Terrington Hall School
School summary
Terrington Hall is a small independent prep school in the village of Terrington, near York, taking boys and girls from ages 3 to 13 with the option of boarding. With around 203 pupils and a pupil-to-teacher ratio of roughly ten to one, classes are intimate and pupils are well known to staff. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school excellent for both education quality and personal development, though it should be noted that compliance requirements were not met at the most recent inspection. One striking feature is the school's commitment to a screen-free environment: phones, gaming devices and internet-enabled watches are banned everywhere, including the boarding house and on trips.
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
- 28 November 2023
Teaching & academics
Both the quality of pupils' academic achievement and their personal development were judged excellent by the ISI. The low pupil-to-teacher ratio of around ten supports close attention to individual progress, which matters in a setting preparing children for entry at 13. A notably high proportion of pupils, just over a quarter, receive SEN support, suggesting the school is geared to identifying and helping a range of learning needs.
Head · Mr Huw Thomas
Beyond the classroom
Boarding is offered alongside day places, giving pupils a fuller residential experience and a routine that extends beyond the classroom. The strict device-free policy, applied even on residentials, shapes a school culture centred on face-to-face activity and outdoor village surroundings.
School life & ethos
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 25.65%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Mobile phone policy
Device and phone-free site for children. Ban includes gaming devices and internet-enabled watches. Policy covers entire school, including boarding house, as well as all school trips and residentials.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £13,968 - £22,644
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £25,590
A small number of means-tested bursaries are available from year 3 upwards
Schools nearby
Ampleforth College
York, Yorkshire and the Humber
Lord Gowthorpe's Independent School
Dunnington, Yorkshire and the Humber
Bootham Junior School
York, Yorkshire and the Humber
St Peter's School 2-18
York, Yorkshire and the Humber
Bootham School
York, Yorkshire and the Humber
The Mount School (York)
York, Yorkshire and the Humber
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A small, traditional prep with strong ISI marks for both teaching and character, and an unusually firm stance on screens. Families should weigh the excellent ratings against the unmet compliance finding.
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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Terrington Hall School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.