Age range. Boys 2–13 years old. Co-educational Nursery 2–4 years old. Preparing to welcome girls to Pre-Prep in 2025.
Numbers. Total 260: Prep 162, Pre Prep 53, Nursery 45.
Fees per term (2024-2025). Prep Boys: £6,850, Pre Prep: £4,920, Nursery: £895–£4,475. (Fees excluding VAT.)
Parkside School is a wonderful environment where children’s curiosity is awakened. Their journey is one of discovery; where talents and passions are nurtured and developed, and pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning. It is an independent boys’ school with a co-educational nursery set in 45 acres of beautiful Surrey countryside with school bus routes including to and from South West London. A recent ISI Inspection (Oct 2022) highlighted the outstanding teaching and learning provision offered by the School – and its results speak for themselves.
Parkside was founded in 1879 and became a Charitable Trust in 1960. The School moved from East Horsley to its present site, The Manor, in 1979, its centenary year. Since the move, a continual development programme has seen the development of a purpose-built, well-equipped Science block, an extension of the main building to provide more Pre Prep classrooms, a Performance Hall, a Music School and six practice rooms. A new Food Technology Room and Forest School were opened in 2019, and an additional science lab was added in 2021 along with the new Outdoor Learning Area. The Pre Prep department had a complete refurbishment in the Summer of 2022 along with the Play Areas and resurfacing of the Tennis Courts.
There is also a 20-metre indoor swimming pool and Sports Hall complex with a stage for drama, and a £2 million classroom block was added to further enhance the facilities in the school. The Design Technology Department, Nursery and new STEM ICT suite are housed in a delightful Grade II-listed barn which has been skilfully refurbished to provide spacious, well-lit classrooms and workshops. The newly refurbished second Computer Room 'CHQ' opened in Autumn 2021 with the Art and Music facilities housed in dedicated buildings.
The school is large enough to be flexible and offer setting in major subjects, yet small enough for each pupil to be known and treated as an individual. On average there are between 8–15 pupils in a ‘set’. All teaching staff are highly qualified and are passionate about boys' learning; specialist teaching begins in Year 1 in Sport, ICT, Music and Forest School and for all subjects from Year 3 to Year 8. The children in Parkside’s Nursery also enjoy specialist teaching, including individual swimming lessons, French and Forest School, alongside the Early Years Curriculum. Each boy is a member of a House and this helps to stimulate friendly competition for work points and many other inter-house contests.
At Parkside, pupils develop the courage to rise to each challenge, persevere when the going gets tough and face their fears with confidence. The positive message of ‘make it happen’ underpins the whole approach to the learning journey and is at the forefront of all the pupils’ minds. They are supported to take risks and persist with any obstacles they may encounter on their journey. Areas of improvement, as well as strengths, are celebrated and used to develop skills in order to achieve goals. The belief is that taking risks ensures complete development, resulting in a sense of pride and determination coupled with an unrivalled work ethic; invaluable in gaining success for their future.
All boys pass Common Entrance exams to their first choice Senior Schools and results in these examinations are impressive. Parkside School achieved a 100% CE pass rate in 2021 & 2022, with 100% scholarships gained to Tonbridge, RGS, Charterhouse, Reed’s and commendation to Harrow. The curriculum is broad based, and boys are taught Art, Music, PE, Food Tech, Forest School and Technology in addition to the usual Common Entrance subjects. There is a School Choir, Chamber Choir, Big Band, a School Orchestra and several smaller musical groups. During the year, there are many opportunities for boys to perform in musical and dramatic productions.
A Parkside education is forward thinking and based on a creative curriculum; however, traditional values are woven through all learning in day-to-day life. Success is supported by an emphasis on manners and etiquette; thus, ensuring the boys leave Parkside as outstanding and well-rounded gentlemen.
The School has a very well-known sporting record and many tournaments in different sports and at different age groups have been won, with Parkside coming in the top 10 in the country at IAPS Finals. A new Director of Sport (ex Wasps) started in Autumn term 2022, bringing a more competitive edge to the sports offering. In addition, a number of boys have gone on to represent their County and Country in various sports. The main sports are football (taught by Chelsea FC professionals), rugby, hockey and cricket, but boys are also able to take part in swimming, athletics, water polo, tennis, cross-country running, basketball and judo, as well as yoga. An extensive After School Activity Programme (including supervised homework sessions) is available, with over 40 different activities on offer, from gardening to kayaking, touch typing and coding to mindfulness with the newly added shooting club and bike trail club. Many boys have also represented the school at a high level (County and England) in chess. The 45 acre beautiful estate and the River Mole, which runs through the grounds, are also used to contribute to the all-round education each pupil receives both in and out of the classroom.
All children from Nursery to Year 8 can be supervised from 7.30 am–6.00 pm daily. Breakfast Club runs from 7.30 am–8.15 am in the Nursery and Main School where a choice of hot and continental breakfast is offered. After-school care is available for Nursery children from 3.00 pm–6.00 pm, Pre Prep boys from 4.00 pm–6.00 pm and Prep boys from 5.00 pm–6.00 pm. A hot meal is served between 5.00 pm and 6.00 pm and sandwiches between 4.00 pm and 5.00 pm. Snacks are provided in Nursery between 3.00 pm and 4.00 pm. Boys staying from 5.00 pm–6.00 pm will have the opportunity to complete their prep. After-school care may be booked in advance or on an ad hoc basis by 9.00 am in the morning. The new All Year Round Nursery provision started in September 2022 and has proved very popular, with wait lists now being held.
Parkside was selected as one of five finalists in the UK as Best Independent Boys’ School 2020 (ISOTY) as well as being finalists in the 2021 and 2022 awards. This has been largely accredited, not only to the values, aims and ethos mentioned, but also to its colossal efforts in providing a continued outstanding education during the Covid-19 crisis and the teaching and learning ethos implemented by Nicole Janssen, Head, following her appointment in 2019.
Virtual and individual tours are available by appointment only. For further details, contact Parkside’s Registrar, Mrs Lindre Scott via e-mail: admissions@parkside-school.co.uk or call 01932 62749 Charitable status. Parkside School is a Registered Charity, number 312041