WELCOME TO THE PREP
Sevenoaks Prep is an independent co-educational prep school for boys and girls aged 2 to 13, where academic excellence is combined with award-winning pastoral care. Founded in 1919 and nestled in 25 acres of beautiful grounds on the edge of Knole Park, our school provides the perfect environment for children to learn, explore and grow.
At Sevenoaks Prep we don’t just deliver outstanding results – we shape confident, kind and capable young people. With a dynamic curriculum and expert teaching, supported by exceptional pastoral care, we guide pupils to discover and develop their talents. Our pupils thrive both academically and personally, securing places at top senior schools and becoming resilient, thoughtful individuals ready to shape their own futures.
Discover how we
Way of life
Underpinning the School’s success is our ‘Way of Life’ – an ethos that flows through everything we do – encouraging pupils to be responsible, kind and empathetic. Our children leave confident, well-mannered and with essential life skills including the ability to work as part of a team, solve problems and think creatively – attributes frequently noted by the head teachers of our destination schools.
Benefits of a Co-education
At Sevenoaks Prep, girls and boys learn, play and grow together within a happy, balanced and inclusive community. Our long-standing co-educational environment helps pupils develop confidence, empathy and strong social awareness from the earliest years. Working side by side motivates ambition across all subjects, encourages healthy competition and builds mutual respect.
As they collaborate in the classroom, on the sports field and in leadership roles, pupils learn to communicate effectively and appreciate different perspectives. These shared experiences prepare them for the diverse, collaborative world they will move into – ensuring they leave The Prep confident, well-rounded and ready for the next stage of their journey.
Confidence
A CULTURE OF KINDNESS
We believe children thrive when they feel genuinely known, supported and happy. At Sevenoaks Prep, every pupil is part of a nurturing community where wellbeing is woven into daily school life. Our nurturing community, small class sizes and excellent adult-to-child ratios ensure every pupil is known as an individual and given the attention and encouragement they need. Strong relationships underpin daily life, with pupils confident that they can speak to any adult about any worry.
Our dedicated Wellbeing Team works closely with staff and families to help children develop resilience, confidence and healthy habits. Through buddy systems, leadership opportunities and thoughtfully designed wellbeing activities, pupils learn to support one another and build a strong sense of belonging. When children feel secure and cared for, they approach learning with joy, curiosity and confidence.
Belonging
ACADEMIC APPROACH
We feel children are at their best within a happy, diverse community of learners. We make sure they are stretched at the appropriate time, producing their best without unnecessary pressure. All pupils benefit from subject specialist teachers, with this increasing as they progress through the school. Our teachers ensure that every pupil is motivated, challenged and prepared for examinations and scholarships to both independent and local grammar schools.
Our pupils achieve excellent academic results and are successful in gaining entry into schools of their choice for both Year 7 and Year 9. Many of our pupils earn academic, music, drama and sport scholarships to leading independent schools including Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Caterham and Hurstpierpoint College. Each year, our pupils gain places at grammar schools such as Judd, Tonbridge Grammar, Cranbrook and Weald of Kent.
Curiosity
THE PREP COMMUNITY
Sevenoaks Prep is a place where every child, parent, and member of staff feels a genuine sense of belonging. Our strong, close‑knit community is shaped by families from the surrounding areas, many of whom form lifelong friendships through the school. Supported by a wide range of events throughout the year that bring everyone together, this sense of connection is at the heart of school life. Set on the edge of the stunning Knole Park estate, pupils enjoy expansive outdoor space while still being just moments from central Sevenoaks. With a convenient minibus service from Sevenoaks Station, the school remains easily accessible for working parents, ensuring Sevenoaks Prep is a vibrant, welcoming environment where children and families truly thrive.
Community
“We feel fortunate enough to be part of such a welcoming and happy community.”
Current Parent
#shapingpupilsstories
We had a brilliant week of outdoor cooking across Pre-Prep in their Outdoor Adventure sessions!
From bagels and mini pizzas to drop scones, chocolate pinwheels, cinnamon swirls and even campfire doughnuts, every year group got stuck in.
The children carefully followed recipes, measured ingredients and built important life skills - from teamwork and resilience to independence and confidence. Even the unpredictable British weather didn’t dampen spirits!
The highlight? Sitting together and enjoying the delicious food they made themselves.
Well done, everyone.
#PrePrep #SevenoaksPrep #OutdoorLearning #CookingOutdoors #shapingpupilsstories
Year 2 had a fantastic day in Hastings during our visit to the Blue Reef Aquarium. The children loved learning about native fish species and were especially excited to walk through the underwater tunnel, where sharks and puffer fish swam overhead. They also had great fun spotting familiar characters from our class play!
Along the seafront, we explored both traditional and modern fishing boats, thinking carefully about the human and physical features we could see. A visit to the Hastings Fishermen’s Museum gave us a chance to learn more about the town’s fishing heritage and the important work of the volunteers there.
We ended our wonderful day with fish and chips, followed by a beach scavenger hunt, which was enjoyed by all.
#SeasideLearning #ExploringTheCoast #LearningBeyondTheClassroom #SchoolTrips #shapingpupilsstories #sevenoaksprep
Our latest episode of Sevenoaks Prepcast is now live.
This nature-themed release explores our amazing environment and is sure to inspire you to get out into nature this summer. You can listen using this link https://pod.fo/e/41f2da or it is easy to find by searching `Sevenoaks Prepcast` on your usual podcast platform.
Podcast Club meets every week, and there are many different roles involved in creating each episode – from researching, recording content and composing music to designing accompanying artwork, as well as coordinating the whole process. It is always exciting to receive the final version from the producers and hear how it has all come together.
Many thanks to our contributors and, of course, our fabulous podcast team. Do take a listen this weekend - our young podcasters are hoping to enter for an award, and every listen counts!
#SevenoaksPrepcast #Prepcast #PodcastClub #sevenoaksprep #shapingpupilsstories #schoolpodcast
We are delighted to have been awarded the British Council International School Award at Foundation Level.
Over the past year, Year 5 and the Modern Foreign Languages Club have worked hard towards this recognition, demonstrating a strong commitment to international awareness. Year 5 explored Spanish-speaking countries, including researching languages, capital cities and well-known sporting figures, while the MFL Club developed their skills through songs and French-language cartoons.
This is a fantastic achievement, and we look forward to building on this work by developing partnerships with schools around the world. Well done to all involved!
#InternationalSchoolAward #LearningLanguages #SevenoaksPrep #shapingpupilsstories
In their recent outdoor learning session, Year 6 learnt how to pitch (and pack away!) their own tents.
Working collaboratively in teams, they showed fantastic problem-solving skills, patience and perseverance – especially when tackling the challenge of packing the tents back into their tiny bags!
Learning how to put up a tent is an important life skill, encouraging independence, resilience and teamwork, as well as helping prepare children for future outdoor experiences such as camping and expeditions.
Once their tents were up, the children enjoyed spending time inside them, celebrating their achievements and making the most of the experience together.
Well done, Year 6!
#Year6 #OutdoorLearning #sevenoaksprep #shapingpupilsstories #teamwork
What an amazing week we had at our May Half Term Holiday Camps.
Pre-Prep children threw themselves into everything — from messy sensory play and water fun to wonderfully creative crafts and gardening. Out on the fields, they stayed active and motivated with tennis, football and plenty of energetic dodgeball (a clear favourite!).
On the Prep side, there was Art Camp and Multi-Sports. In Art, the children enjoyed creating papier-mâché hanging baskets, decorating them with pressed flowers and pebble-painted insects. They also made collage beach scenes using torn wallpaper and explored junk modelling, designing miniature houses complete with furniture and thoughtful finishing touches. In Multi-Sports, the children took part in a wide range of activities, including cricket, football and tennis, alongside popular team games such as capture the flag and, of course, dodgeball.
We were incredibly lucky to spend so much of the week outdoors in the sunshine, making the most of our beautiful grounds, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back for more camps, fun activities and creativity over the summer holidays.
#SevenoaksPrep #HolidayCamps #MayHalfTerm #PrepSchoolLife #shapingpupilsstories
We had a truly special Grandparents’ and Loved Ones Day before half term, and it was a joy to see so many familiar faces around the school.
The school was filled with warmth, pride and connection as pupils shared their day with those who play such an important role in their lives. There is something especially meaningful about seeing children in their school environment - learning, performing, spending time with friends and growing in confidence - and moments like these, shared across generations, are the ones that stay with them for years to come.
The assembly was a highlight, featuring confident performances and thoughtful reflections that brought both smiles and a touch of nostalgia, celebrating how school life has evolved while also reminding us of the many things that remain the same.
With thanks to the staff who brought the morning together so thoughtfully, it was a wonderful celebration of community, connection and the relationships that matter most. Thank you to all who were able to join us and help make the day so special.
#GrandparentsDay #LovedOnesDay #SchoolCommunity #PrepLife #SpecialMoments #SchoolLife #CommunitySpirit #shapingpupilsstories #sevenoaksprep
Year 5 enjoyed a fantastic overnight trip to Wantage, with excitement building from the moment they arrived. After quickly dropping their bags in their rooms, they headed straight to the leisure centre for the much-anticipated pool party. With floats, balls and plenty of energy, it was the perfect way to kick off their adventure.
Back at the accommodation, the children embraced the outdoors with some den building in the woods, working together to create their own woodland shelters before settling down for a well-earned hot chocolate.
After a `good` night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, the group set off for the Living Rainforest. Here, they explored a vibrant tropical environment, spotting everything from tortoises to sloths while learning more about sustainability in the rainforest.
It was a memorable trip for Year 5, filled with fun, teamwork and plenty of new experiences.
#Year5Trip #SchoolTrip #ResidentialTrip #Wantage #shapingpupilsstories #sevenoaksprep
Year 1 have been exploring the beauty of sunflowers through art! Inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s famous sunflower paintings and linked to our topic on Growing, the children used chalk pastels to create their own vibrant masterpieces.
They carefully observed the organic shapes, textures and patterns found in real sunflowers, learning how artists take inspiration from nature. The children also practised blending colours with oil pastels to create depth, movement and rich, warm tones.
We are so proud of their creativity, observation skills and enthusiasm as they brought these cheerful flowers to life!
#Year1Art #GrowingTopic #Sunflowers #VincentVanGogh #OilPastels #CreativeLearning #ArtInspiration #LearningThroughArt #sevenoaksprep #shapingpupilsstories
