Winterfold House School

Since 2016, Denise Toms BA QTS NPQH, who grew up in London and attended Coloma Convent Girls' School on the outskirts of Croydon. Credits her father, who was a teacher at Wimbledon College, for her career choice: ‘He had such a lovely way with the

Most join the nursery at 2+. No set pattern thereafter, with new arrivals joining all year groups, sometimes mid academic year and often from the state sector. Taster day for all, plus baseline assessment tests in English and maths from year 3 – ‘but

At 13+, over 90 per cent to Bromsgrove, which owns the school. No automatic entry, though, with pupils taking the same entry tests as external applicants. The rest mainly to RGS Worcester and King’s Worcester, plus a few boarders to Shrewsbury and

Bursaries up to 100 per cent offered from year 5. Fees competitive for the area.

One of the biggest pluses of this rural prep is the sheer space that parents say ‘gives the kids freedom to be kids’. Even on the damp and dreary day we visited, children were out and about in their wellies and waterproofs, although the

Spacious and outdoorsy, with an emphasis on family, community and fun. ‘By the time they leave, the school will have found what they’re good at both in and outside the classroom,’ said a parent.