Cheam School
School summary
Tracing its history back to 1645, Cheam School is a small co-educational prep school in Headley, near Newbury, taking boarders and day pupils aged 3 to 13. With around 322 pupils and a pupil-to-teacher ratio of roughly four to one, classes are intimate and the level of individual attention is unusually high. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school excellent for both education quality and personal development, with compliance requirements met. Under Head Nick Milbank, it functions as a traditional all-through prep, preparing children for the next stage of independent schooling.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 3 February 2026
Teaching & academics
An ISI "excellent" judgement and a pupil-to-teacher ratio of about four to one point to closely supervised, well-supported learning across the age range. Notably, around a quarter of pupils receive SEN support, suggesting a school accustomed to adapting its teaching to a range of needs. Academic scholarships sit alongside awards in sport, art, drama, design and technology, and music, rewarding strength across several disciplines.
Head · Nick Milbank
Beyond the classroom
Scholarships in sport, art, drama, music and design and technology reflect a breadth of opportunity beyond the classroom. As a boarding prep, the school also offers a full residential life for those who choose it.
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1645
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 25.74%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Mobile phone policy
No mobile phones allowed on school premises.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £16,140 - £31,740
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £34,050 - £37,515
Partial as well as transformational bursaries offered
Schools nearby
St Gabriel's School
Berkshire, South East
St Michael's School
Newbury, South East
The Grange School
Thatcham, South East
Horris Hill School
Newbury, South East
Grantham Farm Montessori School
Tadley, South East
Engaging Potential
Newbury, South East
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A long-established prep with tiny class sizes and strong pastoral marks, suited to families wanting a nurturing, all-round preparation for senior school. Phones stay off-site, and bursaries from partial to transformational widen who can attend.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Cheam School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.