Private Schools
There is less demand for private education in the Cotswolds given the excellence of the state schools. However there are private schools but thankfully they are not into hot housing on the scale of London day schools. The most popular with relocating Londoners being Beaudesert Park set in 30 acres adjoining Minchinhampton Common near Stroud. It is a co-educational day and boarding school for children aged 4-13.The school has a family atmosphere which is not surprising given that many parents have two or three siblings at the school. The pre-prep is housed in a separate building which makes it easier for the younger children to settle into school life. The school, which is non-selective, is very well resourced. It is a feeder for Cheltenham Ladies College, Marlborough, Radley, and Eton. A wide range of sport is catered for at the school including cricket, fencing, golf, squash and tennis. There are outdoor and indoor swimming pools. The school is oversubscribed so early registration is recommended.
If you are considering single sex education for your daughter then visit Westonbirt School in Tetbury. Although it reminds one of St Trinian’s, the school has a good reputation. It also has a growing pre-prep school, Querns, although the number of boy pupils is low.
Other co-educational prep schools include Wycliffe in Stonehouse, Rose Hill near Wotton-under-Edge, Hatherop Castle and Rendcomb College; both located a short drive from Cirencester. Rendcomb is a small non-selective co-educational school for children from 3-18 years old. The Junior School accepts day pupils up to the age of 11. It is situated in a wing of the Senior School building but is independent of the Senior College. Senior pupils can choose day, boarding or flexi-boarding. There is a wide range of optional extra-curricular activities on offer including cookery, golf, Spanish culture and Table top games.
Cheltenham has many good private schools chief amongst them being Cheltenham Ladies’ College, one of the top girls’ schools in the country. It is a large school with 875 pupils. Around three quarters of the girls board. It is not all work at the school with over 30 extracurricular activities and 150 educational trips open to pupils each year. In addition to A-levels the college offers the highly regarded International Baccalaureate. Bursaries of up to 100% of fees are available and a number of academic, music, art and sport scholarships. The King's School in Gloucester is one of the leading co-educational schools in England with around 500 pupils from age three. The school claims not be an academic hothouse. Music and drama are highly regarded and on the sporting side there are links with Gloucestershire County Cricket Club and Gloucester Rugby Club. Academic and non-academic scholarships to gifted children are available as well as choral cholarships for boys aged between 7 and 9.
Dean Close School offers a more religious environment and has a high number of parents in the armed forces. Co-educational, it takes pupils from 2-18. The co-educational Cheltenham College is on an improving trend.
There is good pre-school provision in the Cotswolds with a host of private nurseries. The Malthouse Nursery school on the Charlton Park estate in Malmesbury and Bingham’s Kindergarten in Cirencester are highly regarded. The latter effectively acts as a feeder for Beaudesert Park.
Cirencester has many nurseries suitable for working parents among them Bright Eyes and Acorns. Gooseberry Bush located close to Kemble Airfield is also a popular choice. Many villages run their own mother and toddler group and playgroup in the village hall. This is a good way to met people if you are new to the area. Gloucestershire county council provides a freefone number for information on early years education and choosing childcare.