Prince’s Mead School

Prince’s Mead School in Winchester and King Edward VI School in Southampton are to merge.

Prince’s Mead School is a co-educational prep school for children, aged from three to 11; King Edward VI School is a co-educational school for children aged from two to 18.

In a release, the schools stated that they “remain in a strong and stable financial position, consistently generating a surplus year on year”.

The release added: “This proactive partnership aims to build on both schools’ strengths, reinforcing financial security and opening new opportunities for pupil progression, with Prince’s Mead pupils’ benefiting from a KES head’s recommendation pathway to KES senior school, providing a guaranteed place in Year 7 for pupils who achieve an appropriate academic standard and would thrive in the senior school more widely, without the uncertainty of passing the entrance exam.

“Over the next two years, Prince’s Mead and King Edward’s will undertake an integration period, reviewing possibilities for collaboration while maintaining the distinct qualities of each school.”

Adam King, head at Prince’s Mead, said: “This merger strengthens our position for the future, allowing us to enhance everything we already do so well while staying true to our values. We are excited about the new opportunities this partnership will bring for our pupils, staff, and wider community.”

Neal Parker, head at King Edward VI School, added: “This is a significant step forward, building on our long-standing relationship with Prince’s Mead. This partnership enables us to offer even greater opportunities to our pupils while maintaining the outstanding education and experience families expect from our schools.”

Rebecca Smith, head at King Edward VI Preparatory, commented: “Through our experience at KES Prep, we’ve seen how shared expertise and strategic support can enhance the unique strengths of a preparatory school. We welcome Prince’s Mead and look forward to strengthening the network of outstanding preparatory schools across the region.”

Prince’s Mead School pupils