The joys of a family-run prep school
In a world of ever-growing schools’ groups and mergers (of which the benefits are plenty – keep an eye out for our spotlight on ‘Strength in Numbers’, coming in the autumn), there’s something wonderfully reassuring about picking a family-run school. With its owners still in charge, there’s a brilliant flexibility to really reflect the school’s founding values – and much more agility to change course when the school wants to do things differently.
Of course, the cherry on the cake is the palpable family-friendly atmosphere (think more homely than schooly – we can almost guarantee there’ll be a dog snoozing in the head’s office), and a sense of community that can be hard to replicate elsewhere. We spoke to a handful of prep schools who believe that family really is best.
Sunningdale School in Berkshire – a wonderfully traditional, long-established all-boys boarding prep, has been in the same family for 54 years. Head Tom Dawson took over the school from his father and uncle (twins Tim and Nick) in 2005; his wife Elizabeth teaches French, and his sister Amy is head of art and pastoral care. Tom and his siblings grew up at the school – and he knows all too well what a special place it is to spend your childhood.
‘There is no doubt that running a small, family-owned, independent prep school has its challenges, but the benefits are overwhelming,’ says Mr Dawson. ‘Everything is more personal. There is a growing trend for schools to merge and form larger groups of schools, but we see our independence as one of the key advantages in enabling us to be ourselves. We can go in the direction that is best for our boys and not be bound by a common set of goals which apply across the group. We are able to be flexible in our approach and to cater for each individual boy.’
‘Our parents often comment on the stability that a family-run school provides,’ Mr Dawson continues. ‘There is far less chance of the leadership of the school changing whilst your child is in the school. When a parent comes to visit the school, they will be shown round by me, and they can be confident that I will see their son through the school.’ ‘Ultimately, the importance of the school being a family business is just that. We throw everything we have into making it the happiest and most successful school it can be. My entire family, my parents, my sisters, my wife and my children are passionate about Sunningdale. We have grown up here, been christened and married in the chapel, been to school here and now work here. This is our home and it is a huge privilege to be able to share it with other families and give them the best experience we possibly can.’
Cottesmore School in West Sussex is run by third-generation head Tom Rogerson and his wife Lottie, who have been in charge for 12 years. The school has been in Mr Rogerson’s family since the mid-1930s, when his grandfather, Michael Rogerson, entered into a partnership with one of the school’s early headmasters.
‘Continuity is something that is so rare and precious these days,’ says Mr Rogerson. ‘The privilege and benefits of having one foot in the future, and also a deep understanding of what has worked well in the past, is profound – and the experience passed down directly from generation to generation within the family is priceless.’
The Rogersons are very much a team: Mrs Rogerson set up Cottesmore’s lovely pre-prep in 2009 and continues to run it today. Mr Rogerson is, quite rightly, proud of what he and Lottie have achieved, continuing a long family tradition. ‘Parents often comment on the unique sense of warmth and the feeling of home that Cottesmore radiates, learning and living in one house, like a family,’ he tells us.
With a school-bus service frequently driven by the head himself, Hall Grove in Surrey is a family-run prep school down to a tee. Alistair Graham has been in charge here for more than 30 years, having taken over from his father, who founded the school in their family home back in the 1950s. Mr Graham is wonderfully energetic and enthusiastic, fully embracing the freedom that a family-owned school offers, and there’s a lovely extended-family feel that’s hard to miss. In September, he steps back as headmaster, passing the role onto Neil Tomlin – but the good news is he’ll remain fully involved and keep a strong hold on the long-term vision and strategy of the school as principal.
The founders of Thorngrove School in Berkshire are no longer in charge of running it – but they remain an integral part of daily life. Nick and Connie Broughton set up Thorngrove in 1988, watching it grow from just a clutch of pupils into a flourishing prep. After 21 happy years, they stepped back and handed over the reins to Adam King, who’s been headmaster here for over a decade. The Broughtons are often seen walking their gorgeous dogs Raffy and Rory around the grounds; all 10 of their grandchildren are pupils at Thorngrove, and some of their children are back as teachers. It’s fair to say that the sense of community and belonging here is incredibly strong.
All-boys Surrey staple Woodcote House has been owned and run by the Paterson family for 90 years. The current head, David Paterson (who did a stint as deputy head before filling the top spot), is the fourth member of the family to lead the school since his grandfather took it on in 1931, and the family connections still run deep: Mr Paterson’s brother Nick teaches the scholars, while his nephew Oliver is part of the senior leadership team.
‘The benefits of a small, family-run proprietary prep school are that it really does care for its boys, takes huge pride in ensuring that they achieve their best and, above all, are happy,’ says Mr Paterson. We wholeheartedly agree.