Pre-Prep
Early reading, number confidence and lots of outdoor learning in our forest classroom, following the Early Years Foundation Stage into Key Stage 1.
IIndependent co-educational day school · Ages 4 to 18 · Surrey
Curious minds.
Kind company.
Merrowdene is a school where children are known well, stretched properly and given room to find the thing they love, whether that is Latin, robotics, rowing or the school orchestra.
Our ethos
Ambition, without the anxiety.
We believe academic success follows from children who feel secure, who are interested in the world and who know that effort matters more than labels.
Classes are small enough that teachers notice when a child is coasting or struggling. Tutors stay with pupils across several years, and parents have a single named contact for every question, from homework to friendships.
Know every child
Tutor groups, house families and termly one-to-one reviews with each pupil.
Teach for depth
Fewer topics taught properly, with reading and discussion at the centre of every subject.
Look outward
Volunteering, partnerships with local state schools and a programme of visiting speakers.
The school
One campus, four chapters.
Pupils can join at any stage. Each section has its own head and its own spaces, with shared playing fields, library and performing arts centre.
Prep
Specialist teaching in music, languages, science and sport, with project weeks that join subjects together.
IISenior
A broad GCSE programme with separate sciences, two modern languages on offer and a careers programme from Year 9.
IIISixth Form
A Levels alongside the Extended Project Qualification, with guidance for university, apprenticeships and gap years.
IVLife beyond lessons
The afternoon is part of the education.
A co-curricular programme runs every weekday until half past five, so working families have one coherent day rather than a patchwork of clubs.
- Music and drama Orchestras, choirs, productions
- Sport Rowing, hockey, netball, cricket
- Making Robotics, design, ceramics
- Service Duke of Edinburgh, volunteering
Pastoral care and safeguarding
Safe, known and listened to.
Wellbeing is not a bolt-on. It is built into how the school is organised, staffed and inspected.
Tutors and houses
Every pupil has a tutor who sees them daily and a house team that mixes year groups, so older pupils look out for younger ones.
Safeguarding
A Designated Safeguarding Lead and deputies in each section, annual training for all staff, and our safeguarding policy published for parents to read.
Learning support
A learning support department works with pupils with SEND and their families, with individual plans reviewed each term.
Inspected by Ofsted
Independent schools that are not members of an association are inspected by Ofsted against the Independent School Standards. On a live site this panel links directly to the school's most recent Ofsted report and the Department for Education's Get Information About Schools record.
Demo note: Merrowdene is a fictional school. It has no Ofsted report, URN or inspection outcome.
Admissions
Joining Merrowdene, step by step.
Our admissions team will guide you through each stage. Fees, means-tested bursaries and scholarship details are set out in the prospectus pack we send after your first conversation.
- One
Visit
Come to an open morning or book a private tour during a normal school day.
- Two
Register
Complete the registration form and we will arrange a taster day for your child.
- Three
Assessment
A relaxed, age-appropriate assessment and a conversation with the head of section.
- Four
Offer
We write with a decision and arrange a welcome session before the first day.
Book a visit
See a normal Tuesday.
Open mornings are lovely, but most families tell us they learn more from walking the corridors on an ordinary day. Tell us what suits you and our admissions team will be in touch.