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 school that runs from age 2 through to 13, and feels designed for families who want breadth without chaos. The setting matters here: the school describes itself as based in a Georgian manor house on a two-acre site in Broadwater, Worthing, which gives it the scale of a proper campus without feeling sprawling.
Leadership is stable and clearly woven into the school story. Mrs Francesca Milling became head in September 2023, following the retirement of Mrs Heather Beeby, who led the school until July 2023.
Inspection-wise, the most useful lens is the current ISI framework. The May 2025 ISI inspection confirmed that all standards were met, including safeguarding.
This is a school that puts its ethos into daily routines rather than treating it as marketing. Its stated priorities focus on love of learning, kindness, and service, framed within a Christian community, alongside an explicit emphasis on pupils feeling safe, valued, and supported.
The pastoral narrative is unusually concrete. The inspection record points to wellbeing and self-regulation initiatives that help pupils feel secure, and it describes a calm, considerate culture where behaviour is consistently well managed and bullying is reported as rare.
There is also a named wellbeing space, the Hive, positioned as a calm place pupils use to reflect and seek guidance. That sort of physical anchor matters for anxious children, or for families who want visible pastoral infrastructure rather than informal reassurance.
Because this is an independent prep (and not a state primary publishing statutory results in the same way), the most reliable picture comes from curriculum structure, inspection evidence, and the school’s preparation for senior school transitions.
The May 2025 ISI report describes pupils learning and achieving well, with systems for assessing progress and supporting pupils who need extra help, including those with special educational needs and disabilities and pupils who speak English as an additional language.
One practical takeaway from the inspection is the single recommended next step: teachers should be particularly alert to pupils ready to apply learning in more complex ways, or who are ready to achieve more, so they make the progress they are capable of. That is a classic “stretch the top” refinement rather than a concern about foundations.
The school sets out a broad, balanced curriculum, explicitly enriched by creative and physical activity, and framed around developing independent, searching minds.
For parents, the question is usually what that looks like in classrooms. The inspection report points to structured feedback and coherent assessment, with leaders using progress information to identify pupils who need extra help and ensure they receive it.
If you are considering entry outside the typical starting points, it is helpful that the school states pupils can start at any point in the school year (space permitting) and that it aims to settle pupils quickly. That flexibility can be a genuine advantage for families relocating, or those moving from the state sector into independent education at a natural break point.
As a prep that runs through to 13, the core “destination” question is senior school readiness and the 13+ pathway.
The school explicitly positions Year 7 as a strong introduction to independent education for families considering 13+ senior schools such as Lancing College and others, and it offers means-tested 11+ scholarships for pupils joining Year 7.
The ISI inspection adds a useful structural clue: it notes pupils are ready to move on to secondary school in Year 9. That aligns with a prep that is organising curriculum and pastoral routines to land pupils well at 13+.
The school describes three main entry points: Nursery and Pre-School (from age 2), Reception, and Year 7. It also highlights Year 3 as a common additional entry point, with early application recommended because places can be limited.
Open mornings run in a consistent pattern across the year, typically in October, February, and May, plus personal visits. For 2026, the school lists open mornings on Saturday 7 February 2026 and Saturday 9 May 2026, both at 10am.
For families assessing competitiveness, the most practical approach is to treat admissions as relationship-led rather than deadline-led at the younger ages, and more structured at the 11+ point. The school provides a dedicated Year 7 entry page and states it offers means-tested 11+ scholarships.
Tip: if you are comparing multiple local options, the FindMySchool Saved Schools feature can help keep open mornings, admissions requirements, and fee structures straight across a shortlist.
This is a clear strength. The inspection narrative repeatedly returns to wellbeing and respectful relationships, and it describes a school culture that supports pupils’ confidence and self-esteem.
Practical pastoral indicators include:
a wellbeing centre (the Hive) used by pupils as a calm, supportive environment
a culture where pupils report bullying is rare, with confidence that concerns will be dealt with promptly
pupil leadership roles and committees, including anti-bullying and the green team, which give pupils voice and responsibility
For many families, this combination is the sweet spot: structured expectations, plus visible support when children need space to reset.
This is not a “football and chess” paragraph school. The inspection report gives unusually specific examples of clubs, which is helpful because it shows breadth and quirk in the same breath.
Examples named in the inspection include cookery, swerve soccer, a war hammer club, and an environmental club that includes flower pressing.
The school also offers pupil committees (including anti-bullying and the green team), and it uses forest school for outdoor learning, particularly for younger pupils.
The school’s open-morning materials also point to co-curricular staples such as chess, STEM activities, drama, karate, yoga, basketball, netball, cookery, debating, and art.
Implication for families: if your child needs to find “their thing” beyond the core curriculum, there are enough lanes here for both the obvious interests and the slightly niche ones.
This is an independent school, with fees payable termly in advance.
For the 2025–2026 academic year, the school lists:
Years 3 to 8: £6,038 per term
Reception to Year 2: £4,394 per term
The school states fees are inclusive of VAT.
A one-off registration fee of £90 applies, and the acceptance deposit is £250 (refunded on leaving, less any outstanding charges).
A 10% sibling discount applies for younger siblings while the older sibling is at the College or prep schools (with restrictions around Early Years funding).
Financial support is referenced most clearly at the 11+ stage: the school offers means-tested 11+ scholarships for entry into Year 7.
Nursery and Pre-School pricing is structured differently and depends on sessions; for early years costs, use the school’s published financial information and confirm the pattern directly with admissions.
*Bursaries may be available for eligible families.
Basis: per term
Term dates are published well ahead, including Autumn Term 2026 starting on Thursday 3 September 2026, and ending on Friday 11 December 2026.
The most reliable open-event schedule is clear: open mornings typically run in October, February, and May; and for 2026 there are published events in February and May.
Wraparound care is available, and the school’s financial information distinguishes between the prep years and younger pupils in how it is charged, so families should check what applies to their child’s age and attendance pattern.
Top-end stretch. The May 2025 ISI report’s key next step is about ensuring pupils ready for deeper, more complex work are consistently identified and supported. If your child is highly academic, ask how stretch and extension are handled day to day.
Faith context. The ethos is framed within a Christian community, with Christian values positioned as central to the foundation. Families wanting a fully secular environment should explore how this shows up in assemblies and the wider school rhythm.
Entry points vary by age. Nursery, Reception, and Year 7 are the primary gateways, and Year 3 can be a useful additional joining point, but availability is space-dependent. This is a school to engage early rather than assume places will appear later.
Fees are termly and inclusive in many areas. Books, materials, lunch, and most school-run clubs are included, but some extras (music tuition, external-provider clubs, trips) are charged separately, so budget for the common add-ons.
A well-structured independent prep with a clear pastoral framework and a campus that feels purpose-built for ages 2 to 13. The best fit is for families who value kindness and wellbeing as strongly as academic progress, and who want a school that can carry a child confidently into the 13+ senior-school transition. Admission is the variable; securing the right place at the right time is the main logistical challenge.
The May 2025 ISI inspection confirmed that the school met all standards, including safeguarding, and it describes a culture where pupils feel safe, valued, and supported. The report also highlights respectful relationships and strong pastoral structures, including a dedicated wellbeing space.
For 2025–2026, fees are £4,394 per term for Reception to Year 2 and £6,038 per term for Years 3 to 8, with fees stated as inclusive of VAT. The school also lists a £90 registration fee and a £250 deposit when a place is offered.
The school describes Nursery and Pre-School (from age 2), Reception, and Year 7 as the main entry points. Year 3 is also highlighted as a common joining point, subject to space.
The school states it offers means-tested 11+ scholarships for children joining Year 7. Families should ask admissions what is available for their entry point and how awards are assessed.
Open mornings typically run in October, February, and May. For 2026, the school lists open mornings on Saturday 7 February 2026 and Saturday 9 May 2026, both at 10am.
Get in touch with the school directly
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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.
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