A small independent prep where the setting matters. The school occupies a Grade II listed former house on Fore Street, described by Historic England as a castellated Picturesque-style building dating to the mid-19th century, which gives the place a distinctive footprint compared with purpose-built primaries.
Leadership is family-owned and clearly hands-on. Miss Fleur Greinig has led the school since 2019, following Mrs Sylvia Greinig’s retirement from the headteacher role while continuing as proprietor. A particular calling card is swimming, with an active competitive strand through the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) circuit.
The school’s small size shapes everything. It tends to suit families who want a more personal rhythm, where staff know pupils well and systems are built around predictable routines. The published daily processes reinforce that, with clear arrival expectations, a defined handover and structured supervision expectations for different ages.
Values are framed in practical language rather than slogans. The school positions respect, resilience and responsibility as the core behavioural reference points, and these appear consistently across official documentation and external assessment commentary. For pupils, that usually translates into a calm tone in lessons, clear expectations for conduct, and rewards that feel concrete and understandable at primary age, such as house points and “golden tickets”.
The early years experience is designed as a pathway rather than a bolt-on. The admissions information describes a two-year foundation route that starts with pre-school and transitions into Reception, with the expectation that children move through in a staged way as they are ready.
There are no Key Stage 2 performance figures available to report here, and the school is not presented within the standard England state primary accountability set used for many comparisons.
So, what does a parent use instead?
The school states that its Year 6 cohorts have averaged a 95% 11+ pass rate across the last four years. That is a meaningful signal if selective routes are part of your plan, although it is still worth asking which tests that refers to, and how many pupils sat them, because “11+” can mean different things in different areas.
In May 2025, Standards relating to the quality of education, training and recreation were met, and the report describes well-planned teaching across areas such as physical education, religious education (based on world faiths), and relationships and sex education delivered in an age-appropriate way.
The school’s published curriculum intent emphasises creative and critical thinking alongside core academic fundamentals. That matters most in the way primary teaching is actually organised.
reading and writing are treated as taught skills with explicit programmes and routines.
curriculum documentation references Read Write Inc phonics and a defined handwriting scheme, alongside structured opportunities to write for different purposes.
for many pupils, especially those who benefit from predictable instruction, this sort of explicit approach can reduce cognitive overload and improve confidence.
computing and online safety are framed as part of safeguarding, not just a “subject”.
the safeguarding section of the inspection report describes filtering and monitoring systems that are regularly tested, plus explicit teaching around what children should and should not share online.
parents who worry about screen exposure often care less about devices and more about supervision culture, and this points to systems, training, and a shared language for children.
physical education is treated as skill-building with breadth.
the inspection report references yoga, dance, team sports, regular swimming, and access to a climbing wall as part of the PE and games approach.
children who learn best when movement is part of the week can find this supports concentration back in the classroom, while sporty pupils get a clearer pathway to progress.
As a prep school, the key question is not “league tables”, it is “what does this prepare my child to do next?”
The school frames transition as both academic and personal. The inspection report describes pupils being supported for entrance procedures through sessions within the curriculum, and being prepared for the wider expectations of senior schools. That aligns with the school’s own emphasis on independence, including structured responsibility roles in Year 6, such as library prefects supporting a lunchtime Book Worm club and house captains welcoming new pupils into house teams.
If you are considering selective routes, it is sensible to ask how the school balances familiarity with test formats against keeping pressure proportionate. The school’s stated 11+ outcomes imply confidence in this space, but the best fit depends on your child’s temperament and whether your family wants tutoring outside school as part of the journey.
This is not a school with a single annual intake pattern. The admissions page says children can be welcomed at any point during the academic year, subject to places being available. For families relocating to Torbay mid-year, that flexibility can be a genuine advantage.
For early years, the school describes entry into nursery and progression through a foundation pathway into Reception. If you are aiming for a September 2026 start, the practical approach is to arrange a visit earlier than you might for a large state primary, because smaller cohorts can mean places are either available quickly or not available at all.
For competitive scholarships, the school has recently run specific assessment days in early July for Reception-age upwards, with separate academic and swimming routes. Dates vary each year, so treat this as a typical seasonal window rather than a fixed annual rule.
Parents weighing multiple options can use FindMySchool’s Saved Schools feature to track what each school requires for visits, registrations, and decisions, especially when admissions are rolling rather than calendar-driven.
Termly tuition fees from September 2025 are published and stated as inclusive of VAT. Reception is £4,980 per term; Years 1 and 2 are £5,580 per term; Years 3 to 6 are £6,066 per term. The school also lists a £50 registration fee and a £300 deposit.
Some families will want the “real world” annual view. A rough term-times-three guide (not an official annual bill) puts Reception at about £14,940 per year and Years 3 to 6 at about £18,198 per year, before extras.
Financial support and scholarships exist, including a swimming-focused route, which is not common at this age range. Nursery fees are published separately by the school; for current early years pricing, use the school’s official pages.
The wellbeing model is built around close supervision, clear routines, and age-appropriate mechanisms for asking for help.
Anti-bullying practice is described as active and systematic, with teaching focused on recognising bullying and knowing what to do, and with incidents described as infrequent. Pupil voice is also treated seriously: pupils are described as comfortable raising concerns, including through worry boxes for confidential issues, and through structured opportunities to propose changes.
Safeguarding training is described as regular and embedded for staff, with clear reporting channels and record-keeping expectations, plus specific online safety education for children at different ages. This is the sort of detail that often matters more than generic promises, because it tells you how staff are expected to behave, and what children are expected to do if something feels wrong.
The extracurricular story here is defined less by sheer volume and more by specific strands that recur.
The school participates in IAPS competition pathways, and has highlighted pupils qualifying for finals at the London Aquatics Centre, alongside plans for an annual team announcement for the following year. Swimming is supported by an in-school pool with clear operational rules, including a stated 1.2m depth throughout, and coaching that assesses all four strokes for scholarship assessment contexts. The implication is simple: children who love swimming get a serious platform, while less confident swimmers get regular exposure in a controlled setting.
A cookery club is referenced as a direct result of a pupil petition, which is a strong signal of how agency is taught at primary age. Alongside that, roles like library prefects supporting Book Worm club build responsibility into the timetable rather than treating it as a reward for older pupils only.
The inspection report describes civic awards linked to the local council, including engagement with presentations by the mayor and practical service activities such as litter picking and fundraising for community projects. For children, that can make “being responsible” feel tangible rather than abstract.
*Bursaries may be available for eligible families.
Basis: per term
The school day is structured around a 9.00am classroom start, with staff on duty from 8.55am and the register closing at 9.15am. Breakfast provision is described as starting at 8.00am. Collection for early years is stated as 3.00pm, with clear handover expectations. The published opening hours for wraparound coverage run to 5.30pm.
Holiday provision is offered through an Abbey Adventures holiday club, which may matter for working families balancing school and childcare patterns.
On travel, this is a central Torquay setting. In practice, most families will treat this as a car or walkable option depending on where they live, with the key question being whether drop-off logistics fit your workday and whether your child is ready for more independent movement by Key Stage 2.
Latest inspection compliance issues. The latest ISI inspection (May 2025) reported that some Standards were not met, with weaknesses centred on leadership oversight of risk assessment and health and safety implementation, plus statutory processes around notifying the local authority when pupils join at non-standard times.
Safeguarding outcome needs careful reading. Inspectors also confirmed that safeguarding practice includes strong training, systems, and response to concerns, but requirements around non-standard admissions notifications meant safeguarding Standards were not fully met at the time of the report.
Small-school trade-offs. A close-knit setting can be brilliant for confidence and belonging, but it can also mean fewer peers per year group. For some children that is reassuring; for others it can feel socially limiting over time.
Fees are termly and include VAT. Budgeting needs to account for three large termly payments, plus likely extras such as clubs, trips, and uniform.
This is a distinctive independent prep for families who value a smaller setting, structured routines, and a school culture that takes swimming seriously rather than treating it as an occasional lesson. Best suited to parents who want personal oversight, clear behavioural expectations, and an education that builds responsibility early, including through Year 6 leadership roles and civic activity. The main decision point is whether the school’s size and the latest inspection compliance findings feel acceptable once you have asked direct questions about what has changed since May 2025.
For many families, the strengths lie in the personal scale, clear routines, and a strong sport strand in swimming. In May 2025, Standards relating to the quality of education were met, and the report describes calm behaviour and purposeful wellbeing systems. It is still important to read the same report carefully for compliance issues around leadership oversight and statutory processes.
From September 2025, termly fees are published as £4,980 for Reception, £5,580 for Years 1 and 2, and £6,066 for Years 3 to 6, inclusive of VAT. Registration and deposit amounts are also published. Nursery fees are provided on the school’s official pages.
Yes, the school includes early years provision and describes a foundation pathway into Reception. The school also states it accepts funded hours in Reception up to the end of the term in which a child turns five, and recommends parents check eligibility and processes for funded hours.
Admissions are described as flexible, with the school aiming to welcome new pupils at points across the academic year, subject to places. For a September 2026 start, it is sensible to visit early because availability can change quickly in smaller cohorts.
The school states a high 11+ pass rate across recent Year 6 cohorts and describes providing support for senior school entrance procedures through curriculum sessions. The right fit depends on whether your child thrives on structured preparation and whether your family plans to add external tutoring.
Breakfast provision is described as starting at 8.00am, and published opening hours run to 5.30pm. The school also offers holiday club provision, which may be relevant for families needing cover outside term time.
Get in touch with the school directly
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