WHAT? WHERE?

Shrewsbury House Pre-prep School in Esher.

Shrewsbury House Pre-Prep is a non-selective pre-prep for children aged 2-7 years. It’s a welcoming and homely school – described by some parents as like one big family – with a strong sense of community at its core, but also a robust academic programme. The size of the school means every child is well-known, by the teachers and staff – which means they know when they need to be stretched and challenged, but also when they need an arm around their shoulder.

You’ll find the school on Milbourne Lane in Esher, close to Claygate and with easy access to the A3. It’s part of the Shrewsbury House School Trust, along with Shrewsbury House School in Surbiton and The Rowans in Wimbledon, and there are currently about 100 pupils at the school – a mix of about 80% boys and 20% girls. The school prides itself on its small class-sizes – they hover around 13-18 – with a teacher and teaching assistant in each class.

The pre-prep was founded in 1912, moving to the current site in 1914. In 2009, it merged with Shrewsbury House Prep School to become Shrewsbury Lodge School. In 2017, the school was re-named Shrewsbury House Pre-prep – and although it’s on a separate site to Shrewsbury House Prep, the two schools maintain a close relationship.

The school’s ethos and values are centred around TRACK: Teamwork, Resilience, Aspiration, Care and Kindness. Children are encouraged to aim high and not be afraid of failing, while underpinning everything is care and kindness.

The school is keen to turn out children who are self-confident, but not arrogant

FACILITIES

Shrewsbury House Pre-prep School in Esher.

The school is in a lovely setting with a pretty Victorian building as its centrepiece. From the front entrance, it might seem bijou, and while the school certainly isn’t huge, it does feel like a tardis making clever use of the space including an acre of grounds that stretch out around it.

The main building has been cleverly extended over the years to provide modern, purpose-built classrooms and facilities. Inside, classrooms are large, bright and light. There’s also an indoor sports hall which is used for PE lessons, assemblies, school productions, dance lessons and school functions, as well as a separate library and a music room, plus the school’s front hall which is where the children have their lunch and where the before- and after-school care is held.

Outside, the colourful all-weather playground is packed with play equipment like slides and climbing frames and also traditional games like hopscotch. There’s also a bike track – and a keen emphasis on encouraging children to be active.

Both the nursery and reception have their own dedicated outdoor play and learning areas, including a climbing wall in the reception area. There’s also a separate area for a kitchen garden, and a heated outdoor swimming pool.

The sports playing fields – with space for several mini-pitches and a charming timber-clad sports pavilion – are a little further along the street, just two minutes’ walk from the school. It’s a picturesque setting, with a wooded area as well as the playing fields, where the Forest School is held.

SPORT

Shrewsbury House Pre-prep School in Esher.

Sport is also highly valued at Shrewsbury House Pre-prep with a strong sport-for-all attitude throughout the school. The head teacher feels strongly that all children should have the opportunity to play individual and team sports from a young age and there are regular fixtures against other schools in football, tag rugby and mixed summer sports for children in reception and years 1 and 2.

In nursery, children have two PE sessions every week and from reception upwards children have an additional whole afternoon of games. All sport is taught by specialist sports teachers, right from nursery.

The outdoor games sessions change each term but centre around football, tag rugby, athletics, hockey, tennis and cricket. There are after-school clubs in tennis, football, dance and multi-sports and chess.

The heated outdoor swimming pool is put to good use, too, with all children from reception upwards having swimming lessons for six months of the year.

THE ARTS

Shrewsbury House Pre-prep School in Esher.

Music is important at Shrewsbury House Pre-prep, and children will have two music lessons each week from nursery all the way through to year 2. In lessons, there’s a lot of instrumental teaching using percussion instruments with a focus on rhythm and beat.

Children from reception upwards also have the option of learning an instrument – usually guitar, piano or flute – taught by visiting peripatetic teachers.

In Reception and year 1, pupils learn to play the ukulele as part of their music timetable, and in year 2 it’s the glockenspiel. There’s also a school choir, which all children are encouraged to join.

The school has a bespoke music room, home to an upright piano, and there are also two separate music practice rooms.

Art lessons are woven into the class curriculum and taught by class teachers, and while it’s not specialist taught there’s plenty of evidence of a strong art culture at Shrewsbury House Pre-prep, with pupils’ artwork proudly displayed throughout the school.

THE LITTLIES

Shrewsbury House Pre-prep School in Esher.

While the nursery has its own designated play area, which is used all year round, it is still very much a part of the main school. In fact there’s an emphasis on the whole school and children are encouraged to mix across age groups. Children in the nursery are paired with a buddy in year 2 who they get to read with and spend time with.

The school also holds a weekly Toddler Group run by school staff and parents which is free to attend on Friday mornings from 9.30-11.15am. It’s an informal drop-in session with a different focus each week ranging from art and craft to music – and a great way to experience a taster of the school.

ACADEMICS

Shrewsbury House Pre-prep School in Esher.

The curriculum at Shrewsbury House Pre-prep is rigorous, without being hot-housey. There’s an individual flavour to the learning, with care and kindness underpinning everything so that children feel secure, happy and confident. Happy children will flourish is the thinking.

In the nursery and reception, learning is focused on a mixture of play and supported learning (through class teaching), with a strong focus on foundational skills of maths, phonics and literacy. Even in these early years, lessons in music, French and PE are taught by specialist teachers.

Things become more structured as the children move from reception into years 1 and then 2. Children here are challenged to be inquisitive and creative, they’re encouraged to question things and urged to have a go without being afraid of making mistakes. Learning is theme-based with half-termly topics connecting the children’s learning in English, maths, history, geography, science, art, computing, PSHE and religious education. When I visited the children in Year 1 had recently moved from ‘dinosaurs’ to ‘toys from the past’. School trips and outings are also an integral part of the learning.

Most of the boys at Shrewsbury House Pre-Prep will go onto Shrewsbury House Prep – and although a place is not guaranteed, the schools work closely together and boys are continually assessed at the Pre-Prep so there is no requirement to attend the formal assessment.

Many of the girls go on to Rowan Prep in Claygate, as well as Lady Eleanor Holles and Surbiton High Girls’ School. In recent years, children have also gone to Feltonfleet, Hampton, King’s College School, Surbiton High Boys’ and Parkside School in Cobham.

PASTORAL CARE

Shrewsbury House Pre-prep School in Esher.

The wellbeing of pupils is a top priority at Shrewsbury House Pre-prep – as you’d rightly expect – and pastoral care is woven into the fabric of the school. There’s an emphasis on establishing positive communication and strong relationships between the children and their families and class teachers.

The size of the school and strong sense of community – the parents’ group is incredibly active – means there’s a natural sense of care and kindness that comes easily.

As well, there are initiatives like a Healthy Living Week in the summer which takes in physical and mental wellbeing – starting off with a Breakfast Boogie. Wellbeing Week is held across all three schools in the Shrewsbury House Trust.

THE HEAD

Jon Akhurst, head teacher at Shrewsbury House Pre-prep School in Esher.

Jon Akhurst is in his sixth year as Headmaster at Shrewsbury House Pre-prep having joined in September 2018, although he’s no stranger to the Shrewsbury House family having spent 17 years at the prep school. He covered a range of different roles at the prep school including Deputy Head (Pastoral).

Mr Akhurst comes from a family with a long history in education – his grandmother was a senior school Latin and English teacher, his father was head of English (and his English teacher) and his sister also teaches. You don’t need to be a fly on the wall to know how the conversation goes at the Akhurst family Christmases! It’s not a great surprise, then, that he has a passion for education, for children and for helping children achieve their best. But this is all rooted in wellbeing, and making sure children are happy, confident and content.

He has a son and daughter – both teenagers.

As well as education, Jon is a self-proclaimed sports fanatic. A former county cricketer, he’s still playing club cricket at East Molesey, and whilst he no longer plays football, he manages an adults’ team. He also plays golf.

WRAP-AROUND CARE

Shrewsbury House Pre-prep School in Esher.

The Breakfast Club runs from 7.30 each morning, and Afternoon Care is from the end of school (3.15pm for nursery and reception, 3.30pm for year 1 and 3.45pm for year 2) until 6pm. There’s also an afternoon tea for from 3.15-3.45pm for younger the siblings of the year 2 children.

As well as the after-school care programme, there’s also a programme of extra-curricular activities – from multi-sports and games to art, gardening, cookery and Lego club.

ISI REPORT

The most recent inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) was in May 2022 and found the school met all of its requirements. The most recent full inspection was in 2017, which awarded the highest possible rating of ‘Excellent’ in every area. You can read each of those reports here.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

There’s a strict ‘no phones’ policy.

TRANSPORT

Currently, the school doesn’t offer a bus pick-up and drop-off, but the idea is being considered – so watch this space.

FEES – 2024/25

In nursery fees are £2,460 per term for five morning sessions and £4,410 for five full days. Reception is £4,995, and years 1 and 2 is £5,515 per term.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Shrewsbury House Pre-prep School in Esher.

Parents love the friendly environment and the sense of community at the school. Children at Shrewsbury House Pre-prep are happy kids. One parent said her child left for school with a smile on her face and came home with a smile on her face. Parents also talk about the opportunities their children are getting at SHPP, from Forest School to sports fixtures, to the choir and piano lessons – and those with boys love the opportunity to continue on at Shrewsbury House Prep.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Parents looking for a small inclusive school that’s warm and welcoming. The school is really nurturing, and kids who are ambitious and hungry to learn will thrive here.

Not for: Unadventurous types. Children are encouraged to have a go at everything here, so if they’re not willing to give new things a try, Shrewsbury House Pre-prep might not be the school for them.

Dare to disagree? There’s an open morning on Fri 4 Oct. Or, book yourself a personal tour. Contact the Registrar Jules Akhurst, at shppadmissions@shstrust.net or 01372 462781.

Shrewsbury House Pre-prep, 22 Milbourne Lane, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9EA. Tel: 01372 462781

Shrewsbury House Pre-prep School, Esher

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