WHAT? WHERE?

Set down a leafy street in the exclusive Coombe area on the outskirts of Kingston-Upon-Thames, Rokeby School is an all-boys day school with a strong broad-based offering. While it’s academically robust, there’s a strong pastoral system in place and a vast extra-curricular programme which ensures a balanced and well-rounded school experience. The school aims to bring out the brilliant in each boy, and particular emphasis is placed on finding each boy’s special something – be it in sports, music, arts or academics. It seems to be working. There’s an impressive list of leavers’ destinations at both 11+ and 13+, and the scholarship offers would make any aspirational parent feel giddy.

But academic success aside, what really stands out is the relaxed and happy nature of the boys. They’re a bright bunch – articulate and comfortable in themselves, with a quiet unassuming confidence.

Pupil numbers sit at around 400 with a multi-form entry across all year levels. Class sizes are around 22 in the Lower School and drop to a delicious 16-18 boys from year 3 upwards. Entry into reception is non-selective and decided via a ballot system. Families are well-versed in the expectations of the school before they enter the ballot and the school tends to attract those with high aspirations. Entry from year 1 is by assessment.

The school was founded in 1877, initially as a prep school in Wimbledon. It moved to the current site in 1966 when, threatened with closure, a group of parents came to the rescue and set up the Rokeby Educational Trust charity.

FACILITIES

Sports fields at Rokeby School, Kingston.

The main school building is the former Coombe Croft country manor house once owned by the Galsworthy family (John Galsworthy is the author of The Forsyte Saga). Just over 10 years ago the school footprint grew with the addition of a purpose-built Lower School which houses classrooms and break-out areas from reception to year 2. There’s a performing arts hall used by the whole school and a sports hall, plus dining room. There are also three science labs, music and art rooms, design and technology studio, a library and an ICT suite.

Outside the playground is well-designed with an adventure playground, Astroturf and tennis courts, and terraced areas with table tennis tables. There’s also a year 8 common room.

SPORT

As as school that prides itself on a strong all-rounder offering, you’d expect sport to be taken seriously – and it is. There’s a sport-for-all ethos that encourages boys to find their own individual sporting passion, and a wide sports programme designed to expose them to as many sports as possible.

The main sports are football, rugby union, cross-country, cricket and athletics, with basketball, badminton, fencing, judo, skiing, swimming, table-tennis and tennis also available. Rokeby has been named one of The Cricketer Schools Guide’s top 50 cricketing prep schools in 2024.

The Rokeby Sports Ground (RSG) is about 10 minutes drive from the school on a 10-acre site in Worcester Park where you’ll find 14 small-side football pitches, four cricket squares and eight rugby pitches. There’s also a pavilion with changing rooms and commercial kitchen.

From reception to year 2, boys are bussed to the RSG once a week for games lessons, and they’ll also have a PE lesson at the school each week. In year 3 and above, this rises to two games lessons at the RSG each week in addition to a PE lesson at school.

THE ARTS

The arts are big at Rokeby – in particular the drama and music programmes. All boys from reception to year 8 have class music lessons, and in year 4 all boys spend a term and a half learning the violin. About half of all boys learn a musical instrument, taught by 10 visiting music teachers. And the Rowe Cup is a popular instrumental competition held each year.

As you’d expect, there’s also a bunch of music ensembles and choirs including wind, string, cello and guitar, plus training, junior, senior and chamber choirs.

On the performing arts front, there’s also plenty going on with drama lessons from reception to year 8. Productions are staged each year with a nativity in reception, year 1 and year 2, a year 2 and 3 production and two senior productions for boys in years 5 to 8. In year 7, boys also take part in the Coram Shakespeare Schools Festival. There are also weekly drama clubs and LAMDA sessions.

LITTLIES

The reception classrooms are in the purpose-built Lower School centre which means teaching spaces are light and bright, and the indoor to outdoor spaces flow seamlessly.

There’s the usual range of specialist-taught subjects from reception including music, drama, PSHE, PE and games, and this increases as boys move up the school, with design and technology added in year 3. French is also taught from reception. For year 2 boys, there’s an introduction to the classics starting with a study of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds.

Coinciding with my visit was the discovery of three dinosaur eggs in the school playground and the subsequent hatching of three baby dinosaurs. The pure joy and excitement on the boys’ faces at meeting the baby dinosaurs (ably introduced by an excellent puppeteer) would make your eyes mist over.

ACADEMICS

The tried and tested maxim that happy boys are confident learners applies at Rokeby School. And the boys here certainly do seem a happy and contented bunch. This is supported by an individual approach to each boy’s learning which takes into account their individual strengths, interests and needs.

The curriculum is varied and creative. History, for instance is taught in a sensible chronological order – starting with a study of pre-history in year 1, working through the ancient civilisations, Middle Ages and eventually arriving at the 20th Century by years 7 and 8.

The boys learn Latin in years 5 to 8, and for the most able in years 7 and 8, Greek is offered as an extra-curricular lesson.

There’s a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy – as you’d expect – and from year 5 boys are streamed in maths sets according to ability.

LEAVERS’ DESTINATIONS

About two-thirds of boys continue from year 6 into year 7 and 8. The process of finding the right senior school for boys starts in year 5, when the headmaster meets with parents to talk through the options. Boys go on to a wide variety of schools including some of the country’s most prestigious schools.

In 2023, boys in year 6 accepted places at schools including Brighton College, Epsom College, King’s College Wimbledon, Whitgift School, St John’s Leatherhead, Ibstock Place School and Tiffin in Kingston. Twelve scholarships were awarded for academics, sport, all-rounder and performing arts.

At 13+, boys accepted places at schools including Charterhouse School, Epsom College, Eton College, Hampton School, King’s College Wimbledon, Reed’s School, St Paul’s School, Tonbridge School and Wellington College. Boys were awarded seven academic scholarships (Hampton School, Wellington College, St Paul’s School, and King’s College Wimbledon) as well as scholarships for sport (Hampton School), art (Reed’s), drama (Reed’s), and performing arts (Hampton School).

PASTORAL CARE

The boys’ wellbeing is paramount to their learning, and huge effort has gone into getting this right. The school has a dedicated wellbeing co-ordinator – responsible for the wellbeing of staff and pupils – and there are trained counsellors plus four ELSAs (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants). The first point of contact though is a boy’s form tutor, who works closely with the heads of year. Like most schools, a formal tracking system is in place to monitor the boys’ emotional, social and academic development. And any problems are tackled early through a dedicated six-week ELSA programme.

The Zones of Regulation programme is also in place here, which teaches children to recognise and self-regulate their emotions, and there are mindfulness, colouring and breathing workshops plus yoga clubs. At lunchtime, there are drop-in sessions for boys who feel they need support.

There’s also a strong rewards programme in place, recognising the achievements of boys, and pupil voice is important with a School Council made up of prefects, house captains and class representatives. Every year 8 boy will take on a position or responsibility within the school and a mentoring programme pairs older pupils with younger ones to offer friendship, support and an insight into what lies ahead at Rokeby.

THE HEAD

Jason Peck, headmaster at Rokeby School in Kingston, with pupils.

Jason Peck has been the head at Rokeby School since 2007 and was the deputy head for three years before that. He’s pretty much overhauled the school in that time – taking it from what was perhaps a fusty (my word, not his) traditional prep to a forward-thinking and modern school for boys.

His first adjustment when he took the reins was to unify the Rokeby junior and Rokeby senior schools under one name and one uniform. He also got rid of the outdated senior school’s traditional Latin motto Aemulus studiorum et laborum (the rival of pursuits and labours) in favour of three simple words: smart, skilful and kind.

His focus is firmly on happiness, which he believes delivers the best outcomes from both pupils and staff. And from what I could see it’s working wonders – and the results speak volumes.

A trained hypnotherapist, he’s keen on healthy living and keeping fit. His own two boys, now young adults, came through Rokeby. He lives in Esher.

QUIRKS

Mark Drewery, the school’s librarian, is also a published author and every year he and the boys write a book which is published.

WRAP AROUND CARE

Breakfast Club from 7.30am and there’s after-school care until 6pm. A wide range of extra-curricular clubs is on offer after school.

ISI REPORT

Most recently inspected in November 2023 by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). Click here for the full report.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

The school does not allow the use of mobile phones or other personal digital devices at school.

Boys in years 6, 7 and 8 who travel independently to school are permitted to bring a phone or smartwatch into school, however their parents must apply for permission from the headmaster. Phones must be handed in at the school office at the start of each school day and collected at the end of it.

TRANSPORT

The school operates a network of buses for travel to and from school covering the Putney, Wandsworth, Southfields, Wimbledon and Merton Park areas. The cost is from £75 to £200 a term each way depending on the number of days of travel. Ad hoc journeys are £7.50.

FEES

2023-24: Termly fees £5,686 for reception to year 2; £6,656 for years 3 and 4; and £7,081 for years 5 to 8.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Rokeby School is a happy environment with plenty on offer for boys, and parents like that. The fact the school achieves excellent academic results is also a win for parents.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: All-rounders, those who aspire to big-name senior schools. It’s academic enough for the pushiest of parents but the teaching and huge amount of extra-curricular activities mean the kids have a lot of fun too.

Not for: The curriculum is fast-paced and academic, so it may not be ideal for boys who don’t have the drive to keep up and do well. That said, there’s a strong learning support programme in place, and the school does accommodate a range of academic abilities.

Dare to disagree? The next open day will be on Saturday 5 October. There are also regular Headmaster’s coffee mornings for 4+ and 7/8+ entry. Book here.

If you are interested in a place for reception 2025, please contact admissions: admissions@rokeby.org.uk.

Rokeby School, George Road, Kingston-Upon-Thames, Surrey KT2 7PB. Tel: 020 8942 2247.

Rokeby School, Kingston-Upon-Thames

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