Hatherop Castle School
School summary
Set within a castle near Cirencester in Gloucestershire, Hatherop Castle is a small independent school taking boys and girls from the early years right through to age 13. With around 280 pupils, it offers an intimate setting where children are known as individuals, and the option of boarding alongside day places. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school 'excellent' for both education and personal development, with all compliance standards met. Families seeking a nurturing prep-school experience with the choice of boarding will find much to consider here.
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
- 7 November 2023
Teaching & academics
The ISI's top 'excellent' grade for the quality of pupils' achievements points to consistently strong teaching across the school. Around 7% of pupils receive SEN support, suggesting the school is geared to identifying and helping children who need it within its small classes. Academic scholarships are available, alongside awards in music, art, drama and sport.
Head · Nigel Reed
Beyond the classroom
Scholarships in music, art, drama and sport signal a breadth of opportunity beyond the classroom, with talent recognised and rewarded across the arts and on the games field. As a boarding school, it also offers a structured life outside lessons for those who stay.
School life & ethos
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 7.14%
- EHC plans
- 1.79%
Mobile phone policy
Pupils not allowed to bring or use mobile phones in school, except boarders who must follow specific rules: phones must be named, used only at prescribed times in boarding house, protected with PIN, and boarders must sign agreement. VPNs prohibited. Phones brought without permission confiscated and returned at end of day. Headteacher can intervene if phones used for bullying or intimidation in or out of school.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £12,540 - £21,750
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £24,855 - £34,065
Offered for families or individual children on application
Schools nearby
Meadow Bridge School
Wiltshire, South West
Cricklade Manor Prep
Swindon, South West
Rendcomb College
Cirencester, South West
Maranatha Christian School
South West
Connex
Swindon, South West
Compass Community School Wheatley Park
Swindon, South West
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A small castle-based prep school with an 'excellent' ISI verdict and the flexibility of day or boarding places. Day fees range from £12,540 to £21,750, with boarding up to £34,065, and bursaries and scholarships can help with the cost.
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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Hatherop Castle School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.