Ellesmere, Shropshire SY12 9AB
10 reasons to choose Ellesmere College Lower School
Top line
Ellesmere College Lower School has a Schoolsmith Score® of 81. It is one of the best independent prep schools in and around Ellesmere and one of the 3 best primary schools for 10 miles.
School fundamentals
Ellesmere College Lower School is an independent prep day school for boys and girls (70%/30%) between the ages of 7 and 13 years. It is a Church of England school, open to all faiths and none. The school has a non-selective admissions policy. It is the junior division of Ellesmere College, an all-through school to age 18, and is a member of the Woodard Corporation. Ellesmere College Lower School fees range from £5,334 (Rec) to £6,186 per term (2025/26). Fees include VAT but exclude lunches.
Average class size
Ellesmere College Lower School has one class per year to Year 5, two from Year 6, and an average class size of 14 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
At the end of Year 8 most Lower School pupils move up Ellesmere College.
The Ellesmere College Lower School curriculum
School curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and the ISEB Common Entrance curriculum with some additions and variations. It also includes PSHE, French, Spanish, Latin. There is a CReSTeD recognised dyslexia facility. The school offers each child a handful of extra-curricular academic activities or hobby clubs.
More on the curriculum
There are regular educational trips for all year groups, visiting speakers and residential trips from Year 7. The Wednesday afternoon ‘Survive and Thrive’ programme, includes challenge and leadership experiences in the arts and outdoor learning. The school’s objective is to make pupils ‘Life:Ready’.
Specialist teaching
Specialist teachers for sport, music, languages, art, DT and computing throughout, and for most subjects from Year 7.
Sport at Ellesmere College Lower School
School offers over 20 different sports through the year, through both the curriculum and an extensive extra-curriculum. Representative teams in major sports from Year 3. There are 7 sporting academies starting in Year 7 for outstanding athletes in cricket, football, golf, rugby, shooting, swimming, and tennis. In recent years the school has enjoyed national success in shooting.
The Arts at Ellesmere College Lower School
Art and music are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils. Drama from Year 7. All pupils learn an instrument in class and half take extra-curricular instrument lessons. Choir, orchestra and one or two instrument ensembles. The school offers each pupil over 5 different extra-curricular creative and performing arts clubs.
Wraparound care
Wraparound care from 8.00am to 5.30pm.
Find another school near Ellesmere College Lower School
Bellan House (9.4 miles); Moreton Prep (11.1 miles); Packwood Haugh School (13.7 miles).
Gobowen Primary School (8.2 miles); Selattyn Church of England Primary School (10.6 miles); Shocklach Oviatt Church of England Primary School (14.2 miles).
Ellesmere College (0 miles); Oswestry School (9.5 miles); Moreton Hall School (11.1 miles); Ellesmere College (0 miles); Oswestry School (9.5 miles); Moreton Hall School (11.1 miles).
Bishop Heber High School (16.3 miles); Belvidere School (17.1 miles); The Priory School, A Business and Enterprise College (18.3 miles).