Ages 
Ludgrove is the last of its kind, offering a traditional 21st-century all-boys, all-fortnightly boarding prep. Dynamic, fun-loving teachers create academically rigorous and memorable lessons aimed at developing curious, engaged boys. Continually strong exam results are the result of this alchemy but are rarely made to feel the focus. With adventure and challenge abundant in class, on the sports field and in the arts, it’s a roll your sleeves up, get your knees muddy and collapse into bed after a rewarding day sort of a place. The cherry on top? With everyone in the same boarding boat, friendships are forged that last a lifetime.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 186 ·
- Offers boarding
- Yes ·
- Religion
- None
- Fees
- £41,760 pa
- Local authority
- Wokingham Borough Council
- Area guides
Headteacher
Headmaster
Mr Simon Barber
Since 2008, Simon Barber. BA in geography at Durham University. Educated at Horris Hill and then Eton. Leadership at Ludgrove is something of a family affair. Mr B’s father was head and his grandfather before him. Head says, ‘It’s often said it
Entrance
The last-standing all-boys, fortnightly boarding prep in the country. There’s an open day for year 2 and ‘a little Ludgrovian’ taster day. A smaller starting group of 25 in year 4 known here as Sixes (there’s no year 5 – something thought to do with
- Open days
- Contact the Registrar to arrange a personal visit or a Zoom call
Exit
Everyone stays until the end of year 8, unsurprising given school’s golden reputation for preparing pupils in all respects for the big-name boarding schools. Ludgrove remains a significant feeder to Eton with around 70 per cent of boys heading there
Latest results
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Teaching & learning
Learning support & SEN
Boarders
Year group dorms plus a senior boy on rota who acts as a big brother. A mixture of dorm sizes and boys are encouraged to bring in posters and photos to make their space their own. Termly room changes to ensure bonding across the year group and to
Mobile phone policy
A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.
Mobile phone policy
Provided by the school and not part of our review No personal mobile phones, iPads, other electronic gadgets and ‘smart’ watches are allowed at school. Only year 8 boys are able to bring back iPods/itouches and these are used exclusively for playing music. International students in any year group are allowed to travel to the school with a mobile phone or personal devise which they can use at designated times during the day to phone home. Outside of these times, devices are securely stored for the boys in the school office and then given back to them to travel home.
Pupils
Money matters
Transformational Ludgrove Foundation Award in partnership with Royal National Children’s Springboard Foundation offers places of 110 per cent, typically to support boys for the critical two years (years 7 and 8) between the end of state primary and
- Fee information
- £41,760 pa
Our view
Founded in 1892 by Arthur Dunn in Cockfosters, north London. His favourite biblical quote remains school motto: ‘Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might.’ Something of a mouthful but one pupil summarised it as doing everything to
The last word
Ludgrove is the last of its kind, offering a traditional 21st-century all-boys, all-fortnightly boarding prep. Dynamic, fun-loving teachers create academically rigorous and memorable lessons aimed at developing curious, engaged boys. Continually
