The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Forty five acres of parkland and a working school farm shape daily life here, not as a branding exercise but as an organising principle for learning and play. Ashley Manor Preparatory School takes pupils from 9 months through to Year 6, and it is structured in three clear stages, early years (nursery, kindergarten, pre-school), pre-prep (Reception to Year 2), and prep (Years 3 to 6).
There is also a strong sense of purpose around the local 11+ route. The school publishes a high success rate for pupils sitting the 11+ and lists recent grammar destinations, which will appeal to families who want a defined, coached pathway into selective schools around Cheltenham and Gloucester.
The Catholic identity is explicit in the school’s formal terms, while also being framed as welcoming to families of other faiths and none.
Ashley Manor’s most distinctive feature is how deliberately it uses its setting. The site is repeatedly positioned as an outdoor classroom, and that shows up in the way provision is described for younger pupils, with Forest School and the school farm used to complement classroom learning.
That outdoor bias matters because it changes what a “normal” school day feels like for a child. For pupils who regulate well through movement, fresh air, and practical tasks, this style of school can be a genuine advantage. For children who prefer a quieter, more contained environment, it is worth probing how often learning moves outdoors, what happens in poor weather, and how transitions are managed between spaces.
Leadership is stable and clearly presented. Paul Fathers has been headmaster since September 2021, and his profile on the school website emphasises continuity, having previously served as deputy head and director of studies.
The school’s values are framed around Believe, Strive, Achieve, and the language on the site leans strongly toward confidence-building and character formation. A useful practical lens for parents is to ask how these values translate into routines, rewards, and boundaries, especially for pupils who need very clear behavioural expectations.
As an independent prep with a published Ofsted status of “Not inspected by Ofsted” families should not expect comparable state-school performance tables in the same format. What you can evaluate, however, is the internal academic intent, the destination pattern, and the external inspection narrative about teaching quality and pupil progress.
The school makes a specific claim about 11+ outcomes and backs this up with a list of recent grammar placements. For 2025, the published placement list includes The Crypt School, Denmark Road High School, Pate’s Grammar School, and Sir Thomas Rich’s.
This matters for two reasons. First, it signals that pupils are being prepared for selective tests in a systematic way, rather than via informal “stretch”. Second, it suggests the school is used to managing the emotional reality of 11+ preparation in a small-school setting, where cohorts are known well and support can be tailored.
The clearest academic through-line is deliberate preparation for the 11+. The school describes a structured programme including regular assessments, targeted booster sessions, and exposure to 11+ style questions across subjects, with feedback built in.
That does not automatically mean an intense, exam-driven culture for every child, but it does mean the upper years are likely to feel purposeful. A sensible question for families is how the school differentiates, particularly for pupils who are not aiming for grammar tests. Ask what “success” looks like for those children, whether that is scholarships to independent seniors, a strong non-selective senior route, or simply confident transition into Year 7 elsewhere.
In the younger years, the website positions outdoor learning as central, not occasional. Pre-prep provision explicitly references Forest School sessions and farm use, alongside visits to nature reserves and other local places of interest. This tends to suit children who learn well through concrete experiences, discussion, and hands-on tasks.
For a prep school, destinations are often the most legible proxy for outcomes. Ashley Manor foregrounds the 11+ route and publishes both a success percentage and named grammar destinations.
The implications differ by family:
If your child is likely to sit the Gloucestershire grammar tests, you should ask how preparation is embedded across Year 5 and Year 6, how the school manages workload, and what pastoral support is available around results season.
If you are not pursuing grammar entry, you will want a clear picture of other common onward routes. The school’s destination page is grammar-focused, so it is worth asking directly which independent or non-selective senior schools pupils typically move on to, and whether the school tracks that information systematically.
Admissions are framed as a school-led process rather than a local-authority coordinated one. Registration requires a completed form and a non-refundable fee of £75.
For Years 1 to 6, the school references Experience Days as part of the process before an offer is made, and it notes that oversubscription can lead to a waiting list for a given year group.
For families planning visits, the school advertises a whole-school Open Morning on Saturday 18 April 2026 (9:30am to 12:30pm), covering ages 9 months to 11 years. If you cannot make an open event, the school also promotes individual tours arranged through admissions.
Because this is a Roman Catholic school, it is also sensible to ask what Catholic life looks like in practice, and how inclusive the school is for non-Catholic families. The school’s terms state that it is conducted in accordance with the tenets of the Roman Catholic faith, while welcoming children of other faiths.
Inspection evidence is the most reliable external lens for wellbeing systems, safeguarding culture, and leadership oversight.
The latest ISI progress monitoring inspection (6 May 2025) reported that the school met all the relevant Standards considered during that inspection.
Context matters, though. The preceding ISI school inspection in October 2024 reported that Standards relating to leadership and management, and governance were not met consistently, and Standards relating to pupils’ physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing were not met consistently, while safeguarding Standards were met.
For parents, the practical implication is straightforward: ask what changes were made after October 2024, and how the school now evidences attendance oversight, wellbeing systems, and leadership checks. The May 2025 outcome suggests progress, but you will want the operational detail, not reassurance.
Ashley Manor’s co-curricular story is tightly linked to the site and to performance opportunities.
Outdoor learning is presented as a routine feature, with Forest School and the school farm integrated from the early years upward. The farm is used for structured learning, not only as an optional add-on, and published examples include life-cycle work with pupils learning directly from the school’s animals.
Creative opportunities also appear consistently in inspection coverage. The October 2024 ISI report describes music and drama as embedded across the school with performance opportunities such as a Christmas concert, and it highlights pupils’ artwork displayed throughout the school.
Wraparound provision is another part of “beyond the classroom” for many working families. After school Hedgehogs Club (for ages 4 to 7) runs until 5:30pm, with supervised collection up to 6:00pm, and the school notes a hot meal for children staying late.
For 2025 to 2026, the school publishes termly charges by year group (VAT included where applicable). Reception is £3,411 per term; Year 1 is £3,744 per term; Year 2 is £3,903 per term; Year 3 is £4,587 per term; Year 4 is £4,986 per term; Year 5 is £5,484 per term; Year 6 is £5,484 per term.
After-school care (Reception to Year 6) is priced at £8.20 per session, with provision described as internally provided and collection up to 6:00pm.
Lunch is included within school fees, and the school also references a tea-time meal for children staying for after-school clubs.
A sibling discount is published for third and subsequent children (excluding kindergarten).
Financial aid is not quantified on the fee page itself. Families who may need support should ask what bursaries or scholarships are available, what they typically cover, and how decisions are made.
Nursery and pre-school fees are published on the school’s admissions pages, but early years pricing varies by pattern and funding eligibility. Families should consult the school’s official information and discuss the most suitable attendance plan.
Fees data coming soon.
Term dates for 2025 to 2026 are published, including Autumn term starting Wednesday 3 September 2025, Spring term starting Tuesday 6 January 2026, and half-term dates across the year.
Transport support is available via a shared independent-schools bus service operated by Pulhams Coaches, with routes listed from locations including Broadway, Moreton-in-Marsh, Burford, Ashton Keynes, Nailsworth, and Gloucester.
For day-to-day logistics, wraparound care for younger pupils is explicitly described, with after-school provision running to 6:00pm for collection.
Inspection trajectory and systems maturity. October 2024 highlighted inconsistencies in leadership oversight and wellbeing-related Standards, even though safeguarding Standards were met; May 2025 then reported Standards were met in the areas checked. Parents should ask for specific operational changes and how these are audited now.
A strong 11+ emphasis. The published 11+ success messaging and grammar destination lists imply a school culture that takes selective entry seriously. This suits some pupils; others may thrive better in a less test-focused environment.
Outdoor learning is a core feature. Forest School and farm-based learning are part of the proposition. That is a real positive for many children, but it is worth checking how the school supports pupils who find outdoor transitions or sensory stimulation difficult.
Catholic identity is explicit. The school’s terms set out Roman Catholic conduct while welcoming other faiths. Families should explore what worship and faith practice look like day to day, and whether that aligns with their expectations.
Ashley Manor Preparatory School is best understood as a setting-led prep, where outdoor learning, a working farm, and structured 11+ preparation combine into a clear, purposeful offer. It suits families who want a Catholic school, are comfortable with faith as part of school life, and see selective or ambitious senior routes as a realistic goal.
The main decision point is fit: whether your child will enjoy a frequently outdoor, active learning rhythm, and whether the upper-school 11+ focus matches your family’s plans.
It has several clear strengths that are easy to evidence, including published termly fees and wraparound arrangements, explicit 11+ preparation, and a strong outdoor-learning identity with Forest School and a school farm. The latest ISI monitoring outcome (May 2025) reported that Standards were met in the areas considered, following a broader inspection in October 2024 that identified some Standards not met consistently, so parents should explore the improvement work and how systems are now monitored.
For 2025 to 2026, termly fees range from £3,411 (Reception) to £5,484 (Years 5 and 6). Lunch is included in the fees, and after-school care for Reception to Year 6 is listed as £8.20 per session, with collection up to 6:00pm.
The school asks parents to complete a registration form and pay a non-refundable registration fee. For Years 1 to 6, Experience Days are referenced as part of the process before an offer is made, and the school notes that waiting lists can apply if a year group is oversubscribed.
A whole-school Open Morning is advertised for Saturday 18 April 2026, running 9:30am to 12:30pm. The school also offers individual visits for families who cannot attend an open event.
The school highlights selective pathways and lists recent grammar destinations, including Pate’s Grammar School, Sir Thomas Rich’s, Denmark Road High School, and The Crypt School. Families considering other routes should ask directly about typical independent and non-selective senior destinations, as these are not set out with the same detail on the published destinations page.
Get in touch with the school directly
Disclaimer
Information on this page is compiled, analysed, and processed from publicly available sources including the Department for Education (DfE), Ofsted, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and official school websites.
Our rankings, metrics, and assessments are derived from this data using our own methodologies and represent our independent analysis rather than official standings.
While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee that all information is current, complete, or error-free. Data may change without notice, and schools and/or local authorities should be contacted directly to verify any details before making decisions.
FindMySchool does not endorse any particular school, and rankings reflect specific metrics rather than overall quality.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on information provided. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us.
