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
Year 2 enjoyed a fantastic Seaside Day, making the most of the beautiful weather with a variety of traditional seaside games and activities. The children also worked collaboratively to design and create their own seaside‑themed board games, showing great teamwork and creativity.
To finish the day, the children took part in a tailored watercolour workshop, where they created stunning beach scenes inspired by our new topic.
It was a wonderful day full of learning, creativity and fun – a brilliant start to our Seaside unit!
#year2 #creativelearning #sevenoaksprep #shapingpupilsstories #seaside
The children have thoroughly enjoyed exploring the breathtaking “sea of bluebells” surrounding our school, both in the woodlands of Knole Park and within our very own Forest School site. As the first bluebell shoots began to appear, this provided a wonderful opportunity for the children to learn about conservation and the importance of protecting these delicate ancient woodland plants. They discovered why bluebells are so special, how they support biodiversity, and why it is vital that we care for and preserve these natural habitats.
It has been incredibly rewarding to now see the impact of this learning, with our Forest School site carpeted in a stunning display of vibrant purple and to hear comments such as “it looks like a rug under the trees”, “it smells like perfume”, “I can’t believe there are so many” and simply “wow”!
#SevenoaksPrep #BluebellSeason #spring #OutdoorLearning #ForestSchool #LearningOutdoors #shapingpupilsstories
Our SEND Department continually seeks new ways to support children and parents through expert guidance and practical support. Last Wednesday, we welcomed Occupational Therapist, Claire Benson, for an informative and engaging talk on handwriting.
It was a fascinating whistle‑stop tour of the behavioural science behind learning to write, highlighting why handwriting still matters and why it is far more complex than it might appear. Claire explored how writing relies on a combination of fine and gross motor skills, visual perception and cognition – a true whole‑body activity that doesn’t develop by osmosis, but needs to be carefully taught and practised. The session also reinforced the importance of learning through play and showed how small adjustments, such as having both feet flat on the floor, can make a big difference to how children use their hands.
Parents came away with lots of practical strategies and simple ideas to help build fine motor skills and strengthen handwriting muscles – all while keeping things fun.
Later this term, we look forward to welcoming Helen Arkell for a talk on dyslexia.
We are delighted to share that @georgemgregan will be joining Sevenoaks Prep as our Sports Ambassador.
George is one of the most respected figures in world rugby. A World Cup winner with Australia, he earned 139 international caps and brings incredible experience, leadership and a lifelong passion for sport. In his role as Sports Ambassador, he will visit the school and work with our pupils to inspire sporting excellence, promote wellbeing and develop confidence and leadership – both on and off the field. George will also support our staff, helping us to further strengthen and enrich our sporting provision across the school.
This is a truly special opportunity for our pupils to learn from one of the world’s most respected sporting leaders and we are immensely proud to welcome George into the Sevenoaks Prep family.
#SevenoaksPrep #SportsAmbassador #PrepSchoolLife #SportForAll #SchoolCommunity #shapingpupilsstories #sevenoaks #tonbridge
Yesterday, Pre-Prep pupils took part in a wonderful Earth Day workshop filled with creativity, teamwork and thoughtful discussions about how we can care for our planet.
We began by making our very own bird feeders, learning how even small actions can help support wildlife in our environment. Each child also worked on a beautiful piece of collaborative artwork; using our handprints to create a colourful picture of Planet Earth. It was a fantastic way to explore the idea that we all play a part in looking after the world around us.
We had a meaningful discussion about ways we can help the planet, with children sharing ideas such as recycling, not wasting water, and being kind to nature. Story time introduced us to a thoughtful tale about a badger who tries a little too hard to tidy up the forest. This sparked some fantastic conversations about how nature doesn’t always need changing and why it is important to respect natural habitats.
We also spent some peaceful time outdoors, practising mindfulness by listening to sounds, observing nature and taking a moment to appreciate the world around us. To finish the session, the children enjoyed a fun and calming Earth Day yoga flow, helping them connect their bodies and minds with nature.
#EarthDay #CaringForOurPlanet #EarlyYearsEducation #SevenoaksPrep #shapingpupilsstories
Our Year 7 and 8 pupils headed to the Dolomites at the start of the Easter holidays for their much‑anticipated ski trip – and what a week it was, full of laughs, fun and snow!
Excitement mounted as they headed to the airport to fly to Italy and they were greeted with blue skies every day in Pinzolo. From the start, the trip was packed with memorable moments. Pupils skied across the wide pistes in groups ranging from complete beginners to more advanced skiers, making the most of everything the ski area had to offer.
The fun didn’t stop when the skiing ended. Evening activities included karaoke performances, a mountain dinner followed by a night walk back, a cinema trip – and, of course, the ongoing mystery of which member of staff would be sporting the ‘bunny ears of shame’!
It was an amazing trip and one our pupils will remember for years to come. A huge thank you to all the staff who came on the trip and whose meticulous planning and care made the week such a brilliant experience.
#shapingpupilsstories #sevenoaksprep #schoolskitrip #skitrip #skitrip2026
Welcome back – it is wonderful to see the school buzzing again.
The children have returned full of smiles, busy chatting, catching up and sharing their stories after the holidays. The summer term is always a special one, full of energy and excitement. From Prep Idol and sports day to Maypole dancing and our summer shows (and plenty more in between), there is so much to look forward to.
We can’t wait to enjoy a busy and memorable term together.
#summerterm #shapingpupilsstories #sevenoaksprep #theprep #welcomeback
National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships 2026
We took 14 of our students to compete in the National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships at The Copper Box Arena which is the biggest junior indoor rowing event in the UK, with over 2,000 participants!
Each student raced against their own year group in either a 2-minute or 3-minute event, and we couldn’t be prouder of how they performed. Their effort, determination and sportsmanship were outstanding throughout the day.
All of the students exceeded the personal scores they had set in PE and Rowing Club and a special congratulations goes to our top performers - including three of our girls who secured top‑five finishes in their respective events.
Every single student was a credit to the school, representing us brilliantly both on and off the rowing machines. Most importantly, they had a fantastic time and embraced the experience with enthusiasm and positivity.
Well done to all involved – we are incredibly proud of you!
#NJIRC2026 #IndoorRowing #JuniorRowing #SchoolSport #ThePrep #SevenoaksPrep #shapingpupilsstories #sevenoaksprep
Just before we broke up, our Year 2 pupils took part in a fantastic mini rugby tournament, putting into practice the skills they have been learning in their games lessons. They played a series of mixed‑team matches, with plenty of tries scored and lots of smiles on the pitch!
A huge thank you to our wonderful parents for braving a particularly chilly spring day to cheer from the sidelines - your support always makes such a difference.
#PrepLife #shapingpupilsstories #SchoolCommunity #IndependentSchool
#Year2 #MiniRugby
