Epsom Prep School Wins Prestigious Tes Award for Educational Excellence
Caterham Prep School has been named Independent Prep School of the Year at the Tes Schools Awards 2026, widely regarded as the Oscars of Education.
Epsom School Crowned Educational Excellence Winner
Caterham Prep School has achieved one of the highest accolades in UK education, being named Independent Prep School of the Year at the Tes Schools Awards 2026. The award recognises the school's outstanding contribution to education and its innovative approach to learning.
Situated across a sprawling 200-acre campus in Harestone Valley, Caterham Prep educates boys and girls aged four to eleven. The school's distinctive philosophy places a strong emphasis on outdoor learning, with hands-on educational experiences beginning in Reception and continuing through to Year 6, making full use of its natural environment.
A Community Achievement
Headmaster Ben Purkiss expressed the school's pride at the recognition, emphasising that the achievement belongs to the entire school community. "We are absolutely blown away by this win, and incredibly proud," he said. "This is an achievement for all of our community – teachers, pupils and parents."
Purkiss highlighted that the school's primary focus remains on ensuring pupils receive an excellent education whilst fostering a genuine sense of belonging. The school also takes pride in its partnership work with state-maintained primary schools in the area.
Surrey's Educational Excellence
Caterham Prep was not the only Surrey school celebrated at the awards. The Tes Schools Awards, considered the pinnacle of recognition in UK education, honoured four other outstanding Surrey educators across various categories.
Michelle Catterson, headteacher at Moon Hall School in Reigate, was named Headteacher of the Year (Independent). She leads a specialist school for dyslexic pupils that has experienced significant growth and national recognition under her leadership.
Jane Finney, from The Winston Churchill School in Woking, received the Subject Lead of the Year (Secondary) award for her transformative work in Modern Foreign Languages. Under her guidance, the department has achieved impressive results, with 100% of Key Stage 3 students studying a language and around 60% continuing to GCSE level.
Launa Randles, headteacher at the Children's Trust School in Tadworth, was recognised as Specialist Provision School Leader of the Year. Her work focuses on personalised learning strategies for children aged 2-19 with complex educational, health, therapy and care requirements.
Record Number of Nominations
The Tes Schools Awards, established in 2009, attracted a record number of nominations this year, demonstrating the breadth of innovation and excellence across the UK education sector. Winners were selected by a panel of experienced school leaders and education experts across 23 categories spanning leadership, teaching, wellbeing, pupil outcomes and innovation.
Source: Surrey school named the very best there is at the Oscars for Education