatory School, Guildford
Rydes Hill Preparatory School is an independent school for pupils aged 2 to 7 in Guildford. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in November 2024.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Rydes Hill Preparatory School in detail
Rydes Hill Preparatory School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Rydes Hill, where every child is known, valued and nurtured to become the very best version of themselves. Our warm and inspiring environment is grounded in a strong sense of family and ambition. From the moment children join us, they are supported and celebrated through every step of their learning journey."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include tennis, athletics, gymnastics, cross-country, yoga, ballet, drama, choir and art.
Coming up: an open day on Wednesday 10 March 2027 and an open day on Thursday 11 March 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Surrey
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Rydes Hill Preparatory School are Royal Grammar School Guildford (1.8 miles, selective); Guildford High School (1.8 miles, selective); Tormead School (2.1 miles, selective); and Prior's Field School (3.5 miles, selective).
Royal Grammar School GuildfordGuildford High SchoolTormead SchoolPrior's Field School
Who goes there
In 2026, 2 pupils (2.2%) received SEN support and 1 (1.1%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Guildford Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Clockhouse (adjacent), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Rydes Hill Preparatory School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 8th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 152 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Surrey (76), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
5 November 2024
Short Visit
12 October 2022
Regulatory Compliance
10 November 2021
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
27 June 2017
Focused Compliance Inspection
27 June 2017
Fees for 2026/27
Day fees, per year
£12,870 to £14,835
depending on year group
| Reception 4+ Reception | £12,870 a year |
| 1 5+ Year 1 | £14,658 a year |
| 2 6+ Year 2 | £14,835 a year |
Including VAT. From the school's own fee schedule; check with the school before you rely on it.
Private school fees in Guildford - 4 schools' published fees side by side
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby schools
Keep up with Rydes Hill Preparatory School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 22
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 22 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 18 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot.
4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Surrey is 13 (the median across 521 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
46%
Available places
92 pupils
200 places
108 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Guildford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Guildford
Across Surrey council
Places available
12,569
Applications
11,986
Got 1st preference
81.3%
Got preferred school
96.2%
All secondary applications across Surrey council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
2
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
3.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
92
Total Pupils
40
Boys
52
Girls
2026 academic year
Questions parents ask about Rydes Hill Preparatory School
When was Rydes Hill Preparatory School last inspected?
Rydes Hill Preparatory School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in November 2024.
How many pupils go to Rydes Hill Preparatory School?
Rydes Hill Preparatory School has around 92 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Rydes Hill Preparatory School?
Rydes Hill Preparatory School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Rydes Hill Preparatory School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 22 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 18 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot. 4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Surrey is 13 (the median across 521 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Rydes Hill Preparatory School?
Rydes Hill Preparatory School is at Rydes Hill House, Aldershot Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 8BP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)