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.
A prep that blends early years play with a clear eye on Year 6 outcomes. Founded in 1938 by Mrs Christina Adlington, the school has long positioned itself as a stepping stone to a broad spread of grammar, strong state secondaries, and independent senior schools.
Leadership has recently changed. Mr M Otter is listed as Headteacher, having taken up post in September 2025 following the retirement of Mr Jonathan Beale.
On the regulatory side, the most recent inspection activity is a progress monitoring visit in July 2025 which reported that the school met all relevant Standards considered. That matters because the preceding routine inspection in December 2024 identified gaps in leaders’ oversight of statutory attendance guidance, plus administrative errors on the single central record (rectified during the inspection).
The school markets itself around resilience, curiosity and kindness, and that emphasis shows up consistently in how day to day routines are framed, from recognition systems to house points. For younger pupils, celebration is For younger pupils, celebration is deliberately broad rather than purely academic, with a stated focus on manners, kindness,
Organisation is structured by stage. The early years covers ages 3 to 5, then moves through Pre Prep and into the older prep years. The website describes specialist teaching from early on, with pupils in Years 1 and 2 having timetabled specialist lessons including French, Spanish, Computing, Music, Swimming, PE and Games. The practical implication for families is that the school aims to develop breadth early, rather than waiting until upper prep to introduce subject specialism.
Pastoral systems are also described in operational terms, not just as values language. The senior staff structure includes a Designated Safeguarding Lead, a school nurse, and a named head of learning support. The published staffing list also points to subject leadership roles in areas such as mathematics, modern languages, swimming and music, which can signal consistency in how those areas are delivered across year groups.
Here, the school does publish its own 11 plus and transition picture. It states that, on average, around 75% of Year 6 pupils sit the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test each September, with around 60 pupils in Year 6 across three classes. It also reports an average qualifying rate of 70% across the last eight years for those who sat, and a qualifying rate of 84% for its 2025 leavers.
The useful way to read those figures is as a proxy for academic stretch and preparation culture in Years 4 to 6. If your family intends to pursue grammar entry, that level of participation suggests the school is experienced at supporting the process, including running familiarisation and arranging test sitting on site as a partner school. If you are aiming for independent senior schools instead, the same preparation cycle usually translates into interview practice and structured references, which the school also describes as part of its transition support.
Parents comparing multiple local preps can also use the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison tool to keep notes on published 11 plus participation, destination breadth, and inspection status side by side, rather than relying on general impressions.
The admissions policy makes the school’s academic positioning fairly clear. Nursery, Reception and Year 1 entry is assessed on verbal, communication skills and reasoning, while Year 3 and above is assessed more formally in mathematics, English and non verbal reasoning. The practical implication is that the school becomes more explicitly academic as pupils move into prep proper, which tends to suit children who enjoy structured learning and are ready for a quicker pace by Key Stage 2.
In class, the school talks about connected themes in the younger years, where topics link literacy, science and creative work, rather than teaching everything in isolation. That style often helps younger pupils retain vocabulary and concepts because the same ideas surface repeatedly across different lessons.
Specialist teaching appears early. Years 1 and 2 are described as having class teachers for core subjects plus specialist lessons including languages, computing, music and swimming. As pupils get older, the December 2024 inspection gives examples of subject teaching that expects accurate terminology and method, for example in science practical work.
For a prep, destinations matter because they show both the level of academic challenge and the breadth of routes supported.
The school publishes a detailed list of Year 6 destinations by named senior school and year, including grammar, independent, and state secondary destinations. For 2025 leavers, examples from the published list include moves to Chesham Grammar School (14), Dr Challoner’s High School (8), Dr Challoner’s Grammar School (6), Aylesbury Grammar School (5), and Aylesbury High School (1).
On the independent side for 2025, the same published table includes Berkhamsted School (8), Pipers Corner School (3), and RMS for Girls (2), among others.
State secondary transitions are also listed, including Ashlyns School (3) for 2025, plus smaller numbers to other local options.
Taken together, that spread indicates a school that does not funnel pupils into one dominant route. Instead, it supports multiple pathways, with a strong grammar contingent, plus meaningful independent senior placement numbers each year.
Entry points are clearly signposted as Nursery, Reception and Year 3, with occasional places in other years depending on capacity. The published admissions policy sets out a three part process: entrance assessment (age appropriate), a visit to the year group, and references where applicable.
The school charges a non refundable registration fee of £120 (including VAT) to join the prospective pupil list. Registration is explicitly described as not guaranteeing a place, which is typical in the independent sector and worth taking literally if you are applying for a high demand entry point.
For Nursery and Reception, the school describes a play based session as part of the experience day. For Year 3, it describes a more formal assessment day that includes maths, reading comprehension and a short writing task, plus practical activities such as PE and art or craft.
Open mornings run each term. The next listed dates are Friday 6 March and Saturday 7 March, 9am to 11am, and the school asks families to complete a booking form to secure a place. If those dates have passed by the time you read this, the pattern still helps: expect open events in each term, with booking required via the website.
Parents assessing feasibility should use FindMySchoolMap Search to sanity check travel time from home at school run hours, especially if you are considering wraparound care plus bus routes.
Safeguarding culture is described as an explicit strength in the latest inspection activity. The July 2025 progress monitoring report describes an embedded culture of safeguarding, frequent staff training, and staff vigilance.
The December 2024 inspection also offers helpful context on wellbeing, pointing to positive relationships with staff and a deliberate emphasis on kindness and care in supporting pupils’ emotional wellbeing.
Operationally, the staff list indicates that the school has both a nurse and a school counsellor role listed within teaching leadership, which can matter for families who want in house pastoral capacity rather than purely signposting to external services. The learning support structure is also clearly named, with a head of learning support plus a small team of support teachers and assistants.
This is an area where the school provides unusually concrete examples, and it is also a feature praised in the 2024 inspection narrative.
In Years 1 and 2, the school explicitly names clubs such as Fencing, Street Dance, Doodle Club and Mindfulness. Those examples matter because they show that enrichment is not only sport and performance, it also includes calmer, skills based options that suit a wider range of personalities.
Performing arts is described in structured terms, with five choirs including an auditioned Senior Choir, plus Singing for Wellbeing clubs and a range of instrumental ensembles (Orchestra, Wind, Strings, Brass and Guitar). This suggests a programme that can work for both confident performers and pupils who want to build skills steadily without being pushed into public performance early.
Sport looks well resourced. The school describes competitive swimming, including gala hosting and a history of reaching national finals at major venues, plus recreational clubs and squad training for Years 3 to 6. A published prospectus also lists facilities including a four lane 25 metre swimming pool, an astro pitch, and an 800m² sports hall, plus on site playing fields.
The practical implication is that extracurricular life here is planned as part of pupil development, not as an optional add on. For busy families, the school’s choice to include staff run clubs within the day fee also changes the cost calculus compared with schools where most clubs are chargeable.
Fees are published per term from September 2025, inclusive of VAT where applicable. Current termly tuition fees are £4,790 for Reception, £5,718 for Years 1 and 2, £6,780 for Year 3, £6,948 for Year 4, and £7,188 for Years 5 and 6. Nursery fee structures are published by the school, but early years fee patterns can vary by sessions, so families should check the nursery page and fees schedule directly for the current options.
The school states that its fees include supervision from 8am to 4pm for all pupils, lunches, snacks, in school workshops, and staff run after school clubs. Additional published costs include school buses at £415 per term for a full week, breakfast club at £4.15 per session, and late club at £4.15 per half hour, plus music and LAMDA lesson pricing.
The fees page does not set out bursary or scholarship award details. Families who need financial support should ask the bursar’s office what is currently available, and what evidence is required, before assuming support exists or does not exist.
Fees data coming soon.
For pupils in Years 1 and 2, the school publishes a normal day of 8.30am to 3.30pm, with clubs to 4pm and wraparound care from 7.30am to 6pm. Breakfast club is listed from 7.30am to 8.00am.
Transport options include a published school bus network across nearby towns and villages, with costs listed per term and per trip. For rail commuters, the school highlights access to the London Underground Metropolitan line and the Chiltern Railways route into central London via nearby stations such as Chesham and Amersham.
Recent compliance scrutiny. The July 2025 progress monitoring visit reported that the relevant Standards considered were met, but it took place because the December 2024 routine inspection had identified weaknesses in statutory attendance oversight and record accuracy. Families who want reassurance should ask how governance monitoring now works in practice.
A strong grammar culture. Around three quarters of Year 6 pupils typically sit the Buckinghamshire 11 plus, which can create a year group tone where preparation is common. Children who thrive in a calmer academic environment may need careful support in Year 5 and Year 6.
Fees plus extras. The core day fee includes a lot, but published add ons such as buses, breakfast club, late club and individual tuition can still add up depending on your family’s pattern of use.
Academic selectivity increases at Year 3. Entry is described as more formally academic from Year 3 onwards, so families considering later entry should be realistic about readiness in maths, English and reasoning.
This is a prep for families who want a broad education in the early years, then a more explicitly academic run up to Year 6, with proven experience in both grammar and independent senior school routes. The published destination data suggests genuine breadth rather than a single default pathway, and the timetable plus wraparound structure will suit working parents. Best suited to pupils who enjoy being busy, benefit from specialist teaching early, and may aim for selective transfer at 11, while still wanting sport, music and clubs to be part of weekly life.
The most recent inspection activity was an ISI progress monitoring visit in July 2025 which reported that the relevant Standards considered were met. The school also publishes strong 11 plus participation and qualification figures, alongside detailed destination data that includes grammar and independent senior school offers.
Fees are published per term from September 2025. Reception is £4,790 per term and Years 5 and 6 are £7,188 per term, with other year groups in between. Nursery fees and session options are listed on the school’s website; it is best to check the current schedule directly.
The main entry points are Nursery, Reception and Year 3. Families typically visit first, then register, then children attend an experience day that is play based for Nursery and Reception, and more formal for Year 3. Registration includes a non refundable registration fee.
A large proportion of Year 6 pupils typically sit the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test, and the school describes itself as a partner school where pupils can sit the test in a familiar setting. Families choosing this route should still ask how preparation is integrated into the curriculum so that it does not dominate Year 6.
The school publishes wraparound care timings that run from 7.30am to 6pm for younger year groups, with breakfast club and late club listed separately. Families should confirm availability and booking expectations for their child’s year group, especially if using late club multiple days per week.
Get in touch with the school directly
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