Families at The Paragon School in Bath will have a more seamless educational pathway from age three through to Sixth Form as the school becomes Prior Park Paragon from September 2026.
Prior Park Schools has announced the change as part of closer links between the prep school and Prior Park College, which have been part of the same school family for more than 20 years. Together, the two schools will operate as a through school across their two Bath campuses, creating a connected journey from nursery and prep education through to Sixth Form.
One of the biggest changes for families will be the removal of the traditional 11+ entrance examination for pupils moving from Year Six at Prior Park Paragon into Year Seven at Prior Park College. Instead, children will be able to continue within the same school community, with Prior Park Schools saying the approach will offer greater continuity and allow staff to support pupils throughout their education.
Closer links will also give pupils at Prior Park Paragon increased access to facilities and expertise across the wider Prior Park Schools community, including sport, swimming, science, art and drama.
Plans are also being developed for a shared school uniform in the coming years, designed to create a stronger shared identity and make the transition between Prior Park Paragon and Prior Park College smoother.
The school said that while The Paragon’s name and visual identity are changing, its focus on a nurturing environment, individual attention and strong sense of community will remain.
Malcolm Bond, Head of Prior Park Paragon, said, “This is a hugely exciting moment for our school community. For many years, our pupils have benefited from the close relationship between Prior Park Paragon and Prior Park College, whether through shared activities, access to facilities, or the opportunity to experience the wider Prior Park family.
“This next chapter allows us to build on those foundations and create an even stronger sense of connection and belonging for our pupils as they grow. They will continue to enjoy the individual care, encouragement and opportunities that make Prior Park Paragon such a special place, while having an increasingly seamless pathway ahead of them through to Sixth Form.
“At its heart, this is about giving our pupils the confidence to flourish at every stage of their education.”
Photo: Anna Barclay
