Our Family of Schools

The Bancroft’s Family of Schools brings together three exceptional schools in Woodford Green, linked by a shared ethos, a long-standing relationship, a commitment to educational excellence and close geographical proximity. 

The independent school sector is changing rapidly, and schools with aligned values are increasingly choosing to work together at greater scale so that they can remain resilient, invest confidently in their educational offer and protect what makes them distinctive. 

This is a strategic and forward-looking decision, taken from a position of strength and carefully considered by the governors of all schools, with a clear focus on securing their long-term future. 

By coming together, the schools will be better placed to support long-term sustainability, share expertise and provide a strong foundation for the years ahead, while preserving the leadership, character and day-to-day identity of each school. 

From September 2026, the Bancroft’s Family of Schools will include Bancroft’s Senior School, Bancroft’s Prep School, Woodford Green Preparatory School and St. Aubyn’s School.

A merger means that Woodford Green Preparatory School, St. Aubyn’s School and Bancroft’s will formally come together under one governing body and one charitable entity: the Bancroft’s Family of Schools. 

In practice, this changes the legal and governance structure, not the individual character of the schools. Each school will remain distinct, with its own leadership, staff, curriculum and ethos, and day-to-day school life will continue as usual. 

This is not a takeover or commercial transaction. It is a charity merger designed to strengthen the long-term future of all three schools while preserving what families value most about each of them.

No. This is a charity merger, not a sale or takeover.

Yes, all schools are entering the merger from positions of financial strength. 

The partnership reflects a shared decision to strengthen opportunities for pupils and staff and to support the long-term sustainability of all schools in a changing educational landscape.

Being part of the Bancroft’s Family of Schools provides reassurance of a strong and sustainable future for each school. Pupils will continue to receive a first-class education within their own school’s distinctive ethos, identity and approach, while benefiting over time from shared expertise and closer collaboration across the Family of Schools. 

Following the merger, eligible pupils at St. Aubyn’s and Woodford Green Prep will also have access to the Bancroft’s Senior School Pathway, giving families an earlier opportunity to be considered for a conditional place at Bancroft’s Senior School during their child’s time at prep school.

At the same time, each school will continue to support families in exploring the full range of senior school options for their children.

No, all schools will continue to operate as distinct institutions on their own sites.

The things families value most about each school will remain the same. Pupils will continue to attend their current school, on their current site, with the same routines, school structure, pastoral care and daily experience. 

Each school will retain its own leadership, staff, curriculum, ethos and distinctive character. Families will continue to be supported by the teams who know their children best.

Yes. Bancroft’s Prep School will continue in its current form, with the same distinctive ethos, leadership and daily experience for pupils. 

For Bancroft’s Prep families, there will be no immediate change to school life. Bancroft’s Prep School, Woodford Green Preparatory School and St. Aubyn’s School will continue to operate on their own sites, with their own staff and their own distinct identities. 

There are no plans to change Bancroft’s Prep’s core educational offering as a result of the merger. Over time, there may be opportunities for closer collaboration across the Bancroft’s Family of Schools where this adds value for pupils and staff.

Yes. The schools will retain their own name, uniform, traditions and ethos, preserving the character and identity that makes each one unique.

Each school will continue to be led by its current Head and Senior Leadership Team, providing continuity in leadership and in the way each school is run. 

The Heads of each school, along with the Chief Operating Officer, will work together as part of an Executive Management Group, chaired by the Head of Bancroft’s, which will develop strategy for the Bancroft’s Family of Schools and lead on high-level operational decisions.

There are no plans to create another management tier. The Head of Bancroft’s will remain the Head of Bancroft’s with additional responsibilities for line management of the Heads of Woodford Green Prep and St. Aubyn’s. He already has line management responsibility for the Head of Bancroft’s Prep and the Chief Operating Officer. 

Following the merger, the joining schools will be governed by a single Board of Governors for the Bancroft’s Family of Schools. 

The Board will include representation from each school, ensuring that every school community has a voice within the governance of the wider Family.

The Drapers’ Company is a historic City of London livery company with a long-standing connection to Bancroft’s. It played a founding role in the School’s history and continues to support Bancroft’s today, including through bursary provision and representation on the School’s governing body. 

As part of the Bancroft’s Family of Schools, all schools in the Family will be supported by the same established oversight and long-term stewardship that helps guide Bancroft’s. This means Drapers’ representatives will continue to play a role in the wider direction of the Family of Schools, while each school retains its own identity, leadership and day-to-day running.

Following the merger, the sites and assets of the joining schools will be held within the existing Bancroft’s charitable company, which will operate as the Bancroft’s Family of Schools.

No. Pupils will remain based at their own school. 

Over time, there may be occasional opportunities for pupils to benefit from specialist facilities or shared activities at Bancroft’s where this is appropriate and adds value, but there is no expectation that pupils will travel routinely between sites.

The answer depends on which school or route a pupil joins through. 

Bancroft’s Prep School 

Pupils who join Bancroft’s Prep School at 7+ will continue to benefit from automatic progression to Bancroft’s Senior School, subject to meeting the School’s usual expectations. 

Woodford Green Preparatory School and St. Aubyn’s School

There will be no automatic entry to Bancroft’s Senior School for pupils at Woodford Green Preparatory School or St. Aubyn’s School. 

Following the merger, pupils at Woodford Green Prep and St. Aubyn’s will have access to a Bancroft’s Senior School Pathway. This will give families an earlier opportunity to be considered for a conditional Year 7 place at Bancroft’s Senior School.

Families will opt in to the Pathway by registering at the beginning of Year 5. Pupils will then be reviewed using a combination of attainment over time, standardised assessment data already collected by their current school, and a broader view of effort, attitude to learning and suitability for Bancroft’s. 

Pupils will also have an interview with Bancroft’s staff, as they would in the usual 11+ process. 

Pupils who receive and accept a conditional offer through this route will not need to sit the standard Bancroft’s 11+ admissions process in Year 6, although separate scholarship, award or bursary processes will still apply. 

Families who accept an early conditional Pathway offer will still be able to indicate in the Autumn term of Year 6 whether they wish their child to be considered for an academic scholarship, music award or other specialist award, where applicable. These will continue to be assessed separately through Bancroft’s usual Year 6 processes. 

Bursary applications will also continue to be considered separately under the School’s normal financial support arrangements. 

Pupils who do not receive an early conditional offer, or who join Woodford Green Prep or St. Aubyn’s after the September start of Year 4 and for whom there is not yet sufficient evidence to make a Pathway decision, will still be able to apply through the normal Bancroft’s 11+ admissions process in Year 6. 

At launch, the Pathway will apply to eligible pupils in Year 5 during the 2026–27 academic year who are on roll at the named partner prep school and who are registered by their parent or guardian for consideration by the published deadline. The first eligible cohort will be pupils seeking Year 7 entry to Bancroft’s Senior School in September 2028. 

Full details of the Pathway, including criteria, timings, conditions of offer and acceptance arrangements, will be published before the scheme applies to the first eligible cohort. 

External applicants 

Pupils applying to Bancroft’s Senior School from other schools will continue to apply through the standard Bancroft’s 11+ admissions process.  

No. Bancroft’s admissions standards will remain unchanged. All pupils joining Bancroft’s Senior School, whether through the standard 11+ process or the Senior School Pathway, will be expected to meet Bancroft’s academic expectations and be well suited to the pace, ambition and wider life of the School.

Yes. Woodford Green Prep and St. Aubyn’s will continue to support families in considering the full range of senior school options, with advice tailored to the best interests of each child. 

A broad choice at 11+ will remain central to the approach at both schools. Joining the Bancroft’s Family of Schools creates an additional benefit by offering families an earlier opportunity to be considered for a place at Bancroft’s Senior School through the Senior School Pathway, while continuing to support families in choosing the right senior school for their child. 

No. The merger itself does not introduce a new fee structure or any additional charges at any member school. 

Fees at each school will continue to be reviewed annually, as they are now. This review will take into account the usual factors, including the cost of providing a high-quality education and maintaining the school’s facilities and environment. 

Optional activities, trips and clubs will continue to be charged in the same way as they are currently. 

Each school will continue to operate within its own fee framework, with fees set in the usual way based on the income and expenditure plans, provision and circumstances of that school.  

Existing Bursary Places or Assisted Places will remain unchanged.

All schools remain committed to supporting access based on financial need, dependent on available funds. Each school’s Bursary/Assisted Places policies can be found on its website.

The merger will take effect on 1 September 2026.

Between now and the merger date, all schools will continue to operate as they do currently. The focus during this period will be on planning the partnership and ensuring a smooth transition.

Bancroft’s : head@bancrofts.org  

St.  Aubyn’s School : h.madden@staubyns.com  

Woodford Green Preparatory School : head@wgprep.co.uk