St Mary's Lane, Hertingfordbury, Hertford SG14 2LX
10 reasons to choose Hertford Prep
Top line
Hertford Prep has a Schoolsmith Score® of 83. It is one of the best independent prep schools in and around Hertford and one of the 3 best primary schools for 1.5 miles.
School fundamentals
Hertford Prep formerly St Joseph’s in the Park, is an independent prep day school for boys and girls (60%/40%) between the ages of 3 and 11 years. The school has a non-selective admissions policy. It is a standalone prep school, not tied to any one senior school, and is a member of the Mill Hill Education Group. Hertford Prep fees range from £5,455 (Rec) to £5,780 per term (2025/26). Fees include VAT but exclude lunches.
Average class size
Hertford Prep has one class per year and an average class size of 18 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
Destinations for most Hertford Prep leavers are one of 15 local grammar and independent day schools. 25% of pupils win awards and scholarships.
The Hertford Prep curriculum
School curriculum is based on the National Curriculum with some additions and variations. Some use of cross-curricular linking. Reception to Year 2 learn geography, history and art through a termly ‘Topic’. In Years 3 to 6 subjects are linked to a termly theme. School curriculum also includes PSHE, reasoning, STEM focus days and trips, a STEM festival, French. ‘Kaleidoscope’, on Thursday afternoons, is a curriculum broadening activities programme for the Arts, technology, and sport for Years 3 to 6. The school’s Woodlands Centre is an additional two-classroom specialist resource for pupils with difficulties with English, maths, dyslexia or dyscalculia. Teaching is tailored and with a higher staff ratio. The school offers each child a handful of extra-curricular academic activities or hobby clubs.
More on the curriculum
There are regular educational trips for all year groups, visiting speakers and residential trips from Year 3. Forest School programme for infants. St Joseph’s Challenge for Years 4 to 6 is a new skill challenge, outdoor adventure, and community service programme.
Specialist teaching
Specialist teachers for sport, music, science and languages throughout.
Sport at Hertford Prep
School offers over 15 different sports through the year, through both the curriculum and extra-curriculum. Representative teams in major sports from Year 3.
The Arts at Hertford Prep
Art and music are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils. Drama is part of the co-curriculum. All pupils learn an instrument in class and three-quarters take extra-curricular instrument lessons from Year 3. Four choirs, orchestra and several instrument ensembles. Each pupil may participate in up to 10 different extra-curricular creative and performing arts clubs.
Wraparound care
Wraparound care from 7.30am to 5.00pm.
Find another school near Hertford Prep
Duncombe School (1.6 miles); Heath Mount School (5.5 miles); Sherrardswood Preparatory School (7.4 miles).
Abel Smith School (1.1 miles); St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Hertford (1.1 miles); Wheatcroft Primary School (1.8 miles).
Haileybury (4.9 miles); Sherrardswood School (7.4 miles); St Edmund’s College, Ware (8.8 miles).
The Chauncy School (3.2 miles); Presdales School (3.5 miles); The Broxbourne School (6.7 miles).