Ashley Manor Preparatory School

What Ashley Manor Preparatory School does

Ashley Manor Preparatory School is an independent co-educational preparatory school located on a 45-acre parkland campus in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, serving children from 9 months to 11 years (Nursery through Year 6). It is wholly owned by Alpha Schools Holdings Ltd, a group operating 19 independent schools across England, and operates as part of the 'St Edward's Family' alongside St Edward's Senior School, providing a continuous educational pathway from 9 months to 18 years. The core offering comprises four interconnected stages — Nursery, Pre-School, Pre-Prep, and Prep — plus an integrated 11+ Grammar School Preparation Programme reporting a 90%+ success rate with placements at Pate's, Marling, and other Gloucestershire grammars.

The school's curriculum is supported by specialist teaching in French, Spanish, Latin, Music, Drama, Computing, Science, Art, and PE from Early Years, alongside Forest School and an on-site farm within the 45-acre grounds. Operational technology is limited to third-party SaaS: iSAMS for the parent portal, Firefly Cloud for parent dashboards, and Formstack for admissions forms — no proprietary technology platform is referenced. Auxiliary revenue streams include after-school care (£8.20/session), pay-as-you-go Nursery and Pre-School day rates, a multi-route bus service operated in partnership with Pulhams Coaches, and facility hire.

Commercial mechanics rest on termly recurring tuition fees ranging from £3,534 (Reception) to £5,681 (Years 5–6), a non-refundable £75 registration fee, and a £500 acceptance deposit. Sibling discounts of 20% (third child) and 40% (fourth+) apply when siblings are simultaneously enrolled. The go-to-market model is predominantly event-driven and community-led: personal tours, a flagship October Whole School Open Day, Experience Days for Year 1+ entry, and a dedicated Rendcomb College family welcome programme capitalising on the closure of a neighbouring school. Marketing channels combine the school website, Facebook, Instagram, parent testimonials, and a downloadable prospectus. Leadership comprises Headmaster Paul Fathers (appointed September 2021 from internal promotion), Deputy Head Sarah Tow, and a governance structure under Chair of Governors and Proprietor Ali Khan.

Name

Ashley Manor Preparatory School

Legal name

Ashley Manor Preparatory School

Website

https://ashleymanorprep.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Independent co-educational preparatory school in Cheltenham, serving children aged 9 months to 11 years on a 45-acre campus, owned by Alpha Schools Holdings (19 schools) and aligned with St Edward's Senior School as part of the 'St Edward's Family'.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Preparatory Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General Preschools (Play-Based) (EDACABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nursery School Programs (2–4 Years) (EDACACAB)

Keywords

• Independent preparatory education
• Primary school education
• Early years childcare
• 11+ grammar preparation
• Wraparound school care

Headquarters

HQ city

Cheltenham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. School Fees (Reception–Year 6): Termly tuition fees for Reception through Year 6, ranging from £3,534 per term (Reception/EYFS) to £5,681 per term (Years 5–6). Lunch is included in all school fees at no additional charge.
2. Nursery and Pre-School Fees: Hourly/daily nursery and pre-school charges: School Day (8am–3:30pm) or Full Day (8am–6pm) sessions. Nursery from £76.39 per day (school day) or £94.29 per day (full day). Pre-School from £72.80 per day (school day) or £90.00 per day (full day). Government-funded childcare options (up to 30 hours) are available for eligible families from 9 months old.
3. After-School Supervision and Activities: After-school care from 4:00pm to 5:30pm (pick-up until 6pm) at £8.20 per session for Reception to Year 6. Tea-time meal included in the after-school club charge.
4. Transport (Bus Routes): Revenue generated from a shared school bus service operated by Pulhams Coaches serving routes from Broadway, Moreton-in-Marsh, Burford, Ashton Keynes, Nailsworth, and Gloucester, as well as two school-operated routes (Route 6 and Route 7). Charges range from £68–£610 per term depending on stop and return vs single journey.
5. Facility Hire: Grounds, rooms, and sports hall are available to be hired for activities and clubs, providing additional revenue through the Facilities Manager ([email protected]).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ashley Manor Preparatory School provides independent day-school education for children aged 9 months to 11 years, structured across four stages: Nursery (9 months–3 years), Pre-School (3–4 years), Pre-Prep (Reception through Year 2), and Prep (Years 3–6). Core delivery includes a full academic curriculum with specialist teaching in French, Spanish, Latin, Music, Drama, Computing, Art, Science, DT, and PE, plus a dedicated 11+ grammar school preparation programme, hot meals, wraparound care (8am–6pm, 51 weeks per year), and Forest School/outdoor learning on a 45-acre parkland campus.

Product overview

Ashley Manor Preparatory School is an independent preparatory school offering a unified educational journey from Nursery (9 months) through to Year 6 (11 years). The core offerings consist of four main educational stages: Nursery, Pre-School, Pre-Prep, and Prep, with an integrated 11+ Grammar School Preparation Programme for Years 2-6. The school operates as a single institution with these interconnected stages forming a complete preparatory education pathway. Auxiliary services include the Parent Portal (powered by iSAMS), Catering Services (The Seedling dining area), School Bus Services, and Forest School/Outdoor Learning programmes. The school provides wraparound care from 8:00am to 6:00pm, 51 weeks per year, with all meals included in fees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 84% of pupils at or above the expected level in English; 86% in Mathematics
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Pulhams CoachescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPulhams Coaches operates a shared school bus service in partnership with other independent schools in Cheltenham, providing routes from Broadway, Moreton-in-Marsh, Burford, Ashton Keynes, Nailsworth, and Gloucester to Ashley Manor and other local schools. The service includes return journeys at the end of the school day.
• Alpha Schools Holdings LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlpha Schools Holdings Ltd is the parent organisation of Ashley Manor Preparatory School. The group comprises 19 independent schools across England, providing long-term financial stability, governance, and shared best practice in teaching, pastoral care, and leadership. Each school retains its own identity and ethos while benefiting from group strength.
• St Edward's School CheltenhamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt Edward's School Cheltenham is the senior stage of the 'St Edward's Family', offering education from 11 to 18 years (GCSEs and A Levels). Ashley Manor Prep School is the preparatory stage of the same family. Both schools are located 13 minutes from Rendcomb College and offer a dedicated minibus service. Together they provide a joined-up educational journey from 9 months to 18 years.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hatherop Castle School: Independent co-educational prep school in Gloucestershire covering Nursery through Year 8. Comparable rural independent prep school with boarding options, competing for the same Cotswolds family demographic.
• Westonbirt School: Independent day and boarding school in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, covering ages 2–18. Comparable Cotswolds independent school with a Nursery-through-Prep offering that overlaps directly with Ashley Manor's stage coverage.
• Dean Close Preparatory School: Cheltenham-based prep school (part of Dean Close School group) serving ages 4–13. Direct competitor in the same Cheltenham market with overlapping 11+ preparation and full preparatory education pathway.
• Pinewood School: Independent co-educational prep school in Bourton-on-the-Water serving ages 3–13 within the Cotswolds region. Comparable rural independent prep positioning with overlapping geography and family demographic.
• Beaudesert Park School: Independent preparatory school in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, for children aged 3–13. Comparable prep school offering with similar pastoral and academic positioning, targeting the same affluent Cotswolds demographic.
• The Richard Pate School: Independent co-educational prep school in Cheltenham serving ages 3–11. Directly comparable in size, age range, target market, and 11+ preparation focus within the same Cheltenham/Gloucestershire catchment.
• Airthrie School: Independent day school in Cheltenham for children aged 3–11. Direct local competitor with similar age range, small-class ethos, and 11+ preparation offering within the same Cheltenham catchment area.

Emerging players

• Cotswold Chine School: Small independent school in the Cotswolds area offering a primary-stage alternative for local families. Comparable age range and rural Cotswolds positioning, though smaller scale.

Broad incumbents

• St Edward's School, Cheltenham: Senior school (ages 11–18) that is the formal continuation of Ashley Manor's 'St Edward's Family' offering. Sister institution within the same group structure and the destination for Ashley Manor prep graduates.
• Cheltenham College: Larger established independent school in Cheltenham covering nursery through sixth form. Competes for the same Cheltenham families across the full age range and operates a Junior School offering that overlaps with Ashley Manor's prep years.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AshleyManorPrep
• Instagraminstagram.com/AshleyManorPrep
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ashley-manor-preparatory-school

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ashley Manor Preparatory School