Cheltenham College Preparatory School A GSG School
- Cheltenham College Preparatory School
Thirlestaine Road
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL53 7AB - Head: Tom O’Sullivan
- T 01242 522697
- F 01242 265620
- E prepadmissions@ch…ltenhamcollege.org
- W www.cheltenham…ge.org/the-prep
- A mainstream independent school for pupils aged from 3 to 13 with a linked senior school
- Boarding: Yes
- Local authority: Gloucestershire
- Pupils: 454
- Religion: Church of England
- Fees: Day £12,312 - £27,810; Boarding £27,690 - £36,162 pa (last updated on 25/02/2025)
- Open days: Check school website
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- ISI report: View the ISI report
- Linked schools: Cheltenham College
What The Good Schools Guide says..
One father told us how he’d always intended to send his children to the college, ‘but decided just to have a look at the prep and it was a bit like going from black and white to glorious Technicolor – we couldn’t unsee it and moved them immediately.’ Small classes and regular discreet testing ensure pupils progress at their own rate. Teachers are smiley and animated. One of the best learning support departments we’ve seen in a prep – a two-storey facility with multiple, vibrant, well-resourced (games, fidget toys, learning aids etc) rooms to…
What the school says...
Cheltenham Prep School is the largest prep school in Cheltenham and is often referred to as ‘the country prep school in a town’ as the campus is surrounded by their own sport fields and a lake! Cheltenham Prep is part of Cheltenham College, which allows for a seamless educational journey from early years through to sixth form, ensuring continuity and a high standard of education.
Founded in 1908, Cheltenham Prep has built a strong reputation for delivering a well-rounded education that balances academic excellence with a wide range of extracurricular activities. The school is committed to nurturing the intellectual, emotional and social development of its pupils. The academic curriculum at Cheltenham Prep is designed to challenge and inspire, encouraging pupils to step outside their comfort zones in a supportive environment. This approach fosters creativity, resilience and a willingness to embrace challenges – skills that are essential for lifelong success.
Cheltenham Prep is structured into distinct sections: pre-prep (nursery to year 2), lower school (years 3-4), middle school (years 5-6), and upper school (years 7-8). This organisation allows for a tailored educational programme at each stage of a child’s development, from the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) through to Key Stage 3 (KS3). As pupils advance to year 5, they begin to take more responsibility for their learning, exploring different classrooms and areas within the school, which fosters independence and confidence. The school maintains small class sizes to ensure personalised attention, allowing teachers to nurture each child’s strengths while providing support where needed.
The school is divided into six houses, comprising children from years 3 to 8. This house system promotes a strong sense of community and collaboration, with older pupils mentoring younger ones through various competitive house events and team building activities. This structure not only reinforces the school’s values but also creates lasting bonds among pupils across different year groups.
Cheltenham Prep also offers a rich co-curricular programme, with activities running four days a week after school. Pupils can choose from approximately 30 clubs, including samba drumming, archery, yoga and fencing. The school’s inclusive approach ensures that all pupils have the opportunity to participate in sports fixtures and drama productions, regardless of their skill level. This focus on participation and experience helps to build confidence and fosters a love of learning in areas that pupils may not have previously considered their strengths.
For boarders, Cheltenham Prep offers a warm and welcoming environment in Cade House, with 40 full time boarders located in the centre of campus. Boarding is an integral part of school life, and during weekends there is a full programme of activities - from themed cooking nights and outdoor cinema experiences to exploring the beautiful Cotswold countryside, boarders enjoy a balanced routine that includes academic work, extracurricular activities and relaxation. The school’s facilities – including the swimming pool, sports centre, music rooms and sports fields – are all available to boarders. ...Read more
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Other features
All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.
Sports
Polo
Rowing
Fencing
What The Good Schools Guide says
Head
Since 2018, Tom O’Sullivan LLB PGCE. Comes from a family of teachers, so did the inevitable and initially resisted, reading law at Durham and joining the graduate milk round instead. But after failing to enjoy big-shot roles at the likes of WH Smith and in investment banking (at one time, with a flat overlooking Singapore harbour), he ‘finally let my family prove me wrong’. Knew ‘within 10 seconds into my first lesson that I’d never do anything else’, but remains grateful for ‘my knowledge of the world because of the stories I can tell – although it’s so tempting to embellish them to the children that I’ve lost track of what’s actually true!’
Started out at Beaudesert Park as science teacher (teaching drama and coaching sport on the side), thence to...
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Special Education Needs
The Learning Support Department has been created to ensure that we provide each child with the opportunity to fulfil his or her individual potential, by creating a secure and sensitive environment for effective learning, in order to assist them to function in our mainstream school. We aim to develop a positive attitude towards learning by providing support where appropriate to develop self-esteem and general self-confidence. To achieve this, the pupils are provided with programmes to develop improved techniques and address areas of difficulty. From entry, our assessment procedure allows us to monitor progress to ensure each child’s requirements are catered for. We provide small group teaching, in class support and individual teaching and work very closely with subject staff, and class teachers, to ensure continuity within the curriculum.
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Might cover/be referred to as;
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), PDA , Social skills, Sensory processing disorder |
|
| HI - Hearing Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Hearing Impairment, HI - Hearing Impairment |
|
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Learning needs, MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty |
|
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment, Sensory processing |
|
| OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic , OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability, Tics, Tourettes |
Y |
| PD - Physical Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
PD - Physical Disability |
|
| PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay, PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty |
|
| SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Might cover/be referred to as;
Anxiety , Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health, SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Trauma |
|
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
Might cover/be referred to as;
DLD - Developmental Language Disorder, Selective mutism, SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication |
Y |
| SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty, Cerebral Palsy (CP) |
|
| SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Auditory Processing, DCD, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting, Other specific learning difficulty, SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) |
Y |
| VI - Visual Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Special facilities for Visually Impaired, VI - Visual Impairment |
Leavers' destinations
| School | Year | Places | Scholarships | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheltenham College | 2024 | 59 | 27 | Academic Awards 11, Art awards 2, Drama Awards 2, Music Awards 2 and Sports awards 10 |
| Rendcomb College | 2024 | 1 | 1 | 1 Sport awards |
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