LWC and St Neot’s Complete Merger

“It’s all about making sure that everyone feels welcome, listened to and included.”

 

LWC’s Head of Pupil Wellbeing, Kirsty Jackman is talking to 40 Year 6 pupils from St Neot’s Preparatory School.

 

This bubbly and excitable group are settled around circular tables in LWC’s Gavin Hall, in anticipation of their Peer Mentor and Transitions training, led by LWC’s Lower Sixth Form Peer Mentors.

 

“You’ll play a key role in helping other students with their transition into school life,” Mrs Jackman reveals to her audience of ten and eleven-year-olds. “Supporting them with challenges, guiding them through changes and showing them that they are never alone.”

 

The Peer Mentor Programme is just one of the many initiatives in which Lord Wandsworth College and St Neot’s Prep work closely together to deliver exceptional results.

 

The programme is part of LWC’s Wellbeing Strategy, with designated mentors across the College. From the 4^th Formers helping to immerse the new 3^rd Form into LWC life, to the Lower Sixth Form regularly checking in with younger pupils in their designated Houses.

 

This cohort of Year 6 pupils from St Neot’s is the next generation of young leaders in the Lord Wandsworth Family of Schools and today, they are learning what’s involved from those who have trodden a similar path before them.

 

“When I first joined the school, I remember feeling nervous – as though I had to figure everything out on my own,” explains LWC Head of College, Alice. “But it was the people around me who made all the difference. Older students who smiled, said hello or helped me when I was lost. That feeling – of being seen and supported – really stuck with me. I knew that I wanted to do that for others.”

 

“Families know that they can access a trusted educational provider in the Lord Wandsworth Family of Schools, extending from 2-18… Both schools are philosophically aligned and demonstrate mutual respect for one another.”

— Adam Williams, Headmaster

 

The benefits of successful joint initiatives like this are now a common feature at the Lord Wandsworth Family of Schools. Lord Wandsworth College and St Neot’s Preparatory School entered into a formal collaboration in April 2021. Since then, they have worked together to develop a seamless educational experience, stretching from 2-18 years. But the best is still to come, as the two schools formally merged on 1^st September 2025.

 

“We are incredibly excited to move forward as the Lord Wandsworth Family of Schools,” explains LWC Headmaster, Adam Williams. “This partnership has already been in progress for over four years and has developed a reputation for being one of the smoothest and most successful in the sector. St Neot’s is one of the fastest-growing prep schools in the UK and having effectively lived together for a few years, we are now getting married! Our relationship with other schools remains as strong as ever, as we continue to learn from each other and enjoy the journey.”

 

Indeed, both LWC and St Neot’s have seen a large increase in pupil numbers in recent years and Headmaster of St Neot’s Prep, Jonathan Slot is equally as delighted about the schools’ formal collaboration moving to the next stage.

 

“We have taken our time with the merger, to ensure that we got it right,” he states. “Now we have two schools with a shared ethos, values and ambition. Because of this shared outlook, pupils joining LWC from St Neot’s will feel very much at home. The future is bright and we’ve only just begun, in the words of The Carpenters.” 

 

Whilst both schools will feel exactly the same as they always have done from day one of the merger and are keen to maintain their unique identities, there are numerous rewards from the collaboration already being reaped, with many more to come.

   

“Families know that they can access a trusted educational provider in the Lord Wandsworth Family of Schools, extending from 2-18,” continues Adam Williams. “This ensures continuity into Sixth Form, which enables academic consistency and reduces transition challenges. Both schools are philosophically aligned and demonstrate mutual respect for one another.”

 

The merger increases opportunities to share facilities, best practice and examples of educational excellence across both schools – with the aim of boosting value for pupils and their families further at LWC and St Neot’s.

 

Back in Gavin Hall, the St Neot’s Peer Mentors are discussing the art of how to build conversations with their fellow pupils, how to show empathy and ways to help others feel included and listened to. It’s clear that this training not only benefits the youngest members of the room, but also offers the Lower Sixth Form students delivering it, a wealth of coaching and mentoring experience.

 

“The Peer Mentoring programme is an outstanding example of what we can achieve together,” explains Jonathan Slot. “There was a sense of some ‘big brothers and sisters’ joining us from LWC, rather than Sixth Formers. This can only be achieved through schools that have an established relationship and without fail, this improves the outcomes of these partnerships. Role modelling is so important in our education system and when it comes to collaborative opportunities, we have only just scratched the surface.”

 

Adam Williams agrees: “Peer mentoring has been a roaring success for LWC and St Neot’s pupils. Both groups have gained so much from each other, but most importantly an awareness and realisation of how working together can help, support and inspire.”

 

Much like the merger.