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Reviewed

Holmewood House School

Independent school · Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0EB
  • Primary/prep
  • Co-ed
  • Ages 3-13
  • From £13,260 pa
  • 450 pupils
  • Boarding
We've reviewed this school • Unlock to access

A new dawn has prompted creative approaches to bringing out the best in pupils. Turbo-powered leadership and a head with a heart: ‘the school needs what she brings’. Broad, enriching, tailored experiences that don't feel homogenous, with values of kindness and aspiration permeating the place. Small enough to not get lost in the crowd, but big enough for them to shine, whatever their unique talent.

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Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.

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Overview & data

Pupil numbers
450 ·
Offers boarding
Yes ·
Religion
None
Fees
Day £11,715 - £26,670 ; Boarding £32,340 - £38,310 pa
Local authority
Kent County Council
Area guides

Headteacher

Head

Ruth O’Sullivan

Since 2022, Ruth O’Sullivan BEd MEd, previously head of South Lee School, Bury St Edmunds, and before that deputy head at St John’s College School, Cambridge for 14 years. School’s first female head – a trailblazer in all senses. Hails from Dublin

Entrance

Academically non-selective, with main entry points into nursery, reception and years 3 and 6, although many join in other years, including mid-year. From reception, entrance via taster day and a report. From year 3, children sit a computer based c

Open days
Friday 16th May 2025

Exit

Most to Tonbridge School, Hurstpierpoint College, Bede’s Senior School and Eastbourne College. Others to Ardingly College, Battle Abbey, Beechwood School, Benenden School, Brighton College, Cranbrook, Eton, Harrow School, Millfield, Sevenoaks, Kin

Latest results

There are no results to show for this school. Find out more.

Teaching & learning

16
Average class sizes

Learning support & SEN

1 %
Students with a SEN EHCP
31 %
Students with SEN support

Boarders

Cosy dorms are in the Mansion House where pupils have a ‘great time’ boarding, noting it ‘feels like home’. Around half of full boarders are international. Flexi, weekly and full options (‘extremely adaptable,’ said a parent), with the emphasis on

32
Total boarders
13
Full time boarders
7
Weekly boarders
12
Flexi boarders

Pupils

450
Number of pupils

Money matters

Fees are slightly higher than other local preps. Means-tested bursaries available, up to 100 per cent.

Fee information
Day £11,715 - £26,670 ; Boarding £32,340 - £38,310 pa

Our view

The main house is an emblem of history and splendour, a proud centrepiece to the school’s 32 acres, with more functional, albeit rather less beautiful, add-ons from over the years. In every direction are well-maintained green spaces and trees, whi

The last word

A new dawn has prompted creative approaches to bringing out the best in pupils. Turbo-powered leadership and a head with a heart: ‘the school needs what she brings’. Broad, enriching, tailored experiences that don't feel homogenous, with values of

Inspection reports

Holmewood House School school badge

What the school says

Set in 32 acres of beautiful grounds just outside Tunbridge Wells in Kent, Holmewood House School is a happy, busy environment, where smiles prevail and children flourish. The breadth of curriculum, specialist teaching in all subjects, superb facilities and a vast range of activities – in an outstanding family atmosphere – all combine to make Holmewood one of the leading prep schools in the country.

We want our pupils to be ready for life after Holmewood and the wider world, and to understand their role within it. At Holmewood, pupils learn to be idea generators and creative, resilient human beings, learning important life skills such as collaboration, flexible thinking, problem solving, technical and digital skills. Our bespoke enrichment programme offers carousels focusing on global awareness, world readiness, active citizenship and self-presentation. We have a ‘growth mindset’ culture which encourages intellectual curiosity and builds resilience in an environment where it is safe to get things wrong.

Pupil voice is integral to daily life. Pupils assume leadership roles at every stage and lead initiatives – everything from cultural assemblies to introducing new species of newt to the pond! We encourage everyone to find their voice, to be their best selves and independent. Our culture prioritises positivity, encouragement, and inclusivity over elitism. We celebrate the achievements of every child, whether earning a scholarship to Sevenoaks or becoming a pre-prep monitor. The vision for the school embodies a progressive ethos, placing pupil voice at the forefront of a balanced and holistic education. Our values of self-belief, aspiration and kindness permeate everything that we do.

One parent said, ‘Daily, I am amazed at how their confidence is growing and they are being nurtured and encouraged to try so many new experiences. The school has set up a safe nurturing environment that encourages children to step outside of their comfort zones and try new things. In those fleeting but momentous moments that feel risky, growth, happiness and confidence are created. What more could a parent dream of?’

We are proud of our international focus and the diversity of our community. It is very important and wonderful to see that the pupils in this school foster an authentic appreciation of different cultures. The boarding house has a buzz about it, a real home from home with a mix of full, weekly and flexi boarding from years 5 to 8 and a chaperoned train service to and from London. There is a busy, structured timetable of fun weekend and evening activities, taking place on-site, locally or further afield for all the boarders to enjoy together.

Holmewood is a happy and vibrant school full of opportunities. But don’t just take our word for it. Come and visit us in Tunbridge Wells and see for yourself what an inspiring place for children Holmewood truly is. Visit our website to book a private tour, an early years tour or for a place at our next open morning.

Last updated 26 November 2024

Key links to information you need

Open days

Admissions

Prospectus

Nursery and Pre Prep

Boarding

School life

Contact the school

Address

Barrow Lane
Langton Green
Tunbridge Wells
Kent
TN3 0EB
Get directions

Telephone: 01892 860000

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.holmewoodhouse.co.uk

Local authority: Kent County Council

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School data & information Holmewood House School Barrow Lane, Langton Green, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 0EB
450 Pupil numbers
255/215 Pupil numbers boy/girls split
32 Total boarders
13 Full time boarders
7 Weekly boarders
12 Flexi boarders
16 Average class sizes

We do not receive results data for this school. Find out more.

Entry and exit data

Here we report figures on pupils moving between schools at the usual entry and exit points, as well as student destinations into higher education. We publish publically available data for state schools. For independent schools, The Good Schools Guide collects data from its prep schools as to where their pupils go on to. Find out more

Our review contains additional entry and exit data reported to us and is updated annually. See the review

Recent leavers' destinations

SEN overview

Holmewood House School is a mainstream school. The school may provide support for students with special educational needs as detailed below. If you require more information on conditions the school can support, we encourage you to contact the school directly.

SEN statement

Provided by the school and not part of our review

We have an excellent Learning Support Department with one specialist teacher and four learning support assistants who provide monitoring, evaluation and specific teaching for children throughout the school. To ensure that every child reaches his or her academic potential, the Learning Support Department administers nationally standardised assessment tests to all pupils. This screening process starts in Year 1 and continues until Year 8.

Learning support is all-inclusive in the Pre-Prep unless a specialist tutor or individual learning support assistant is specifically required. In the Prep School, pupils are charged pro rata for learning support and detailed assessments. We are proud of the achievements of our pupils who may have experienced some difficulties in their primary years. The majority of these children succeed in gaining places, through the Common Entrance exam, to a variety of schools.

09-09

1 %
Students with a SEN EHCP UK mainstream school avg. 3%
31 %
Students with SEN support UK mainstream school avg. 14%

SEN conditons supported

Schools report the conditions they might be able to support. Please note, this may not be a complete list. Find out more.

Conditions (Might cover/be referred to as) Provision
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), Social skills Yes
HI - Hearing Impairment
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty Learning needs Yes
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment Sensory processing
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic, Tics, Tourettes Yes
PD - Physical Disability
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health Anxiety, Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health Yes
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication Selective mutism Yes
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty Complex needs
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Auditory processing, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting Yes
VI - Visual Impairment Special facilities for Visually Impaired Yes
Our data explained
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