This list of the Top Five preparatory schools forms part of the Herald's UK Education Special Report on some of the leading preparatory and senior Catholic schools in the UK (the full report is available in the September 2025 edition of the magazine).
We have tried to give readers a feel of each school, while also providing information such as location, ethos, school fees and the inside track on the headmaster or headmistress. Criteria include academic performance and pastoral care, and how serious a role the Catholic faith plays in the life of the school.
