Stroud, the King Edward VI Preparatory School
Catchment Area, Reviews and Key Information

Primary
PUPILS
295
AGES
3 - 11
GENDER
Mixed
TYPE
Other independent school
SCHOOL GUIDE RATING
Not Rated

How Does The School Perform?

Excellent
NATIONAL AVG. 2.09
Independent Inspection
Report
(07/11/2019)
Full Report - All Reports
PREP

Independent preparatory schools do not have to follow the National Curriculum or submit test results to the Department for Education so there is no individual school performance data or star rating.

Visit the school's website to learn more about their unique curriculum, policies on testing and common leaver destinations (a good indicator of pupil progress). See our About page for information on Choosing A Prep School.

Day
Boarding Type
Available
Scholarship Status
£4,060
to
£6,525
Day Fees Per Term
NURSERY

Co-educational nursery

View website

School Video

School Prospectus

Highwood House
Highwood Lane
Romsey
SO51 9ZH
+44 (0)1794 513231

See News and Open Days from Stroud, the King Edward VI Preparatory School

School Description

Stroud is a true preparatory school, set in beautiful, rural Hampshire. When you visit us, expect to see pupils who are happy, respectful and honest. These three fundamental attributes ensure that our leavers are fully prepared to move on to the next stage of their education and the start of their young adult lives.

News, Photos and Open Days from Stroud, the King Edward VI Preparatory School
Last update: 02 October 2023
STROUD SCHOOL ANNOUNCES EXCITING NAME CHANGE TO KES PREP

Stroud School is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in its journey. After ten years of a highly successful partnership with King Edward VI Senior School, Stroud School is delighted to reveal its new name, King Edward VI Preparatory, effective from September 2024.

The decision to change the name of the institution reflects the deepening relationship between Stroud and King Edward VI School. Over the past decade, the partnership has flourished, fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration that has greatly benefitted both schools, their students, and the wider community.

By adopting the name King Edward VI Preparatory, (KES Prep for short), the school will now share a unified identity with Hampshire's esteemed senior school. This alignment will strengthen the sense of continuity and progression for students as they transition from the preparatory level to the senior level. It will also reinforce the school's commitment to delivering an outstanding education and maintaining high standards of academic excellence and pastoral care whilst instilling a deep love of learning. 

Headmistress Mrs Smith expressed her excitement about the renaming, "We are delighted to embark on this new chapter of our journey as King Edward VI Preparatory from September 2024. This change represents the culmination of a decade of collaboration and shared vision between our preparatory school and King Edward VI. Together, we will continue to provide an exceptional educational experience with an ambition for our children to flourish and become the very best version of themselves."

For academic year 2023-2024, the school will still continue to operate under the name Stroud School. This transitional period will allow for a smooth and well-planned integration of the new name, ensuring a seamless experience for students, parents, and staff.

The school looks forward to welcoming prospective students and their families to explore the enhanced opportunities that will be offered under its new name.

STROUD SCHOOL ANNOUNCES EXCITING NAME CHANGE TO KES PREP
HEAD’S RECOMMENDATION SUCCESS AT STROUD

Following the launch of the Head’s Recommendation in the Autumn Term 2022, whereby children at Stroud achieving at the appropriate level in their studies by the end of Year 5 will be given a guaranteed place at its senior school, King Edward VI for year 7, both schools have announced a fantastic 68% of pupils have demonstrated the appropriate academic potential and have become the first cohort to be awarded a Head’s Recommendation.

This unique route into Hampshire’s leading Independent senior school has meant Stroud children and families have a guaranteed place at the senior school for 2024 entry, without the risk and anxiety associated with the external examination route.

Mr Parker, Head at King Edward VI School says “We are looking forward to welcoming the first cohort of Head’s Recommendation pupils and families from Stroud School to King Edward’s in September 2024. We know that Stroud provides young people not only with the academic grounding to allow them to thrive at KES, but also the wider character skills which are so important in the 21st century. By introducing a new Head’s Recommendation route for Stroud families, we have made a huge step forward in celebrating and building upon the unique ties which bind our schools, and which have proven such a benefit to pupils and staff in both schools for the past decade”

Mrs Halfpenny, pictured here with daughter Thea, currently in Year 5 at Stroud, said “The Head's Recommendation has taken all the stress out of the transition to KES. My older children had to sit the entrance exam, and having to contend with the worry and uncertainty of that at a young age was a challenge. I'm delighted that Thea will be joining her brothers at KES in 2024, and that she'll be free to enjoy her time at Stroud before then, unemcumbered by exam preparation and anxiety".

This new initiative, launched earlier in the academic year comes as one of many strategic changes to mark the school’s 10th anniversary in partnership. The Head’s Recommendation scheme and academic success at Stroud this Spring sets the tone perfectly for a future in building a truly exceptional 3-18 offering for families across Hampshire.

From September 2023, Stroud will move to a new, year-round Nursery to Year 6 model which will provide an opportunity to further enhance the link between the schools and meet the demand of families with younger children.

HEAD’S RECOMMENDATION SUCCESS AT STROUD
YEAR-ROUND NURSERY PROVISION

Stroud School is very excited to announce that it will be extending its Nursery provision from September 2023, by offering childcare throughout the holidays.

Full and part-time Nursery places are now available for 51 weeks of the year, alongside term-time only places, in its wonderful Early Years setting.

Its Nursery will remain in the purpose build and newly-refurbished Early Years building. And in addition to the new provision, Stroud is very excited to offer a new and bespoke natural area, with a covered outdoor classroom, orchard and access to the wider 'wild side' of the School. This gives them the best of both indoor and outdoor Early Years setting and further enhances the learning and development opportunities for the children.

Its Nursery children will continue to be taught Numeracy and Literacy alongside Music and Performing Arts, PE, Ballet, Yoga, Forest School and Farm School by a qualified Early Years teacher and Learning Support Assistants.

During the school holidays, children will continue to access the School grounds and facilities, including the large sports hall, Forest School area, farm and swimming pool, alongside activities in the Early Years setting.

To read more about the new Nursery provision and to hear some parent testimonials, please visit the website.

Stroud School, the feeder school to King Edward VI, Southampton, is a gently selective School in Romsey with main entry points at Nursery, Reception and Year 3. Stroud is proud of the hugely varied opportunities it provides for its children, as this is what gives children that zest for life. The experienced and dedicated teachers strive to champion each child’s talents and passions – whatever they may be. 

YEAR-ROUND NURSERY PROVISION
STROUD SCHOOL SHORTLISTED FOR ‘INDEPENDENT SCHOOL OF THE YEAR FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (MUSIC & DRAMA)’ AWARD

This award recognises schools that demonstrate the breadth and heights of pupils’ achievements in the performing arts. The judges not only look at the school's performing arts programme, and whether it provides for the educational, emotional and societal needs of its children, but also new initiatives relevant to the subject of the award.

At Stroud, the Performing Arts is a vital part of daily life and at Stroud music and drama is fun, challenging and varied. In ‘normal times’, musicals, shows, concerts and assemblies regularly provide pupils with opportunities to perform and share their achievements.

Children also have many outlets for dramatic fulfilment at Stroud. Drama is offered within the curriculum and all children take part in musical productions throughout the year. A full Senior School production, traditionally a musical, takes place in the Summer Term (Years 6, 7 and 8), with Years 3-5 being given opportunities to perform in Christmas and Spring concerts. Previous shows have included Bugsy Malone, Joseph, Peter Pan and Dr Doolittle.

However, the changes imposed on society by Covid have been considerable and at Stroud School, we decided to meet the challenges head first. We set about modifying performance venues and methods so that pupils would continue to enjoy and showcase their talents. For the first time, Nativity performances by Early Years and KS1 were streamed live across the world to relatives and friends, so that singing, dancing and acting skills could be appreciated. The school’s annual Carol Service took place in Romsey Abbey, maintaining Stroud’s tradition of high quality choral singing but with differences; small choirs in year group bubbles, social distancing and careful filming enabled the event to be presented as a Covid-safe and yet atmospheric performance.

We then applied the skills we had evolved in this venture to stage and film a large summer concert which was available to watch via the school’s digital platforms. With the support of our peripatetic music staff, we also made films of pupils performing; these films were made available to the school community and provided pupils with performance targets, showcased their talents and inspired others.

Performing arts, by definition, should be shared by others and it has been to the credit of many at Stroud that pupils’ performances have continued to be seen and appreciated. We are proud of the adaptability of our staff who have worked together and met unusual challenges within teaching, staging and technology. We are also proud of our pupils’ determination and talents. The limitations created by Covid have forced us to evaluate our processes and modify our teaching, but these challenges have created positive change that has strengthened the performing arts at Stroud School.

Thank you to the Independent School Parent, for shortlisting us!

Stroud School shortlisted for award

Stroud, the King Edward VI Preparatory School Parent Reviews



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Stroud, the King Edward VI Preparatory School Catchment Area Map

This school is independently managed and its admission criteria may be selective. There is no set catchment area as pupils are admitted from a wide variety of postcodes and, in the case of boarding schools, from outside the UK. Contact the school directly or visit their website for more information on Admissions Policy and Procedures.