Copthill School Prospectus 2023

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Independent Nursery

Day School FOR CHILDREN AGED 2 TO 11 YEARS

The Copthill Way

Learning and growing together

From small beginnings in 1969 around the kitchen table at Copthill Farm, our school has grown steadily – today, Copthill is a thriving, purpose-built, independent school for 300 boys and girls aged between two and 11.

We have a deeply ingrained commitment to a truly well-rounded education, and our unique location on the 300-acre farm is innovatively used to enhance our children's experiences.

That means presenting your child with a wide, balanced view of the world through education and exploration. At Copthill you will find exceptional academic standards and achievements, alongside excellent personal development.

We are dedicated to allowing children to flourish into happy, confident, rounded individuals who are able to discover and develop their talents, while negotiating an

increasingly complex world, aware of the possibilities in it and of their potential to shape their own futures in varied and fantastic ways.

We’re incredibly proud of our school and would be delighted to welcome you for a visit. So, please don’t hesitate to call us or visit our website if you have any questions.

Mr Jonathan Teesdale Principal

The Copthill Campus

Much of what we do at Copthill is about discovery, and this is underpinned by the school ethos and environment, both in and out of the classroom.

As a result, our 300-acre campus combines stimulating classrooms and the latest educational technology with inspiring outdoor locations that turn theory into practice, and areas which create excitement and enthusiasm in our children about their learning.

We have a science lab, music pods, dance and art facilities, as well as a fort, outdoor kitchen, forest school and WW1 trench! We continually add more to the site to enhance our children's education and understanding.

At Copthill we instil in our children the curiosity, excitement, desire and drive to be lifelong learners

Our Copthill Curriculum

Our broad curriculum emphasises the importance of literacy, numeracy, science and languages. It is designed to develop lifelong knowledge, skills and attitudes through innovative programmes such as the Copthill Learner and our unique Copthill Challenge Scheme, which encourages our children to become responsible, independent, creative and resilient.

Inspirational teachers, purpose-built facilities and an emphasis on using our rural location ensures that learning takes place in a stimulating and unique setting, in which every child is encouraged and motivated to succeed.

We encourage our pupils to discover for themselves, and in so doing create the self-confidence to question, learn, rationalise and understand the world around them.

Our children understand that learning can be fun, but sometimes it can be difficult and requires effort and application. We reassure them that making mistakes is part of learning and growing.

The Copthill Journey

Early Years (2yrs to 4yrs)

The ideal start to school life, in a nurturing, stimulating and safe environment run by an experienced and dedicated team which continually keeps in touch with parents about children's progress, learning outcomes and development.

Lower School (4yrs to 8yrs)

A strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy in small classes. There are also specialist teachers in modern foreign languages, music, physical education and dance to ensure our pupils receive the best possible foundations to their education.

Upper School (8yrs to 11yrs)

Tutors identify our children's strengths and target areas for development, while closely monitoring progress. The broad curriculum is delivered by specialist teachers and adapted to each child’s educational needs.

Beyond Copthill

We pride ourselves on helping ensure that secondary school choices are appropriate for each child. The knowledge, skills and independence children have gained prepares them for a seamless transition to a wide range of secondary schools.

A broad, comprehensive and creative education with the highest expectations

“At Copthill, we expect our pupils to learn, develop and achieve success in many different ways, while most importantly having the opportunities to enjoy a unique and memorable childhood.”

Mr Jonathan Teesdale Principal

A Flying Start

The Early Years, incorporating the Nursery and Pre-School classes, provide the ideal start to school life in a nurturing, safe and stimulating environment.

Through a carefully planned combination of activities supervised by our Early Years team, we aim to encourage independence, social skills and intellectual development in our thoughtfully-designed, welcoming classrooms and play areas.

Activities include literacy, numeracy, arts and crafts, PE, cookery, dance, music and more, all of which ensure the children are developing as young learners.

The Nursery and Pre-School classes make full use of the main school's facilities too, including music and PE, enhancing their learning opportunities at this early stage.

INTO THE FOREST WE GO!

Our daily Forest School sessions enable us to venture into the woods to build dens, scramble over logs, gather leaves and sticks for art projects or to go on bear hunts and to look for Easter eggs! In every adventure there is an opportunity to be brave, independent and excited.

The outdoors offers a magical learning environment and we visit the animal farm regularly to see the chickens, alpacas, sheep and donkeys.

Ensure your child’s early years are filled with fun and adventure in our Nursery and Pre-School

The Great Outdoors

Offering the opportunity to learn, be active and healthy in a unique environment

Copthill’s location on a working farm offers access to a variety of environments that allow our children to obtain a perspective on life, work and the world around them that few of their age are lucky enough to experience.

The outdoors is intrinsically built into the curriculum, everyday life and ethos of the school. Lessons in the classroom are developed further in the grounds, from learning about history in a re-creation of a WW1 trench and applying scientific fundamentals when building bridges, to performing Shakespeare in our woodland theatre.

This type of learning caters for all abilities and is a positive and fun experience for everyone – and crucially they are learning skills and understanding how to manage their way through problems, work as a team, plan and innovate.

Through lessons, sport, camping, cooking and exploring, the outdoor life is an integral part of the Copthill experience.

MAGICAL WORLDS THAT CREATE CHARACTER AND CONFIDENCE

An area of magical woodland and a meandering river have helped to shape our established outdoor areas. There are fixed camps, a large tipi, small shelters and other worlds to explore, as well as animals to care for. Children are encouraged through the mastery of outdoor tasks to grow in self-esteem and confidence.

Enriching the Arts

“Children seize every opportunity to pursue their dreams and to write their success stories” Copthill Educational Vision

We believe that every pupil should have the chance to shine. As a result, we aim for high standards in the arts, but what our pupils gain from taking part is far more valuable.

Through music, drama, art and dance they experience teamwork, a sense of achievement and the immense joy and freedom of being given the opportunity to express themselves.

MUSIC

The Music Department aims to stimulate all children, from beginners to those more experienced, and musicians seeking future scholarships. A large proportion of children receive individual tuition on a range of instruments and perform at concerts, competitions, assemblies and services.

DRAMA

Drama is taught in many different forms throughout the school. Learning activities are designed to encourage children to build self confidence, develop creativity and communication skills and to learn to work effectively as part of a team.

DANCE

Copthill offers ballet, tap and modern and a dance club. We work with The Royal Academy of Dance syllabus, which offers an internationally recognised portfolio of examinations and assessments designed to encourage, motivate and reward pupils of all ages and abilities.

ART

Our curriculum develops creative potential and offers a wide range of traditional art and crafts as well as film, digital media and animation, in specialist facilities.

Pitching In

Sport plays an important role at Copthill, and is strongly represented in the timetable, alongside numerous extra-curricular clubs and teams taking part in inter-house tournaments, as well as local and national school competitions.

We recognise how important our children's physical health and emotional well-being are, and the relationship between these and academic achievement. So sport is high on our agenda, and we have extensive facilities: rugby and cricket pitches, astroturf pitch, tennis courts, shooting range, many cross-country routes and wide expanses of play areas.

Children are encouraged to ‘have a go’ and enjoy themselves, while for those who want to develop their skills, there is high-quality coaching and training.

PLAY THE GAME!

Archery, athletics, basketball, climbing, cricket, cross-country, football, golf, gymnastics, hockey, netball, orienteering, rounders, rugby, swimming, shooting, sailing and tennis

At Copthill there is a sport for every child, whether they are highly competitive or just want to have fun

The Copthill Family

A friendly and supportive community for all

At Copthill, the whole family is as much a part of the school as the children. Our open-door policy provides the foundations for effective communication and co-operation between home and school, with parents encouraged to come in to school and speak to staff whenever needed.

We’re excellent at pastoral care, supporting and nurturing our children while they are being challenged academically, growing up and finding their way in the world.

Being a small school, underpinned by family values, everybody associated with Copthill is well-known to us, in a welcoming and happy environment that is friendly, caring and well-disciplined.

We believe parents have a very special role to play at Copthill. The Copthill Parents Social Committee is a vibrant part of school life, hosting a number of events from family dog shows to gala balls, while for more informal gatherings, the daily Copthill Café in the dining hall is a great place for parents to meet for a coffee.

We pride ourselves on excellent communication with working parents and we support busy families by offering extended hours at the beginning and end of each school day, as well as holiday clubs and camps.

There are numerous social opportunties for all the family, from toddler groups to parents' sports teams along with family days.

"Copthill is not just a school: it’s a community for the whole family, in which your children can learn and develop in the best possible environment."

Mr Jonathan Teesdale Principal