Named after Dr Thomas Arnold, the celebrated reforming headmaster of Rugby School, this Leamington Spa institution has educated children since 1864. What began as the oldest preparatory school in Warwickshire has transformed into an all-through co-educational day school serving Reception through to A-level. The May 2023 ISI inspection awarded Excellent in all areas, validating a decade of strategic expansion under current leadership. With approximately 470 pupils and a sixth form launched only in 2013, Arnold Lodge combines Victorian heritage with deliberate modernisation.
The school sits at the heart of Royal Leamington Spa, occupying a collection of Victorian buildings interspersed with modern additions along Kenilworth Road. The Douglas and Eileen Hall Building, opened in 1972 by Margaret Thatcher during her tenure as Education Secretary, anchors the site's contemporary facilities. She noted that the school was held in very high regard by the inspectorate, a reputation that persists.
David Preston has led the school since August 2016, arriving when pupil numbers had declined to around 160. Under his headship, enrolment has grown nearly threefold to approximately 470 pupils. This turnaround reflects deliberate cultural change. The school's values of Honesty, Hard Work, and Kindness are not decorative slogans but operational principles visible in behaviour policies and daily interactions.
The 2023 ISI inspection described a culture of kindness and care permeating the school community. Inspectors noted that pupils enjoy overwhelmingly positive relationships with each other and their teachers. The school's philosophy of happy children learning best appears to translate into practice. Preston described the inspection result as an outstanding endorsement of the school's approach.
Class sizes remain small, averaging 17 in the junior school. This allows staff to know each child individually, a consistent theme in the school's presentation of itself.
At GCSE, Arnold Lodge achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 50.1, placing the school in the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile) according to FindMySchool rankings. The school ranks 1920th in England for GCSE outcomes and 2nd among schools in Leamington Spa. The EBacc average point score of 4.14 sits marginally above the England average of 4.08.
The sixth form, established in 2013, has built a modest track record. In the most recent cohort, 45% of A-level grades achieved A*-B, with 1.7% at A* and 11.7% at A. These figures sit below the England average of 47.2% at A*-B.
The school ranks 1631st in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking) and 4th among Leamington Spa providers, placing it below England average (bottom 40%). However, for a sixth form barely a decade old and intentionally small, these results should be contextualised. Arnold Lodge has never positioned itself as an academic hothouse. The school emphasises individual progress and breadth of opportunity over raw grade statistics.
The combined GCSE and A-level ranking of 1511th in England reflects a school still building its post-16 reputation.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
45%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
—
% of students achieving grades 9-7
The curriculum follows traditional academic lines through to GCSE, with specialist subject teaching from an early stage. All pupils learn an instrument in class, and approximately one-third take additional instrumental lessons from Year 3. Art, music, and drama are taught as discrete curricular subjects throughout.
At A-level, 21 subjects are offered, including facilitating subjects commonly required by competitive universities: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, further mathematics, geography, history, English literature, and modern languages. Students typically study three A-levels or BTECs, with most also completing the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) as part of the enrichment programme. The EPQ provides additional UCAS points while allowing students to pursue independent research in areas of personal interest.
Entry requirements for sixth form courses are treated as recommendations rather than rigid thresholds, with decisions informed by teachers' personal knowledge of each student alongside their grades. This flexibility reflects the school's small-school advantage.
According to the latest DfE data for 2023/24 leavers, 48% of the cohort of 27 students progressed to university. A further 26% entered employment directly, and 4% began apprenticeships.
The school does not publish detailed Russell Group or Oxbridge placement figures on its website. This is unsurprising for a young sixth form with small cohorts. The school's focus is on guiding each student toward the right path for them, whether university, apprenticeship, or direct employment, supported by specialist university and career advisors.
For pupils leaving after Year 6, the junior school prepares children for transition to a range of local secondary options, with some progressing internally to Arnold Lodge's own senior school and others moving to grammar schools or other independent schools in the area.
Arnold Lodge operates key entry points at Reception, Year 3, Year 7, and Year 12, though places may be available at other stages depending on availability.
The application process begins with an enquiry to the admissions team, followed by a school tour with the Head. Prospective families can then arrange a Taster Day. The school emphasises fit and potential rather than formal testing at this stage.
Entry at 11+ involves a more structured assessment process. Candidates sit papers in English and Mathematics. The English paper includes comprehension, inference, and analysis questions based on a fiction extract, followed by creative writing. The Mathematics paper covers the Year 6 National Curriculum with problem-solving questions. However, the school emphasises assessing the whole child and their academic potential rather than their current academic attainment.
The next Year 7 Assessment Day for September 2026 entry is scheduled for Tuesday 7 October 2025. Registration requires a completed online application form and a non-refundable £50 application fee.
Sixth form entry involves discussion of subject choices and academic suitability, with entry requirements treated flexibly based on individual circumstances.
To secure a place, families complete a registration form and pay a £200 deposit (returned when the child leaves) plus a £50 non-refundable registration fee.
Arnold Lodge is not part of any consortium and has no catchment area. As an independent school, places are allocated through direct application to the school rather than through local authority coordination.
The school's ethos places happiness at the centre of learning. The 2023 ISI inspection found the school wholeheartedly achieves its aim to encourage all pupils to make excellent progress, academically and emotionally, whilst developing their individual success.
Small class sizes enable teachers to identify when pupils are struggling. The culture of kindness described by inspectors creates an environment where children feel able to approach staff. The emphasis on honesty as a core value supports open communication between pupils, parents, and teachers.
Pupils are given outstanding spiritual, moral, social and cultural development according to inspectors, with the school continuously seeking to develop its approach to the whole child.
Music, art, and drama feature prominently. All pupils learn an instrument in class. Approximately one-third of pupils from Year 3 onwards take additional instrumental tuition. The school offers choir, orchestra, and various instrument ensembles. Pupils can participate in up to ten different extracurricular creative and performing arts clubs.
Drama scholarship assessments and regular productions provide performance opportunities. The school's history under Jonathan Hall's headship (1963-1991) established traditions in music, art, and drama that continue today.
The school offers a range of sports with connections to elite pathways. Pupils have performed the guard of honour for Leicester Tigers Rugby Club. Regular trips to watch professional sport include Wimbledon tennis.
Lunchtime and after-school clubs cover diverse interests: sewing, cooking, karate, choir, fencing, chess, school newspaper, stage combat, ultimate frisbee, coding, and more. Senior students can access activities including senior chefs, karate, and games clubs. Most clubs are free or carry nominal charges; specialist instructors incur additional fees.
The sixth form enrichment programme develops understanding of democracy, culture, and the arts while supporting CV development. Career talks from industry leaders and specialist university advisors help students make informed choices about their futures.
Termly fees are structured by year group:
Lunch is charged separately at approximately £350 per term. Fees do not include entry for external examinations such as music, drama, or dance qualifications.
Payment can be made termly or via 12 equal monthly direct debit instalments beginning in August.
Arnold Lodge offers scholarships for entry at Year 7 and Year 12 in the following areas:
Scholarships may be honorary or carry a fee reduction of up to 50%. They are awarded for the duration of the pupil's time at the school, subject to annual review, particularly at the Year 9 to Year 10 and Year 11 to Year 12 transitions.
Means-tested bursaries are available for scholarship holders. Parents can apply to augment a scholarship with a bursary, with fee reductions determined by financial circumstances. A limited number of bursaries may also be available for pupils who do not meet scholarship requirements.
*Bursaries may be available for eligible families.
Basis: per term
The school day begins at 8:35am for senior pupils, with supervised care available from 8:00am when the gates open. Arnies After School Club provides wraparound care for Reception to Year 11 pupils from 3:50pm to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday. Holiday clubs operate during school holidays.
The school is located at 15-17 Kenilworth Road in central Leamington Spa (CV32 5TW), within walking distance of the town centre and Leamington Spa railway station. Parking is limited in the immediate area.
Open days typically run in autumn. The Sixth Form Open Evening is scheduled for Thursday 20 November 2025. Families can book visits through the admissions team.
Young sixth form with developing track record. The sixth form launched only in 2013. With small cohorts, A-level results should be interpreted cautiously. Families seeking established post-16 provision with extensive subject choice and large peer groups may find larger sixth forms better suited to their needs.
Results below competitive benchmarks. A-level outcomes sit below England averages. The school does not position itself as an academic hothouse, and families with high academic expectations may find this a mismatch. However, the school's emphasis on individual progress and pastoral support may suit pupils who thrive in smaller, more nurturing environments.
Day school only. There is no boarding provision. International families or those seeking full boarding should look elsewhere.
Fee increases. The school notes that fee increases are made with one term's notice. Families should budget for annual rises when planning school costs over multiple years.
Arnold Lodge represents a particular model of independent education: small, personal, values-driven, and deliberately non-pressurised. The May 2023 ISI inspection's Excellent ratings across all areas validate this approach for families who share those priorities.
The school's transformation under David Preston has been striking, with pupil numbers nearly tripling in under a decade. This growth reflects genuine appeal to Leamington Spa families seeking an alternative to larger, more pressurised options.
Best suited to families wanting a small, all-through day school with a strong pastoral culture, where teachers know every child and happiness is treated as foundational to learning. The presence of notable alumni, including Christian Horner, demonstrates that the school can produce high achievers, but the primary offer is a nurturing environment for the full range of abilities. Families prioritising league table positions or Oxbridge pipelines should look elsewhere; those valuing kindness, individual attention, and broad development may find exactly what they seek.
Yes. Arnold Lodge received Excellent ratings in all areas in its May 2023 ISI inspection. Inspectors praised the culture of kindness and care and noted that the school wholeheartedly achieves its aim to encourage all pupils to make excellent progress. The school ranks 2nd in Leamington Spa for GCSE outcomes according to FindMySchool rankings.
Termly fees from January 2025 range from approximately £3,708 for Reception to Year 2, rising to approximately £4,250 for Years 5-6, and approximately £5,000-£5,300 for senior years. Fees are inclusive of VAT. Lunch is charged separately at around £350 per term. Scholarships of up to 50% are available for Year 7 and Year 12 entry.
Yes. Scholarships are available at Year 7 and Year 12 entry for excellence in academics, art, drama, music, or sport, offering up to 50% fee reduction. Means-tested bursaries can augment scholarships for families with financial need, with reductions based on individual circumstances.
Key entry points are Reception, Year 3, Year 7, and Year 12. The process involves enquiry, school tour, Taster Day, and assessment. Year 7 entry includes papers in English and Mathematics. Registration requires a £50 application fee and £200 deposit. The school emphasises potential and fit rather than current attainment.
Yes. The sixth form was established in 2013, offering 21 A-level and BTEC subjects. Most students study three subjects plus the Extended Project Qualification. Entry requirements are flexible, based on individual assessment. In 2023/24, 48% of leavers progressed to university.
Arnies After School Club provides care from 3:50pm to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday, for Reception to Year 11 pupils. Supervised care is available from 8:00am. Holiday clubs run during school breaks. Wraparound care therefore spans 8:00am to 6:00pm on school days.
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