Combe Down, Bath, Somerset BA2 7ET
10 reasons to choose Monkton Prep & Pre-Prep
Top line
Monkton Prep & Pre-Prep has a Schoolsmith Score® of 87. It is one of the best independent prep schools in and around Bath and one of the 4 best primary schools for 3 miles.
School fundamentals
Monkton Prep & Pre-Prep 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. 80% are full boarders and 20% are weekly or flexi boarders. It is a Christian school, open to all faiths and none. The school has a non-selective admissions policy. It is the prep school to Monkton Combe School, an all-through school to age 18. Monkton Prep & Pre-Prep fees range from £4,620 (Rec) to £8,805 per term (2025/26). Full boarding fees range from £11,850 to £12,825 per term. Fees include VAT and lunches.
Average class size
Monkton Prep & Pre-Prep has one or two classes per year rising to three and an average class size of 16 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
75% of Monkton Prep pupils move up to Monkton Combe Senior School at the end of Year 8.
The Monkton Prep & Pre-Prep curriculum
School curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and emphasises Christian social morality. It also includes PSHE, Character Education, French, Spanish, Classics. The school seeks to blend fact acquisition with skills development through the cross-curricular ‘Innovate Curriculum’ to Year 5, and skills-based projects of the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate from Year 6. Saturday morning sessions can be cross-curricular projects such as STEM, linking history and art, community service, but always leveraging the school’s ‘Living, Leading, Learning’ ambition. 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. ‘Wild Monkton’ is the outdoor learning programme for all age groups, and includes Forest School in pre-prep, a cub scout troop and mini-Monkton Farm.
Specialist teaching
Specialist teachers for sport, music, languages, art, DT and computing throughout, and for maths, English and other core subjects from Year 5.
Sport at Monkton Prep & Pre-Prep
School offers over 20 different sports through the year, through both the curriculum and an extensive extra-curriculum. Competitive teams in major sports from Year 3. In recent years the school has enjoyed national success in cross country, hockey, swimming.
The Arts at Monkton Prep & Pre-Prep
Art, music and drama are taught weekly as combined ‘Creative Arts Afternoon’. They are taught separately from Year 6. All pupils learn an instrument in class and two-thirds take extra-curricular instrument lessons from Year 3. Two 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 8.10am to 6.00pm. Day boarders hours are from 7.30am to 7.00pm.
Find another school near Monkton Prep & Pre-Prep
The Paragon School (2 miles); Royal High Prep School, Bath (3 miles); King Edward’s Junior School & Pre-Prep, Bath (3.3 miles); Kingswood Preparatory School, Bath (4.3 miles); Stonar Prep School (12.1 miles).
Freshford Church School (2 miles); Widcombe Church of England Junior School (2.1 miles); Bathwick St Mary Church School (3 miles).
Monkton Combe School (0.7 miles); Prior Park College (1.1 miles); King Edward’s School, Bath (3.3 miles); Royal High School, Bath (4 miles).
Ralph Allen School (1.3 miles); Saint Gregory’s Catholic College (2.2 miles); Beechen Cliff School (2.3 miles).