20 | LUXlife Magazine Prep School of the Year 2026 – South East England The difference between Windlesham House and other day and boarding prep schools begins with its location, 70 aces of fields, pitches, and woods all set within the rolling hills of the South Downs National Park. In this setting, which is also only 15 minutes from the beach, children benefit from inspiration and freedom, and are encouraged to enjoy childhood for as long as possible. We take a closer look at Windlesham House following its recognition in our Private Education Awards 2026. One of the oldest prep schools in the country, Windlesham House blends its deep-rooted heritage with a forward-thinking outlook, creating an environment where children are not just prepared for their futures but genuinely excited for them. This leads to a palpable sense of joy from the minute a person walks through its gates, and there is an energy and purpose as pupils move around its 70-acre campus, bringing an unbridled enthusiasm to its classrooms, sports pitches, and creative spaces. The co-curricular programme it offers takes advantage of all of this space and is a standout feature of the school, with more than 120 activities delivered each week. These range from golf at its nine-hole course and swimming in its 25m pool through to adventures in its forest school, with passions discovered and new skills learned. As its focus on the outdoors suggests, Windlesham House School offers the kind of childhood many parents felt had vanished into today’s world: tree climbing, den building, and the freedom of exploring open spaces. All in safety thanks to supervision by an exceptional pastoral team. Of course, it is not all play at Windlesham House, and the school is proud to have maintained an elite academic record across its 189-year history. Today, its approach to education is thoroughly modern, and the boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 13 that it welcomes through its day, flexi, weekly, and full boarding options are all treated to learning that begins with the philosophy that every child carries a spark. The school’s job is to nurture this spark of curiosity, creativity, courage, and kindness, and its ACE Learning Habits empower pupils to become active learners, thoughtful thinkers, and confident explorers, guided by kindness and compassion. A spokesperson for the school explained: “Our ACE Habits for Learning are unique to Windlesham House and ensure every child understands how they learn and can make their own individual progress. We make sure our teaching and learning is innovative, forward-thinking, and relevant for children growing up in the 21st century, as well as being fully embedded and evident throughout the school in the way our children think and learn.” This certainly helps set this independent prep school in West Sussex apart. Windlesham House is also part of the Charterhouse family of schools, having merged with this historic institution in August last year. Based in Surrey and founded in 1611, Charterhouse offers a unique opportunity to further enhance the outstanding education Windlesham House provides, serving pupils from 13 to 18 years of age. With the two schools sharing a common vision, ethos, and approach, students who progress from one to the other will benefit from a seamless transition and an enriching experience. Since Charterhouse recognises the importance of Windlesham House retaining its autonomy and distinctive character, its name, badge, and other defining elements remain unchanged. What has changed, however, is that this new family of schools now offers an 11+ pathway that provides pupils with entry into year 7 and then seamless progression into year 9 at Charterhouse. This journey offers continuity for parents and students and is indicative of Windlesham House’s ability to evolve without ever losing sight of its heritage. “Windlesham House will continue to prepare pupils for a broad range of senior schools, ensuring that each child moves on to the setting that best suits their individual needs.” This is just one of the ways in which Windlesham House is refining its education delivery and cementing its status as an outstanding prep school, and other initiatives in this vein include enhancing its senior school curriculum opportunities, delivering language immersion programmes, introducing flexible support models, and strengthening its creative and performing arts pathways. We wish the school all the best as it realises these projects, adding to its success by naming it Prep School of the Year 2026 – South East England. More on the esteemed legacy of this dedicated education provider in South East England can be found at Windlesham House School’s website below. Contact: Carole Kinnear Company: Windlesham House School Web Address: https://www.windlesham.com/
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