Tatler UK - 10.2019

SOUTH EAST

PREP

of locals too and the Head is keen

to ‘keep a cross-section of fami-

lies’. There isn’t a trace of

arrogance in pupils, who under-

stand how fortunate they are and

are taught to give back from a

young age. One seasoned school

researcher was blown away: ‘What

an absolute gem of a school.’

LOCKERS PARK 

Hemel Hempstead,

Hertfordshire HP1 1TL

Website lockerspark.herts.sch.uk

Head Christopher Wilson Pupils

175 day and boarding: 171 boys

(and four girls in pre-prep) Ages

4 –13 Term fees Day: £5,910;

boarding: £8,520

A school full of energy and enthu-

siasm, ‘specifically catering to the

needs of boys’, Lockers Park con-

tinues to impress. Prospective par-

ents are inspired by the Critical

Thinking lessons, covering topics

such as plastics, animal welfare and

government to ensure pupils ‘aren’t

just full of facts’. Invaluable to

busy parents is the option of

7.30am–7.30pm wraparound care

with breakfast and supper includ-

ed in the fees; it’s super flexible,

with a cheerful ‘no need to book in

advance!’ policy. One bright idea is

the £10 Challenge, where pupils

are given £10 to build a ‘company’

and the option to sell their product

throughout the year. Polite, well-

rounded and confident boys head

off to a broad range of excellent

senior schools with a handful of

impressive scholarships.

LUDGROVE SCHOOL 

Wokingham, Berkshire

RG40 3AB

Website ludgrove.net Head Simon

Barber Pupils 190 boarding boys

Ages 8–13 Term Fees £9,420

Get your son’s name down early –

they register from birth at this

traditional full-boarding boys

prep, which provides a warm

home-from-home and forward-

HOLMEWOOD

HOUSE SCHOOL 

Barrow Lane, Langton Green,

Kent TN3 0EA

Website holmewoodhouse.co.uk

Head Scott Carnochan Pupils 464

day and boarding: 261 boys, 203

girls Ages 3–13 Term Fees Day:

£6,295; boarding: £7,920

Scott Carnochan (previously Head

of Sedbergh Prep) has well and

truly settled in, having now been

at HH for two busy years. Thanks

to him, the school is increasingly

progressive and willing to embrace

change where appropriate and the

staff love being part of this. Thanks

to the buzz of self-assured and

kind pupils, the general feel is one

of energy, creativity and a genuine

love of learning. There is plenty of

opportunity for pupils to enjoy

the gorgeous grounds with an ad-

venture playground; and the re-

cently introduced horse riding has

gone down a storm. Children here

‘learn to win with modesty and

lose with good grace’ (the swimmers

are super successful, making the

most of the indoor pool). Pupils’ en-

thusiasm is infectious: this year saw

the arrival of a school chicken coop,

Bonfire Night is hotly anticipated,

and waffles with toffee sauce has

been voted the best pudding.

LAMBROOK

SCHOOL 

Winkfield Row, Nr Ascot,

Berkshire RG42 6LU

Website lambrookschool.co.uk

Head Jonathan Perry Pupils 569

day and boarding: 326 boys, 243

girls Ages 3–13 Term Fees Day:

£6,770; boarding: £8,118

‘Everyone is asking for a

Lambrook senior school!’ says a

parent, and one can see why.

Places are competitive for this

large co-ed prep (one place for

every 20 applicants in Year 5) and

2019 saw an impressive list of

destination schools, including

Downe House, Marlborough,

and a handful to Eton – one with

a music scholarship. Hugely pop-

ular with Londoners, the school

operates minibuses from the capi-

tal every day, but there are plenty

Critical Thinking at Lockers Park covers

topics such as plastics and animal welfare

to ensure children ‘aren’t just full of facts’

HANDCROSS PARK

thinking environment. Head Simon

Barber is ‘bubbling with excite-

ment’ at plans for an upcoming

Exploration Centre, which will be

‘one of the finest prep school scien-

tific and creative learning environ-

ments in the country’. Classes are

small and academic standards are

high: 2018 leavers included 10 to

Eton, 11 to Radley and six to Har-

row. It’s traditional, but not stuffy

• there is an emphasis on manners
  and values which is clear in the
  boys, who are ‘absolutely charm-
  ing, curious and courteous’ and
  ‘confident in their own skins’.

MILBOURNE LODGE

SCHOOL 

Arbrook Lane, Esher, Surrey

KT10 9EG

Website milbournelodge.co.uk

Head Judy Waite Pupils 284 day:

243 boys, 41 girls Faith C of E

Ages 4–13 Term Fees £5,385

Pupils here need bags of robust en-

ergy, as daily school life involves lots

of time outside letting off steam in

the grounds and on the games field:

pupils enjoy an hour of exercise eve-

ry day ‘come rain or shine’. Staff are

passionate about their subjects and

knowledgeable about their students:

nobody slips through the net in

terms of support. An insider says ]

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