Hale Preparatory School
School summary
A small independent prep in Altrincham, Hale has educated boys and girls aged 4 to 11 since 1980. With around 210 pupils on roll, the school is deliberately intimate, and that scale shows in its results: the Independent Schools Inspectorate awarded it an 'excellent' rating, including for pupils' personal development, and found it fully compliant with regulatory standards. Day fees reach up to £12,159 a year, and the school is led by Head Mrs Kath Busby.
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
- 13 January 2026
Teaching & academics
The ISI's top 'excellent' grade points to consistently strong teaching and outcomes across the prep years. Language learning is a notable feature, with French, Spanish and German all on offer to young pupils. Around 11 per cent of children receive SEN support, suggesting the school is willing to identify and accommodate a range of learning needs within its small classes.
Languages
Head · Mrs Kath Busby
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1980
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 11.43%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Mobile phone policy
Policy relates to responsible use of children's images and not use of mobile phones by pupils
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £12,159
Schools nearby
Bowdon Preparatory School for Girls
Altrincham, North West
Altrincham Preparatory School
Altrincham, North West
Loreto Preparatory School
Altrincham, North West
Forest School
Altrincham, North West
St Ambrose Prep School
Cheshire, North West
The Watkin Centre
Manchester, North West
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A compact, high-achieving prep where an 'excellent' rating and an unusually broad slate of languages come in a setting small enough to know every child.
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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Hale Preparatory School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.