Prestfelde School Joins the Shrewsbury School Family

Shrewsbury School and Prestfelde School are delighted to announce that Prestfelde has become the newest member of the Shrewsbury family of schools.

As the nearest of neighbours, sharing educational values and decades of close friendship and collaboration, this is the most obvious of partnerships. The pathway from Prestfelde to Shrewsbury has been a popular and successful choice for pupils and parents for generations. Indeed, there are currently 125 former Prestfelde pupils at Shrewsbury; and two of the current Shrewsbury Heads and Deputy Heads of School are Old Prestfeldians. Both schools share a deep commitment to excellence and place equal importance on academic personal bests and the cultivation of character and skills for life.

Under the care and support of Shrewsbury School, Prestfelde will retain its distinctive identity and continue to prepare its pupils for admission to a range of excellent senior schools. Membership of the Shrewsbury School family will bring security and investment to ensure a bright future for Prestfelde, its pupils, parents and staff.

Shrewsbury School was founded by Royal Charter in 1552 and enjoys a global reputation for excellence in whole person education. Shrewsbury was named Independent School of the Year in 2020 and has been consistently listed in the top 25 independent schools in the UK.

Founded in 1929, Prestfelde School is a leading prep school recognised for its all-round excellence. Part of the Woodard Corporation since 1949, it now transfers to the ownership of Shrewsbury School. The two educational charities will then merge into one entity under the Governance of Shrewsbury School. Prestfelde is the third Prep School to become part of the Shrewsbury Family of Schools. Packwood Prep School joined in 2019; Terra Nova School (in Cheshire) became part of the family in August 2025.

With Packwood, Terra Nova, Prestfelde and our partner international schools in Thailand, Hong Kong, Cambodia and India, the Shrewsbury family of schools continues to provide distinctive whole person education, inspiring young learners across the UK and around the world. We are excited that Prestfelde will now be an active and valued member of the thriving global Shrewsbury family of schools.

“At a time of considerable change in the independent education sector, it is important that schools that are closely aligned in their educational aims and ethos, come together to form the strongest alliances to ensure the best journey for the children in their care. We are delighted that Prestfelde is joining the Shrewsbury School family and look forward to working together for the benefit of both our communities. Prestfelde has a well-earned reputation for academic, pastoral and co-curricular excellence and will continue to prepare children for a range of excellent senior schools, including Shrewsbury.”

James Pitt – Chair of Governors, Shrewsbury School

“This year has seen unparalleled consolidation in the prep school sector. Within the Woodard family, both Lancing and Ardingly have recently acquired prep schools, and discussions with other schools are ongoing. The Woodard family has one standalone prep school, Prestfelde, in Shrewsbury, which joined the Woodard Corporation in 1949 and is flourishing. We have now reached an agreement with Shrewsbury School for them to add Prestfelde to their own family of prep schools, due to the existing strong links between the two schools and that the vast majority of Prestfelde pupils feed to them. The Woodard Board has agreed with the Governors of Prestfelde that this change of ownership would best enable them to fulfil their charitable objects over the long term. We wish the Prestfelde community all the best in their new family, and are delighted that Shrewsbury, like Woodard, has always held a strong commitment to the Christian faith.”

Dr Eve Poole OBE – Executive Chair, Woodard Schools

“Prestfelde Governors have considered joining a senior school for some time and so it is with huge pleasure, on behalf of all those involved in the process, that Prestfelde is swopping The Woodard Corporation for the Shrewsbury School family to realise even greater benefits for the school and our pupils. For many years we have enjoyed Woodard’s vision “to nurture and enrich every individual” and this seamless transition to the Shrewsbury School family allows us to further develop and mature this learning ethos whilst investing in future life skills which are so needed in our changing world. Prestfelde is making this move from a position of strength and is yet another step to realising ambitions for both the school and our pupils.”

Rex Sartain – Chair of Governors, Prestfelde School

“Shrewsbury and Prestfelde have been living together for many, many years. Now, we are finally tying the knot! I feel sure that our exceptionally close relationship will go from strength to strength over the years ahead as we work together to provide world class whole person education from Nursery to Sixth Form. Together, we can offer a wealth of connections and opportunities. We are very excited to begin the next stage of our journey with Prestfelde as this very special school becomes a valued member of the Shrewsbury School family.”

Leo Winkley – Headmaster, Shrewsbury School

“It is important to strengthen bonds and ties for the greater good of our pupils. In the Shrewsbury School family, we have educational partners that will help grow and develop our already outstanding school. We will continue to operate in the same manner that all Prestfeldians, past, present and future, expect, know and love, whilst benefitting from all that Shrewsbury School has to offer. I am really looking forward to collaborating with Leo Winkley, the wider Shrewsbury School family, and all the opportunities that this will bring.”

Matty Thavenot – Headmaster, Prestfelde School

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