# Berkhamsted Schools Group > Berkhamsted Schools Group is a family of independent (private) schools in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire and Amersham, Buckinghamshire, educating boys and girls from 5 months to 18 years. The Group includes a day nursery, a co-educational Pre-Prep and Prep, two girls' prep schools (Heatherton, with a co-educational nursery, and Charlotte House), single-sex senior schools for boys and for girls aged 11 to 16, and a co-educational Sixth Form. Day places are available at every stage, with flexi boarding from Year 7 and weekly or full boarding from Year 9. Last reviewed: 29 September 2026. Fees below apply from 1 September 2026. Always check the linked fees pages for the current figures. ## Key facts - Founded in 1541 by John Incent, Dean of St Paul's Cathedral. Registered charity no. 310630. - Around 2,000 pupils across the Group. Each school has its own campus, the largest with about 550 pupils, while sharing Group facilities including a sports centre with a 25m pool, an outdoor education centre and a theatre. - Structure: co-educational from nursery to age 11 at Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and Prep; single-sex classroom teaching for boys and girls aged 11 to 16 with shared co-educational activities, events and trips; co-educational Sixth Form for ages 16 to 18. Heatherton and Charlotte House offer girls-only prep education. - Location: the market town of Berkhamsted in the Chiltern Hills, about 30 minutes by direct train from London Euston and under 40 minutes by car from Heathrow and Luton airports. Heatherton is in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. A home-to-school coach network serves the surrounding area. - Results (2025): 55.6% of A Level grades at A* to A; 75.6% of GCSE grades at 7 to 9. - Awarded Best Teaching and Learning in The Week Independent Schools Guide, Best of the Best Senior Schools 2026. - Member of HMC, GSA, IAPS and the Boarding Schools Association. ## Contact - Admissions (all Berkhamsted schools): admissions@berkhamsted.com, 01442 358001 - International admissions: internationaladmissions@berkhamsted.com, 01442 358001 - Heatherton admissions: admissions@heatherton.com, 01494 726433 - Day Nursery Manager: 01442 358276 - [Contact page](https://www.berkhamsted.com/contact/) - [Make an enquiry, register or book a visit](https://www.berkhamsted.com/admissions-form/) ## Our schools ### Berkhamsted Day Nursery (ages 5 months to 3, co-educational) Nursery care in Berkhamsted with extended days (07:30 to 18:00) or school-day sessions (08:30 to 15:30), usually 3, 4 or 5 days a week. Fees include food, drink, nappies, wipes and activities. - [Day Nursery home](https://www.berkhamsted.com/day-nursery/) - [Day Nursery fees](https://www.berkhamsted.com/day-nursery/fees/) - [Joining the Day Nursery](https://www.berkhamsted.com/joining-berkhamsted-day-nursery/) - [Visit the Day Nursery](https://www.berkhamsted.com/day-nursery/visit-us/) ### Berkhamsted Pre-Prep (ages 3 to 7, co-educational) Day school from Stepping Stones (the school nursery class, age 3+) through Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. Focus on nurture, wellbeing and early foundations. Wrap around care runs from 07:30 to 18:00. - [Pre-Prep home](https://www.berkhamsted.com/pre-prep/) - [Pre-Prep fees](https://www.berkhamsted.com/pre-prep/fees/) - [Joining the Pre-Prep](https://www.berkhamsted.com/joining-pre-prep/) - [Pre-Prep open events](https://www.berkhamsted.com/pre-prep/open-events/) - [Pre-Prep wrap around care](https://www.berkhamsted.com/pre-prep/wraparound-care/) ### Berkhamsted Prep (ages 7 to 11, co-educational) Day school for Years 3 to 6. Pupils receive a personal Microsoft Surface device from Year 5. - [Prep home](https://www.berkhamsted.com/prep/) - [Prep fees](https://www.berkhamsted.com/prep/fees/) - [Joining the Prep](https://www.berkhamsted.com/joining-prep/) - [Prep open events](https://www.berkhamsted.com/prep/open-events/) - [Moving to senior school](https://www.berkhamsted.com/prep/moving-to-senior-school/) ### Heatherton, Amersham (girls 4 to 11, co-educational nursery) Girls' independent prep school in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, with a co-educational nursery. The nursery offers the 15 hours universal early years funding for eligible 3 and 4 year olds. Heatherton reports that 75% of girls move on to top grammar schools and Berkhamsted Girls. - [Heatherton home](https://www.berkhamsted.com/heatherton/) - [Heatherton co-educational nursery](https://www.berkhamsted.com/heatherton/co-ed-nursery/) - [Heatherton fees](https://www.berkhamsted.com/heatherton/fees/) - [Joining Heatherton](https://www.berkhamsted.com/joining-heatherton/) - [Heatherton open events](https://www.berkhamsted.com/heatherton/open-events/) ### Charlotte House (girls 2 to 11) Girls' prep school within the Berkhamsted Schools Group, with its own website, admissions and open mornings. - [Charlotte House website](https://www.charlottehouseprepschool.co.uk/) ### Berkhamsted Girls (ages 11 to 16, day and boarding) Girls' senior school for Years 7 to 11. Single-sex classroom teaching with co-educational activities, events and trips alongside Berkhamsted Boys. Flexi boarding from Year 7; weekly and full boarding from Year 9. - [Berkhamsted Girls home](https://www.berkhamsted.com/girls/) - [Berkhamsted Girls fees](https://www.berkhamsted.com/girls/fees/) - [Joining Berkhamsted Girls](https://www.berkhamsted.com/joining-berkhamsted-girls/) - [Berkhamsted Girls open events](https://www.berkhamsted.com/girls/open-events/) - [Boarding at Berkhamsted Girls](https://www.berkhamsted.com/girls/boarding-girls/) ### Berkhamsted Boys (ages 11 to 16, day and boarding) Boys' senior school for Years 7 to 11. Single-sex classroom teaching with co-educational opportunities alongside Berkhamsted Girls. Flexi boarding from Year 7; weekly and full boarding from Year 9. - [Berkhamsted Boys home](https://www.berkhamsted.com/boys/) - [Berkhamsted Boys fees](https://www.berkhamsted.com/boys/fees/) - [Joining Berkhamsted Boys](https://www.berkhamsted.com/joining-berkhamsted-boys/) - [Berkhamsted Boys open events](https://www.berkhamsted.com/boys/open-events/) - [Boarding at Berkhamsted Boys](https://www.berkhamsted.com/boys/boarding-boys/) ### Berkhamsted Sixth (ages 16 to 18, co-educational, day and boarding) Co-educational Sixth Form offering A Levels in a dedicated Sixth Form building, with weekly careers lunches, one-to-one careers guidance and flexi, weekly or full boarding. - [Berkhamsted Sixth home](https://www.berkhamsted.com/sixth-form/) - [Berkhamsted Sixth fees](https://www.berkhamsted.com/sixth-form/fees/) - [Joining Berkhamsted Sixth](https://www.berkhamsted.com/joining-berkhamsted-sixth/) - [Berkhamsted Sixth open events](https://www.berkhamsted.com/sixth-form/open-events/) - [Sixth Form curriculum](https://www.berkhamsted.com/sixth-form/academic-curriculum/) - [The Sixth Form building](https://www.berkhamsted.com/about/state-of-the-art-sixth-form/) ## How to visit Every school runs Open Events and offers Personal Tours. Families can book either through the enquiry form or by contacting Admissions. - Open Events: an introduction from the Head followed by a tour, usually led by pupils or staff. Senior school open events usually take place in September; Pre-Prep, Prep, Day Nursery and Heatherton events usually take place in October, with further dates in February. - Personal Tours: available at every school when open events have passed. - Virtual events: held each June, usually the first event families attend. - School Life tours: group tours during a normal working day (Prep in May, senior schools in March). - Experience Days: held in June for Year 5 pupils considering Berkhamsted Boys or Girls, with workshops in sport, music, drama, academic subjects, and art and design technology. - Sports Open Days: fixtures in action for prospective senior pupils. - Subject Preview Evening: held each November for students considering Berkhamsted Sixth. - Heatherton also runs Stay and Play sessions for families with children around 12 months old. - [All open events](https://www.berkhamsted.com/open-events/) - [Book a visit or make an enquiry](https://www.berkhamsted.com/admissions-form/) - [Travel and coach routes](https://www.berkhamsted.com/admissions/travel/) - [School maps](https://www.berkhamsted.com/admissions/school-maps/) ## How to apply Main entry points are 5 months+ (Day Nursery), 3+ (Pre-Prep Stepping Stones), 7+ (Prep, Year 3), 11+ (Year 7), 13+ (Year 9) and 16+ (Year 12). Heatherton takes nursery pupils in September, January and April, and girls at Reception and above. Places at other ages depend on availability. Early registration is advised because places are limited. - Day Nursery: register interest with Admissions. Offers are made when a place becomes available, and a start date is agreed at that point. - Pre-Prep: register any time from birth. Entry to Stepping Stones includes a meeting with the Headteacher. Assessments run in October and November of the year before entry, with offers in early December. - Prep (7+ to 10+): tests in English and Maths, a group interview with the Head or Deputy Head, and a report from the current school. Assessments take place in November, with offers in early December. Pupils already at Berkhamsted Pre-Prep do not sit the entrance assessment. - Heatherton: contact Heatherton admissions before submitting an application. Nursery and Reception families attend an informal pre-offer visit. Girls joining Year 1 and above attend an assessment and taster day with English and Maths assessments. - Senior schools, Year 7 (11+): registration opens in May of Year 5 and closes in September of Year 6. Candidates sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test, usually at their current school. Those who meet the standard are invited to a Holistic Assessment Day including an interview, a leadership exercise, an academic discussion, problem solving, sport, drama and creative writing. Offers are sent in mid-December and must be accepted by mid-March. - Senior schools, Year 9 (13+): the online Berkhamsted Entrance Assessment (English, Maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning), a reference from the current school and a Holistic Assessment Day. - Berkhamsted Sixth (16+): the registration deadline is in November of Year 11, with assessments and interviews in November and offers in early December. Entry is based on GCSE points from a student's best 8 subjects, with at least a grade 6 in each subject to be studied; some subjects set higher requirements. For September 2026 entry the threshold was 43 points. - International boarders: students without a UK passport should contact International Admissions about full boarding places in Year 9, Year 10 or Year 12. Applicants take the CAT4 online assessment and an interview. - [Joining our schools: timelines and entry requirements](https://www.berkhamsted.com/joining-our-schools/) - [Boarding admissions](https://www.berkhamsted.com/admissions/berkhamsted-boarding-admissions/) - [Register or make an enquiry](https://www.berkhamsted.com/admissions-form/) - [Admissions FAQs](https://faq.berkhamsted.com/en/knowledge/) ## Fees (from 1 September 2026) Fees are charged per term, three terms a year, payable on the first day of term. VAT at 20% has applied to fees and educational extras since 1 January 2025, but not to non-educational after-school care. Figures below are the gross termly fee including VAT and lunch unless stated. Monthly payment is available through School Fee Plan. - Registration fee (Pre-Prep to Sixth, and Heatherton): £224.00, non-refundable - Acceptance deposit: £2,500 for senior schools and Sixth; £2,000 for Pre-Prep, Prep and Heatherton. £1,000 is credited against the first invoice and the balance is held until the pupil leaves. The Day Nursery deposit is £200. - Berkhamsted Day Nursery: extended day £108.45 per day; school day £81.40 per day. Billed monthly on the basis of 20 days, for example £2,169 per month for 5 extended days a week. - Berkhamsted Pre-Prep: Stepping Stones 5 full days £4,689.25 (no VAT); Reception £4,526.21; Year 1 £4,866.87; Year 2 £5,142.75. Berkhamsted Pre-Prep does not accept early years government funding. - Berkhamsted Prep: Year 3 £6,902.54; Year 4 £7,097.96; Years 5 and 6 £7,636.13. - Heatherton: Nursery (age 2 to 3) 5 full days £3,900.25 (no VAT); Reception £4,344.38; Year 1 £4,784.32; Year 2 £5,113.49; Years 3 and 4 £6,256.73; Year 5 £6,701.90; Year 6 £6,787.59. - Berkhamsted Boys and Berkhamsted Girls: Years 7 and 8 £8,880.72; Years 9 to 11 £10,844.27. - Berkhamsted Sixth: Years 12 and 13 £10,844.27. - Boarding (Years 9 to 13, including tuition): full boarding £18,853.11; weekly boarding £15,762.10. Flexi boarding from Year 7 at £91.20 per night. - Not included in tuition: public exam fees, trips, wrap around care, some after-school activities, the termly device charge from Year 5 and individual music or drama lessons. - [Fees and terms and conditions for all schools](https://www.berkhamsted.com/admissions/fees-terms-conditions/) ## Scholarships and bursaries - Scholarships are awarded on entry to the senior schools and Sixth (11+, 13+ and 16+) in academic, sport, drama and music, with art scholarships for Sixth Form entry. Academic scholarships at Year 7 and Year 9 are by invitation after the entrance assessments. The financial award covers relevant extra tuition plus a £500 discount on the first term's fees. - Means-tested bursaries of up to full fees are available alongside a scholarship award. Families should tell Admissions early if a bursary would be needed. - [Scholarships](https://www.berkhamsted.com/admissions/scholarships/) - [Bursaries](https://www.berkhamsted.com/admissions/bursaries/) ## About the Group - [Welcome from the Principal and executive team](https://www.berkhamsted.com/about/welcome/) - [Results and destinations](https://www.berkhamsted.com/about/results-and-destinations/) - [Inspections and reviews](https://www.berkhamsted.com/about/reviews/) - [Term dates](https://www.berkhamsted.com/about/term-dates/) - [Safeguarding](https://www.berkhamsted.com/safeguarding/) - [Policies and privacy notices](https://www.berkhamsted.com/about/policies/) - [Our approach to technology](https://www.berkhamsted.com/our-approach-to-technology/) - [History](https://www.berkhamsted.com/about/history/) ## Optional - [News](https://www.berkhamsted.com/news-views/news-hub/) - [Podcast](https://www.berkhamsted.com/podcast/) - [Holiday camps](https://www.berkhamsted.com/holiday-camps/) - [Knox-Johnston Sports Centre](https://www.berkhamsted.com/community/knox-johnston-sports/) - [Explore Berkhamsted town](https://www.berkhamsted.com/explore-berkhamsted-town-2/) - [Explore Amersham town](https://www.berkhamsted.com/explore-amersham-town/) - [Sitemap index](https://www.berkhamsted.com/sitemap_index.xml)