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Our view
Easily commutable, yet leaps and bounds less pressured than London schools, this laidback, co-ed prep brims with green space and traditional values.
In September, Edgeborough officially merged with Charterhouse to create one co-educational prep and senior school offering, but Edgeborough very much still retains its own identity while benefiting from all that a partnership with a senior school brings.
Where?
There’s something refreshingly normal about Edgeborough: there’s no intimidating mile-long drive, no OTT bells and whistles and nothing particularly smart or snooty about the place – despite home being a great Victorian pile stacked with wood panelling and original features. Set just outside the Surrey market town of Farnham, surrounded by 45 acres of manicured gardens and more rough-and-ready woodlands, the estate was once owned by newspaper magnate and Daily Express founder Sir Arthur Pearson – but since it became a school back in the 1930s, it has expanded to include a few more functional add-ons. The nursery and pre-prep sit in cosy timber lodges with veg patches and views out to the beautiful grounds beyond.
Head
New head Daniel Cox arrived from Lambrook in early 2022, where he was deputy headmaster and a member of the executive leadership team. He’s been joined by his wife Lucy and their two daughters, Elsie and Iris – and having lived in the area before, they’re delighted to be back. Mr Cox wants to ensure each pupil’s time at Edgeborough is filled with fun and adventure – and he promises to nurture and protect the brilliant work of his predecessor Dan Thonburn, who left at the end of last year to head up Millfield Prep.
Admissions
Proudly non-selective, with pupils welcome to join the school in any year group, provided there’s space – but it is Reception and Year 3 (when the school expands to three-form entry) that see the largest intakes of newbies. Prospective parents should book in for a tour – then if you like what you see, children are invited back for a relaxed taster day to get a feel for the school and give parents the chance to chat to the head. All a far cry from the bunfight of the London preps.
Academics and senior school destinations
‘Pushy’ isn’t part of the deal here – and while children usually score an ace 100 per cent pass rate at Common Entrance, academic results aren’t seen as the yardstick of success. Small class sizes mean SEN problems are picked up swiftly and clever cookies are earmarked for the scholarship set. Edgeborough is part of the Charterhouse family of schools, which means plenty of children head on there at 13 – but many also go on to an array of top day and boarding schools at 13, including Cranleigh and Wellington College.
Outside the classroom, there’s heaps of drama (every pupil gets the chance to enjoy the limelight on stage) and masses of music – expect plenty of choirs, ensembles and one-to-one tuition (even in Year 2, when violin lessons are part of the package). Best of all, there’s no Saturday school – so at the weekend, school runs are swapped for lie-ins.
Co-curricular
Sport is big and for everyone: girls are just as likely to be found knocking about with a cricket bat as they are leaping around on the netball court. All children are coached by specialists from the outset – and there’s no shortage of space with that abundance of pitches, Astros and cricket nets (swimmers take note: the pool is outdoors).
The judo and climbing teams have been busy adding silverware to the trophy cabinet, and dance is gaining pace – pupils can take lessons in ballet, modern, tap and street – and secure a slot in the school’s annual summer arts festival. Clubs include everything from cooking to coding, and there’s a huge emphasis on fresh air: think den building, outdoor cooking and nature trails.
Boarding
Boarding begins in Year 3, but the majority wait until they’re a little older to give it a go. This is very much a Monday to Friday school – most pupils do anything from one to three nights a week or opt into the odd B&B night. Bright, cosy dorms sit at the top of the main house. The optional wraparound care is superb: day children can be dropped off for breakfast at 7.50am before parents dash off to work in London (this is commuter-belt territory) and scooped up again after supper and activities.
School community
This is a small, tight-knit school – meaning staff know their pupils inside out, and there’s no danger of any pastoral issues being missed. The four much-loved international students staying at Edgeborough during their gap years take on big brother and sister roles, while a gaggle of school dogs – Humphrey and Parsnip the golden retriever, Mani and Ivy the black Labs and dachshunds Paisley and Petal – provide just the tonic during action-packed days.
Edgeborough is a hit with London exiles, and the community is broadly local. Just like the school, families are traditional but not stuffy – and prioritise childhood over pressure.
And finally...
If you’re looking for an academic exam factory, this might not be the right place for you. For everyone else, this popular Home Counties prep is a lovely little place to grow up.