WHAT? WHERE?

Stonar Prep is a co-ed prep and nursery, immersed in stunning countryside near Atworth. The location itself couldn’t be more idyllic and wholesome, yet a 20-minute drive will take you to Devizes, Bath or Chippenham. At the heart of the campus is the school’s state-of-the-art equestrian centre, which is a massive draw for any pony-mad child (or adult).

With just 94 children in the Prep and 29 in the Nursery, there’s very much a family vibe. Outdoor play, an appetite for adventure and a thirst to learn are the order of the day, and every child we saw seemed noticeably calm and confident. They clearly adore Headmaster Rob Cunningham, who oozes kindness and compassion. When we arrived, he was happily rocking a baby, who had been brought in by a teacher on maternity leave.

Stonar was founded in Kent in 1895, but moved to its current location in the Second World War. The nursery, prep and senior school occupy an impressive 80 acres of parkland, fronted by a Grade II-listed mansion, Cottles House.

It’s worth noting that while the school is exquisitely rural, it has a global mindset. That’s because it’s part of the Globeducate group, an international group with over 60 schools across 12 countries. The set-up connects children to other youngsters across the world, and they benefit from some fab opportunities as a result. These include a new summer camps programme, which gives pupils aged 9 and up the chance to stay for a week at one of the group’s schools in Cyprus or Spain.

FACILITIES

Prep pupils can be found in their own building, tucked between the Nursery and Cottles House. Both the Nursery and Prep are cosy, but they really benefit from the best of both worlds, because they share facilities with the ‘big school.’ These include the swimming pool, sports hall, theatre, music building, food and nutrition block and of course the equestrian centre.

Break times are often spent playing manhunt in the sprawling grounds adjacent to the Prep school, or testing their mettle on the wooden climbing frame. There’s even an allotment where children enjoy getting green-fingered, and a woodland dedicated to forest school – children from Reception to Year 2 enjoy weekly sessions with a trained leader.

Stonar’s equestrian centre is an absolute haven for pony-mad kids. The school got its first horse – ‘Tufty’ – in the 1920s, and now has an eyewatering 30. There are 64 stables, a floodlit outdoor all weather manège and large indoor school with glass-fronted viewing gallery. Seven BHS qualified coaches are on hand for lessons, plus there’s a cross-country schooling field and hacking track where older riders can stretch their skills.

Prep pupils can opt for one or two group lessons a week, plus there’s a weekly pony club too. Keen to bring your own four-legged friend? Livery is available for pupils from Year 7, as well as the opportunity to take responsibility for a ‘loan’ horse. It’s worth knowing that Stonar also hosts residential riding camps in the Easter and Summer Holidays from age 9 and up – a great intro for anyone who wants to see what it’s all about.

SPORT

Stonar places a big emphasis on sport, and everyone benefits from at least three Games and PE sessions a week. The specialist coaching is complemented by some impressive facilities (shared with the senior school). In addition to the pool and equestrian centre, there are netball and tennis courts, a floodlit Astroturf and sprawling playing fields. There’s also a roomy sports hall with cricket and badminton nets, plus a tennis coach for (paid) extra lessons.

Competitive fixtures start in Year 3, with rugby, football, swimming, hockey, netball, cricket and tennis. There are seasonal cross country and athletics fixtures too, and it’s very much a case of getting stuck in and ‘giving it a go.’ Stonar also takes swimming seriously – children get to spend an hour in the pool every week, and the school hosts regular galas in its 20m pool. Students put on some impressive performances when they take on other schools.

DRAMA & MUSIC

Stonar prep school pupils in drama class

Music and drama are big here, and everyone is encouraged to give the performing arts a try. Music, singing and drama are all taught weekly by specialist teachers, and there are tons of chances to perform, from choir club, to class assemblies, concerts and theatre productions.

Keen to take your stage craft further? From Year 2 you can work towards LAMDA qualifications with a specialist drama teacher. You really don’t have to be a theatrical or musical prodigy though. The emphasis is very much on giving children loads of opportunities to build confidence, creativity and communication skills.

ACADEMICS

Stonar typically takes around 10-12 pupils into Reception, and a steady sprinkling of newbies means this gradually grows to around 18 in the Prep. As a result, the Prep holds onto its family feel, while readying children for a bigger pool (usually three classes of 15) when they start Year 7.

The primary curriculum is enquiry-based, which essentially means lessons are based around a enquiry question each term (recent examples include ”How do we feed the world sustainably?” and “What did the Greeks do for us?”). The emphasis is firmly on keeping things interactive in the classroom, and the small class sizes ensures nobody flies under the radar. There’s certainly no sitting silently in the back row – kids are encouraged to be curious at every turn.

While there’s a big emphasis on keeping the curriculum broad, there is of course a sharp focus on cracking the fundamental skills of reading and writing. Computer Science is also taken very seriously too. It’s part of the curriculum from Reception, but by Years 5 and 6 children are learning text-based coding, in addition to lessons on hard and software. It’s also worth knowing that Spanish is studied right through from Nursery, and there’s the added incentive of an exchange trip to Barcelona in Years 5 and 6.

THE HEAD

Rob Cunningham joined Stonar in 2019, from The Mead School in Trowbridge. Softly spoken and approachable, he exudes an aura of calm. He clearly sees his leading role at the Prep as a great privilege. Along with happy children, he’s rightly proud that the school is home to happy adults too – Stonar attracts great teaching talent and has a very low staff turnover.

Leadership aside, teaching remains a highlight of Mr Cunningham’s week. In addition to class work, he takes the perennially popular chess club, and is also a big believer in the restorative power of exercise. When he’s off duty you’ll catch him playing squash, heading out for a run or trying to cajole his wife and two children into playing a board game or two.

Above all, he’s proud that Stonar is turning out happy children, who work hard but have a great time while they are doing it. He is also big on adhering to a wide curriculum, which ensures everyone has a chance to shine – whether that’s on the sports field, competitive maths team or in an art class. Whatever your bag, he’s passionate that everyone should give everything a go. Whether you’re a reluctant reader or unimpressed at the prospect of a cricket match, taking on life’s little challenges builds resilience and self-esteem.

When it comes to secondary destinations, it’s very rare for a child not to move up to Stonar Senior, which speaks volumes for both schools. The fact children can go all the way through is what attracts many families in the first place, and Mr Cunningham is particularly hot on easing the transition to ‘big school.’ Many of the teachers (including PE, drama and music) work across both the Prep and Senior, and there’s a taster day and ‘move up’ session too. Importantly, Year 6 lessons gravitate over to facilities like the science labs, which makes it less intimidating when they formally venture over to pastures new.

LITTLIES

Stonar’s nursery welcomes children from the age of two, and with just 29 pupils there’s a particularly homely feel. It’s neatly nestled next to the Prep School, equestrian centre (pony visits are popular) and swimming pool, where they have lessons from the age of two. Nursery children have regular forest school sessions at the onsite woodland area and burn off steam in their own garden and play area, complete with climbing frame, sandpit, slide, cosy seating and plenty of outdoor games.

Right from the off, nursery children have regular Spanish, swimming, PE, and music. Nursery and Reception children also work and play alongside each other (they even share a garden area), which makes for a smooth transition when littlies make the move up to ‘big’ school.

Great news for frazzled parents – as of September 2024, there’s the option for children to attend the nursery 51 weeks of the year. But if the current term time set-up suits you better, panic not. That will still be an option, and you can add extra days by booking holiday club.

ADMISSIONS

Grab your diary, because applications for Reception 2025 need to be submitted by November 2024. When numbers permit, Stonar welcomes children into later year groups too – the process involves a taster day, as well as a reference from your current school.

Nursery applications are accepted year-round. A minimum of three day sessions or four mornings a week are required.

SEND

Mr Cunningham is proud of the SEN provision in the Prep, and justifiably so. There’s a five-strong learning support team, which is impressive for a school of this size. This includes a head of learning support and four teaching assistants, who lead a mix of small group work and classroom support. He’s a firm believer that instead of attaching them to a specific class, they scaffold wherever it’s needed, supporting anyone who needs help keeping or catching up.

ISI REPORT

Inspectors described Stonar as “Excellent” when they visited the school in 2018. You can check out the report here.

WRAP AROUND CARE

Swamped parents will be delighted to know you can drop off as early as 8am and pick up as late as (a very precise) 5:55pm. Better still, this wrap-around care is included in the school fees from Reception to Year 6.

Co-curricular clubs run from 4:15pm – 5pm, and there are tons of different things on offer. Kids can have a go at anything from netball or rugby to choir, ukulele, photography, collage, fun science, computing, Lego and board games. There’s even the chance to try their hand at outdoor cooking, or hone their culinary skills in the Food and Nutrition Centre. Once a year they get to invite their parents in for a meal, giving them the chance to show off their newfound skills.

TRANSPORT

With five bus routes, Stonar is well covered for transport – you’ll often see the navy mini buses zipping about. Routes are reviewed yearly, but currently service everywhere from Bath to Chippenham, Devizes, Marlborough and Malmesbury.

QUIRKY BITS

It’s rare to find a Prep that offers riding lessons, let alone an onsite pony club. Swimming lessons start from the tender age of two.

FEES: 2024 / 2025

Termly prep school day fees are £3,630 (Reception, Year 1 & 2), £4,240 (Years 3 & 4), £4,895 (Years 5 & 6). You can find the full fee schedule here.

Nursery fees start from £31.50 for a morning session (8.30am – 1.00pm) and £52.50 for a full day (8.30am – 4.00pm). Early morning and extended afternoon care are also available. For a full breakdown, see here.

Equestrian fees are extra.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Parents rave about the nurturing ethos, and the positive impact Stonar has on confidence and self-esteem. The school’s rural location makes it ideal for those who thrive on a sense of space and being in the great outdoors. The commitment to wrap-around care is also hugely appreciated.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Parents who want a nurturing all-rounder with a wholesome family feel. This is a great shout if you’re after oodles of space and tons of opportunities to get stuck into new things and build confidence. Of course, Stonar is an absolute winner for pony mad kids, plus you can relax knowing you’ve got senior school sorted.

Not for: Those who would thrive in a large cohort or hanker after multi-million pound facilities.

Dare to disagree? Book an individual tour or open day here.

Upcoming events include:

Nursery & Prep Open Morning – Friday 16 May 2025, 9:30am

Senior & Sixth Form Open Morning – Saturday 17 May 2025, 10.00am

Read our Stonar senior school review here.

Stonar School, Cottles Park, Atworth, Wiltshire, SN12 8NT, Tel:01225 701740, www.stonarschool.com

Stonar Prep, Atworth

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