Ashdown House School

Forest Row, East Sussex RH18 5JY

‘We are unique because we run rather than walk; smile first, tuck shirts in later; and we’re not frightened of good manners,’ says the school. In the midst of Winnie the Pooh’s Ashdown Forest is a buzzing little prep where outdoorsy children will blossom. This boarding school (there’s only a few day pupils) has a packed schedule. It’s a clever choice for overseas parents, with about a third of pupils being children from expat, Foreign Office and Armed Forces families. The proximity to Gatwick (just 20 minutes away) is surely a draw. Mandarin lessons started in 2008 – handy for those heading back to Hong Kong in the holidays. Plenty of interhouse rivalry (brilliantly named Hippos, Rhinos, Elephants and Kangs), with Ready, Steady, Cook battles and X-Factor challenges. New headmaster Mr Floyd has just started and will continue the family feel of the school.