Cottesmore School is an award-winning academic boarding prep school for boys and girls in West Sussex, less than an hour from London. Cottesmore provides a coach service to SW London, which is popular with London families. Cottesmore is one of the few full boarding co-educational prep schools in the UK. Children live and learn in the main house, Buchan Hill - an impressive 19th Century red brick mansion house, with oak-panelled walls and large fireplaces. There’s no mistaking the warm family-led environment; wellies at the back door, dining under one roof and all members of staff knowing the children. individually

Cottesmore has been preparing children for major public schools since 1894 and continues to provide excellent preparation for senior boarding schools who share Cottesmore’s belief in nurturing a rounded, dynamic individual.

Cottesmore achieves excellent academic results. The strength of Cottesmore’s academic programme lies within its breadth. There are 21 different curriculum subjects taught. Through this rich variety of intellectual experience, each girl and boy finds their particular strength and this in turn lifts their academic potential.

Cottesmorians are equally likely to be found on the stage, the games field or in the art and design studios. A dizzying array of activities and hobbies give each individual pupil confidence, making strong academic results more achievable.

Every new boy or girl is given a ‘shadow’ or buddy who looks after them when they first arrive. Every pupil is matched with, and becomes, a peer mentor or ‘listening ear’. Each pupil has a form tutor (daily logistics), a pastoral tutor (wellbeing), a matron (domestic) and a house master or mistress. Every adult at Cottesmore contributes to the wellbeing of every child.

Everyone has a talent. Whatever creative or academic outlet makes a child tick, Cottesmore finds and nurtures it. Endeavour and fun are the most important elements of intellectual life at Cottesmore. Success follows an explosion of discovery and purposefulness.

Recently recognised by Tatler Schools as ‘Prep School of the Year 2020’ and by TES as their ‘Boarding School of the Year 2019’, this is a fantastic school where children are virtually guaranteed to have fun and do well academically. 

Leavers’ destinations include: Eton College, Downe House, Harrow, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Radley College, Benenden, Winchester College, Wellington College, Marlborough College, Charterhouse, St Edward’s and other top schools.