Hatherop, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 3NB
10 reasons to choose Hatherop Castle School
Top line
Hatherop Castle School has a Schoolsmith Score® of 87. It is one of the best independent prep schools in and around Cirencester and one of the 3 best primary schools for 3 miles.
School fundamentals
Hatherop Castle School is an independent prep day and boarding school for boys and girls (50%/50%) between the ages of 2 and 13 years. Boarding from Year 3 for the 10% of pupils who board. 50% are full boarders and 50% are weekly or flexi boarders. It is a Church of England school, open to all faiths and none. The school has a non-selective admissions policy. It is a standalone prep school, not tied to any one senior school, and is a member of Wishford Schools. Hatherop Castle School fees range from £4,180 (Rec) to £7,250 per term (2025/26). Full boarding fees range from £9,986 to £11,306 per term. Fees include VAT and lunches.
Average class size
Hatherop Castle School usually has two classes per year and an average class size of 15 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
Destinations for most of Year 8 Hatherop Castle School leavers are one of 20 independent day or boarding schools.
The Hatherop Castle School curriculum
School curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and the ISEB Common Entrance curriculum with some additions and variations. It also includes PSHEE, French, Latin. Thematic topic-based curriculum in pre-prep and cross-curricular STEAM projects throughout the school. ISEB curriculum in Years 7 & 8 for core subjects, but the school’s own curriculum for the humanities subjects. 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. Outdoor learning includes bushcraft.
Specialist teaching
Specialist teachers for music, art, languages, computing, drama and sport throughout, and for most subjects from Year 5.
Sport at Hatherop Castle School
School offers between 10 and 15 different sports over the course of the year. Representative teams in major sports from Year 3.
The Arts at Hatherop Castle School
Art, music and drama are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils. All pupils learn an instrument in class and half take extra-curricular instrument lessons from Year 3. Three choirs, orchestra and several instrument ensembles. The school offers each pupil over 5 different extra-curricular creative and performing arts clubs.
Wraparound care
Wraparound care from 7.30am to 6.30pm. Nursery open for 50 weeks of the year.
Find another school near Hatherop Castle School
Cricklade Manor Prep School (15.6 miles); Pinewood School (15.6 miles); St Hugh’s School, Faringdon (16.1 miles); Rendcomb College, Junior School (16.5 miles).
Hatherop Church of England Primary School (0.3 miles); Fairford Church of England Primary School (2.1 miles); Southrop Church of England Primary School (4.1 miles).
Rendcomb College (16.5 miles); The King’s School, Witney (17.2 miles); Cokethorpe School (17.6 miles); Kingham Hill School (23.8 miles); St Edward’s School, Oxford (25.7 miles).
Farmor’s School (3.2 miles); Burford School (10.4 miles); Cirencester Deer Park School (11 miles).