St Christopher’s is a small, co-educational independent nursery and pre-prep in Epsom Downs, taking children from age 2 to 7 (Nursery to Year 2). It is one of the increasingly rare schools that finishes at the end of Year 2, and it leans into that specialism rather than apologising for it: the early years are treated as a distinct phase, with age-appropriate ambition and carefully structured routines.
The current headteacher is Mrs Bronia Grehan, appointed in 2022. The most recent Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspection (June 2023) judged both pupils’ academic and other achievements and their personal development as excellent, and confirmed that the school met the regulatory standards.
This is an independent school, so fees apply. For the 2025/26 academic year, the published full-time termly total for Reception to Year 2 is £5,416 (including lunch). Means-tested fee support is available, positioned as a bursary discount of up to 50% on tuition fees.
A school that ends at age 7 lives or dies by how confidently it can help young children grow up quickly, without forcing them to grow up too soon. St Christopher’s puts a lot of weight on independence, responsibility and “being the oldest in the school” in Year 2. Leadership is not reserved for the upper juniors because there are no upper juniors. Instead, Year 2 pupils are given formal roles, from head boy or head girl to house, sports, music or arts captains, and prefect-style responsibilities that reward kindness. The implication for families is clear: children who enjoy roles, routines and visible recognition often settle quickly here, and children who are timid can build confidence through structured, small-step responsibility.
The ISI report describes the school as a co-educational pre-prep organised into nursery, pre-reception, and a two-form entry pre-prep for Reception to Year 2. It also notes that a new nursery and pre-reception building opened since the previous inspection, extending entry down to age 2, which is a meaningful practical marker of investment for early years families.
The school sits within the Reigate Grammar School Group context, and that matters less for branding than for continuity. In a small pre-prep, the “next step” question is never abstract; it is a live part of the culture, and formal transition planning becomes a selling point rather than an afterthought.
For schools that finish at Year 2, conventional public exam measures do not apply, and the most useful “results” evidence is external evaluation of progress, curriculum breadth and readiness for the next school.
The June 2023 ISI report’s headline judgement is that pupils’ achievement is excellent, alongside excellent personal development. In practical terms, the report points to strong language skills and pupils’ mature attitudes towards learning, with high levels of cooperation. The implication is that the school’s strongest academic signal is not acceleration into older content, but secure early literacy, communication, and the learning habits that make a later 7+ or junior-school transition smoother.
St Christopher’s positions itself as specialist in the early years. The public-facing narrative is consistent: specialist teaching is introduced early (including PE, music, French, art and Forest School), and the aim is breadth with age-appropriate depth. For parents, the point is less about “lots of subjects” and more about children learning to switch contexts, follow different adults, and build confidence across varied routines.
The ISI report provides the more operational picture: curriculum planning, suitable resources, and assessment frameworks that support progress, with relationships education in place and the expected welfare and safeguarding-related standards met. That combination matters in a school where children are young and days need to feel safe, predictable and well supervised, while still leaving room for creativity and play.
This section is central here because St Christopher’s is intentionally a “move on at 7” school.
The school describes pre-preps as rare and emphasises what being in Year 2 at the top of the school allows: earlier leadership roles, earlier opportunities to set the tone, and a confident “I can do it” mindset before transition.
For families specifically considering the 7+ pathway, St Christopher’s highlights long-standing relationships with City of London Freemen’s and other leading schools, plus a structured 7+ programme that aims to keep pressure low while tailoring preparation in Year 2 to the child’s target school.
If you are comparing routes, note the Reigate Grammar School family connection described in the school’s transition narrative: an early offer process is referenced for the group’s senior schools in later junior years, and the “same family” framing suggests a deliberately planned handover rather than an abrupt cliff-edge at 7.
Admissions are handled directly by the school (not local-authority coordinated), and the message is straightforward: register early because demand is high, with entry points including nursery and Reception. A non-refundable registration fee of £90 is stated as part of registration.
Open events appear to be scheduled as part of the admissions rhythm. For Spring 2026, the school lists an Open Morning on Friday 27 February (9:15 am to 10:30 am). Dates can shift year to year, so treat this as a useful indicator of timing, and confirm current availability with the school before planning around it.
Parents who like to plan should use FindMySchool’s Saved Schools feature to track admissions steps across shortlists, especially where schools use rolling registration and offers are linked to visit timing rather than a single deadline.
In a nursery and pre-prep setting, pastoral strength shows up in routines, relationships and safeguarding clarity. The school’s published policies identify the headteacher as the Designated Safeguarding Lead, supported by deputies. This is operational detail, but for parents it signals a clear accountability structure, which is particularly important where children are very young.
The 2023 ISI compliance findings confirm the school met the required standards, including safeguarding, health and safety, supervision and leadership responsibilities. That matters because it anchors the “warm and caring” narrative in governance and process, not just tone.
The best evidence for enrichment in a school of this size is specificity, and St Christopher’s does provide it.
Specialist teaching is referenced across PE, music, French, art and Forest School, which is a clear indicator that children are used to specialist-led sessions early on. The practical implication is confidence moving between adults and learning styles, a skill that helps later in larger junior schools.
The calendar provides a window into performance and community life. Examples include Year 2 productions and whole-school events such as World Book Day, alongside PTA activity. These are not “extras” in the abstract, they are the kind of repeated performance and participation moments that build stage confidence, teamwork and oracy, all of which the ISI report also flags as a strength.
Leadership opportunities are also treated as enrichment: Year 2 pupils holding roles such as sports or music captains makes responsibility part of the extracurricular story, not something saved for later years.
As an independent school, tuition fees apply.
For the 2025/26 academic year (from 1 September 2025), the published full-time termly total for Reception to Year 2 is £5,416 (including lunch). Registration is £90 and the acceptance deposit is £750 (refundable against the final term’s fees, subject to terms).
Nursery and pre-reception fee options are published by session pattern; however, nursery fee amounts are not listed here, and families should refer to the school’s fee schedule directly and ask about session combinations and funding options. The same page sets out how universal early years funding is allocated for eligible 3 and 4 year olds, and notes that wraparound care is charged separately.
On financial assistance, the Independent Schools Council entry for St Christopher’s (Epsom) states that means-tested support may be awarded as a discount of up to 50% on tuition fees. If bursary support is relevant to your decision, ask specifically how awards are assessed, what documentation is required, and whether support typically applies to the same basis as the headline fee line (tuition versus extras).
Fees data coming soon.
Hours and wraparound care matter at this age. The fees page states wraparound care is available from 7:45 am to 6:00 pm and charged separately. Full-time school hours are also described within the fee schedule context (with a full-time school day shown as 8:30 am to 3:15 pm for the Reception to Year 2 fee line).
For transport, the most practical approach is usually local driving, walking, or short-drop arrangements given the age range and typical routines for nurseries and pre-preps. Families weighing morning logistics should map actual door-to-door time at peak drop-off hours rather than relying on off-peak satnav estimates.
Move at age 7. The school is designed around transition at the end of Year 2. That suits families who want an early-years specialist start, but it does mean you need a clear plan for the next school and an appetite for another admissions process.
Demand can affect timing. The school recommends registering early, which is usually a sign that places, especially in popular nursery patterns and Reception, can tighten. Families should treat visits and registration as time-sensitive rather than assuming late availability.
Costs extend beyond headline fees. Wraparound care is available but charged separately, and there are additional items such as trip charges listed in the fee schedule. Budgeting should include the likely pattern of extras for your child’s routine.
A small-school feel cuts both ways. For some children, the continuity and being well-known is exactly right. Others may prefer a larger setting earlier for breadth of peer group, especially if they are very socially outgoing.
St Christopher’s is best understood as an early-years specialist with a deliberate “finish strong at 7” model. The combination of excellent ISI judgements and a clear Year 2 leadership culture makes it particularly well-suited to families who want structured independence, strong communication habits, and a carefully managed transition into the next school. The main decision is not whether the early years are taken seriously here, they are, but whether your family is comfortable planning a second major move at age 7.
The latest ISI inspection (June 2023) judged pupils’ academic and other achievements and their personal development as excellent, and confirmed the school met the required regulatory standards. For a nursery and pre-prep, that combination is a strong indicator of both learning quality and operational effectiveness.
For the 2025/26 academic year, the published full-time termly total for Reception to Year 2 is £5,416 (including lunch). The fee schedule also lists a £90 registration fee and a £750 acceptance deposit, with wraparound care charged separately.
The school advises families to register early and handles admissions directly. Open events appear to run through the year; a Spring 2026 Open Morning is listed for Friday 27 February, which is a useful guide to timing even if dates vary year to year.
Children typically move on at age 7. The school highlights a Year 2 transition programme and a tailored 7+ pathway for families considering selective entry to the next school, with relationships referenced with schools including City of London Freemen’s.
Yes. Wraparound care is stated as available from 7:45 am to 6:00 pm and charged separately from tuition fees.
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.
