Age range. 3 months–11 years.
Number of pupils. 240.
Class sizes. Average of 21 pupils with 2 teachers per class. Single-form entry (one class per year group).
Fees per term (2023-2024). Reception–Year 6 Core School Day: £3,622–£4,331. Extended day package (Breakfast Club and After-school Clubs) also available. Wraparound care available for children from 7.30 am to 6.00 pm, 51 weeks a year. Early Years Funding available and can also be used in our Reception class until the term of a child’s 5th birthday. Core school fees and wraparound care (Breakfast Club and After-school Club) are charged separately so that parents only pay for the wraparound care required. Nursery fees are according to the broad range of flexible sessions attended, including term-time only or 51-weeks-a-year contracts. Sibling discounts are available. A discount is also available for fees paid annually in advance.
Ethos. Waverley is ranked ‘Best in Berkshire’, 33rd in the UK out of over 20,000 Prep and Primary schools and also no. 1 primary and Prep School in the Wokingham and Reading area based on our academic results. Waverley is rated ‘Double Excellent’ in our ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) inspection. At the same time, Waverley provides a warm, family environment with small class sizes (an average of 21 pupils per class) and an excellent pupil/teacher ratio. Despite being non-academically selective, last year all our Year 6 pupils were offered a place at their chosen secondary school, including to some of the most reputable independent senior schools in the country. We are a purpose-built Preparatory school which combines a traditional ethos towards a rewarding and thorough education, with a modern feel and the latest teaching technology. Located on the edge of the Berkshire countryside, we enjoy a rural setting and spacious playing fields as well as a large woodland area for our Forest School.
Our priority at Waverley is to challenge every pupil to achieve academic excellence. We recognise, however, that only happy children, who feel supported and confident, learn to the best of their ability. Waverley’s unique cheerful, nurturing environment enables every child to succeed and reach his or her full potential.
Academic excellence. Waverley is ranked 33rd in the UK out of over 20,000 Primary and Prep School. The school is also ranked 'Best in Berkshire' by the Top 100 Prep Schools in the UK (The Sunday Times) having been the only school to be consistently in these rankings for the past 12 years. Our rankings are based purely on our academic success. Our educational prowess is also reflected in the exceptional exam results of our Year 6 students and the secondary schools they move on to – most of our students attain scholarships, or places at selective secondary schools. On average 85–95% of our pupils pass the 11+ each year.
We operate small class sizes, giving each child individual attention and enabling us to closely monitor every child’s progress. Our purpose-built school enables daily school life to flow and function easily in a modern, welcoming and spacious learning environment. Our family atmosphere means that our teachers not only know every child by name – they also know what makes a child tick. This warm ethos is also visible amongst our children who play with each other freely across the year groups in the playground.
In addition to academic success, we aim to encourage self-discipline, respect, tolerance and kindness and to provide a broad, rich curriculum going far beyond national expectations. Our school motto is ‘We Are Kind, We Are Honest, We Do Our Best’ which we believe should apply to everything a child undertakes whether academic work, sporting performance or relationships with friends, teachers and family.
Curriculum. Waverley’s curriculum provides children with a solid foundation, particularly in the areas of literacy and numeracy. Pre-prep and Preparatory children engage in a full curriculum of subjects including English, Mathematics, ICT, French, History, Geography, Latin, Science and Art. We enjoy a high number of specialist teachers across many of our core curriculum and supporting subjects.
Gifted and talented. We have development programmes for gifted and talented children.
Sports. Waverley School’s physical education curriculum includes football, rugby, hockey, tennis, netball, cricket, athletics and rounders. Swimming also takes place weekly throughout the year as part of our ethos that every child needs to learn this life skill. The children regularly take part in sports matches and swimming galas against other local independent schools and also participate in ISA (Independent Schools Association) competitions. Waverley is proud that our recent results included being finalists in the ISA football tournament.
The Arts. We have extremely strong Speech and Drama, and Music (both choral and instrumental) departments. As well as termly productions, the School regularly takes part in local concerts both in the local community and with other schools to build children’s self-confidence.
Wraparound care. Our After-School Clubs include Cookery, Fencing, Tennis, Gardening, Rugby, Cheerleading, Prep Club, Lego, ICT, Yoga and Cross Country. We offer over 75 different after-school activities each academic year which change every term.
Moving on. As Waverley is not an affiliated feeder for any one Senior School, we have excellent relationships with many local and national Senior Schools, including grammar, independent and state. We pride ourselves in ensuring that our pupils move on to the right secondary school for them by providing them with excellent preparation to attain their place at their preferred secondary school. The majority of our students attain scholarships, or places at selective secondary schools. All our Year 6 students last year were offered places at their first choice. Senior Schools that our pupils move on to include Wellington College, Reading Blue Coat, Lord Wandsworth and local and national grammar schools.