Ages 
A sparky dynamic school with plenty of old-fashioned values and tradition, happy pupils and parents but also a new rigour that helps pupils reach their potential. The emphasis is very much on inclusion, with students from all backgrounds. As one member of staff put it, 'This is a school where it is very easy to fit in.'
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 200 ·
- Offers boarding
- Yes ·
- Religion
- CofE/Christian
- Fees
- Day £12,105; Boarding £25,770 - £36,660 pa
- Local authority
- Lancashire County Council
- Linked schools
Headteacher
Head of Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep School
Matt Turner
Since September 2019, Matt Turner, previously head of Bury Grammar Boys Junior. He has also been deputy head of Cheadle Hulme Junior. Married to Gemma, with one son in the school, he is a keen rugby and football player and coach, and a lover of water
Entrance
Children come to a taster day and parents come in for a chat, but it’s extremely rare for the school to tell parents they can’t support their child’s needs. References are called from previous schools. School is rapidly becoming oversubscribed
- Open days
- October, May and June
Exit
Almost all juniors progress to the senior school, with family relocation the main reason for not doing so. Everyone sits the entrance exam for the seniors (maths, English and non-verbal reasoning), but for junior school pupils it’s just used as a
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Teaching & learning
Boarders
Boarding offered from year 5 (small boarding numbers in years 5 and 6, with places offered on a case-by-case basis and only to pupils who are ready for the boarding experience). The junior boarding house is homely and lived-in, with a common room, a
Pupils
Money matters
Although scholarship and bursary funds are directed towards students in the senior school, emergency bursary support and extended payment plans are often made available to prep school parents who suffer financial hardship.
- Fee information
- Day £12,105; Boarding £25,770 - £36,660 pa
Our view
In 2020 the school ditched the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) in favour of the more conventional British National Curriculum. But it has maintained a strong emphasis on research and independent learning, enhancing it with
The last word
A sparky dynamic school with plenty of old-fashioned values and tradition, happy pupils and parents but also a new rigour that helps pupils reach their potential. The emphasis is very much on inclusion, with students from all backgrounds. As one
