Chitts Hill, Lexden, Colchester, Essex CO3 9ST
10 reasons to choose Holmwood House School
Top line
Holmwood House School has a Schoolsmith Score® of 86. It is one of the best independent prep schools in and around Colchester and one of the 3 best primary schools for 1.5 miles.
School fundamentals
Holmwood House School is an independent prep day and boarding school for boys and girls (60%/40%) between the ages of 3 months and 13 years. Boarding from Year 5 for the 10% of pupils who board. All are weekly or flexi boarders. The school has a non-selective admissions policy. It is a standalone prep school, with a senior department to age 16, and is a member of the Bellevue Education group. Holmwood House School fees range from £4,388 (Rec) to £6,302 per term (2025/26). Fees include VAT but exclude lunches.
Average class size
Holmwood House School has two classes per year and an average class size of 14 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
Leavers’ destination schools for most of Year 8 Holmwood House School pupils are one of 15-20 day and boarding schools, with Royal Hospital School, Felsted, Framlingham and Ipswich Schools accounting for 80% of leavers. 20% of pupils win awards and scholarships. 10%-20% leave after Year 6 for the Colchester Grammar Schools. In September 2021 the school opened a new senior division for 13-16 year olds.
The Holmwood House School curriculum
School curriculum is based on the National Curriculum with some additions and variations. It also includes PSHCE, reasoning, philosophy, French, Spanish, Mandarin. The curriculum is taught in thematic topics up to, and including, Year 3. After that, cross-curricular teaching includes Global Studies (humanities) in Years 4 and 5, and STEM weeks. In Years 7 and 8 pupils work to achieve the Holmwood House Certificate, which balances academic success, a Learning Log, and achievements in the co-curricular. The school offers each pupil between 5 and 10 different 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 4. Forest School for pre-prep, Outdoor Learning for Years 2 and 3, and bushcraft-style activities for Years 5 to 8.
Specialist teaching
Specialist teachers for sport, music, languages throughout, for art and drama from Year 2, for science from Year 3, and for most subjects from Year 4.
Sport at Holmwood House School
School offers over 20 different sports through the year, through both the curriculum and an extensive extra-curriculum. Competitive teams in major sports from Year 3. In recent years the school has enjoyed national success in cricket.
The Arts at Holmwood House School
Art, music and drama are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils. All pupils learn an instrument in class and up to half take extra-curricular instrument lessons from Year 3. Choir and some instrument ensembles. The school is one of the top 50 UK prep schools for the breadth of its creative and performing arts extra-curriculum.
Wraparound care
Wraparound care from 7.30am to 6.05pm. Facility for occasional boarding. Nursery open for 48 weeks per year.
Find another school near Holmwood House School
St Mary’s School for Girls, Lower School (2.1 miles); Colchester Prep & High School, Prep (2.9 miles); New Hall Preparatory School (18.3 miles); Felsted Preparatory School (20.7 miles); Orwell Park School (22.6 miles).
St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, Colchester (1 mile); Home Farm Primary School (1.2 miles); Hamilton Primary School (2.7 miles).
St Mary’s School for Girls, Colchester (1.8 miles); Colchester Prep & High School, Senior (2.9 miles); Gosfield School (13.4 miles); Royal Hospital School (17.3 miles); New Hall School (18.3 miles).
The Stanway School (1.1 miles); St Benedict’s Catholic College (2.1 miles); Colchester County High School for Girls (2.1 miles).