Saint Ronan's School
A prep school in the truest sense, Saint Ronan's takes children from age 3 through to 13, preparing them for the next stage rather than rushing them through it. Founded in 1883 and set in Hawkhurst, Kent, it remains deliberately small, with around 449 pupils and a boarding option alongside day places. The generous pupil-to-teacher ratio of roughly 8 to 1 means children are genuinely known by the staff who teach them. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school excellent across the board, including for pupils' personal development, and found it fully compliant.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 13 May 2025
Teaching & academics
With one teacher for every eight or so pupils, lessons can be closely tailored, and the ISI's top rating for educational quality suggests this attention pays off. A notably high proportion of pupils, more than a third, receive some form of SEN support, indicating a school willing to work with a range of learning needs. Academic scholarships sit alongside awards for music, art, design technology, performing arts and sport, recognising achievement across several fields.
Headmaster · Joe Lewis
Beyond the classroom
The breadth of scholarships on offer points to a school that takes the arts, sport and design seriously rather than treating them as add-ons. Music, art and performing arts all feature among the areas where pupils can earn recognition. Boarding adds a further dimension to life beyond the classroom.
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1883
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 35.54%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Mobile phone policy
No children have mobile phones
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £15,732 - £26,928
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £32,544
Means-tested bursaries available
Schools nearby
Benenden School
Cranbrook, South East
The Dulwich School Cranbrook
CRANBROOK, South East
Bethany School
Cranbrook, South East
Bricklehurst Manor School
Wadhurst, South East
Battle Abbey School
East Sussex, South East
ISP School
South East
This isn’t a question bank. Watch it decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A small, traditional prep with a strong inspection record and a clear no-phones culture, Saint Ronan's suits families who want their child known, stretched and looked after through to 13. Means-tested bursaries help widen access beyond the headline fees.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Saint Ronan's School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.