Open-day season is here: a chance for parents to hear the head, see the dorms, meet the pupils and generally get a sense of whether a school might suit their child. Keep scrolling for our handy list of all upcoming open days in each area of the country, and get booking – spots fill up fast...

And remember: if you can’t snag a place at any of these open events, don’t panic. Schools will always be as accommodating as possible to prospective parents, so our advice is to pick up the phone and contact the school to arrange a visit.

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GLOBAL SCHOOLS

London

Prep Schools

Bancroft's Prep School, Woodford Green 7+ Entry 2023 Open Event - 08 October 2022 Younger sibling to the mighty Bancroft’s, this delightful prep is a successful fusion of academics and co-curricular, results and facilities, embracing and celebrating the wide variety of cultures it represents.
Cameron Vale School, Chelsea Open Morning - 05 October 2022 Open Morning - 02 November 2022 Open Morning - 17 November 2022 A close-knit prep school in the heart of Chelsea, Cameron Vale provides a highly personalised education to small classes of happy, highly motivated and engaged children. It has a lovely family feel and prides itself on rejecting a ‘one size fits all’ approach to education – which is clearly working, given the impressive list of destinations pupils whizz off to at 11.
Devonshire House Preparatory School, Hampstead Open Morning - 05 October 2022 Open Morning - 18 October 2022 There’s a lovely relaxed vibe at this academically ambitious north-London prep, which does a fantastic job of packing children off to the pick of London’s most academic public schools.
Dulwich Prep London, London Open Morning - 11 October 2022 A robust, all-boys stand-alone prep in dreamy Dulwich. Filled to the brim with enthusiastic young men (and a smattering of girls in nursery and Reception), the school champions a muddy-knees education – boys can be themselves here. Dulwich College is within waving distance but the two are separate entities.
Falcons School for Girls, Putney Nursery Open Morning - 13 October 2022 A pocket-sized, friendly, nurturing school with enviable space and facilities and small classes. Last year, the school was awarded highly-coveted Thinking School status, the result of three years of hard work and proof of the school’s reputation for drawing out the very real potential of its pupils. Falcons Girls is a real find.
Fulham School Prep, Fulham Open Morning 10:00 - 12:00 - 08 October 2022 Situated just off the Fulham Palace Road, this co-ed prep scores highly on location alone, but its head Neill Lunnon is a real draw too. Amidst the academically competitive maelstrom of the capital, he has created a calm world where his young pupils are ‘stretched but not stressed’.
Queen's College Preparatory School, London Open Event - 14 October 2022 Open Event - 28 April 2023 Open Event - 12 May 2023 With its central London location, this precursor to Queen’s College is a bustling hub of energetic, exuberant and purposeful pupils exuding a friendly, charming vibe.
The Village Prep School, Belsize Park Open House - 05 October 2022 Open House - 10 October 2022 A few years ago, Carol Gay, the owner and headmistress of The Village, sold the stellar all-girls prep she nurtured for more than 20 years to the Chatsworth Schools group.
Wetherby Preparatory School, London Open Evening - 12 October 2022 Highly academic, wonderfully grounded and with an excellent reputation for placing boys into some of the country’s top senior schools, this London super-prep is part of the phenomenally strong Wetherby brand and delivers a seamless transition within the Wetherby family of schools from pre-prep to senior. We love the cheerful atmosphere, pupils’ obvious enjoyment of lessons and the nurturing environment, where boys are truly allowed to be boys.

Senior Schools

Bancroft's School, Woodford Green 11+ Open Event - 12 November 2022 Ambitious, competitive pupils (and parents), splendid buildings, an admirable academic output, all right there at the end of London’s Central line: Bancroft’s School could be said to have it all. Diversity is key here – economic, cultural, national – with an emphasis on scholarship in the widest sense: CCF and DofE, house drama, jazz band and art and design, a rich tapestry of cultures and backgrounds, and a healthy, happy attitude to learning.
DLD College London, South Bank Year 9 Activity Morning 10:30 - 1:30 - 08 October 2022 Sixth Form Open Evening - 24 November 2022 Students flourish in the informal, forward-thinking atmosphere of this Alpha Plus school which feels dynamic and grown-up, quite different to a traditional independent school. Expect no uniforms and first names for everyone – including the teachers.
Fulham School Senior, London Whole School Open Morning - 08 October 2022 This small new school’s trajectory is already impressive – it opened its doors in 2017 and moved into a purpose-built facility in 2021. Set up in response to persistent pleas from parents to provide the next step after the prep school (which had so delighted them), Fulham Senior is rightly proud of its origins as a ‘prep that has grown upwards’.
Godolphin & Latymer School, Hammersmith Open Day - 11 October 2022 A highly sought-after, academically selective girls’ day school where outstanding results combine with a holistic approach to pastoral care.
Kneller Hall, London Whole School Open Day - 08 October 2022 This brand-new London senior is the organic extension of hugely popular Radnor House, also owned by the Dukes family of schools. In September 2023, Radnor House will become a dedicated prep, while Kneller Hall will offer a co-ed senior education for up to 1,000 pupils.
Queen's College, London, London Open Event - 08 October 2022 Times have certainly changed at this traditionally liberal, non-competitive school. Queen’s College is a calm, warm, friendly place that now ranks alongside the best of the London day schools, firmly on the 11+ list for many parents. With a broad church of ability, academic results are rising, the quality of teaching across the curriculum is excellent and there is a real sense that this is a school that is going places.
Wetherby Senior School, London Visitor Morning - 12 October 2022 Visitor Morning - 09 November 2022 Visitor Morning - 23 November 2022 Visitor Morning - 07 December 2022 The final step in a sterling all-through education that begins for some lucky boys in one of the pre-preps and continues all the way to 18. Wetherby Senior is still a relatively new school – but with numbers going from strength to strength, its success is already abundantly clear.
Whitgift School, South Croydon Open Afternoon - 12 October 2022 Open Afternoon - 01 November 2022 Successful, popular and a real contender on the London day-school circuit, Whitgift has wowed us. Applications are rising, academic results are stellar, sport spectacular, the pace of change and innovation terrific and the social conscience inspiring.

South East England

Prep Schools

Brambletye School, East Grinstead Open Day - 14 October 2022 A wonderfully traditional country prep with a husband-and-wife power team at the helm. Add to that the knockout views, the 140 acres of parkland, the school in the woods with trees to climb, dens to build, zip wires to whizz down… there’s a great sense of fun in the Brambletye air.

Caldicott School, Farnham Royal Open Morning - 15 October 2022 A country education within a minibus ride of the metropolis: this sporty all-boys prep gives its pupils the opportunity to stretch their legs, and their minds, in 40 splendid Buckinghamshire acres.

Caterham Prep School, Caterham Super Science Morning - 08 October 2022 Performing Arts Morning - 11 March 2023 This is a prep that feels like a true extension of Caterham School – and not only because it shares its lovely 200-acre campus in Harestone Valley, in the Surrey Hills. There is the same down-to-earth, unstuffy vibe and the same award-winning, wellbeing-first ethos throughout.

Cheam School, Newbury Open Morning 10:00 - 12:30 - 14 October 2022 Undisputedly smart on the outside, delightfully down to earth on the inside, this impressive Berkshire prep is one of the oldest in the country – and wears its history and heritage with pride. It’s a winning mix of old-fashioned country values and progressive quirkiness, where academic standards are sky-high and children hop off to top boarding schools all over the country. An exciting place to be.

Claremont Prep School, St. Leonards-on-Sea 3rd - 8th Oct Open Week - 08 October 2022 The ethos at this East Sussex prep is all about nurturing friendships, kindness and initiative – which translates on the ground into pupils getting stuck into everything, happy in their skin and with their sights set high. The setting helps: 125 acres of fields and woodland provide a safe space to be an adventurer.

Dragon School, Oxford Virtual Open Morning - 05 October 2022 ‘You’re never not proud to be a Dragon,’ our pupil guide told us – and with praise like this, what more could you possibly ask of a school? This big, buzzy, hugely popular Oxford powerhouse does everything on a large scale and, with its incredible mix of characters, manages to teach everyone to rub along pretty well together too.

Dulwich Prep Cranbrook, Cranbrook 10th - 14th Oct Open Week - 14 October 2022 Senior School Open Morning - 14 October 2022 Set on a glorious 50-acre campus just an hour from London by train, Dulwich Prep Cranbrook was founded when the headmaster of Dulwich Prep London evacuated his pupils here to his in-laws’ house after the outbreak of the Second World War. What was originally a group of huts in the orchards surrounding the main manor house has grown into a thriving, incredibly open and welcoming school for 400 children aged three to 13.

Eagle House School, Sandhurst Open Morning 10:00 - 08 October 2022 Open Morning 10:00 - 25 February 2023 Founded in 1820, Eagle House is one of the oldest prep schools in the UK and it’s not hard to see why it survives and thrives today. Set in 30 pretty acres surrounding a grand Victorian former hunting lodge, it is a forward-thinking, unpretentious place, holistic in approach, allowing plenty of tree climbing and outdoor exploring while maintaining an excellent academic record.

Edgeborough, Farnham Open Morning - 10 March 2023 Open Morning - 08 June 2023 Easily commutable, yet leaps and bounds less pressured than London schools, this laidback, co-ed prep brims with green space and traditional values.

Elstree School, Reading Open Morning - 04 March 2023 Stunning grounds, fabulous facilities and a classic, traditional experience underpin life at this real gem of a prep school. Loved for its family values, Elstree boosted its already significant appeal by opening its doors to girls in September 2020 – a brilliantly planned and executed move.

Embley Prep School, Romsey Open Day - 11 October 2022 Open Morning - 25 November 2022 Hampshire’s ‘Digital Downton’, with a stunning aristocratic rural setting juxtaposed with a forward-thinking IT strategy that made educational mincemeat of the global pandemic, this school is a real belter. Add in a truckload of extracurricular opportunities, an impressive academic record, a focus on developing children with kind hearts and a twinkly-eyed headmaster who exudes purpose, and you have a pretty attractive package.

Highfield and Brookham , Liphook Open Morning - 04 November 2022 Open Morning - 28 January 2023 Open Morning - 10 March 2023   Highfield and Brookham is flourishing – it’s got a gloriously family-friendly, homely feel, academics are top notch, and childhood is really valued. All of this helps shape the schools – increasingly operating as one – into one of the South East’s top non-selective preps.

Hilden Grange Preparatory School, Tonbridge Open Morning - 07 October 2022 It’s cool to work hard and play hard at this down-to-earth, academically ambitious Kent prep which is part of the Alpha Plus Group. It does a brilliant job at setting up its pupils for their next steps at both grammar and independent day schools.

Holmewood House School, Tunbridge Wells Open Morning - 04 November 2022 Holmewood House has been going through something of a renaissance of late. A new head, Ruth O’Sullivan, has just arrived, promising to pick up the baton of previous head Scott Carnochan’s drive to introduce a more holistic mindset that values and nurtures a child’s emotional wellbeing as much as their academic ability.

Junior King's, Canterbury, Canterbury Open Morning - 15 October 2022 Virtual Open Morning - 18 March 2023 An exciting, vibrant prep school – academically sound, creatively inspirational, a healthy, happy environment to grow up in. Popular with Londoners looking to escape the pressure cooker of the capital and with pupils offered direct entry into older sibling The King’s School, Canterbury, it sits high on aspirational parents’ lists.

Marlborough House School, Hawkhurst Open Day - 12 May 2023 A proper country prep set on the edge of the pretty Kent village of Hawkhurst, Marlborough House School is a place where childhood is valued just as much as academic success.

Papplewick School, Ascot Open Morning - 05 November 2022 A Swallows and Amazons nirvana (without the boats), this traditional all-boys country prep school is quirky and fun with an extremely kind heart. It is non-selective at intake but very strong academically: a whopping number head for Eton, Harrow and Winchester. You won’t find in-your-face grandeur here but you will find positive values, enthusiasm, humour and teaching beyond compare.

Somerhill, Tonbridge Friday Open Morning - 14 October 2022 Saturday Open Morning - 25 February 2023 Friday Open Morning - 19 May 2023 A school that offers the best of both worlds, Somerhill mixes co-ed and single-sex education under one (rather splendid) Jacobean roof. It is divided into three: Somerhill Pre-Prep for pre-school to Year 2, Yardley Court for boys from Years 3 to 8 and Derwent Lodge for girls from Years 3 to 6 – it sounds complicated at first, but once you wrap your head around it, the genius of the set-up is revealed.

St Hugh's School, Faringdon Open Morning - 07 October 2022 A warm and thriving co-ed prep school for day and boarding pupils from three to 13, St Hugh’s is set in 45 acres of gently rolling south Oxfordshire countryside, with glorious views south to the Ridgeway. A cheerfully non-selective school, it nevertheless produces excellent results and a high scholarship strike rate from its 350 happy and polite pupils, who whizz about in one of the smartest school uniforms we’ve seen. Founded in 1906, it is small enough to feel cosy, but large enough not to feel cloyingly close. Being kind and mucking in is the order of the day here.

Summer Fields, Oxford Pre-Prep Open Morning - 07 October 2022 Prep Open Morning - 08 October 2022 Pre-Prep Stay and Play - 01 December 2022 A breathtaking 70-acre secret garden behind high walls and iron gates right in the centre of north Oxford’s Summertown, Summer Fields is a modern yet traditional prep with high standards and impressive results. While still a boarding school at heart, it has moved with the times and embraced a more versatile offering – and the relatively new pre-prep has only served to strengthen its already significant appeal.

Swanbourne House, Milton Keynes Open Day - 24 June 2023 There’s a lot to celebrate at this innovative co-ed full-boarding prep. Rather than being ultra-polished, it’s a comfortable, unpretentious school that keeps quietly producing independent, capable and inquisitive pupils. Swanbourne isn’t overly selective academically as their aim is to help every child unlock their ‘individual greatness’ – two simple words which speak volumes. Who wouldn’t want that for their child?

The Marist School - Prep Phase, Ascot Prep Phrase Open Morning - 04 November 2022 Year 3 Taster Day - 16 November 2022 With the on-site nursery now offering co-ed care for 47 weeks of the year and the broad, engaging and supportive environment of the all-girls prep school, you can see why The Marist is, to quote parents and teachers alike, going from strength to strength.

Thorngrove School, Newbury Open Morning - 03 March 2023 Open Morning - 13 May 2023 This is a school that seems to grow and flourish alongside your child. It has a cosy, unassuming, nurturing feel and, with nothing obviously fancy or shiny on show, gets down to its core business calmly, without fuss or distraction. Remaining a small prep school with no boarding adds to its unique personality and is all the more remarkable for being only an hour and 20 minutes’ drive from London (or 45 minutes by train from Paddington).

Thornton College Prep, Milton Keynes Open Morning - 08 October 2022 Very much an all-through school, Thornton College is one family on one site with a focus on inclusive values. Girls we met were confident, chatty and exceptionally well behaved – and nurture is well and truly baked in.

Walhampton School, Lymington Open Morning - 07 October 2022 It’s impossible not to be bowled over by the magnificence of this co-ed day and boarding prep school, with its Grade II*-listed architecture, acres of ancient woodland and salty air blowing in from the Isle of Wight, which is visible on the horizon.

Winchester House School, Brackley Nursery Come and Play - 07 October 2022 Open Morning - 14 October 2022 Opening Morning - 25 October 2022 Led by one of our favourite heads on the prep-school circuit, this innovative co-ed does things a bit differently – in a good way – while still implementing traditional values such as good manners, kindness and leadership. We found a lovely balance between the two.

Senior Schools

Benenden School, Cranbrook Open Morning - 08 October 2022 Open Morning - 05 November 2022 11+ Open Morning - 10 November 2022 13+ Open Morning - 22 November 2022 Why do we love Benenden so much? Because it does exactly what it says on the tin: traditional, all-girls full boarding brought bang up to date. For the academically competent all-rounder who is happy to live in a lovely rural bubble, this is a reassuringly solid choice – and a school that’s firing on all cylinders.
Bloxham School, Bloxham Whole School Open Morning - 08 October 2022 Whole School Open Morning - 11 March 2023 An excellent all-rounder, this small, unpretentious school has big ambitions – and not just in the classroom. It stands out for its innovative academic approach and supportive environment that’s ideal for those pupils who need a more intimate place to shine.
Brighton College, Brighton Open Morning - 08 October 2022 Everyone’s talking about Brighton College, and rightly so. This exceptional school is the highest achieving co-ed in the country, offers some of the glitziest facilities and is forward-thinking in the extreme.
Claremont Senior School & Sixth Form, Nr. Robertsbridge 3rd - 8th Oct Open Week - 08 October 2022 Sixth Form Open Evening - 11 October 2022 This young school in East Sussex was only founded in 2011, but it’s already established itself as a pioneer of creative, student-led initiatives. Continuing the pupil-empowering ethos of Claremont Prep School and Nursery, creative activism, determination, experimentation and resourcefulness are central pillars fostered in an environment that is relaxed but ambitious.
Downe House, Thatcham Open Morning - 12 November 2022 A top choice for families looking for the proper full-boarding experience from the get-go, Downe House combines tradition with a refreshing balance of work and play. Girls get punchy results and are encouraged to develop character and charm, before heading off to top universities with invaluable grounding and a solid group of friends for life.
Embley Senior School & Sixth Form, Romsey Open Day - 11 October 2022 Sixth Form Open Evening 17.00-19.00 - 12 October 2022 Senior School Open Evening 17.00-19.00 - 10 November 2022 Whole School Open Morning - 25 November 2022 Hampshire’s ‘Digital Downton’, with a stunning aristocratic rural setting juxtaposed with a forward-thinking IT strategy that made educational mincemeat of the global pandemic, this school is a real belter. Add in a truckload of extracurricular opportunities, an impressive academic record, a focus on developing young people with kind hearts and a twinkly-eyed headmaster who exudes purpose, and you have a pretty attractive package.
Heathfield School, Ascot Open Morning - 08 October 2022 ‘The merit of one is the honour of all’ is the school motto here – and there is certainly much to be merited at Heathfield. Cast aside any preconceptions you may have about this all-girls, Ascot-based senior and prepare to be bowled over by an unashamedly girls-first ethos which puts its pupils at the forefront.
Lancing College, Lancing Year 9 Entry Group Visits - 05 October 2022 Year 9 Entry Group Visits - 03 December 2022 Revitalised, forward-looking and full of energy, Lancing is a flexi boarding school to put firmly on your list. This isn’t an exclusive old-fashioned place oozing with entitlement and privilege – instead, tradition bends for independence, initiative and inspiration, while comparatively small pupil numbers make for a hugely welcoming atmosphere and a solid sense of family and community.
Marymount International School London, Kingston Upon Thames Open Morning - 22 April 2023 The first all-girls school in the UK to adopt the IB curriculum – both the Middle Years and Diploma programmes – Marymount International School offers a broad-horizon education from its leafy setting in Kingston upon Thames.
Mayfield School, Mayfield Open Morning - 18 October 2022 Open Morning - 06 December 2022 A happy, successful, all-girls Catholic boarding school set in beautiful Sussex countryside, Mayfield draws families of all faiths looking for a rounded, grounded education – underpinned by strong moral values too.
Queen Anne's School, Caversham, Reading Open Morning - 11 November 2022 There’s a wonderfully unconventional buzz about Queen Anne’s, a smashing little school that has a forward-thinking head and is leading the way when it comes to innovative learning. Girls here don’t need to be top of the class – just happy to step out of their comfort zone and throw themselves into the endless opportunities that come their way.
Radley College, Abingdon Open Day 10:00 - 13:15 - 08 October 2022 Sixth Form Open Day 11:15 - 08 October 2022 Open Day 10:00 - 13:15 - 12 November 2022 It’s an increasingly rare commodity: an all-boys, full-boarding school with that trad British-public-school edge. Radley is one of the all-time greats, but doesn’t feel the need to market itself or trumpet its successes, quietly getting on with the business of giving boys a solid education and fantastic opportunities. A gentle evolution is in the air, with warden John Moule gently coaxing the school into the 21st century, encouraging innovation and turning its gaze beyond the boundaries of the lovely, privileged Radley bubble. The days of Radley being seen as a bit stuffy and stuck in the past are over.
Stowe School, Buckingham Third Form Open Morning - 14 January 2023 Third Form Open Morning - 04 March 2023 Sixth Form Open Morning - 22 April 2023 Third Form Open Morning - 13 May 2023 No longer seen as a soft option, Stowe senior school has undergone a renaissance over the past two decades under the leadership of maverick head Dr Anthony Wallersteiner. It’s a place where individualism is encouraged, talent nurtured and eccentricity celebrated – and it all happens in one of the grandest and most beautiful school settings in the country. An education here is a huge privilege and reassuringly liberal. There’s a new breed flocking to Stowe – and it’s certainly not short of academic ambition.
The King's School, Canterbury, Canterbury 13+ Entry Open Morning - 08 October 2022 Thought to be the oldest school in the UK (it’s been around since 597AD, when St Augustine arrived to evangelise England, and was rebranded by Henry VIII in 1541 as his own school – hence the name), The King’s School, Canterbury is also one of the longest-established co-eds. It comes with an extraordinary history-steeped setting, heaps of tradition and a thrilling musical legacy (the cathedral doubles up as the school chapel) – but crucially it’s not stuck in the past. Results are superb, but there’s a much bigger point here: pupils are allowed to excel in any field they choose. This is a school, which, the head tells us, celebrates quirks and wants characters.
The Marist School, Ascot Sixth Form Taster - 06 October 2022 Sixth Form Open Evening - 11 October 2022 Year 9 Taster Day - 18 November 2022 Academics are top-notch, sports teams are embarrassingly successful, girls are articulate, kind and thoughtful and the extracurricular programme boasts 97 activities – there’s little doubt that The Marist is, to quote parents and teachers alike, going from strength to strength.
Thornton College, Milton Keynes Whole School Open Morning, 10am - 08 October 2022 Very much an all-through school, Thornton College is one family on one site with a focus on inclusive Christian values. Girls we met were confident, chatty and exceptionally well behaved – and nurture is well and truly baked in.
Tonbridge School, Tonbridge Mini Open Morning - 13 October 2022 Mini Open Morning - 12 November 2022 Mini Open Morning - 22 November 2022 It is with experience, passion and rigour that we strive to get under the skin of a school and help parents understand why they would send their child there. But at Tonbridge School, we have simply been left wondering ‘why wouldn’t they?’. Academically astounding yet emotionally intelligent, with altruism running through its core, Tonbridge is the heavyweight boxing champion who doesn’t need the shiny gold belt – they just train hard and let their actions do the talking.
Wellington College, Crowthorne Visitors Day, 10.30am - 08 October 2022 Visitors Day, 10.30am - 19 November 2022 A progressive school at the forefront of educational innovation, Wellington was transformed by visionary head Sir Anthony Seldon and is soaring once again with James Dahl in charge. With its constant buzz, forward-facing attitude and so much for the taking, its pupils are brilliantly prepared to cope with the pressures of the modern world.

South West England

Prep Schools

Bryanston Prep, Blandford Forum Open Morning - 07 October 2022 Open Morning - 03 February 2023 Open Morning - 05 May 2023 It’s been a time of change for this bucolic prep school in rural Dorset: it’s returned to its 1950s co-ed roots (day boys were welcomed in 2020, and now make up 20 per cent of pupils); it’s been brought into the fold of big sibling Bryanston; and it’s got a new head all fired up with ambitious plans that the merger has made possible.
Clifton College Preparatory School, Clifton Reception Discovery Event - 02 December 2022 There’s no ‘one size fits all’ at this unstuffy Bristol prep, part of a trio of schools that make up the Clifton College stable. The intake is refreshingly broad and so is what’s on offer.
Godolphin Prep School, Salisbury Snapshot Visit - 25 November 2022 A lovely pint-sized, pocket rocket of an all-girls prep school offering small class sizes and exemplary pastoral care. Gorgeous trademark red pinnies give a traditional feel to this down-to-earth school, where individual support is front and centre.
Hatherop Castle, Cirencester STEAM Open Day - 07 October 2022 A small co-ed, countryside prep where every child has the chance to shine. Numbers are up as word of its family ethos and outdoorsy unpretentious style spread: the pupils we met were a cheery, positive bunch who told us that the best thing about coming here is the friendliness.
Stonar Prep School, Atworth Equestrian Open Morning - 12 October 2022 Equestrian Open Morning - 08 March 2023 Once seen as the first choice for the horsey set thanks to its phenomenal equestrian centre, this all-through co-ed day and boarding school in rural Wiltshire now has a reputation for being academically ambitious, too.
Wells Cathedral Junior School, Wells PrePrep & Nursery Open Morning - 02 November 2022 For one of the oldest educational establishments in the world (founded in 909), Wells Cathedral School has a decidedly modern motto: Esto Quod Est (Be What You Are). This co-ed day and boarding all-through school is very well set up for getting the best out of every pupil, and it’s clear that the junior school – which shares the same site as its senior sibling – takes this warm, accepting attitude seriously.
Westonbirt Prep School, Tetbury Prep Open Morning - 14 October 2022 Nursery Open Session - 14 October 2022 Nursery Open Session - 16 November 2022 Nursery Open Session - 13 January 2023 Prep Open Morning - 17 March 2023 Prep and Senior Open Morning - 05 May 2023 An academically inclusive prep where personal and social development are key. Westonbirt prep is known for its small class sizes, cosy family atmosphere and gentle encouragement. A rather special place – this is somewhere that focuses not just on academic achievement, but the all-round package.

Senior Schools

Canford, Wimborne Open Day 10am-1pm - 08 October 2022 It’s hard not to be blown away by the grandeur of Canford, a Sir Charles Barry-designed castle in the thick of 250 acres of Capability Brown parkland. But despite all this magnificence, both school and pupils are unstuffy and flash-free. Gearing up to celebrate its centenary in 2023, this is a brilliant all-rounder that looks outside of the bubble, aces exams and turns out wonderfully grounded young men and women with a real awareness of the world around them.
Clayesmore School, Blandford Forum Sixth Form Open Morning - 08 October 2022 Sandwiched between Blandford Forum and Shaftesbury in dreamy Dorset countryside, co-ed Clayesmore combines academic rigour with a feel-good family vibe. The prep and senior schools share the same site: the former is housed in a turreted mansion, while the latter has separate buildings, playing fields and even a dance studio, so pupils can enjoy the many bonuses of being part of an all-through school (especially for those in Years 7 and 8 who spend a term trying out subjects such as DT and pottery in the senior school). Note: at 13+ nearly 90 per cent stay on – surely the best litmus test of parental satisfaction.
Dauntsey's , Devizes Open Morning - 08 October 2022 Open Morning - 06 May 2023 Dauntsey’s is a warm and welcoming centre of learning and adventure. Pupils are taught to be courageous but humble, an ethos to be cherished in a world full of competition and entitlement; they are lucky to be here and, refreshingly, they know it.
Godolphin School, Salisbury Snapshot Visit - 07 October 2022 Snapshot Visit - 14 October 2022 Snapshot Visit - 04 November 2022 This might be one of the oldest girls’ boarding schools in the country, but there’s nothing stuck-in-the-past about this Salisbury senior where pupils are instantly recognisable by their signature blue pinny uniforms. It’s refreshingly down-to-earth, parents work hard to send their daughters here and greatly value the opportunities that Godolphin has to offer.
St Mary's Calne, Calne Open Day - 08 October 2022 Open Day - 05 November 2022 Open Day - 25 February 2023 Open Day - 13 May 2023 Small and nurturing, academic but not nerdy and brimming with laidback, nicely gung-ho girls, St Mary’s Calne is, says its head, ‘the best of the British boarding school tradition – with a modern twist’. Girls are equipped with firm foundations for life, leaving armed with bucketloads of confidence and self-esteem.
Stonar School, Atworth Equestrian Open Morning - 12 October 2022 Year 7 Taster Day - 14 October 2022 Equestrian Open Morning - 08 March 2023 The freedom for pupils to be themselves is evident at this all-through, co-ed school tucked away in rural Wiltshire. Its ‘horsey’ reputation comes courtesy of a first-class equestrian centre, but in recent years it’s been shifting perceptions with increasingly impressive academic results.
Wells Cathedral School, Wells Autumn Open Morning - 08 October 2022 For one of the oldest educational establishments in the world (founded in 909), Wells Cathedral School has a decidedly modern motto: Esto Quod Est (Be What You Are). This co-ed day and boarding all-through school is well set up for getting the best out of every pupil, regardless of their talents. It’s also one of only four specialist music schools in England, and the only one to operate within the broader context of a traditional school.
Westonbirt School, Tetbury Senior Open Morning - 08 October 2022 Senior Open Morning - 03 March 2023 Prep and Senior Open Morning - 05 May 2023 Way back when, Westonbirt was considered more of a finishing school than the well-rounded, academically inclusive place it is today – and once you’ve busted through the myths, you’ll see what a special place this is. Known for its small class sizes, cosy family atmosphere and gentle encouragement, this is a school that doesn’t focus solely on exam success and academic achievement but the whole holistic package.

East of England

Prep Schools

Framlingham College Prep School, Woodbridge Open Morning - 15 October 2022 This lovely Suffolk prep really does tick all the boxes – from the purpose-built open-plan nursery, wraparound sessions and super-flexible boarding options to exemplary pastoral care and solid academics, you’d struggle to find a more charming all-rounder.

Old Buckenham Hall , Ipswich Open Morning - 08 October 2022 Open Morning - 28 January 2023 Open Morning - 11 March 2023 In the heart of rural Suffolk, near Lavenham, this small, traditional co-ed school is a pinch-me-perfect place for children to grow up. Parents praise the ‘lovely ethos’ and ‘emphasis on kindness and politeness’ – something that stems from the ‘OBH Way’, a set of moral values created by the pupils. Well-regarded head David Griffiths joined from Daneshill School in 2018; since then he has made gentle changes, focused on improving the already solid academics and boosting the pastoral provision.

St Faith's, Cambridge Open Day - 08 October 2022 We love this forward-looking, progressive school that puts as much emphasis on STEM subjects as it does sports. Academically, St Faith’s is flying and, on our visit, we met engaged, chatty children bubbling with confidence.

Senior Schools

Framlingham College, Framlingham Open Morning - 08 October 2022 Year 9 Taster Day - 07 November 2022 Framlingham College is a school which aims to equip its pupils with a real love of learning – and it’s a focus on the individual that tops the agenda here, rather than chasing league tables. Academic success at Framlingham is defined by adaptability and problem-solving, and bright sparks are stretched and challenged via a dedicated ‘Pathway to Excellence’ programme (one recently scored full marks in their EPQ for their study on the placebo effect in Alzheimer’s treatments).

The Leys School, Cambridge Open Morning - 04 February 2023 Open Morning - 22 April 2023 This relatively small co-ed day and boarding school makes the most of Cambridge’s academic and cultural connections. We like the way it has adapted over the years to meet the unique demands of the city it serves, and all the parents we’ve spoken to – many of whom chose it for the experience of boarding while still being close to home – tell us that their children are really happy here.

Midlands

Prep Schools

Abberley Hall School, Worcester Pre Prep Open Afternoon - 07 October 2022 Whole School Open Day - 08 October 2022 If you take all the traditional offerings of a country prep school, add an enlightened head with bags of experience and enthusiasm, and a nurturing relationship with its fellow public school, you end up with an energetic co-ed prep school that is going places.
Bilton Grange, Rugby Whole School Open Day 10:00 - 08 October 2022 Warwickshire prep Bilton Grange has long been one of the main feeders to Rugby School – typically about 50 per cent of pupils choose the senior stalwart 10 minutes down the road – but at the beginning of 2020, the two officially merged. Now, following significant investment, the school is entering an exciting new phase of development and growth.
King's Hawford, Worcester Open Morning - 08 October 2022
The Croft Preparatory School, Stratford-upon-Avon Open Morning - 12 October 2022 This family-owned prep has a delightfully rural feel, with buildings based around a farmhouse on the outskirts of Stratford-upon-Avon. It has a forest school, a growth-mindset approach to academics and a set of core values that underpin every facet of school life.
The Downs Malvern, Malvern Open Morning - 15 October 2022 Set on the edge of the Malvern Hills, this day and boarding co-ed prep – packed with smart, happy children busily going about their days – has superb links with Malvern College. Pupils still need to make the grade to score a spot there, but the benefits of the two schools’ strong relationship is palpable.
The Elms, Malvern Open Day - 08 October 2022 We’ve visited hundreds of country preps over the years, and every one is a joy in its own way. But The Elms is truly special and never fails to impress us with its super-polite pupils who sprint ahead to open doors, the stunning setting on the edge of the Malvern Hills and the (sometimes gently bonkers) celebration of all that is best about childhood. A mother once described The Elms to us as ‘just the best school on the planet’ – we have to agree.
Wolverhampton Grammar Junior School, Wolverhampton Open Day - 08 October 2022 Open Day - 08 October 2022 Wolverhampton Grammar, located in the city’s suburbs, is refreshingly down to earth. Children are supported right the way through their educational journey at this highly aspirational, friendly and well-rounded day school – and we were blown away by the charming, engaged and conscientious pupils we met during our visit. The exciting news here at the junior school is its imminent growth: in September, a shiny new infant school will open, expanding the all-through offering from Reception to Year 13.

Senior Schools

King's Worcester, Worcester Open Morning - 12 November 2022 Open Morning - 21 January 2023 An upbeat, modern school with a storied history reaching back to the 7th century, King’s Worcester has a uniqueness that not only stems from its historic location at the heart of the city’s cathedral, but also from the caring atmosphere shaped by centuries of Christianity, and given a fresh injection of warmth by new head Gareth Doodes.
Malvern College, Malvern Open Day - 08 October 2022 A true English public school in a splendid setting, Malvern College was one of the earliest adopters of the IB and, with its proper global outlook, pupils flock here from around the world for a slice of this very British, very wholesome education. No longer a hidden gem, the relatively new head Keith Metcalfe is keen to ensure that Malvern is out there – why be hidden when you are as sparkly as this?
Malvern St James Girls' School, Great Malvern Open Morning - 08 October 2022 Malvern St James is one of only a handful of all-through, all-girls boarding-schools in the UK. Pupils from the age of four are carefully nurtured in this warm and confidence-building environment, which is unashamedly all about the girls.
Rugby School, Rugby 13+ Day Entry Open Day - 11 October 2022 13+ Boarding Open Day - 12 November 2022 13+ Boarding Open Day - 26 November 2022 Steeped in history and heritage, Rugby is an old, well-established school with strong traditions and a big foundation – and probably best known as the birthplace of the game that shares its name. Thousands of visitors and sports fans flock here each year from all corners of the globe to nose around the school museum and the blockbuster ancient buildings. But behind all the rugby hullabaloo, you’ll find a terrifically down-to-earth, unpretentious place that’s been educating pupils since 1567 (the school went fully co-ed in 1992). It’s a friendly place, renowned for producing glittering exam results while maintaining that all-important balance for life – we’re big fans of this Midlands legend.
Uppingham School, Uppingham Open Day - 11 March 2023 Open Day - 22 April 2023 We were particularly impressed by Uppingham on our visit – not just by its bricks and mortar, but its pupils too, and our guide’s enthusiasm for his school was so palpable it left us buzzing. The great educationalist Edward Thring was headmaster here in the 1850s: he believed the key to a good education was a holistic one that celebrates and nurtures pupils’ talents – and his legacy still lives on at Uppingham today. If we had to sum up its ethos in a few words, we’d go for full-boarding, properly co-ed, all-rounder and, yes, academics are superb – but there’s so much more to this super-school than sackloads of A*s.
Wolverhampton Grammar School, Wolverhampton Open Day - 08 October 2022   Wolverhampton Grammar, located in the city’s suburbs, is refreshingly down to earth. With both a senior and junior school, pupils are supported all the way through their educational journey at this highly aspirational, friendly and well-rounded day school. During our visit, the thing that most stood out to us were the pupils, who were charming, engaged and conscientious, and the school’s enthusiastic new head, who is the driving force behind the expansion of the junior school and the retooling of the house system. This is a modern, forward-thinking and tech-savvy senior that retains its strong grounding in its identity as a city school.

North of England

Prep Schools

Giggleswick Junior School, Settle Open Day - 07 October 2022 ‘Throw yourself in’ is the motivating ethos at this small prep school in the Yorkshire Dales, and there’s plenty for the 70-odd boys and girls to get stuck into, inside and outside the classroom. From French and philosophy lessons to singing in the chapel and cross-country through the 215-acre campus shared with the senior school, pupils are gently stretched in all directions.
St Peter's York 2-8, York Open Morning 08:30 - 12:00 - 15 October 2022 St Peter’s might be the fourth oldest school in the world but this in-demand Northern co-ed has a very 21st-century outlook. With high academic results and a stellar co-curricular programme, it is the go-to school in York for an all-through education – and it starts with its nursery and pre-prep for ages two to eight.
St Peter's York 8-13, York Open Morning 08:30 - 12:00 - 08 October 2022 Despite being one of the oldest schools in the world, with a Gothic façade that echoes that of York Minster (for which St Peter’s is now the official choir school), this in-demand Northern co-ed has a fresh, forward-thinking attitude. The school is divided into three sections, making 8-13 a fantastic transition before 99 per cent of pupils head to its senior school.
Stonyhurst St Mary's Hall, Clitheroe Open Day - 08 October 2022 Stonyhurst is the oldest Jesuit school in the world and religion forms the backbone of St Mary’s Hall, its prep. The school is known for its superb boarding, innovative curriculum and great sense of community.

Senior Schools

Giggleswick School, Settle Open Day - 08 October 2022 Sixth Form Information Evening - 10 November 2022 ‘One big family’ is how a sixth-former describes Giggleswick, located in the Yorkshire Dales. Couple this with its recently coined tagline – ‘Don’t just go to school, throw yourself in!’ – and you get a good sense of what this place is about: rolling your sleeves up, getting stuck in and going for it (no-nonsense Yorkshire pragmatism runs through its veins), all facilitated by superb pastoral care.
St Peter's School York, York Open Event (11-16 entry), 8.30am-12noon - 08 October 2022 St Peter’s might be the fourth oldest school in the world but this in-demand Northern co-ed has a 21st-century outlook. With high academic results and a stellar co-curricular programme, this is the go-to school in York for a co-ed, all-through education.
Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe College Open Day - 15 October 2022 We challenge you to find a more soul-stirring school setting than this one. Surrounded by scenery that inspired JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth, Stonyhurst is the oldest Jesuit school in the world, and its Grade I-listed, part-Elizabethan, part-Victorian pile is thought to be Europe’s largest building after the Palace of Versailles. With religion forming the backbone of the school – and a fantastic mix of students from all cultures and backgrounds – the result is a brilliantly inclusive, outward-looking community proud to be part of one of the country’s leading Catholic schools.

Scotland

Prep Schools

Fettes College Prep, Edinburgh Open Day - 09 October 2022 Fettes Prep is affectionately referred to as the college’s little sibling, and it’s the best of both worlds: small and family-friendly, with all the facilities of a world-renowned senior school. Pupils join at 7+ and can board from the word go.

Senior Schools

Fettes College, Edinburgh Open Day - 09 October 2022 Fettes is nicknamed ‘the Eton of the north’, and it’s easy to see why. Scotland’s top (and most expensive) public school has a rep for producing judges, diplomats, politicians and even fictional super-spies (James Bond spent his schooldays up here in the Edinburgh suburbs); academics are strong and rugby is practically a religion.

Global Schools

The International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL), Ampang Hilir School Open Day - 22 February 2023