WHAT? WHERE?

Weston Green School in Thames Ditton, Surrey.

Weston Green School is a small independent prep for boys and girls aged 2-11 in Thames Ditton. It’s a school that has community at its heart. There’s a warm, welcoming and inclusive feel and a genuine sense of belonging among children. It’s known for being an incredibly nurturing school with a genuine focus on each individual child. The outcome? Happy, contented children and excellent academics.

The 190 children on the register live close to the school – Thames Ditton, Esher, Molesey, Hampton, Claygate and Hinchley Wood. But word is getting out, and the catchment is growing to include children from Surbiton, Kingston-upon-Thames, and further afield. Thames Ditton Station and Esher Station are both a 10-minute walk, so it’s also handy for commuting parents.

Weston Green School is proudly non-selective. “We just love children,” I’m told. And this certainly rings true, from my own observations.

It’s not a huge school – let’s call it neat and petite – and certainly from the entrance on Weston Green Road just off the A309, it looks quite titchy. But don’t be deceived. Beyond the converted Victorian house – originally the servants’ quarters for the adjacent house – there are cleverly designed purpose-built classrooms which overlook a playground and a creative play area.

Class sizes throughout the school are small: an average of 14 pupil. There’s a mix of one- and two-forms.

FACILITIES

Children at Weston Green School in Thames Ditton, Surrey.

The school is compact, so we’re not talking an endless run of school pitches. But there’s everything you’d expect to find at a village prep school including an astroturf pitch which doubles as a playground. There’s a forest school (used by the littlies) and a creative play area, balance beam, outdoor classroom and a kitchen garden with raised beds for growing vegetables.

Children from Year 3 upwards use the sports facilities at Old Cranleighans Sports Club. These include all-weather hockey pitches, rugby and football pitches. It’s a 10-minute walk from Weston Green going at kids’-pace. Children are bussed to a local pool for swimming lessons, and forest school takes place in local woodland.

Inside there’s a multi-purpose hall which is well used for assemblies, weekly yoga sessions and lunch, as well as a separate art / science room and a handful of break-out classrooms used for small-group sessions, intervention and enrichment sessions.

SPORT

Children at Weston Green School in Thames Ditton, Surrey.

For a small school, Weston Green does remarkably well on the sporting front with the trophy cabinet proudly showing off wins at regional and national level.

That said, the school’s inclusive ethos is really what comes into play with the main aim of encouraging a love of sport and participation at all levels.

The programme starts with the littlies in Kindergarten who have weekly dance and games sessions, plus yoga. From Year 1 upwards, children have games sessions with specialist teachers as well as swimming lessons, yoga and gymnastics.

The programme expands for children in Year 3 to 6, who have two hours of games each week, and take part in competitive fixtures in football, netball, hockey, cricket and athletics. As well as school tournaments, there are also house matches and the annual sports day and swimming gala.

Weston Green School is keen to give children the opportunity to pursue individual sports like golf, alongside team sports. It’s still in the early stages of planning – but watch this space!

THE ARTS

A girl plays the violin at Weston Green School in Thames Ditton, Surrey.

Music, drama and dance are strong – with plenty on offer. They start early too. Music, drama and dance are specialist taught from Kindergarten upwards.

In addition to timetabled music lessons, children from Year 2 have the option of learning a musical instrument. About 25% have individual lessons in everything from drums and French horn to saxophone, guitar, voice and violin. Lamda is also on offer.

Children get to show off their talents, too, at regular tea-time concerts, open mic sessions and yearly productions. There are choirs, orchestras and ensembles to join.

LITTLIES

Children in the Pre Prep at Weston Green School in Thames Ditton, Surrey.

Children can start in the Pre Prep from the age of 2 and the Kindergarten from 3. They’re housed in lovely purpose-built classrooms with glass doors that open to the outside space. Whilst learning is free-flowing, there’s also a degree of structure with children taking part in planned activities including yoga, music, games, Forest School and meditation. In the Kindergarten, children also have a French lesson each week.

Pre Prep children have the option of year-round care or term-time only. Most families opt for the extended care. Children in the Pre Prep are guaranteed a place at Weston Green School through to Year 6.

ACADEMICS

Children at Weston Green School in Thames Ditton, Surrey.

Children are mostly taught by their class teacher alongside subject specialists. In Kindergarten there are specialists for French, yoga, music, Forest School and games. In Year 2, this increases to art, computing, geography, history and science.

Pupils at Weston Green are gently stretched, so that progress is constant. The aim is to have all children working in their ‘zone of proximal development’. Or more plainly, on something that challenges, but isn’t too difficult.

A Future Skills Programme was launched in January 2025 – designed to develop skills like creative thinking, ethical leadership, resilience and collaboration. As part of this children from Reception to Year 6 take part in a weekly project-based initiative called SkillQuest which involves them using these skills to tackle real-world problems. The programme also takes a proactive, common-sense approach to AI, and includes this as a discrete subject for Years 5 and 6.

Digital learning, too, has been given more weight on the curriculum with a new digital literacy lesson introduced for pupils in Years 3 and 4. Chromebooks are used throughout the school to enhance learning, and from Year 3 upwards each pupil will have their own.

Children do remarkably well at Weston Green School going on to a wide range of senior schools – frequently with a scholarship in hand.

Senior schools include Claremont Fan Court, Notre Dame School, Reed’s School, Halliford, Kingston Grammar, Surbiton High, Hampton Court House, Downsend School, Ewell Castle, St John’s Leatherhead, RGS Guildford, Kingswood House Epsom, Sir William Perkins’s School, Lady Eleanor Hollis, Hampton School, St George’s Weybridge, Guildford High School, Box Hill School and Manor House School.

Weston Green School is hot on helping children find the senior school that will most suit them, a process that starts in Year 4 and involves close collaboration between the school, parents and the child.

PASTORAL CARE

Children at Weston Green School in Thames Ditton, Surrey.

Pastoral care is more than just a feature at Weston Green School – it’s intrinsic in the fabric of the school and evident on so many levels. The compassion and kindness of staff stood out on my visit.

I’m told the foundation of pastoral care is built on warm relationships between pupils and staff, which gives children confidence and removes vulnerabilities. Developing close-knit relationships perhaps comes naturally in a small inclusive environment like this – and at Weston Green School it feels very natural.

But there are more formal measures in place too. A worry box, where children can write down their problems and post sits in the library. And trained ELSA’s are there to help support pupils with emotional issues. There’s also a dedicated SENCO to help pupils who may need extra learning support.

There’s a determined focus on friendships too – and an acknowledgment that in a smaller school, social dynamics are more concentrated and therefore potentially open to mix-ups.

The school’s house system, plus a mentoring system, mean that children get to know each other across year groups – and they’ll often mix in the playground.

Weston Green School also subscribes to the Girls on Board Programme – an initiative which helps girls, their parents and their teachers to understand the complexities and dynamics of girl friendships.

The school’s ethos centres around three main values: ambition, curiosity and kindness.

THE HEAD

Children at Weston Green School in Thames Ditton, Surrey with head teacher David Brown.

David Brown is new to Weston Green, starting in September 2024. It’s his first headship, coming from the role of deputy head at Greenfield School in Woking. He was at Greenfield for 11 years, and before that was at Bute House Prep in Hammersmith, London, for 13 years.

Passionate about digital learning (he teaches AI and English) and with a firm focus on future skills, he’s already expanded the curriculum to include the new digital literacy lesson, as well as introducing the Future Skills Programme.

There’s more to come too, with plans to introduce a personalised learning journey for pupils – a pathway that will be tailored around pastoral needs and academics.

David believes strongly in inclusive education – where children feel valued, secure and supported. “Children should have a sense of belonging and feel psychologically safe,” he says. “Then you’ll win with the academics.”

He lives in New Haw with his wife, who is also a teacher plus two children and three stepchildren.

QUIRKS

Children at Weston Green School in Thames Ditton, Surrey.

Call it a quirk – or perhaps just a fundamental part of the school’s ethos – but a menagerie of animals represents Weston Green School’s Learner Profiles. The woodpecker perseveres; the squirrel is the risk taker; the owl is a thinker; the spider is creative; the badger is independent; and the bee is a team player. Once you know they’re there, you’ll see them pop up a lot throughout the school – in posters, on stickers and in conversation.

WRAP AROUND CARE

The Breakfast Club is open from 7.45am to 8.25am (cost £4,50), and After School Care is available until 4pm (cost £4.83); or 5pm (cost £6.50); or 6pm (cost £7.25, including an early supper).

ISI REPORT

Children at Weston Green School in Thames Ditton, Surrey.

Weston Green School was inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in March 2022. You can read the report here.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

Mobile phones are not permitted at school. If Year 5 or 6 children require a phone to get to or from school, they must be handed in during the school day.

TRANSPORT

Most parents do the school drop-off and pick-up. There’s no school bus service.

FEES – 2024/25

Children in the Pre Prep must book at least four sessions per week (either 4 mornings or 2 full days). Fees start at £1,768 for two full days rising to £4,420 for five full days per term, for term-time only. Fees for extend care including all meals and snacks starts at £2,963.20 for two days rising to £7,408 per term for five full days.

In Reception, termly fees are £4,794; Years 1-2 fees are £4,994 and Years 3-6 are £5,388 – inclusive of VAT. Lunch is £425 per term.

Weston Green offers a 10% discount for a younger sibling, and a further 10% for a third child.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Weston Green School in Thames Ditton, Surrey.

The size is a big draw, and the fact that children receive individualised attention from teachers and staff. The strong pastoral care means the children are a happy bunch at Weston Green.

Parents also credit the caring and nurturing atmosphere with helping their children grow confidence and ultimately achieve their full potential.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Children at Weston Green School in Thames Ditton, Surrey.

Good for: Parents looking for an inclusive, family-friendly school where children are nurtured and given a chance to shine. If you want great results in a supported environment this school’s well worth a look.

Not for: Families who seek grand buildings, acres of space and dozens of playing fields on site will not find it at Weston Green. It’s bijou, using the site to its fullest.

Dare to disagree? Small-group tours are available every second Friday, or you can book an individual tour. Book here.

Weston Green School, Weston Green Road, Thames Ditton KT7 0JN. Tel: 020 8398 2778.

westongreenschool.org.uk

Weston Green School, Thames Ditton

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