MixedIndependentBoarding

Casterton, Sedbergh Preparatory School

Carnforth, Westmorland and Furness, North West · LA6 2SG

Feeding into the wider Sedbergh community, this small independent prep school in Carnforth takes children from age four through to thirteen, with boarding available alongside day places. Around 200 pupils benefit from a generously low pupil-to-teacher ratio of about eight, allowing close attention from staff. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school "excellent" for both education quality and pupils' personal development, and found all compliance standards met. Notably, just under a quarter of pupils receive some form of SEN support, suggesting a setting accustomed to working with a range of learning needs.

200

Pupils

excellent

ISI

£24,978

Day fees / yr

Prepare for the 11+ free →School website ↗

Free month · No card needed · Cancel anytime

Schools nearby

Open in Google Maps ↗

Overview & data

Gender: Mixed
Type: independent (fee-paying) school
Age range: 4-13
Pupils: 200
Pupil:teacher ratio: 8
Location: Carnforth, Westmorland and Furness, North West
Website: https://sedberghschool.org/prep/
Telephone: 01524 279200

Headteacher

Headteacher Kate Martin

Want your child to win a place at Casterton, Sedbergh Preparatory School?

Passmate builds a personalised practice plan from your target schools' exact 11+ topics - so every session moves your child closer to a place.

Practice matched to Casterton, Sedbergh Preparatory School's 11+ format
See precisely where your child stands, topic by topic
A profile of how they think - not just scores

Try Passmate for free →

Free month · No card needed

Teaching & academics

With roughly eight pupils to each teacher, classes are kept small enough for individual progress to be closely tracked. The ISI's "excellent" judgement for educational quality reflects a strong academic standard across this 4-13 age range. The high proportion of pupils receiving SEN support points to a school willing to adapt its teaching rather than expecting every child to fit one mould.

Learning support & SEN

SEN support: 24.34%
EHC plans: 0.53%

Arts & extracurricular

Scholarships

AcademicArtComputer ScienceSTEMDramaMusicSport

Beyond the classroom

Scholarships span a broad spread of talents, from academic and STEM to art, computer science, drama, music and sport, which signals genuine breadth in school life. As a boarding school, evenings are structured around activities, with pupils' phones returned only afterwards.

Ethos & heritage

Boarding: Yes

Mobile phone policy

Mobile phones not permitted during school day. Day pupils leave phones at main office. Boarders' phones kept in boarding house offices during day, returned after activities in evening

Money matters

Day fees (per year): £12,168 - £24,978
Boarding fees (per year): £31,572 - £37,908

Inspection reports

ISI rating: excellent
ISI personal development: excellent
Last inspected: 18 February 2025

Read the full inspection report ↗

The last word

A small, nurturing prep with boarding and an "excellent" inspection record, well suited to families wanting close attention and a wide range of opportunities for children up to thirteen.

The Passmate verdict