There are a lot of different types of schools in the UK, so it’s understandable that some parents struggle to know the difference at first. As a leading prep school in Devon, we speak to a lot of parents trying to decide the best school for their child, so we are used to answering questions about what being a preparatory school really means.
We’ve put together a list of some of the most common questions we get asked about preparatory schools to help shed some light on what it means. Of course, if you have any other questions, we’d love to answer them, so feel free to get in touch!
What is a Preparatory School?
A preparatory school (often shortened to prep school) is a type of private school designed to prepare pupils for entry into further private senior schools.
Prep schools operate in much the same way as any other private school, with pupils learning a wide range of subjects during their school days. However, there is additional care and attention at prep schools in ensuring pupils are equipped to achieve entry to their private school of choice when they leave.
Here at St Peter’s Prep, we also take our role of advising on a child’s next steps very seriously. Our Head, Mrs Charlotte Johnston, meets individually with parents to advise on future school opportunities, while our biannual future schools’ exhibition allows parents to speak to a range of popular private secondary schools to find the best choice for them and their child.
While not compulsory, most children who attend a preparatory school go on to further private education. In 2025, 59% of our Year 8 pupils who went on to join private senior schools at Year 9 did so with a scholarship.
Are Prep Schools Private Schools?
Yes, preparatory schools like St Peter’s are a type of private school.
A private school, sometimes called an independent school, is any that is funded by fees paid by those who attend, rather than by the Government. As they are self-funded, private schools can be more selective about class sizes and don’t have to follow the national curriculum, although they are still independently inspected to ensure a high level of education is delivered.
Private schools encompass a wide range of non-state education institutions, and not all of them are alike. While elite public schools such as Eton have a reputation for being expensive and very selective, St Peter’s Prep is non-selective and has significantly lower fees.
Is Prep School the Same as Primary?
While preparatory schools often cover similar age groups to primary schools, they are not quite the same.
Most primary schools educate children from reception, around age four, up until year 6, or age 11. Meanwhile, preparatory schools can start educating children from nursery all the way up to year 8.
At prep schools, early years such as reception and years 1 and 2 are often called pre-prep. This period often focuses on allowing young minds to develop and explore before the older years, when more focus will be put on unlocking potential and looking at future educational steps.
Pupils tend to leave preparatory schools either at the end of year 6, as with state primaries, or at the end of year 8. There can be various factors that influence when a child decides to leave, such as wanting to join a state secondary school from year 7 or having to take entrance exams for private secondary schools, which can involve children joining from year 9.
How are Prep Schools Different To State Schools?
Prep schools are a form of private school. Unlike state schools, which are funded by the government, prep schools are self-funded through tuition fees. This means prep schools have more choice over how many pupils they take and what curriculum they follow.
Prep schools offer a high standard of education for their pupils, usually based on the national curriculum, but often going above and beyond it, balancing traditional principles with cutting-edge teaching. At our school, pupils follow the St Peter’s School Baccalaureate®, for example.
If your child is especially talented in sports, drama, music, or art, these tend to be strongly supported subjects in prep schools, helping to develop their confidence and performance.
With prep schools having smaller class sizes and more extracurricular opportunities, pupils gain a more in-depth education, making them better prepared for future education.
Are Prep Schools Expensive?
Prep schools, as with other private schools, are paid for through educational tuition fees. While this makes a prep school more expensive than a state school (which doesn’t charge fees), the amount individual schools charge can massively vary.
Many elite private schools charge fees that are unattainable for most normal families. At St Peter’s Prep, we work hard to ensure our fees are fair, transparent and attainable for as many people as possible.
Our Fees & Bursaries page outlines in detail the cost of attending St Peter’s Prep, including potential additional fees and opportunities to reduce costs through funded sessions and bursaries.
Are Prep Schools Hard to Get Into?
Unlike state schools, private and prep schools are not obliged to accept all children within a certain catchment area. However, not all preparatory schools are highly selective, either. While private schools can evoke thoughts of daunting entrance exams and tests, some private institutions, like us at St Peter’s Prep, are non-selective.
Many of the most expensive preparatory schools in the country, particularly in city locations, have various interviews and entrance exams that must take place before a child is offered a place. These are usually designed to test a child’s academic potential and ability to keep up with a higher level of education.
On the other hand, at St Peter’s Prep, we are much more open in selecting a wide variety of pupils. Our admissions process does involve taster days and school reports, but this is to help us and parents understand how a child is likely to fit in at St Peter’s Prep before a place is confirmed.
You can learn more about enrolling at St Peter’s Prep on our Admissions Process page.
What are the Benefits of a Prep School?
While every child’s situation is unique, there are many benefits to choosing a preparatory school for your child. Some of the most commonly cited include:
- Smaller class sizes
- Improved facilities
- Wrap-around care
- More preparation for future education
However, there are many more benefits to discover, and many of these can be unique to each child.
How are Prep Schools Inspected?
Most prep schools are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), which is appointed by the UK Department for Education to monitor many private and independent schools in England. Some private schools are also monitored by Ofsted.
St Peter’s Preparatory School is inspected by ISI. You can find our latest reports on our About St Peter’s page.
We are proud as a prep school to help develop and prepare children as independent people, ready for whatever the next steps in their journey may take them. If this sounds like the right fit for you and your child, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us or request a prospectus. We’d also be delighted to have you visit on one of our open days.
