Tatler UK - 10.2019

SOUTH EAST

PREP

PHOTOGRAPHS: ANN SNOW; SARAH CLARK PHOTOGRAPHY

The art department is ‘excep-

tional’ and parents are very hap-

py with all things co-curricular,

which is ‘a real shining part of

the school’. The cross-age ethos

• and the random seating system
  at mealtimes – encourages new
  friendships. In fact, everything is
  rather fluid here, including the
  totally flexible boarding. This
  system is clearly working because
  the number of scholarships in
  2018 was staggering: 40 scholar-
  ships from 48 pupils. (

the school embraces this. Weekly

boarders can easily hop on the train

from London on a Sunday

evening and return on a Friday

evening and, without exception,

students are full of boundless enthu-

siasm for the school. Head Titus

Mills is ‘absolutely superb’ and is

immensely proud of successfully

‘turning this sleeping giant into a

top prep school’.

WELLESLEY

HOUSE 

Broadstairs, Kent CT10 2DG

Website wellesleyhouse.org Head

Gavin Franklin Pupils 112 day and

boarding: 65 boys, 47 girls Ages

3–13 Term Fees Day: £6,639;

boarding: £8,777

A ‘small school on a big scale’,

Wellesley House has struck a bal-

ance between academic excellence

and genuine care for each child,

aided by the fact that there is ‘not

a single boring teacher’. Pupils

build on their own strengths and

learn without pressure, suddenly

realising they have the ability to

do a sport, paint a picture or act

in a play. Everyone is still marvel-

ling at the Year 7s beating the

Head at a game of chess. Around

50 per cent of students board and

the girls’ boarding house, The

Orchard, has its own private

garden and library. The new pre-

prep has just opened to great

excitement from parents.

WESTBOURNE

HOUSE SCHOOL 

Coach Road, Shopwyke,

West Sussex PO20 2BH

Website westbournehouse.org Head

Martin Barker Pupils 259 day and

boarding: 138 boys, 121 girls

Ages 8–13 Term Fees Day:

£6,300; boarding: £8,834

‘Children remain children here

for longer,’ says a parent. It all

feels rather magical, from the

sprawling West Sussex grounds

to the annual Kindness Week.

things that they might need sup-

port with. Pupils have a fierce

loyalty to the school and are

immensely proud of it. One pupil

summed up their experience well:

‘Sunningdale isn’t like another

home to me, it is another home.’

TWYFORD

SCHOOL 

Twyford, Winchester, Hampshire

SO21 1NW

Website twyfordschool.com Head

Dr Steve Bailey Pupils 405 day and

boarding: 235 boys, 170 girls Ages

3–13 Term Fees Day: £6,682;

boarding: £8,409

It’s all go at buzzy co-ed Twyford,

a hive of activity where boys and

girls are busy taking part in all it

has to offer. Music has improved

over recent years and sport

remains pivotal to the school with

innumerable successes. Dr Steve

Bailey has been Head since 2010

and as well as being evidently

proud of his school and the chil-

dren, is actively involved in school

life – from trips to umpiring

hockey to his apprenticeship

classes in Mandarin. Parents are

impressed at his approachability

and the fact that he and his team

‘listen and learn’. The old school

network is thriving – always a

good sign – and well-rounded

characters leave to schools such as

Marlborough, Canford, Radley

and Winchester.

WALHAMPTON 

Lymington, Hampshire

SO41 5ZG

Website walhampton.com Head

Titus Mills Pupils 370 day and

boarding: 211 boys, 159 girls Faith

C of E Ages 2–13 Term Fees Day:

£6,170; boarding: £8,670

This co-ed school brims with

happiness and is friendly rather

than imposing: there’s not a trace

of arrogance despite Walhampton

more than pulling its weight as a

top prep ensuring pupils head to

their first-choice senior school.

There are 100 acres of beautiful

outdoor space, stables and sailing

lakes – these children have

grounds meant for roaming and

Publics with preps: see page 26

Abingdon School 

Ardingly College 

Bedales School 

Bedford School 

Berkhamsted 

Brighton College 

Caterham School 

Headington School 

Magdalen College School 

New Hall School 

Oxford High School 

Reigate Grammar School 

St Catherine’s, Bramley 

St Swithun’s 

Wellington College 

Westbourne House parents are happy

with all things co-curricular, which is

‘a real shining part of the school’

TWYFORD SCHOOL

little siblings

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