The Hawthorns School, Redhill Review 2026: Non selective prep with senior school momentum

For many independent preps, the best proxy for academic effectiveness is not a league table position, it is the consistency of senior school outcomes, the breadth of scholarships, and how well the school matches a child to the right destination rather than pushing a single brand of success.

The Hawthorns explicitly states it is non selective and points to the proportion of leavers progressing to academically selective senior schools, including a published figure that 17% of 2025 leavers were awarded academic scholarships. It also publishes scholarship and destination headline statistics for 2025, alongside a list of scholarship categories that goes well beyond the standard academic, sport and music trio.

For a more concrete recent snapshot, the school’s June 2024 update reports 153 offers from 21 different independent senior and grammar schools for Year 6 and Year 8 pupils, with 31% of leavers gaining scholarships or awards, and 25 pupils awarded 36 scholarships. These are the kinds of figures parents can sanity check against the cohort size they see at events, and they help show whether the school’s destination claims are occasional peaks or a steady pattern.

The inspection picture is of teaching that is planned, engaging, and aligned across the age range, with staff collaboration used to create curriculum continuity. That continuity matters most at transition points, moving from early phonics and number fluency into subject specific teaching and more independent study habits in the older years.

A practical example in the inspection report is how modelling is used in English, with Year 4 pupils responding well when teachers model writing. That is a small detail, but it points to a school that uses explicit instruction when it is helpful, rather than relying on discovery learning alone. Another example is in Year 7 design and technology, where pupils use software to design a three dimensional net for packaging, showing that digital tools are not treated as an add on, they are integrated into producing tangible work.

The report also notes strengthened access to technology, with a positive impact on outcomes in this area, and describes pupils’ information and communication technology skills developing from a young age. For families who want modern learning without an early screen heavy culture, the nuance to look for on a visit is balance, how devices are used, how often, and for what kinds of tasks.

Early years is treated as a serious phase rather than childcare with a uniform. The inspection describes children making good progress from their starting points, supported by staff expertise, a warm environment, imaginative activities, and specialist input including woodland learning. The implication for parents is that Reception readiness is likely to be actively built, not assumed.

This is a destination driven prep, and it is unusually transparent about how it supports parents through choices. It states that each family is assigned a member of the Senior Leadership Team as a Senior School Guide, which signals that matching is not left to informal chats or a single annual meeting.

The school publishes a list of regular destinations including Ardingly School, Brighton College, Caterham School, Cranleigh School, Dunottar School, Epsom College, Hurstpierpoint College, Reigate Grammar School, Sevenoaks School, Tonbridge School, Worth School and Woldingham School. It also notes a wider spread over the past five years, including a mix of independent and grammar destinations. The key implication is breadth. A school that routinely sends to both selective independents and grammars is typically preparing pupils for different assessment styles and interview expectations, not only one pathway.

One recent strategic development is membership of the Caterham Family of Schools, with the school stating that Hawthorns pupils who choose Caterham as their pathway can benefit from an Early Offer during Year 5 without sitting an entrance exam, and it reports that Early Offers were made to 17 pupils in 2025. For families who like Caterham as a destination, this can reduce pressure at the 11+ stage, although it also narrows choice if you treat it as the default option rather than one of many.

Admissions are direct to the school rather than local authority coordinated. The published process is visit first, then register. Registration includes a £100 non refundable registration fee, and the school notes that registration date stamps an application, with sibling priority and chronological order used if demand exceeds availability.

In practice, that means two things. If you are considering entry into a popular year group, registering earlier is a sensible risk reduction step. If you are joining at an older point, for example for Years 7 and 8, you should ask what availability typically looks like and whether the school expects standardised assessment as part of scholarship decisions or general entry discussions.

Open mornings are offered, and the school also signals flexibility for individual tours. When dates are not convenient, families can usually arrange a visit rather than waiting for a single annual open day cycle.

For parents shortlisting multiple schools, it is worth using FindMySchool’s Saved Schools feature to keep tour notes consistent, then compare practicalities such as start times, wraparound, and journey logistics, since these often decide between otherwise similar preps.

Pastoral detail is strongest where it overlaps with behaviour culture and safeguarding practice. The inspection summary emphasises early identification of friendship or behavioural difficulties through effective staff communication, with pupils understanding rewards and sanctions and seeing them as fair. That tends to correlate with a school where staff are visible and consistent, and where small issues are handled before they become patterns.

Safeguarding is described as secure with a positive safeguarding culture, and staff training and confidence in reporting arrangements are explicitly referenced. The February 2024 ISI inspection states that safeguarding Standards are met.

For families with additional needs, the inspection also references effective support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, plus support for pupils with English as an additional language, including language lunch events. The important question to ask on a visit is practical, how support is delivered, how it is timetabled, and whether it is built into classroom practice or largely withdrawn.

This is one of the school’s clear pillars. The school describes clubs beginning from Reception, with the programme expanding as pupils move through the years. Named examples include judo, chess, roller skating and musical groups, and the inspection also references activities such as judo and chamber choir.

Sport is unusually well resourced for a day prep. The school describes a 20 metre indoor pool, a large sports hall, a floodlit all weather pitch, and an outdoor climbing high wire course, plus an activity room used for dance styles including ballet, tap, jazz, Latin American, ballroom and modern. The implication for pupils is simple, this is a setting where PE and games can be delivered in a structured way, and where co-curricular sport does not depend on hiring external facilities each week.

There are also clear priced add ons for families who want specialist pathways. Published extras include LAMDA, music lessons, dance lessons, swimming lessons, and specific sports activities such as tennis and gymnastics. The existence of a published schedule of supplemental charges is useful because it lets parents plan realistically, especially if a child will take multiple lessons.

Holiday provision is another practical differentiator. The school runs holiday camps with multi activity days and specialist options including woodland bushcraft, and publishes hours and pricing for standard and extended days. For many working families, this matters as much as any particular club.

For the 2025 to 2026 fee cycle, published school fees are tiered by year group. The fees overview covering January 2026 to August 2026 lists termly school fees of £5,372 for Reception, £5,825 for Years 1 and 2, £7,136 for Years 3 and 4, and £7,942 for Years 5 to 8. The school also states that academic fees attracted VAT from January 2025 and that the published fees include the VAT related adjustments described in its fees note.

One time and refundable items are also published. The registration fee is £100, and the acceptance deposit is £500, credited on the final bill. For nursery families who want to fast track progression into Reception, an additional Reception deposit of £1,000 is referenced as being credited against the first term’s Reception fees.

Means tested support is available, described as a limited number of means tested bursaries, and the school also advertises discretionary Head’s Scholarships at 11+ for entry into Years 7 and 8, including academic awards plus subject and co curricular awards such as sport, drama, dance, art, design technology and music.

Nursery fees are published by the school, and eligibility for government funded early education is referenced. For current nursery pricing and funding mechanics, use the school’s nursery fees information directly, since early years choices depend heavily on session patterns and eligibility.

Published start and finish times vary by year group. Reception is listed as 8.40am to 3.10pm. Year 1 is 8.30am to 3.20pm, Year 2 is 8.30am to 3.30pm, Years 3 and 4 are 8.15am to 3.45pm, and Years 5 to 8 are 8.15am to 4.20pm. Nursery sessions vary by age and booking pattern, with a school day option listed as 8.00am to 4.15pm alongside full day provision.

Wraparound care is published from 7.15am to 6.00pm during term time, and the school publishes a schedule of wraparound options including breakfast club and after school care arrangements.

A morning minibus route is published as Horley at 7.30am, then Reigate, then Redhill, arriving by 8.15am. For families balancing multiple drop offs, a consistent transport option can reduce the daily pressure significantly.

Term dates for 2025 to 2026 are published, including an Autumn term start on Thursday 4 September 2025 and a Spring term start on Wednesday 7 January 2026.

• A destination focused culture. The school is non selective, but it is also transparent about senior school outcomes and scholarships. Families who want a gentler relationship with senior school testing should ask how preparation is paced in Years 5 to 8.

• Fees rise sensitivity. Academic fees include VAT under the current approach described in the fees note. If affordability is tight, discuss bursary options early rather than assuming support is only for current families.

• Wraparound costs add up. Wraparound, camps and paid activities are clearly published, which is helpful, but the practical cost profile will vary by family. Build a realistic weekly plan before committing.

• Community involvement is a stated improvement area. The latest inspection recommended strengthening pupils’ understanding of social responsibility through more direct involvement with the local community. If this matters to you, ask what has changed since February 2024.

This is a prep for families who want breadth without sacrificing outcomes. The combination of early years provision, published wraparound from 7.15am to 6.00pm, strong sports facilities, and a clear senior school destinations narrative creates a coherent offer across ages 0 to 13. Best suited to children who benefit from structure, variety, and a positive behaviour culture, and to parents who want active guidance on senior school choices rather than a single default pathway.