Aldro is a coeducational day and boarding school for approximately 200 children aged between 7 and 13. In early 2027 Aldro is to join the Radley Schools Group and in September 2027, Aldro will be opening a new pre-prep for children in Reception, Year 1, and Year 2. This will enable children to flourish at Aldro from Reception through to Year 8.
Nestled in the quintessentially English and very beautiful village of Shackleford, Aldro lies just 30 miles southwest of London and is in easy reach of both Heathrow and Gatwick airports. With our full, weekly and family-friendly boarding, Aldro welcomes children from all around the world, as well as those looking for an idyllic country education away from the capital and many who join us daily from the towns and villages surrounding our stunning rural location in the home county of Surrey. We are also fortunate to be close to both London Heathrow airport (40 minutes’ drive) and London Gatwick airport (55 minutes’ drive) and are also within easy reach of Aldershot (20 minutes’ drive), Andover (55 minutes’ drive) and Bulford (65 minutes’ drive).
Welcome to Aldro!
Life at Aldro is also lots of fun. As you walk around the grounds, you will see children playing a whole variety of sports, rowing on the lake, learning the rules of Pétanque, or playing pirates on our very own adventure island. You will see them rehearsing for an upcoming play, singing in the choir, or heading off to the woods for yet another outdoor education lesson. Aldro life is guaranteed to be varied and stimulating!
Our small class sizes and high aspirations ensure that Aldro pupils achieve their very best in the classroom. We want them to discover a love of learning that will stay with them for life. Many will move on from Aldro to the UK’s top independent senior schools, often with scholarships and awards that reflect the diversity and excellence of their achievements along the way.
Boarding has always been one of Aldro’s great strengths and has helped to ensure that the school has a thriving family atmosphere with first class pastoral care – a genuine home-from-home experience. Weekends are full of exciting activities and trips, and we are fortunate to have wonderful grounds and resources at our fingertips too – there aren’t many prep schools whose boarders can spend summer evenings boating on their own lake!
We very much hope that you will choose to visit Aldro in person. If you do so, Nicky and I shall be delighted to welcome you; we look forward to showing you around Aldro, the special place that is both our school and home.
Chris & Nicky Carlier
Aldro’s recent ISI Inspection back in May 2026 helped to capture what makes Aldro such a special place. As well as promoting a “culture of kindness”, it reported that the co-curricular and enrichment programme achieved a note of ‘significant strength’ which enables “pupils to flourish, academically, creatively, physically and personally”.
In its commitment to supporting the education of serving personnel, Aldro is proudly a ‘10%’ school’. Eligible Military families in receipt of the Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) for their full boarding children will pay 10% of the full boarding fee in addition to the CEA allowance. Aldro’s full boarding fee is therefore currently £1,500 per term (+CEA). Further details can be found below. Day children of serving personnel are granted a 20% reduction in fees.
Boarding at Aldro is more than a bed for the night.
At Aldro, children discover what it feels like to belong to a family that stretches beyond their own. A family that knows the comfort of a favourite drink, the magic of a bedtime story, and the joy of waking up among friends. The boarding team are always on hand to notice the little things; a missing button, a favourite snack, a child who needs a chat before lights out. Behind the scenes, there’s a quiet choreography: matrons labelling kits, tutors checking homework, gap students organising games. It’s homely, yet purposeful; a place where children feel known.
Every day is an adventure
A big part of delivering a brilliant boarding experience, is focusing on the fun of being with friends. Every term, the Aldro boarding team create an enviable carousel of themed activities such as mid-week, ‘Wacky Wednesdays’, in addition to exciting excursions to roller discos, pool parties, slip and slide and s’mores on the bonfire. Aldro is fortunate to have wonderful grounds and resources at its fingertips too, and there aren’t many prep schools whose boarders can spend summer evenings boating on their own lake!
At the weekend there are trips to Buckingham Palace, Hampton Court ice-skating, go-karting, and Twickenham for the roar of England rugby. It’s non-stop fun, but never too busy for those all-important calls home. Aldro’s weekend cultural programme of activities opens doors to British life and culture, from historic dockyards to London’s galleries to trips to Oxford.
Becoming senior school ready
Aldro provides impartial and bespoke senior school advice to parents, so they feel confident that their child is heading on to the ‘right’ school. As each child and every school is different, it is hardly surprising that our children have left us to attend 33 different senior schools in the last three years.
In 2026, 49% of the Form 8s achieved a scholarship to their senior school. Senior school scholarships were offered to Radley, Bradfield, Tonbridge, Charterhouse, Harrow, Lancing, Cranleigh, KESW and Seaford College. The scholarships were awarded across a broad range of disciplines; academic, sport, drama, music, design & engineering, art, all-rounder, and a HM Award. It has been a particularly spectacular year for Miss Allen and her Drama scholars – they are the largest group of drama scholars in Aldro history!
“Boarding provides a safe, happy and supportive environment in which pupils thrive socially and emotionally.”
ISI Inspection Report 2026
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