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This is a junior school where learning regularly moves outdoors, not as a treat but as part of the design. Woodland trails with named zones such as Bark Wood, Sloppy Swamp, and Outer Mongolia are used to extend classroom topics into practical work, from safe tool use and cookery to storytelling and drama.
January 2026 marks a leadership handover. Mr Malcolm Bond takes up the permanent headship from January 2026, following Rosie Allen who stepped down at the end of December 2025.
As an independent primary school, there are no published Key Stage 2 performance measures here to compare directly with state primaries. Instead, the most reliable signals are the inspection evidence, the curriculum model, and what pupils go on to next. The latest inspection (June 2025) confirms the required Independent School Standards are met across all areas, including safeguarding.
The setting does a lot of the work. The school is based at Lyncombe House, a Georgian house with grounds that include woodland and outdoor classroom space. The school describes having eight acres of gardens and woodland, which helps explain why outdoor learning is treated as a core strand rather than a bolt-on.
The campus story also explains the slightly unusual feel of the site. The history page traces the grounds back to a spring discovered in 1737 by Charles Milsom, and to John Wood being commissioned to design a “Duodecastyle Edifice” to protect it. By the mid 20th century the house had become a preparatory school, then The Paragon acquired the building in 1983 and merged schools, later expanding into former stable buildings and adding outdoor learning classrooms.
Daily culture is framed around values and behaviour language. The wellbeing page sets out “The Paragon Way” as Kindness, Compassion, Honesty, Self belief, and Aspiration. That is reinforced by the June 2025 inspection narrative, which links values to positive behaviour, inclusion, and pupils’ respect for difference.
The inspection evidence points to a curriculum that is intentionally ambitious for age, with programmes of study described as extending beyond national curriculum expectations, supported by specialist teaching and enrichment such as philosophy lessons and outdoor learning.
Assessment appears strongest where many prep schools concentrate their measurement effort. The June 2025 inspection notes that assessment information is used effectively, especially in English and mathematics, and that leaders use data to support curriculum monitoring. The improvement point is also clear: evaluation of progress is not yet equally embedded across all subjects, so tracking can feel uneven depending on the department or topic.
One practical implication for families is that you are likely to see very clear milestones and feedback in core areas, while foundation subjects may be assessed more through work quality, teacher feedback, and end-of-unit outcomes than through consistent quantifiable data.
The structure is split across early years, pre-prep and prep, with a noticeable step up in specialist teaching as pupils move through the school.
In Squirrels Pre-School, the pattern is a planned introduction to school routines with play-based learning and strong adult facilitation. The inspection summary highlights early years children benefiting from a well-planned start, with adults using topics that interest children and making use of woodland when appropriate.
From Reception to Year 2, the school states that a class teacher teaches the core curriculum, while French, Music and Games are taught by specialists. That specialist strand begins earlier than many primaries, and it tends to suit pupils who enjoy variety and thrive when subjects have distinct identities.
From Year 3 to Year 6, subject divisions become more defined, and pupils join one of four houses: Abbey, Crescent, Holburne and Milsom. The curriculum description also emphasises mixed-ability classes with differentiation, and setting “where it will benefit pupils’ learning”.
A distinctive curriculum feature is how frequently pupils access resources at the senior school, Prior Park College, including science laboratories for Years 5 and 6, and sports facilities such as an indoor swimming pool and athletics track. This can deepen subject teaching and raise expectations, but it also means the “junior school” experience is not entirely self-contained.
For a junior school, destinations matter because they show what pupils are prepared for, and what local senior schools judge them capable of.
The school states that each year the majority of Year 6 pupils progress to Prior Park College, and it describes deliberate transition work through increasing access to the senior site as pupils get older.
It also publishes detailed destination and scholarship information for recent cohorts:
2023: 35% of pupils were awarded scholarships and awards to local Bath schools. Destinations included Prior Park College (23 pupils; 10 scholarships offered), Royal High School Bath (5 pupils; 3 scholarships offered), King Edward's School Bath (11 pupils; 6 scholarships offered), Kingswood School (4 pupils), St Mary's School, Calne (1 pupil), and state destinations including Beechen Cliff School, Hayesfield Girls' School, and Ralph Allen School (7 pupils combined).
2022: 33% of pupils were awarded scholarships and awards, with destinations including Prior Park College (33 pupils; 11 scholarships offered), King Edward's School Bath (5 pupils; 3 scholarships offered), Kingswood School (2 pupils), plus state destinations including Beechen Cliff School and St Gregory's Catholic College (2 pupils).
2021: a cohort of 54 pupils accepted places across a mix of independent and state destinations, including 18 scholarships offered overall.
The implication is that the school is preparing pupils for competitive local senior school entry routes, and that scholarship outcomes are a meaningful part of the annual pattern rather than an occasional outlier.
Admissions are handled directly by the school, rather than through local authority coordinated primary admissions. For most families, the process begins with a visit, typically on a normal school day, or by attending an open morning. The admissions page lists a whole-school open morning on Friday 06 March 2026, and Reception taster events on Friday 13 February 2026, Friday 20 March 2026, and Friday 24 April 2026. Dates can change, so treat these as the best current schedule and check for updates before planning travel.
For early years, Squirrels Pre-School accepts children from the term in which they turn three, up until they start Reception. The school recommends minimum attendance patterns by age band and notes that children attending Squirrels are expected to be potty trained, with families encouraged to discuss concerns early.
For Year 6, the school explains that pupils are prepared for entrance exams into Prior Park College, which take place in January of the year the child starts secondary school, and that many also sit exams for other local independent schools.
Given how consequential the destination decision is, it is worth using FindMySchool’s Saved Schools feature early in Year 4 or Year 5, then tracking open events and senior school entry requirements in one place.
The wellbeing framework is explicit and values-led. “The Paragon Way” is set out clearly, and the language is designed to be usable by children and adults in day-to-day interactions, not just on posters.
Pastoral support is reinforced by structural choices. The June 2025 inspection summary describes leaders prioritising pupil wellbeing in decision-making and maintaining an environment where pupils feel secure and are prepared for the next stage.
There is also evidence of organised support for additional needs. The inspection notes an effective support system for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including detailed pupil passports and regular review with parents and specialists.
Co-curricular life here is both broad and unusually specific, which is what parents tend to want when they are deciding whether their child will find “their thing”.
The school states it runs over 65 clubs across the year, with a mix of lunchtime and after-school options. The clubs page gives concrete examples that signal real breadth: Pottery, Chess, Sewing club, Samba Band, and Philosophy Club.
Music looks organised by ensembles as well as peripatetic lessons. A published clubs list includes groups such as Brass Group, Woodwind group, Sing Out!, Orchestra, Joyful Noise, plus invitation-only string and guitar groups in some year ranges. That kind of structure typically suits children who like routine and progression, not just one-off performance opportunities.
Outdoor learning is a pillar rather than a theme week. The outdoor learning page describes a set of distinct areas, themed trails, and weekly sessions led by Playwood Forest School for children from Squirrels through Year 6, using a canvas outdoor classroom as a base. It is specific about activities, from woodwork and cookery to lighting fires and creating objects with natural resources and tools.
Sport is similarly structured, with specialist sports teachers and a programme that includes netball, hockey, rugby, football, cricket, tennis, and gymnastics, plus clubs such as rugby sevens and cross country. Swimming is embedded from Reception onwards and takes place at Prior Park College. Facilities include an on-site gym, hard play areas for tennis and netball, and a playing field, with further access to the senior site’s sports centre, indoor pool, sand-dressed artificial pitches, athletics track, and dance studio.
For 2025 to 2026, published annual fees are:
Reception: £14,630
Years 1 and 2: £14,630
Years 3 and 4: £16,270
Years 5 and 6: £16,685
The fee notes state that lunch is included, and that personal learning devices are included for Years 5 and 6. The published registration fee is £125 and the deposit is £600.
Early years fees for Squirrels Pre-School are published by the school, but families should check the school’s official fees page for the current early years detail rather than relying on summaries. Government early years entitlement is referenced by the school, with eligibility from the term after a child’s third birthday up to the term they reach five.
On financial support, the school states that bursaries are means-tested under the Prior Park Schools policy, either to relieve difficulty for existing families or to enable entry to the senior school where fees would otherwise be unaffordable. Applications require a bursary form and financial disclosure, with the finance team available to discuss individual cases.
*Bursaries may be available for eligible families.
Basis: per year
Families tend to care about the small logistics as much as the big educational ideas, particularly in a hilly city like Bath.
The school publishes different drop-off and collection windows by department:
Squirrels: drop off 8.15am to 8.45am; collection 1pm or 3.25pm
Reception to Year 2: drop off 8.15am to 8.45am; collection 3.25pm
Years 3 and 4: drop off 8.15am to 8.30am; collection 3.45pm
Years 5 and 6: drop off 8.15am to 8.30am; collection 3.55pm
Before-school wraparound childcare runs 7.45am to 8.15am in the library, run by school staff, with a £2 charge per use and no need to pre-book. After-school care is provided by SuperPirates, running from dismissal until 6pm Monday to Thursday, and until 5pm on Friday, with healthy snacks provided.
Transport options include walking routes through the grounds, bike and scooter storage, and a complimentary minibus shuttle from the senior school site in the mornings with an evening return. The transport page lists morning departures at 8:10am and 8.15am from the sports centre at Prior Park College, with afternoon returns at 5.00pm, or 4.20pm on Fridays.
Leadership transition. January 2026 brings a new permanent head, which often leads to changes in routines, staffing structure, or priorities over the following academic year. Families who like stability may want to ask what will stay the same and what may change.
Assessment consistency across subjects. The June 2025 inspection points to strong use of assessment in English and mathematics, but less consistent evaluation of progress across other subjects. If you value detailed, comparable reporting in every area, ask how tracking is developing beyond the core.
A split-site feel for some activities. Regular use of Prior Park College facilities is a plus academically and for sport, but it can make the week feel more structured and timetable-driven, particularly for older pupils.
Fees plus extras. The school signals an effort to keep extras low, but also notes that educational trips and activities can be billed, with explicit permission sought for extras over £20. Budgeting is easier when you ask early what the typical extras look like by year group.
This is a strong fit for families who want a junior school that treats outdoor learning, specialist teaching, and transition to local senior schools as core priorities. The published destination data suggests pupils are well-prepared for competitive local independent and state secondary routes, with scholarship outcomes forming part of the regular pattern.
Who it suits: children who learn best through variety, practical work, and structured co-curricular pathways, and families who like the idea of a junior school that already links into senior-school-level facilities. Entry is not simply about finding a place, it is about matching the child to a busy, opportunity-rich routine across indoor and outdoor settings.
The most recent Independent Schools Inspectorate inspection in June 2025 confirmed the Independent School Standards were met across all areas, including safeguarding. The school also publishes senior school destinations and scholarship outcomes for Year 6 leavers, which is often a useful proxy for academic preparation in a junior school.
For 2025 to 2026, annual fees are £14,630 for Reception to Year 2, £16,270 for Years 3 and 4, and £16,685 for Years 5 and 6. Families should also factor in the registration fee (£125) and deposit (£600), plus any chargeable trips and activities.
Yes. Squirrels Pre-School accepts children from the term they turn three, and is designed as an on-ramp into Reception. The school also references early years entitlement funding for eligible children, and publishes early years fee detail on its official fees page.
The school reports that the majority of Year 6 pupils progress to Prior Park College, and it publishes destinations across local independent and state schools. Recent destinations listed include Prior Park College, King Edward’s School Bath, Royal High School Bath, Kingswood School, and a range of Bath state secondaries such as Beechen Cliff, Hayesfield Girls’ School, and Ralph Allen School.
Drop-off and collection times vary by department, with later finish times for older year groups. Before-school wraparound runs 7.45am to 8.15am, and after-school care runs until 6pm Monday to Thursday and 5pm on Fridays, with after-school care provided by an external partner.
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