Stonar

Since 2019, Matthew Way BSc, PGCE MEd, previously deputy head at Milton Abbey. Educated at Pangbourne and Swansea University, Mr Way spent six years in the army, which we suspect buffed up – by his own admission – his ‘insistent personality’ and

From age 2 into the nursery, where four sessions a week would be expected. Entry to the prep school in reception is academically non-selective; places are offered on the basis of observation of each child at a taster day and reports and references

Very few leave at year 6 (but the occasional one to local state schools): 90 per cent of prep school pupils go on seamlessly to the senior school. Any necessary conversations about not moving on are held with plenty of warning in year 4. Around 20

In 2025, 29 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 35 per cent A*/A at A level (41 per cent A*-B).

The prep school curriculum is delivered through topic-based learning covering all main subjects: each term the pupils explore an enquiry question, which starts with the knowledge they already have. Gasps of breath and a forest of hands rewarded an

A well-staffed department comprising five experienced teachers caters for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia in the senior school, and two in the prep. Some learning support needs become clear through the CEM assessment each student does

You don’t have to ride at Stonar, despite appearances: it’s firmly extracurricular, though there is little escaping its prominence. The lucky prep school children get two doses of art, one as part of their cross-curricular learning and the other as a

Certainly not the poor relation to the riding – all the usual sports are here with standard offer of rugby, hockey, netball, cricket and tennis, plus athletics, cross-country and swimming in the school’s own pool. We could hear the cheers from a prep

Gets a universally good press, despite the unorthodox house set-up, perhaps still shaking down after the introduction of boys. Just under half board in one of three houses – none below year 5, however. Girls from years 5-10 have their own house, as

Woven through the fabric of the school from the tinies upwards: the pastoral team includes an ELSA-trained pastoral intervention practitioner – the first we had encountered – and what many schools would call the medical centre is the health and

A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.

The majority UK unpretentious normal families (some military, some horsy), spiced up by 20 per cent of overseas students, mostly European but a sprinkling from South East Asia. Not the place for anyone wanting the buzz of a town school, the cracking

Fees in line with comparable senior schools, though they rise sharply for boarders in year 9. Most clubs, expeditions and wraparound care are included, as are two nights’ boarding per term for everyone from year 5. Riding scholarships enhance usual

An all-round, unpressured but effective education providing an interesting range of sixth form options to a wider ability range with a top-class equestrian offer thrown in – Stonar gets red rosettes all round. ‘So happy we found it and wish we had