An Independent
Co-educational Preparatory School

There's something special about being outside, particularly for young children. It fuels their natural curiosity, encouraging them to explore. It provides real freedom for movement and prompts questions about the world around them.

Situated in beautiful grounds with far-reaching views to the North Downs, Russell House embraces outdoor space, extending learning beyond the traditional classroom.

All our Pre-Prep classes allow children to move freely and safely between indoor and outdoor space. In the Main School, children enjoy lessons in our outdoor classroom and are regularly to be seen outside, carrying out surveys and investigations, looking at plants or bugs, or testing materials for their magnetic qualities.

Outdoor learning provides so many benefits for the children, invigorated by fresh air and natural light.

Mrs Cooper, Head of Early Years

The warm friendly environment at Russell House is the ideal setting to ensure children to thrive. And they do.

We demonstrate success across academic results, music, sport and the arts and have a well-deserved reputation for the excellent preparation we provide children for grammar and independent schools entry tests at 11. You can see our results over the past 5 years here.

We combine real breath of opportunity while maintaining a tradition of academic excellence, allowing us to ensure children have the chance to develop their strengths across many fields according to their gifts.

Sport is a cornerstone of life in our prep school. We encourage all pupils to enjoy and participate in a wide range of games, enhancing their skills and fitness as they move through the school​​​.

Boys play competitive football, rugby and cricket and girls play netball, hockey, cricket and rounders. The pupils also develop skills and techniques in gymnastics, swimming, tennis, cross country, athletics and biathlon. We encourage individuals and teams to achieve at the highest levels and, in addition to success in local competitions and tournaments, are regularly represented at county and national events.

Etiquette and manners underpin the coaching of sport at Russell House. Through competition, children work hard knowing that winning is important but they also understand the importance of the personal skills and role as part of a team.

Russell House is a family school with a very special atmosphere; a calm, secure, happy environment based on respect for each other and our environment.

It's the ideal setting to ensure children thrive, gain confidence and learn to love school. With one class per year group, everyone knows each other and staff genuinely get to know the children as individuals.

Children achieve remarkable success within our friendly, relaxed atmosphere, underpinned by the expectation of good behaviour. We maintain excellent pupil-to-teacher ratios enabling the children to build a real connection with their teachers and work within a tailored learning environment in which they can develop at their own level.

Our modern, well-equipped Science Centre enables children to carry out practical activities and experiments and discover the thrill of scientific discovery.

Children follow a broad and balanced study of aspects of Chemistry, Physics and Biology, while drawing on their mathematical and ICT skills to analyse results, search for information and present their ideas to others.

A fascination with science is developed early in the Pre-Prep classes as children are encouraged to ask and investigate lots of 'why' questions and explore all manner of interesting objects including pipettes and test tubes. In the Main School, they learn to plan fair experiments and to present and discuss their results. 

Russell House is the perfect size for staff to genuinely get to know families and the children as individuals. As a result, all of our pupils are offered tailored opportunities to be challenged, to become self-reliant, self-aware and achieve the very best according to their gifts.

Each boy and girl has different strengths and weaknesses which need to be identified and supported, whether in the classroom, the music recital room or on the games field. Children are always actively encouraged to think for themselves and to challenge accepted wisdom.

A Russell House education extends far beyond the curriculum. Through the significant investment of time and effort made by our friendly, dedicated staff, we seek to equip children with the skills, attitudes, values and experiences which will carry them through happy, successful and fulfilling lives.

Music and musicians are valued and respected at Russell House and everyone is encouraged to participate. Pupils perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions. 

Our orchestras caters for musicians of all abilities as they move through the school, and provides valuable opportunities to play with others and learn ensemble skills.

All children in Forms 4, 5, 6 and 7 take part in Choristers in the morning. Singing is a fantastic way to start the day. Chamber Choir enables some of the more able musicians to sing more challenging repertoire and to learn to read choral music fluently.