Fees per term (2024-2025). Prep Nursery: £3,595 (Inclusive of Free Early Education entitlement). Reception, Years 1 & 2: £4,365, Years 3 to 6: £6,195.
We believe that the formative years at Ashford Prep are crucial to building the firm foundations required for a lifelong love of learning. Our aim is to provide an environment that inspires the minds and souls of those who are part of our warm school community. We are committed to providing an education experience that recognises the right that every child has to be provided with diverse opportunities and skilful guidance to optimise their potential.
Within our school, we recognise the importance of the individuality in each child. Everyone plays a vital role in ensuring that Ashford Prep is a happy environment in which to learn, play and grow. We cherish every child and encourage them to take care of those that are around them. In turn, each child contributes to an overwhelmingly warm and positive atmosphere. We have a simple motto that sums up what we expect from everyone who forms part of our Prep School: Always Be Caring (ABC). Our ‘ABCs’ are a set of nine values that sit the heart of our commitment to ensuring that our students not only become great pupils, but more importantly, great people.
Children normally progress to Ashford Senior School (see HMC entry) without the need to take an entrance test, unless they wish to sit scholarship exams. The Prep School has had considerable success in preparing children for scholarships at leading independent schools as well as other entrance tests including the Kent Test. Ashford Prep School is a member of the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate (PSB), a prestigious charity that represents several world-class, forward-thinking schools. The school has a strong commitment to adventurous learning and as such, is embracing the PSB framework with very positive results. The ability to award the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate at the end of pupil’s time at Ashford Prep School helps children to celebrate and recognise the pursuit of becoming a true all-rounder.
The Head of the Prep School, Mrs Philippa Archer, believes that learning should be the ultimate adventure. In order for a Prep School to truly prepare its pupils for their onward journey, they need to experience an education that is broad and allows them the space to explore what it is that they are passionate about. Her team’s aim is for every child to leave Ashford Prep as a vastly skilled all-rounder with a kind heart and positivity running through their veins, with their eyes open wide to the inspiration that surrounds them.
Campus and facilities. The Prep School is a very modern, well-resourced environment which presents a stimulating, purpose-built learning space for the pupils. The campus comprises: two Halls, specialist music, science, art, DT, and food rooms in addition to a wonderful library and extensive outdoor play areas. The vast outdoor sports facilities extend over the beautiful 40-acre site, including a state-of-the-art pavilion and changing facility. There is also a floodlight all-weather Astroturf, swimming pool and Sports Hall.
The school enjoys both classroom-based and excellent specialist teaching with well-designed facilities for science, art, music, PE, ICT and Design Technology. The school is fully networked and has exceptional provision for ICT with ACTIVboards in all classrooms, iPads for each pupil, a computer room capable of accommodating entire classes and broadband access to the Internet throughout.
Team sports include rugby, hockey, netball, football, rounders, athletics, and cricket. Regular fixtures are held with local and regional schools. Children also participate in PE and swimming as part of their curricular programme. An extensive range of co-curricular activities is provided during lunchtime and after school. Individual music tuition with a wide range of instruments is available. Music, drama, dance, and public speaking are all important opportunities; productions and presentations are performed by all age groups to a high standard and take place throughout the year. The choir and orchestra meet regularly.
A programme of educational trips and visits provides a stimulating and important addition to the all-round education and development of the ‘whole’ child and the costs of these are included in the fees.
The Ashford Prep School Nursery (3 to 4 years) offers an exciting and vibrant environment for engaging children in a broad range of learning activities. All children have the best possible individual care and education, supported by exceptional and experienced staff. They are encouraged to explore, play, and learn while developing independence and resilience, among other skills.
The Nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum, which covers the areas of Personal, Emotional and Social Development, Communication and Language, Physical Development, Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design.
The thriving Nursery operates on a flexible basis and the Prep School offers full, wraparound care from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm for all our children. The school operates Mondays to Fridays. Holiday Clubs operate during school breaks.
Charitable status. Ashford Prep School is part of United Learning which comprises: UCST (a Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered in England, number 2780748, and a Registered Charity, number 1016538) and ULT (a Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered in England, number 4439859, and an Exempt Charity).