Stover School

Since September 2024, Caroline Ward, previously head of The British School of Cordoba. She has led schools both in the UK and abroad.

Head of prep since 2019, Ben Noble, previously head of the junior school at Millfield. He is having a

For prep, three to four days of taster sessions where ability to access the curriculum is assessed. Intake capped at 20 for reception to year 2, growing to 40 per year group for years 3-6. In seniors, half of the 60 year 7 places are taken up by the

Around 85 per cent of prep move up to the senior school, leavers mostly to the nearby state grammar schools. Between 30 and 40 per cent leave after GCSEs, mostly seeking a bigger pool to swim in with greater freedom and more choice of vocational

In 2024, 27 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 29 per cent A*/A at A level.

School is committed to ‘using the most appropriate environment to fuel the best learning’, which in practice means teaching is as likely to take place in some far-flung corner of the vast campus as in a classroom. So lots of forest school in prep,

Nearly a third of pupils are on the learning support register but school says under half of these – currently 14 per cent – need active support on a one-to-one basis. Able to handle all mild SEN including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia and

Woe betide anyone who refers to the clubs as ‘extracurricular’ at Stover. They are timetabled and compulsory, ‘not a bolt on’, we were told firmly. An integral part of the school’s ‘extended and broadened’ curriculum. In years 7-11 pupils are

The grounds are huge and immaculate, including a nine-hole golf course, acres of playing fields and the ‘torture field’ where cross-country stars are made. Coaching is of a high standard, and match opportunities are universal and frequent with solid

‘This is a day school with boarders, rather than the other way around,’ says school, ‘but those who do board are wholeheartedly accepted into the Stover family.’ A ‘welcome’ doormat at the foot of an innocuous staircase and the bouncing boarding dog

Pastoral care is a highlight and cited by pupils as one of the main reasons they love the school. ‘I feel safe and know exactly who I can talk to if anything goes wrong,’ we kept hearing. Not surprising in a school with a robust network of people to

Don’t expect to whiz in and out at pick-up time – it took us over half an hour to work our way up the long school driveway in a frustratingly slow bumper-to-bumper queue of parents attempting to turn onto the busy A-road. Luckily there is a robust

Scholarships at 11+, 13+ and sixth form, hotly competed for in academic, sport, tennis, arts and music. Not simply an accolade, these carry an impressive associated programme of extra coaching in return for role model leadership in relevant

Pupils are down to earth, outdoorsy, enthusiastic, up for giving everything a try and happy in their own skin. A charming bunch of adventurers, making the absolute best out of a wonderfully holistic and healthy education.