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PARENT INFORMATION Upper Prep

Welcome Message

Term Dates

Pastoral Care

Years 5 & 6

Years 7 & 8

C O N T E N T S

Parent Website

iPads

Stationery List

School Uniform

Boarding

Learning Support

MESSAGE WELCOME

Guy Musson Headmaster

A very warm welcome to Orwell Park.

We passionately believe in protecting the magic of childhood and are blessed to be able to offer our children the most stunning 110-acre site in which they can learn, laugh, explore, make mistakes and grow. Magnificent grounds, buildings and facilities are of great value, but we are more proud to be able to boast a talented and dedicated team of staff, who succeed in sparking joy, inspiration and aspiration – this is where the magic is truly brought to life.

Nestled in the heart of Orwell Park’s magnificent grounds, the Pre Prep building is where our youngest children embark on their educational journey With a focus on nurturing the whole child, Nursery and the Lower Prep lay the foundations and build successful relationships in which each child can thrive

An environment where academic rigour and a holistic ethos are given equal importance, we aspire for children to leave us as happy, confident, well rounded and kind young people

At Orwell Park, we have high expectations, use accurate tracking, and early identification alongside coordinated planning across the whole school, to ensure children’s academic opportunities are excellent With outstanding pastoral care, timely intervention and support where necessary, and access to valuable enrichment experiences, an Orwell Park education nurtures each child as an individual

TERM DATES 2025 - 2026

Autumn Term 2025

Term begins - Wednesday 3 September (7 00pm)

Exeat Weekend begins - Friday 19 September (3.45pm or 5pm)

Exeat Weekend ends - Sunday 21 September (7 00pm)

Exeat Weekend begins - Friday 3 October (3.45pm or 5pm)

Exeat Weekend ends - Sunday 5 October (7 00pm)

Half-term begins - Friday 17 October (3.45pm)

Half-term ends - Sunday 2 November (7 00pm)

Exeat Weekend begins - Friday 14 November (3 45pm or 5pm)

Exeat Weekend ends - Sunday 16 November (7 00pm)

Exeat Weekend begins - Friday 28 November (3 45pm or 5pm)

Exeat Weekend ends - Sunday 30 November (7 00pm)

Term ends - Friday 12 December (12 noon)

Spring Term 2026

Term begins - Wednesday 7 January (7 00pm)

Exeat weekend begins - Friday 16 January (3 45pm or 5pm)

Exeat weekend ends - Sunday 18 January (7 00pm)

Exeat Weekend begins - Friday 30 January (3 45pm or 5pm)

Exeat Weekend ends - Sunday 1 February (7 00pm)

Half-term begins - Friday 13 February (3 45pm)

Half-term ends - Sunday 22 February (7.00pm)

Exeat weekend begins - Friday 6 March (3 45pm or 5pm)

Exeat weekend ends - Sunday 8 March (7.00pm)

Term ends - Wednesday 25 March (3 45pm)

Summer Term 2026 (Provisional)

Term begins - Wednesday 22 April (7 00pm)

Exeat weekend begins - Friday 1 May (3.45pm or 5pm)

Exeat weekend ends - Monday 4 May (7 00pm)

Exeat Weekend begins - Friday 15 May (3.45pm or 5pm)

Exeat Weekend ends - Sunday 17 May (7 00pm)

Half-term begins - Friday 22 May (3.45pm)

Half-term ends - Sunday 31 May (7 00pm)

Exeat weekend begins - Friday 19 June (3 45pm or 5pm)

Exeat weekend ends - Sunday 21 June (7 00pm)

Term ends - Saturday 4th July

PASTORAL CARE

Form Representatives

Each form has two Parent Representatives who will be in touch during the holidays to welcome you to Orwell Park and introduce your child to other children in their year group

First Day of Term for Day Pupils

Please bring your child to the main entrance of the School at 8.00am where members of the Senior Management Team will meet you

The Upper Prep contact at school is Mrs Sarah Earley, School Secretary, on 01473 653221 opssecretary@orwellpark org

First Day of Term for Boarders

Ordinarily boarders arrive at 7 00pm on the evening before lessons begin (for Autumn 2025 this is 7 00pm on Wednesday 3rd September) An early arrival time may be possible by prior arrangement

The Blue Book

At the beginning of term, you will receive an Orwell Park Blue Book which has a wealth of information This includes the following information: school ethos, daily routine, morning and evening timetables, contact details of all staff, school officers, going home times, weekly events, school diary for the term, future term dates

Absence

If your child is absent, please ring 01473 659225 before 9 00am on the first day

Normal absence from school should only be for illness. Any other permission for absence is only granted in exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the Headmaster Parents should get in touch with the Headmaster's PA, Claire Davies, on 01473 653297 or clairedavies@orwellpark org

School Nurse

The School Nurse is available 8 00am - 4 00pm Monday to Friday All prescribed medicines must be given to the School Nurse or Prep teacher together with written permission to administer Please inform the School Nurse if your child has any infectious illnesses.

Please send all requests for your child to be off-games via the School Nurse and not to your child's tutor.

Padlocks

Pupils in Year 5 require a padlock to secure their games lockers Pupils arriving in Years 6, 7 and 8 require two padlocks at school to secure their games locker and academic locker

Please ensure that padlocks are simple to operate and 40mm across or wider. Padlocks should operate with a code rather than a key

Finance

For all financial queries, please contact the Finance Manager, finance@orwellpark.org.

These are exciting times for Year 5 and Year 6! As Orwell Park moves to a new operating system, both year groups will now form part of the Upper Prep, and this reflects a desire to help students at the younger end be fully prepared for opportunities ahead and develop over two formative years into some of the most amazing young people that leave for senior school destinations at the end of Year 8.

We are fortunate at Orwell Park that we operate a strong and nurturing pastoral system via tutor groups that meet daily and help form part of a programme to meet the needs of the children. The form tutor will take day to day responsibility for the welfare of your child/children, and will guide them through each week, alongside events such as whole school assemblies, a chapel rota and senior assemblies (which are often led by children in tutor groups) There is also a tutor period on a Friday morning, where time is given over to recording progress, sharing news of events and dealing with issues that might have arisen over a busy week – it can also occasionally be a time to simply take a step back from the hustle and bustle!

Y E A R S 5 & 6

Children will notice a change to routines as they move through the Upper Prep. Lessons will involve more movement during the school day, with subject specialist teachers taking over some of the responsibility for delivering lessons from the Class teacher There are also preps to be completed, along with games and activities which make for a full-on day, so being able to self-regulate energy levels, hydration and workload all take on greater meaning as they grow We find that sometimes children require support in managing their behaviour and emotional wellbeing at this time, as well as their academic progress – moreover, the two can be inextricably linked, and staff will be on hand to help with this

One feature of moving into the senior end of the school is to begin the process of looking beyond Orwell Park (parents of older children will tell you that years pass in the blink of an eye!) We are finding that a number of senior schools are investing more and more into the pre-test model of selection, where the ISEB Common Pre-test is taken to provide a universal and standardised measure of attainment and ability These can be taken on request in Years 6 or 7 at school, and with guidance and support from Mrs Loveridge and other key staff, the results can form part of a school’s process of filtering candidates, alongside interviews and letters of reference from Mr Musson and the team. Some schools that use the ISEB Pre-test might include the following, for example purposes (all are common destination school for students at Orwell Park) :

Benenden School, Brighton College, Eton College, Harrow School, The Leys School, Radley College, Stowe School, Tonbridge School and Wellington College

We look forward to welcoming your child into Year 5 and 6, and we aim to make the experience as positive and rewarding as possible with a full programme of academic rigour, sport, music, performing arts and enrichment.

Nick Gibbs - Head of Years 5 & 6

Y E A R S

As pupils enter their final two years at Orwell Park, they begin to fully engage with the Common Entrance syllabus, preparing for both entrance and scholarship examinations in Year 8 The curriculum remains broad, balanced, and stimulating, ensuring that the core subjects of English, Maths, and Science receive ample focus, alongside the wider examined subjects of French, Geography, History, Theology, Philosophy and Religion (TPR), and Latin.

In addition, pupils benefit from weekly lessons in Latin, Critical Thinking, Life Skills, PE, Art, Design Technology, Music, and Drama. For those with a particular passion or aptitude, there is also the option to pursue one of the creative subjects - Art, Design Technology, Music, or Drama - in a fortnightly extension lesson This additional time provides valuable enrichment, particularly for those preparing for scholarships, while also nurturing the interests of pupils who simply enjoy exploring these subjects in greater depth

Each pupil is assigned a tutor who, along with an assistant tutor, acts as their guide, mentor, and advocate throughout these two important years Pupils join a tutor group comprising students from both Years 7 and 8, meeting each morning for registration and a shared reading period. Every other Friday afternoon, an extended tutor session provides time for meaningful reflection on progress, challenges, and achievements Tutors and assistant tutors are typically the first point of contact for any concerns, and involving them in wider communications helps to maintain a clear, holistic picture of each child’s development

Many Old Orwellians reflect on these final years of prep school as the most memorable and rewarding Our aim as teachers is to inspire, challenge, and support pupils through an engaging and enriching curriculum As tutors, we are committed to helping every child thrive - academically, personally, and socially - discovering their strengths and seizing the many opportunities available at Orwell Park Beyond the classroom, our older pupils are encouraged to take on a variety of leadership roles, each thoughtfully assigned to reflect and build upon the individual's unique character.

Tristan King - Head of Years 7 & 8

PARENT WEBSITE

We have a range of ways for parents to keep up with what is happening at school:

Firefly firefly.orwellpark.org

Firefly provides information about your child’s timetable and preps set When you register with the email address you have given the school, an account will be created that is linked to your children so that you can see personalised information.

Sport Website

sport orwellpark org

The website lists all of our sports teams, fixtures and results. To view a team sheet to see who is selected you need a password which is “NactonIP10”

Blue Book

https://calendar orwellpark org is the online version of our “Blue Book” calendar

School Reports

All school reports are securely published online and we email out details of how to access them. Further details about accessing the above sites is emailed to parents when their children join the school

Since 2016, Orwell Park have been at the forefront of technology use in prep schools, with an expectation that every child in Years 5-8 should have their own iPad for school use. Our staff our highly trained and experienced in using iPads in the classroom and we continue to develop our use of technology year on year

To make the process of buying an iPad as simple as possible for our parents, we have an online store at https://orwellpark edutechstore zone that delivers the iPad and one of the recommended cases directly to the school We continually review the prices on that store to ensure they are competitive with other sources Once we receive an iPad we apply a security profile to it which allows us to manage the device and monitor internet activity, regardless of whether it is in school or not

Please note that the School does not take responsibility for damage to or loss of the iPad (although secure storage is provided), so we recommend that you have insurance against these risks

If you already have an iPad that is under five years old then we can configure that for school use, provided that it is fully wiped and disconnected from an Apple ID account

For pupils who are planning to be with us for a year or less, we run a “buy back” scheme: if an iPad is bought through our online store and kept in good condition then the school commit to purchasing the iPad back for the original price less £30 per term. We have a very small stock of iPads that can be borrowed for up to two weeks for the rare occasions when an iPad may need to be sent away for a repair

If you have questions relating to technology at Orwell Park, please feel free to get in touch with Afiah Ntiri-Akuffo, Head of Digital Strategy, via afiahntiriakuffo@orwellpark org

I P A D S

STATIONERY LIST

iPad

School bag/backpack style

Handwriting pen or ink pen (blue)

HB pencils

Colouring pencils

Pencil sharpener and rubber

Scissors

Pritt stick

15cm and 30cm rulers

Highlighter pens

Cassio fx85 GT Plus calculator

Geometry set with protractor, compass, set

squares

French/English bilingual dictionary

INFORMATION SCHOOL UNIFORM

SPORTS KIT

Girls

Our boarding school proudly welcomes students from all over the UK and abroad for full, weekly, and flexi boarding

We offer pupils facilities and activities which enhance social skills, cultural awareness, and respect for others In an environment that celebrates the differences between pupils, the key life skills of resilience, self-motivation, and responsibility are absorbed and developed Children may commence boarding from Year 3

Boarding kit list

All personal items and school uniform must be clearly named/labelled; only sewn in labels for clothing are acceptable (not iron on)

As well as the requirements given on the uniform list, we ask full boarders to have three sets of home clothing for a weekend:

One smart set (chinos or smart jeans, shirt or polo shirt etc)

One set of older clothes

One casual set (tracksuit or similar and a hoodie)

One warm, waterproof coat

These are then washed and ready for the following weekend Washing is part of the daily routine and belongings are returned to the boarders within a day or two.

BOARDING FULL BOARDING

Full Boarders' Packing List

Pyjamas (two sets)

Dressing gown

Closed toe slippers (hard soles)

Towels (two)

Underwear

Mid grey socks (boys), for girls navy knee high socks or tights (winter and summer)

Reading book

Water bottle (in addition to School water bottle)

Trainers (separate pair to be kept in boarding)

Wash Bag - toothbrush, toothpaste, comb/brush, shower gel, shampoo/conditioner, roll on deodorant

(Please discourage your child from bringing in large amounts, we have a stock of these items which can be bought from the boarders' shop).

Optional - boarders are welcome to have their own bedding sets if they prefer - two sets are required to allow for washing/drying times. 2 x duvet cover, 2 x pillow case

Boarders should also have a home coat suitable for the season and one or two extra pairs of shoes/boots. They may use their school coat if they prefer (including hats and gloves as required)

No food items, sweets or treats are allowed School provides all necessary meals and treats for the boarders as appropriate. Hairdryers are provided on the girls' floor

No valuable items, smart watches or gaming devices should be brought into School. Pocket money is controlled via the school accounts, a small amount is charged at the beginning of each term and distributed as needed, (about £35 per term) Any remainder is refunded at the end of term An empty wallet/ purse would be advisable. No cash is required to be brought into School.

Full boarders should arrive with only one medium/large suitcase and a smaller rucksack style bag for day trips out In addition they need one small, packed case ready to go for exeats and half-terms with at least three full sets of clothing

All prescription medication must be labelled with a pharmacist’s label including the child’s name and be handed to the School Nurse or Houseparents with doctor’s instructions (in English) and not remain in boarding bags No food or snacks are allowed in boarding bags

WEEKLY BOARDING

Weekly Boarders' Packing List

Pyjamas (two sets)

Dressing gown

Closed toe slippers (hard soles)

Towels

Underwear

Mid grey socks (boys), for girls navy knee high socks or tights (winter) and white ankle socks (summer)

Reading book

Water bottle (in addition to School water bottle)

We recommend that your child's dressing gown, slippers, towel and wash bag remain in school for the term

Optional - boarders are welcome to have their own bedding set in school if they prefer: I x duvet cover, I x pillow case

Boarders may bring in their mobile phone if they are boarding for 4 consecutive nights or more, these must be handed in on arrival at School

LEARNING ENRICHMENT

The Learning Enrichment Department offers the following help free of charge to those children who need it.

Small group work

Prep support and general support with organisation

Implementing and overseeing programmes such as Toe by Toe, Zones of Regulation, Social Stories etc

Supervision of physiotherapy/OT/eye exercises and other programmes from outside agencies

Initial basic in-house assessments

Interactive revision sessions throughout the year

Regular liaison with parents, tutor, subject teachers and outside agencies where appropriate to ensure information is disseminated to all staff

Revision session for all Year 7 children and parents

Revision guidance provided before examinations

Holiday work guidance

Occasional in-class support

Supervision of a separate extra time room - if applicable

Monitoring of typing courses, typing club and supervision of iPad use/typing.

Interactive work extra sessions in Year 8

If a child is still not making expected progress, 1:1 learning may be considered The following support sessions will, in principle, incur a termly charge which will be levied together with the fees. The charges are listed on the school website.

Occasionally a Learning Enrichment lesson may be delivered as a I:2 session where it is felt that is more beneficial to the students involved

In addition, the department can assess for exam access arrangements and carry out full specialist teacher assessments

The process and fees can, in the first instance, be discussed with the Head of Learning Enrichment

ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

On arrival, all overseas pupils are assessed by our specialist EAL teacher Where applicable, a programme of study will be discussed with parents together with the termly charge for this support, the charges are listed on the school website

The Learning Support department offers the following help free of charge to those EAL children who need it in Years 5-8.

Induction Programme at the start of the Autumn Term

Personal induction programme for students who join at other times during the academic year

Prep support

Monitoring of typing courses

In-house assessments