MixedIndependentBoarding

Orwell Park School

Nacton, Ipswich, Suffolk, Suffolk, East of England · IP10 0ER

Set in the Suffolk countryside at Nacton near Ipswich, Orwell Park is a small independent prep school taking children from age two through to thirteen, with boarding available alongside day places. Around 240 pupils are on roll, and the Independent Schools Inspectorate awarded its most recent inspection a rating of 'excellent' for both education quality and personal development, with all compliance standards met. The intimate scale suits families who value a school where children are known well rather than lost in a crowd. As a prep school, it prepares pupils for the move to senior schools at 13.

240

Pupils

excellent

ISI

£28,191

Day fees / yr

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Overview & data

Gender: Mixed
Type: independent (fee-paying) school
Age range: 2-13
Pupils: 240
Pupil:teacher ratio: 20
Location: Nacton, Ipswich, Suffolk, Suffolk, East of England
Website: https://www.orwellpark.co.uk/
Telephone: 01473 659225

Headteacher

Headmaster Mr Simon O'Malley

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Teaching & academics

The ISI judged the quality of pupils' achievements 'excellent', the inspectorate's highest grade. With a roll of just 240 and a pupil-to-teacher ratio of around 20 to 1, teaching is delivered in a close community setting. A notable proportion of pupils, just over 20 per cent, receive some form of SEN support, suggesting a school accustomed to tailoring its approach to individual needs.

Learning support & SEN

SEN support: 20.48%
EHC plans: 0.95%

Beyond the classroom

Personal development was also rated 'excellent' by inspectors, pointing to a well-rounded experience beyond the classroom. Boarding life adds a further dimension to the school day for those who choose it.

Ethos & heritage

Boarding: Yes

Money matters

Day fees (per year): £15,972 - £28,191
Boarding fees (per year): £34,056 - £41,394

Inspection reports

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

Read the full inspection report ↗

The last word

A small Suffolk prep with excellent ISI ratings across the board and the option to board, Orwell Park is built around knowing each child well. Families should weigh day fees of roughly £16,000 to £28,000 a year, with boarding rising to around £41,000.

The Passmate verdict