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Prep schools in Merton

There are 16 independent prep schools in Merton: 2 girls', 2 boys', 12 co-ed. The median day fee is £23,112 a year. A prep (preparatory) school is an independent school for children up to 11 or 13, preparing them for entry to senior schools at 11+ or 13+. Many start at 3 or 4 with a pre-prep or nursery.

Updated September 2026

Schools
16
Day fees
£6,420–£35,820 / year
Ages
2–19

Best-ranked prep schools in Merton

By Houseroom Index score

  1. King's College School, Wimbledon
  2. The Rowans School
  3. Wimbledon High School
  4. Willington School
  5. The Study Preparatory School

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Every prep school in Merton

All 16 independent prep schools in Merton, A to Z.

Prep schools near Merton

Top-ranked prep schools in neighbouring areas.

From our area guide

Choosing a private school in Merton and Wimbledon

Houseroom editorial team · Published 29 September 2026

Prep and pre-prep schools in Merton

Most Wimbledon preps now finish at 11. Donhead is a Jesuit prep that sends pupils on at 11 to a broad mix of schools; in 2026 its most common acceptances were Reed's, Epsom College, St John's Leatherhead, Tiffin Grammar and Hampton, and the year group won 32 scholarships. Willington takes girls and boys from 3 to 11 after switching to co-education in 2020; its last Year 8 class left in 2021 and its final boys-only Year 6 left in 2026, with recent leavers going to Dulwich, King's, Latymer Upper and St John's Leatherhead among others.

The Study Prep is a girls' prep for ages 4 to 11 in Wimbledon Village. Its recent move into the GDST means that girls starting senior school from September 2027 have an assured place at a GDST school, though it still advises on other senior schools. Its leavers regularly go to Wimbledon High, Putney High, Surbiton High, LEH, Notre Dame and Godolphin and Latymer, and to co-ed schools such as Epsom, Kingston Grammar, Emanuel and Ibstock Place.

Two pre-preps finish at 7. The Rowans is a co-ed pre-prep for ages 3 to 7 near Wimbledon Common and part of the St Paul's School Group. Wimbledon Common Prep, known as Squirrels, has taught boys aged 4 to 7 in partnership with King's and becomes co-educational from 2027. For entry at 7, the King's junior school takes around 54 pupils into Year 3, 14 into Year 4 and 12 into Year 5, currently boys only.

For a through-route, Wimbledon High's junior school takes girls at 4+, with Reception places allocated by ballot among families who have visited. Note that its junior girls sit the same 11+ as external candidates. Hall School Wimbledon is non-selective and runs from Year 3 to Year 13.

Prep schools near Merton

Just over the Wandsworth border, Prospect House is a co-ed 3 to 11 prep overlooking Putney Heath, and Ibstock Place in Roehampton is co-ed all the way through. Putney High School is the other nearby GDST girls' school.

To the west, the Richmond preps are a realistic option for families in Raynes Park and Kingston. King's House School in Richmond keeps pupils to 13, and Kew College Prep sends leavers to King's, St Paul's, LEH and Hampton among others.

Read the full guide →

Choosing a prep school in Merton

11+ or 13+ leavers

Prep schools split by leaving age. Most London girls' and co-ed preps run to Year 6 and prepare for 11+ entry; many traditional boys' preps run to Year 8 and prepare for 13+ entry to schools such as Eton, Harrow, Winchester and Westminster, often via pre-tests in Year 6. Check which a prep is built for before you apply.

Entry points

The main entry points are 3+ or 4+ (nursery or reception), 7+ (Year 3) and, at some boys' preps, 8+. Entry at 4+ is usually by informal assessment or registration order; 7+ usually involves reading, maths and reasoning tests. Registration often closes well over a year before entry.

What to compare

Look at leavers' destinations over several years, not one; how many pupils win senior-school scholarships; class sizes; how much of the week goes to sport, music and drama; and whether the school supports 11+ or 13+ preparation in the timetable or expects outside tutoring.

Prep schools in Merton: common questions

What are the best prep schools in Merton?
The highest-scoring prep schools in Merton on the Houseroom Index are King's College School, Wimbledon, The Rowans School, Wimbledon High School, Willington School and The Study Preparatory School. The index weighs exam results, destinations, inspection and value.
How many prep schools are there in Merton?
Houseroom lists 16 independent prep schools in Merton.
How much do prep schools in Merton cost?
Day fees at prep schools in Merton range from £6,420–£35,820 a year, with a median of £23,112. Fees include 20% VAT since January 2025. Lunches, uniform and trips are usually extra.
What age do children start prep school?
Most prep schools take children from 3 or 4 into a pre-prep or nursery, with a second main entry at 7+ (Year 3). Some boys' preps also admit at 8+.
What is the difference between a prep school and a pre-prep?
A pre-prep teaches children from about 3 to 7. The prep school proper runs from 7 to 11 or 13. Many schools have both on one site, so children move up without a second admissions round.
Do prep schools prepare for the 11+ and 13+?
Yes. Preps that run to Year 6 prepare for 11+ entry to senior schools; preps that run to Year 8 prepare for 13+ entry, including the Common Entrance or a senior school's own assessment and any pre-tests in Year 6.